Golden Bug: An Analog Emotion Speaker

Rediscovering the Beauty of Analog Sound

Designs are becoming more and more simplified as progress is being made, and emotional factors are disappearing. Surprising technological prowess impresses us and brilliant digital technologies are involved, but emotions of the sound systems that used to please us in the past do not exist. Through Golden Bug, a new sound storage system, It will present to you all, the characterized analogue emotions.

Golden Bug starts from its structural use. Understated splendidness is expressed through the adequate use of walnut and marble, which are materials not frequently used in preexisting speakers. Golden Bug, like the body and mind of humans, cannot escape from analogue emotions even in this world where everything is gradually becoming digitalized. It signifies the desire to establish co-existence of new and old things.

Its structure is designed to allow complete assembly of the speaker system through the use of CNC processing on birch plywood. It features Bluetooth, a close range wireless technology which mutually connects mobile devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and earphones/headphones for information exchange. The toggle switch is used for the realization of analogue emotions.

The Golden Bug speaker measures 530 x 350 x 800(h)mm and is made from walnut, steel, brass, birch plywood, and aluminum. It offers multiple connectivity options including USB, AUX, and coaxial.

The button in the middle is the ON switch. The music can be played by positioning the left switch at B/T and connecting the mobile phone to Bluetooth. Other music sources such as CD players, aux, and LP players can be connected according to the position of the right button. The head part of the speaker can be turned, allowing users to adjust the direction without moving the speaker.

Constructed in January 2016, the Golden Bug has been showcased in exhibitions such as Design Miami and the Blue House, the South Korean equivalent of the White House.

Designing a speaker that incorporates analog tubes is a challenge in a world focused on digital technology. Sung Jae Han formed a community with various specialists in fields such as acoustic design, speaker design, amp design, and carpentry to develop the Golden Bug. The speaker is made with over 90% natural materials, including real wood instead of plastic, to create a lasting emotional connection with users.

In the new millennium, where digital devices strive to be minimal and inconspicuous, the Golden Bug stands out against the inorganic trend. The speakers, embedded in birch plywood and reminiscent of the headlights and grill of a mid-20th-century car, sit atop a thin neck that stems from its sleek, circular walnut base. As its facelike head turns on its screw-on neck, the Golden Bug invites its audience to connect and reminisce in the glory of an acoustic memory. The Golden Bug brings back a partnership between user and device and becomes the rediscovery of analog emotions.

The Golden Bug speaker, designed by Sung Jae Han, was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Audio and Sound Equipment Design category in 2017. This prestigious award recognizes designs that incorporate best practices in art, science, design, and technology, contributing to quality of life improvements and making the world a better place.