Elevating soundscapes with the sculptural '3Eel' loudspeaker by Andrew Roberts

Amid prevalent trends of sleek minimalism in today’s design landscape, there emerges a distinctive innovation—one that boldly defies conformity. The Three Eyed Eel ('3Eel') HiFi speaker, the brainchild of New Zealand-based industrial designer Andrew Roberts, is poised to revolutionise our perception of sound design. Defying norms with its intriguing presence, while merging aesthetics and utility, this creation embarks on an exploration into the intricacies of HiFi cabinet design, unearthing its influence on high-quality audio production.

'3Eel' is more than just an audio device—it is a work of art that beckons contemplation. At first glance, the loudspeaker's organic curves and sculpted form (which is cast in moulded resin), reflect the designer’s deliberate deviation from the norm. The industrial design's distinct, sculptural appearance presents a captivating fusion of form and function, and has been explicitly designed for a niche demographic—the audiophiles who seek not just sound, but an auditory journey.

“The speaker can be primarily viewed as a departure from many prevalent trends that currently saturate today's market. Rather than adhering to the reserved and conservative 'applesque' aesthetic that is hard to evade nowadays, this speaker embodies minimalism and is a fusion of science and art. It looks to create a captivating and charismatic design all through while maintaining a strong emphasis on its core functionality,” says Roberts, on the speaker's appearance, and what makes it distinct.

The sinuous '3Eel' speaker emerges from the crucible of experimentation, a product forged to redefine the relationship between sound and design. A persistent challenge for Roberts in achieving high-quality HiFi sound was to manage the uncontrolled energy emitted backwards from driver units. Underpinning its creation is the exploration of 'cabinet design,' and how the shape and structure of the cabinet can enhance high-end audio reproduction. Conventional cabinet designs have perpetually grappled with internal resonance issues arising from these driver units (particularly midrange drivers), consequently impacting the overall sound quality. For his sculptural design, Roberts ventures beyond subtlety, embracing a blend of art and physics that propels the hobby of high-fidelity sound into uncharted territory.

Cabinet design encompasses the enclosure that contains all the speaker's components. In this project, the focus of the loudspeaker cabinet was to construct a controlled acoustic space that improves driver efficiency while effectively handling the energy that travels rearward from the drivers. As the product designer relays with STIR, “In the past, cabinet design has served as a canvas for designers and engineers to experiment with various methods to enhance the speaker's delivery. This creative exploration frequently influences the outward look of the speaker, which is the case here."

Roberts’ innovation draws inspiration from the work of audio maestro Laurence Dickie, acclaimed for his use of tapered tubes/ forms in Vivid Audio and B&W loudspeakers. Echoing this legacy, '3Eel' adopts a 'triple chamber' configuration, designed to control the energy emitted from the tweeter, midrange, as well as the bass drivers. Characterised by its gradual tapering within each chamber, the speaker’s structure mitigates resonances and enables the drivers to perform unhindered. This synthesis of engineering and aesthetics brings about an authentic sound that reverberates with the original recordings.

Behind the speaker's innovation stands a lineage of design philosophy—Roberts’ approach finds affinity with the ideals of visionaries such as Luigi Colani. Elaborating on how Roberts sets himself apart as an innovative force in the field of speaker design, he shares with STIR—“Not a lot probably, but I guess my approach to executing product designs like these distinguishes me to some extent. I often observe fantastic ideas and concepts trapped within uninspiring and restrained bodies. I am enthusiastic about giving ideas and theories the freedom to evolve into their own distinct executions."

The heart of the speaker's brilliance lies in its ability to captivate both audiophiles and the wider audience. While audiophiles are drawn by the promise of pure, unadulterated sound, '3Eel' resonates with non-designers as well. With its three-eyed-eel-like form, the speaker is not merely an object—it is an embodiment of the artist’s vision—a sonic masterpiece that reimagines soundscapes and invites us to immerse ourselves in the boundless possibilities of creative explorations through design.