what are your industrial design favorites?

[wunderkind]

I used to do some side hustle by flipping audio gear. Came across many brands and equipment. I was surprised by the quality and finishing of this integrated amp by NEC. I didn't even know NEC made these sort of things. Kinda regretted selling it as it was unique and felt military grade!

 

[Kal Rubinson]

NEC and Kyocera flew under the radar but made some cool stuff.

 

[mhardy6647]

I used to do some side hustle by flipping audio gear. Came across many brands and equipment. I was surprised by the quality and finishing as this integrated amp by NEC. I didn't even know NEC made these sort of things. Kinda regretted selling it as it was unique and felt military grade!

Sold under JC Penney's "MCS" brand in the US was that amp (or one very similar) -- and a matching tuner, too.
I had the tuner (dump find) for a while. Perfectly OK tuner, and quite attractive.

This one (admittedly not identical, but pretty sure it's NEC OEM), sadly, has an owwie:

source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/126079380971



@Kal Rubinson mentioned Kyocera (Kyoto Ceramic)... their tenure in the US market was fairly brief, but the components were very attractive.
Nowadays, everyone knows their knives.

source: https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Audio/Archive-Audio-IDX/IDX/80s/Audio-1987-10-OCR-Page-0135.pdf#search="kyocera"

 

[Svend P]

TacT Millennium

Someone had a black version made, which I kind of prefer.

 

[mhardy6647]

Better looking MCS/NEC integrated on eBAY even as I type this, with its companion tuner, too.
MCS, for those of y'all who are too young to remember, stood for Modular Component Systems (visible on these photographs, too).

source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/256181599733

 

[tomchris]

View attachment 349033
Someone had a black version made, which I kind of prefer.

I have been toying with the idea myself. All black anodized, including wheel and buttons.

 

[Svend P]

I have been toying with the idea myself. All black anodized, including wheel and buttons.

I get my daily fix from a black TDAI2200, which is not as minimalistic, but maybe more.. industrial?

 

[tomchris]

View attachment 349046

I get my daily fix from a black TDAI2200, which is not as minimalistic, but maybe more.. industrial?

Also a nice amplifier I have always preferred the look of the TacT/Lyngdorf milled aluminium faceplate design. The later Lyngdorf/Steinway faceplate design seems cheap and plasticky to me.

 

[Ptss]

This is not related to audio science at all, really. More like my ad-laden side bar randomly showed me this thing that simultaneously blew me away by its uselessness (it's a 5lb DAP) and beauty.

https://imgur.com/sZYaJXD

I like JBL's DD67000

 

[wunderkind]

Better looking MCS/NEC integrated on eBAY even as I type this, with its companion tuner, too.
MCS, for those of y'all who are too young to remember, stood for Modular Component Systems (visible on these photographs, too).
View attachment 349043
View attachment 349044
source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/256181599733

Wow those handles looked beefy. Bet they make a cool "Darth Vader" vintage audio stack.

 

[TimF]

Was Braun the first Apple?

Now that I think of it, you could fill a studio with splendidly designed products from Braun....that all worked well. And also, so many well designed, well laid out Japanese products that worked well and were highly practical. Maybe we took the Japanese products for granted and failed to appreciate how beautiful they were. Opal in Europe had a few nice looking cars. But Studebaker did too.

 

[mhardy6647]

Was Braun the first Apple?

I don't know if they were the first, but Apple (ahem) borrowed extensively from Braun's (Dieter Rams') playbook.

Dieter Rams is still around (at least according to google), by the way (age 91). Photo below from ca. 2011.

Who is Dieter Rams? | Life of an Architect

Dieter Rams is a German industrial designer who was the chief of design for Braun. During his tenure, he designed iconic devices that guide today's designers.

www.lifeofanarchitect.com

speaking of archetypes of fine industrial design...

The hifi! I mean the hifi!

 

[Hiten]

Was Braun the first Apple?

I liked Braun ET55 Calculator (white) design. Somewhat same vibe as imac g3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some information about Grundig 650 in previous post.
Grundig
Coolest feature was manual and auto tuning. A motor was used to move the dial needle to correct position.
regards.

 

[thewas]

Was Braun the first Apple?

Yes it was

 

[darrellc]

Yoshihisha Maitani’s camera designs for Olympus were genius. The XA cleverly used the break away clamshell design to make pocketable when closed and protect the lens and other components - and made it easier to hold when expanded.

 

[Talisman]

For me, the most beautiful thing ever built by man

 

[riker1384]

Advent Model 300 receiver.

 

[Svend P]

Nakamichi PA7 mk2

 

[somebodyelse]

For me, the most beautiful thing ever built by man
View attachment 349096

I prefer the cleaner lines of the original Ace without the scoop and flares. The Lotus Elite Type 14 is worth a look too - and its Cd is pretty respectable even today.

 

[tomchris]

1959 AC Ace Bristol