set in stone
There are some unique speakers out there, and some are more unique than others. Because the MA770 by audio company Master & Dynamic is made from, wait for it, concrete.
The choice of material for the headphones specialist’s first wireless speaker raised a few eyebrows. Concrete has pretty terrible acoustic properties, echoing around and creating reverb – which is an absolute no-no for audiophiles. Yet, it also has redeeming qualities. Rigid, stiff and heavy, it minimises vibrations and therefore creates fewer distortions than other more common – but lightweight – materials like wood, aluminium or plastic. Two years of experimentation finally yielded a suitable material; M&D discovered that by adding a few (secret) polymers to the concrete’s rock and stones, they could create a material that satisfyingly absorbed echoes.
Material in hand, M&D then approached British architect Sir David Adjaye – who used to build his own speakers out of wooden boxes filled with concrete ballast in North London – to sculpt the concrete into something sonicly stylish. The tapered design he settled on mimics the invisible soundwaves that emanate from the speakers – exiting through a narrow funnel, then emanating out to fill the room. The shape helps with acoustics as well – by minimising the area at the back of the speaker cabinet, it maximises the sound that get pushed out front; necessary because any waves that travel backwards creates reverberation. At some 18kg, this isn’t a wireless speaker that you cart out to the beach or picnic; its beautiful and architectural shape is destined to be appreciated in situ.
Varying shades of grey are achieved with technicians shaping and hand-buffing the concrete body to achieve a sheeny, subtle grainy texture. Two 4-inch kevlar woofers and a 1.5-inch titanium tweeter are then embedded into the sculpted body, insulated with a soft material. Covered with an etched metal grill, these pump out a lot of volume when controlled using the tiny panel along the bottom. Chromecast and Bluetooth are build in for wireless control, and traditionalists will appreciate the wired auxiliary input. The proof is in the pudding. The MA770 sounds terrific. And considering the innovation within, not exactly exorbitant at a price of US$1,800 (RM7,733).
