Bringing Soul Back to Music– Designing the DA-E750 Audio Dock

August 14, 2012 | Comments | Tomorrow Works

Iconic musicians like Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson and many others have produced music that has deeply influenced the lives of people around the world. Naturally, music enthusiasts look for ways to extend this experience into all aspects of their lives and are often collectors of the finest audio equipment—from high-end sound systems to instruments handcrafted from exotic woods.

 

 

In the days of Sinatra and Hendrix, audio speakers were built from genuine wood just like handcrafted instruments and luxury furniture. These luxury materials provided unique strength, durability and beauty to produce an object that could be treasured for years to come.

 

Unlike the particle board or plastic of modern devices, their striking design and sound quality made them a focal point in the home. Lovers of music didn’t just plug them in and listen; they gathered around them in excitement.

 

 

Inspired to bring together the timeless beauty of vintage speakers with the latest cutting-edge audio technology, Samsung senior designer Ji-Gwang Kim created the world’s first dual-docking system that pairs meticulous craftsmanship with flawless performance—the DA-E750 Wireless Audio with Dock.

 

 

 

Wooden Beauty, Hand-Crafted

 

When first seeing the DA-E750, your eyes instantly lock on the warm, rich finish of the gorgeous wood casing. Meticulously handcrafted from the finest materials, the DA-E750’s sheath consists of cherry or African bubinga—the same wood used in luxury pianos.

 

 

The wood is coated by hand and needs to be left to dry naturally for more than 12 hours before we can apply the next coat. Eight coats are required in order to produce the depth in color that makes the DA-E750 so unique. These coats also seal the sound in the box, giving the DA-E750 a warmer and earthier sound

 

This elegant case of cherry-wood or bubinga is fully constructed before electronic parts are added and takes 28 days to make.

 

Typically, a plastic enclosure would be used to house electronics and serve as the sound box—but again, the DA-E750 stands apart. With its eight coats of sealant, the wooden case is the optimal structure for creating perfect resonance and tone quality.

 

 

Because of its glass fiber speakers and a varnished wooden box, it was hard to express its exclusive and luxurious feelings. It’s glossy finish gives it a premium quality, but in the studio, all it did was reflect more light than we wanted

Though this carefully coated wooden case is a key aspect of the DA-E750, behind the scenes, we had trouble taking pictures for boxes and posters.

 

 

 

Speakers and Vacuum Tubes, where design meets sound

 

After the case is complete, Samsung engineers begin the delicate process of creating space inside for the high-tech electronics, which are also assembled by hand. Among the main components are, of course, the vacuum tube and speakers.

 

 

The audio dock’s crystal vacuum tube, made with highly reflective metal for sharp clarity as well as rich, warm sound performance, radiates a steady glow when the power is turned on. Reflected by the metal casing, this premium design feature produces an incandescent visual effect.

 

 

Glass fiber speakers mirror each other on the left and ride side of the front-facing panel, delivering the best sound quality in middle and upper ranges. Hidden on the underside of the DA-E750 is a powerful built-in subwoofer to reproduce with 100 watts of sound. Speakers are made with glass fiber material instead of paper.

 

Together, the speakers, vacuum tube, docking mechanism and other features, form a rhythmical sequence of circles that adds to the visual appeal of the audio dock.

 

 

 

Attention to detail, right down to the very “nuts and bolts”

 

The minimalistic design of Samsung’s Wireless Audio with Dock is upheld by the circular control panel found on top of the unit. When the user presses the control panel, menu options appear without the need for the separate display. Users are given easy access to controls for volume, play/pause, AllShare Play, AirPlay and Bluetooth without sacrificing the gracefully simple design.

 

 

Superior design and meticulous attention to even the smallest details, such as the use of hexagonal screws, mean that owners of the DA-E750 will enjoy not only incredible sound quality, but also a piece of luxury audio equipment.

 

 

 

Of course it’s wireless, it’s Samsung!

 

The DA-E750 is the world’s first dual-docking system that supports both Galaxy device and iOS devices of different sizes and thickness. Discreetly hidden on the back panel of the speaker, the dock is easily retractable to lay flush with the panel, maintaining the speaker’s classic, minimalistic design.

 

 

 

The DA-E750 is one of the most flexible docks you've ever seen, offering wireless audio support for both iOS and Android. It is a complete package for the latest technology

 

 

 

Worthy of the collector’s stage

 

The DA-E750 means a lot to the designers. They went everywhere to find the right pieces of wood and studied old analogue audio designs to create the perfect retro design with the latest features. Whether it’s shared with a signature custom Gibson Les Paul guitar or a Bosendorfer Imperial Grand Piano, we’d say this skillfully crafted wooden piece with rich acoustics would be intriguing enough to get collectors’ attention.

 

 

* This article is based on an interview done by Samsung Electronics LiVE, Samsung’s internal communications channel.