Current market
Inspiration touched on home speakers and vinyl players, which occupy a similar market. I drew aesthetic inspiration from the minimalist and geometric elements of these products, emphasizing the use of high-quality primary materials and negative space. This approach diverges from the common use of inexpensive plastics and supplementary materials like fabrics, aiming instead to create a premium, refined design reminiscent of high-end vinyl players in amplifier form.
Early ideation
Early ideation involved retro, radio-like amplifiers before evolving into more cube like designs. The concept of using simple knobs and primary-secondary materials remained consistent throughout the process. The final design draws inspiration from the flat form factor of vinyl record players and contrasting dark materials. Walnut and powder-coated aluminum were chosen as the primary materials, conveying a sense of weight, quality, and value to the user.
Exploration through prototypes
I explored various design variations using 3D-printed knobs, and different speaker & control orientations. The flatter form factor was preferred over upright designs due to its distinctiveness from traditional mini amps. The offset speaker grill was an intentional aesthetic choice, breaking the exterior symmetry of the amplifier.
Machining
The machining process was carried out manually on a standard milling machine. Various holes & pockets were precision-drilled into the aluminum plates and the walnut body was crafted from four pieces ensuring a cohesive and robust structure.
Fabrication
The aluminum plates were powder-coated in carbon black, as the standard aluminum finish was too overpowering for the walnut. The walnut chassis was glued together, sanded, and polished with tung oil. This treatment enhanced the vibrancy of the wood grain and matched the sheen to the aluminum.
Electronics integration
I soldered a small, high-quality 2-watt speaker and PCB board together using basic soldering skills. The layout of the aluminum plate's front side was precisely machined to accommodate the pre-installed knobs and input jack, aligning with the layout of the PCB board.
