Laser 3D printing luxury loudspeakers

Node Audio Research, a British audio brand, has created a luxury loudspeaker using an advanced form of 3D printing.

The HYLIXA speaker is created using a 3D printing process called ‘laser sintering’. This advanced form of manufacturing employs a computer-controlled laser to fuse tiny particles of glass and nylon, systematically ‘growing’ the cabinet at a depth of 0.2mm per layer at a time. The entire process takes around 45 hours. 

This allows the cabinet geometry, which has a patent pending, to be grown as a single, unified part of remarkable rigidity with laser accuracy. 

Such innovation doesn’t come cheap; starting at £30,000 per pair, the loudspeakers are grown by lasers and can be finished in any desired paint finish and metallic accents, including 24-karat gold.

Using these advanced manufacturing technologies, HYLIXA pushes the boundaries of audio design to deliver music without the compromises of the archetypal box-like speaker.

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Delivering a large-scale performance in a home environment from a relatively small cabinet, the HYLIXA speaker pioneers the world’s first ‘Helical Transmission Line’. The 1.6m long coiled passage within the cabinet is fed by a dedicated bass driver for massively improved bass output from a small enclosure. 

Founded by industrial designers Ashley May and David Evans, Node’s mission was to reimagine the performance and design of a modern loudspeaker by exploiting a very unique and almost unheard-of manufacturing processes for the audio industry. 

Evans said: “We wanted to combine high-end audio with stunning styling. They look as beautiful as they sound – so much so, you feel like you’re experiencing a live performance in your own home.”

The speakers, which launched last year, were a result of three years of extensive research and development at Node’s laboratory in Cambridgeshire. 

“Each pair of speakers are carefully built-to-order in your chosen finish by combining cutting-edge manufacturing technologies and time-honoured craftsmanship at the home of British hi-fi in Cambridge,” Evans added.

“This revolutionary piece of industrial design is the combination of numerous technical innovations designed to achieve the pinnacle in audio fidelity, whilst providing a statement for any interior now and into the future.”

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He continued: “HYLIXA’s cabinet is organically shaped, with its compact, curved design creating vocals that sound true to life. The streamlined surfaces reduce the coloration you would otherwise hear from a boxy cabinet, so you only hear the music.”

“They are among the first 3D printed commercially available loudspeakers in the world.”

May added: “At Node, we are striving to create products of exceptional performance, beauty and longevity, for the enjoyment of their owners. HYLIXA masters vocal reproduction by replicating the sonic signature of a human head, making voices and instruments sound startlingly lifelike, full of emotion and intent. 

“Freed from manufacturing constraints, our loudspeaker unlocks new levels of performance and aesthetics to create a product befitting of the modern age.” 

The speaker pairs are made-to-order at Node’s Cambridge headquarters. Demonstrations of the HYLIXA speakers can also be held at its HQ or at its London showroom. 
 

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