First off I'd just like to rant about this thing (if the pictures work this time which they probably won't):
It's call Acoustic Lens Technology© and its by B&O… faaaaancy…
I dont understand too much about it, mostly because the promotional material is written by the marketing department and not the engineers but from what I can understand they've placed these resonant discs and distances relative the the lenses virtual focal points - ok?…
Regardless this setup is interesting in a few ways: firstly it creates a virtual treble through reverberation or something crazy like that and secondly it redefines our predisposition to radio proportions. Think about the designs you've drawn, they all (or mostly, maybe I'm just not that creative) anticipate a specific speaker orientation. This format 180 degree sound could not only open the door into the world of incredible audio quality but also has a chance to push radio and other speaker design out of it's predispositions.
Now; onto the important stuff:
This is another B&O but from 1949. I have chosen this as an example of what I see as good speaker grate design. Now I'd like to stop there 'cause I know what you're thinking and I thought it too: "I'm sure I've seem a similar grate on the floor of a shower in a motel just out of Bega. Only…".
The grill isn't all too special but it's the way that it's applied that I really like. It's proportions from the top of the wooden front and the bottom seem perfect and the way it balances the simple analogue screen with the four nobs underneath is almost a perfect reallocation of car parts. The best part by far is how the detail of the grill interacts with the curved face.
This is truly inspired design in my eyes and a very good example of the way that a design constraint - the need for free airflow around a speaker - can be used to compliment the overall aesthetic
Info on the ALT:
Old B&O products:
- Tahl
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