2018 SHORTLISTED
KRONOS
KYRON AUDIO
Category:
PRODUCT DESIGN
CONSUMER ELECTRICAL & ELECTONICS
Design:
KYRON AUDIO
About
The Kyron Kronos is an ultra-fidelity home stereo system like no other. A complete plug and play home music system that brings you closer to the music than previously possible. By removing the speaker box enclosure, we have created a sound that is amazingly pure, while allowing a unique sculptural form that is striking and beautiful.
Design Challenge
In the rarefied world of high end audio, loudspeaker designers typically concentrate on creating scaled up versions of smaller designs. This creates technical issues that cause these ‘flagship’ products to underperform in many areas when compared to the cheaper versions and creates a product so large that it is impossible to integrate them into a living environment. Add to this the multiple amplifiers, preamplifiers and connecting cables one can see why high end sound has only been enjoyed by enthusiasts. The challenge was to create a complete system that could overcome the technical limitations of large, multiway box speakers to deliver easy to use, true ultra fidelity sound, whilst designing a sculptural aesthetic that would integrate into the living environment.
Design Solution
Kyron started by removing the speaker box enclosure to give a more natural, open and true to life sound. We use cutting edge digital audio technology including linear-phase crossovers, , frequency response, phase and room correction. The signal then travels directly to our own proprietary electronics that allow the woofers to be used without a box. We replaced the multiple amplifier boxes with one 'control unit'. This connects to each speaker with a single cable, operated with an easy to use remote control. We sourced the latest audio technology from all over the globe to allow for a small form factor and shaped the aesthetic to bring interest and sculptural lines, highlighting the open backed architecture of the loudspeaker.
Design Impact
Kronos has won numerous awards since the launch including Sound + Image Magazine’s ‘Best Loudspeaker over $20,000 and ‘Best Sound at Show’ at international audio trade show events in Australia and the United States. Audio journalists have praised the sound quality and rated it as among the best they have ever heard. The ability to tailor the look through our bespoke option service has allowed Kronos to integrate into ultra modern living rooms through to classic past century homes with equal refinement..
Other Key Features
Each Kyron Audio Kronos is built to order and hand assembled in Adelaide, Australia. Each part of the multi-layered structure is aligned perfectly to create a stable and silent platform for the speaker drivers to operate from. The sculptural styling of the speaker system was modelled for both aesthetics and strength and is in itself a representation of what is possible when innovation and performance are given high priority. With styling cues taken from contemporary architecture, the Kronos is a striking and thought provoking artistic piece that speaks strongly even when it is silent. Each system includes installation, allowing the system to be tuned to the room. The space and the loudspeakers form a unique system, and the care and attention to their synergy is the key to unlocking the ultimate performance from the Kronos system.