The inspiration for Encircle Speakers came from a clear divide in the audio market. Consumers often invest heavily in surround sound systems for their homes, yet the portable market offers no comparable experience. Encircle Speakers are designed to fill this gap, offering the first truly portable surround sound speaker.
While the quality, performance, and battery life of portable speakers have improved over time, innovation in their base function has been lacking. The Encircle speaker system is a conceptual leap forward, incorporating true, portable surround sound. The design consists of seven speakers that function together as a single portable unit but can be separated to create a surround sound environment.
The creation of Encircle Speakers involved extensive research into the current market and future possibilities for speaker technology. The design process included over 500 pages of concepts, user opinion tests, and research into emerging audio technologies. The final product is a stackable set of speakers that can be separated and placed around the user for an immersive audio experience.
The speakers are easy to operate. To create a surround sound setup, simply remove the strap and place the seven speakers around your area. The speakers automatically sync volume and location to create a uniform audio space. When stacked together and secured with the strap, all the speakers, including the command base, work in unison to create a boombox experience similar to other portable speakers on the market.
One of the major challenges in designing Encircle Speakers was creating a user-friendly control system. A stack of speakers, each with its own set of controls, could be confusing for the user. To solve this issue, one speaker was designated the "lead" with a power cable. When the "lead" speaker is covered, a tactile control panel on the cable allows the user to control and carry the unit as a single operative speaker.
Encircle Speakers are a testament to innovation and design, offering a unique solution to a clear market gap. They represent a significant step forward in portable audio technology, providing a truly immersive surround sound experience in a portable format. With their unique design and functionality, Encircle Speakers are set to revolutionize the way we experience portable audio.
Project Designers: Cody Moore
Image Credits: Cody Moore
Project Team Members: Cody Moore
Project Name: Encircle Speakers
Project Client: Cody Moore