Pairing together two typologies that might seem entirely opposed can either be a complete disaster or utter success. Nik Bentel Studio’s recently launched The Speaker Bag and The Mixer Bag appears to be the latter. The two “accessory” portable speakers meld the formal qualities of current fashion trends with increasingly powerful and compact audio technology.
The functional correlation of these two items actually makes sense if one were to look back at how the boomboxes of the mid-1980s were carried. Like with any handbag, a handle was essential for easily transporting this mobile device. Bentel and his team played up the near geometric contour of this component – not unlike the Tati Bag they released a few years ago – in both the mono-material black and translucent acrylic shell variants. In this case, it’s no longer tensile but rigid instead.
Across his offering of whimsical items for dress and the home, the designer is known for accentuating the graphical, almost semiotical, qualities of recognizable shapes. While the PC Folder wallet cheekily takes a digital folder off the screen into one’s hands, Capitalism Knife: Sapphire satirizes the associations many of us have with credit cards and what these seemingly mundane but ultimately powerful objects represent. The early postmodernists must be pleased.
The Speaker and Mixer Bags are perhaps less explicit in their cultural critique and more clever in their ontological formation. While the former is all white and somewhat see-through (perhaps it has nothing to hide), the latter is more stern with its all black, near monolithic, presence. As their names suggest, one is a speaker, and the other is an “on-the-go” mixer. Its complex, maybe even proprietary, mechanics are hidden. The speaker’s wiring has become so straightforward that it has become aesthetically pleasing. There’s far less of a need to conceal its functionality.
“Ready for spontaneous sets, impromptu parties, or casual sound-jams wherever,” as the press release claims, The Mixer Bag features a four channel system with stereo/mono support. There are four (6.35mm/3.5mm) inputs and one output, compatible with devices like computers, phones, amps, and even CD players (for those still using the flash in the pan format). Built-in 16-bit dual-color LED meters display levels in real-time. Adjustable display mode, color, and gain lets one monitor output clearly while adding visual flair to their setup.
The Mixer Bag
“A fashion-forward accessory that plays your favorite tracks straight from your phone via Bluetooth,” according to the same press release, The Speaker Bag is equipped with a max acoustic output of 71 dB SPL at 1 m. It has an unobstructed range of 100 feet. There’s also a stereo output with enhanced bass and treble; ideal for a dual-speaker sync. The device’s RGB LED has three display modes.
The Speaker Bag
The two designs could actually be brought together for a fully immersive listening experience.
For more information on The Speaker Bag and The Mixer Bag, visit nikbentelstudio.com.
Photography Nik Bentel Studio.
