Transparent from Sweden introduced the $4,000 Brutalist wireless speaker, the design of which is radically different from the transparent glass speakers with which the brand began its journey. Powerful sound and modern technology are hidden behind a stark, geometric aluminum façade. Brutalist is about 58 cm high and resembles a miniature skyscraper in the Brutalist architectural style, characteristic of Britain, the USSR and other countries in the second half of the last century.
Image Source: Transparent
Inside the Brutalist are two three-inch tweeters positioned at 90 degrees to each other, and a 6.5-inch subwoofer on the opposite side. The speaker supports high resolution audio (up to 192 kHz/24 bit) and works with popular formats (MP3, FLAC, WAV). The company recommends placing the speaker in the corner of the room so that the sound bounces off the walls and fills the space as much as possible. However, as The Verge writes, the Brutalist does not have a built-in battery and operates from a wall outlet. Weighing in at 26.5 pounds, the device won’t be easy to move around and it’s worth thinking about its placement in advance.
Image Source: Transparent
Despite the fact that the speaker carries the aesthetics of the brutalist style and is reminiscent of the 1950s, its functions are fully consistent with the latest technological trends. Brutalist supports audio streaming via Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect and Amazon Music. Two 3.5mm inputs allow you to connect other audio sources via cable. However, despite being compatible with Amazon Alexa, the speaker does not have its own microphone, which limits voice assistant integration.
Image source: transpa.rent
It is noted that the development took Transparent three years. One of the main challenges was the use of 70% recycled aluminum. “Of course, we spent a lot of time in production to get all the modules perfectly aligned and deliver great sound, but actually sourcing recycled aluminum for the cabinet was a challenge,” Transparent design director Per Brickstad told Wired. The result is a speaker with a unique design and modern functionality.
Image Source: Transparent