Beyond the Box

As someone who has been designing sound systems for decades, I’ve always kept a running mental tally of the new loudspeakers that are constantly arriving on the market. Even if the options seem endless to some, I see through the noise and treasure the differences. One of the best parts of my job is figuring out which unique twist in each product is going to be the perfect fit for a specific experience one of our clients is looking to create.

Despite their individual originality in terms of technology, a lot of these speakers look the same. They’re generally variations on the same black box we’ve seen since the start of the pro sound industry. And that’s fine – a lot of times, we just need speakers to sound great and remain invisible.

But in the past several years, I’ve started to notice a new wave of audiophile loudspeaker companies that are placing more emphasis on aesthetics. They’re creating speakers that command attention from a visual standpoint by literally changing the shape of that old familiar black box we’ve seen hanging from countless ceilings and walls.

These speakers don’t just look good, they sound good. They’re the product of passionate people all over the world — quite literally from every corner — who are crafting beautiful art objects that deliver stunning audio.

Many of these new sonic offerings are crafted from fine woods and deployed in shapes that hark back to nature. They have a real hand-crafted appearance, and each one is unique. They’re designed to be in the foreground, instead of hidden in the shadows.

This is a great trend to see happening, because in the past few years, my clients have started asking for sound systems that make a statement. Not just sonically but also visually. I’ve been searching far and wide for new options and now I’m starting to see a lot of great new offerings. Brands like Oswalds Mill Audio, ALG and Pitt & Giblin are combining professional-level sound acumen with artistic vision to create speakers that will make you do a double-take.

I’m having a lot of fun getting to know the creative minds behind these new enterprises. Their passion for audio is matched only with their artistic ingenuity. And when we get to talking, we find a lot of common ground.

As artists and practitioners, we agree that it takes a certain kind of panache (I love to use the word panache when I can, and when it comes to aesthetics, I think it’s a good opportunity) to add these highly visual objects to a system design. It’s essential to remember that even when you’re trying to create a pretty picture, sonic principles need to come first. If a client wants a speaker front and center so everyone can take pictures for social media, it’s important to remind them about creating the optimal positioning for better sound.

That’s where we combine science with art. We measure the audio and make sure these fantastic speakers deliver in every sense — audio and visual.

I’m not trying to say I’m abandoning the standard black boxes of our professional audio industry. Far from it. Besides, I know how to integrate those products into any environment and make them “invisible” if needed — but that’s another story.

But as a designer and audio specialist, it’s my job to know the full array of tools available for any project. And I’m delighted to have a full suite of options available in my arsenal.

Watch this space for a look at some of the new loudspeaker innovators I’m finding on my quest for the perfect blend of sound and vision. Each one has a new take on what looks good, but what we have in common is that we’re all passionate about what sounds great.

#makeasoundinvestment #wemakesoundbetter