Sestetto Orkestra Spiker

Press Kit

Unique Properties

An orchestral ensemble of loudspeakers that play together like real musicians. Sestetto is a multi-channel audio system to play individual instrument tracks in separate loudspeakers of different materials and technologies dedicated to the specific sound case.
The HiFi concrete speaker is especially suitable for drums and basses.
The ceramic speaker can emphasizs wind instruments and voices through its ceramic horn.
The wooden speaker puts in vibration the wooden soundboard itself, for acoustic string instrument. Sestetto is directly self-produced by its designers Stefano Ivan Scarascia and Francesco Shyam Zonca.

Dimensions & Packaging

Console (USB connection, multi-channel digital-analog converter, six separate 30W amplifiers with dedicate controls, passive and active outputs, dimensions 280 mm x 250 mm x 250 mm)
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Speakers (8 Ohm impedance, 30W power, dimensions 350 mm x 300 mm x 300mm)
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Concrete Speakers (polypropylene mid-woofer speaker,
tweeter speaker,
two-Way Crossover,
8 liters closed cabinet of reinforced concrete)
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Ceramic Speakers (midrange speaker,
ceramic horn in a case of reinforced concrete)
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Wooden Speakers (vibration transducer,
soundboard of fir and birch in a case of reinforced concrete)

Tags

multi-channel, audio, system, speaker, concrete, ceramic, wood, vibration, loudspeaker, orchestra

Production Technology

The console case is handmade and finished of fir, walnut and mahogany.
The speaker cabinets are molded in reinforced concrete.
The ceramic horns are turned by hand by a ceramic artisan, while the wooden soundboards and boxes are made of fir and birch.

Design Challenge

The hardest part of this design activity has been finding rapid solutions for the self-development and especially the self-production processes, while maintaining the design and aesthetic quality typical of Hi-Fi audio devices.

Research

In the context of a deep self-production research at the Politecnico di Milano, the aim of Sestetto was to extend this approach also to the self-production of the listening experience. After investigating the alternative audio systems technical possibilities, it has been developed the electronic multi-channel device, in parallel to the typical sound properties of different materials and technologies for experimental sound combinations. The selected self-production processes massively influenced the final aspect of the product, with the aesthetic considerations on the historical audio devices and trends.

Inspiration

Sestetto is the chamber orchestra of the recorded music: the mixing of tracks and parts comes back to be physically in the place of listening, like in a real concert. From the majesty of the ceramic horn, the heat of the wooden soundboard, the fidelity of the concrete cabinet, Sestetto incorporates in a set more diverse methods of sound reproduction, for a continuous musical experimentation also in the listening experience.

Project Duration

The project started in September 2012 in Milan, Italy and finished in February 2013. It was exhibited in Fuorisalone del Mobile in April 2009, in XXI Triennale from June to September 2016, in Lambrate Fall Edition in October 2016. It appeared in Domus, Ottagono, Case e Stili and Interni magazines and web-zines.

Operation Flow

Connect the console to the computer through the USB port and just play the multi-channel tune with a common music player software. Try and choose different speaker connections to experiment surprising combinations with the materials and the technologies. Adjust the dedicated volume for each instrument or voice channel and feel free to locate the individual speakers in the whole space.

Image Credits

Image #1: Photographer Marianna Milione, Stefano Ivan Scarascia, 2013.
Image #2: Photographer Francesco Shyam Zonca, 2013.
Image #3: Photographer Francesco Shyam Zonca, 2013.
Image #4: Photographer Francesco Shyam Zonca, 2013.
Image #5: Photographer Francesco Shyam Zonca, 2013.
VIDEO CREDITS: Shooting Beniamino Sulfaro / Video Editing Stefano Ivan Scarascia / Soundtrack Stefano Ivan Scarascia, 2013.