The Gen XY Lifestyle
ARCHT One Kickstarts an Omnidirectional Revolution
Effective, true multi-directional speaker solutions are few and far between, so it’s no surprise that it came down to Kickstarter to put one on the market: the ARCHT One.
The concept for the ARCHT One couldn’t be any simpler. A home audio system that’s designed to support a wide range of streaming services, streaming methods, and yet, flexible in where it can placed in the house. The modern design also lends itself well to most home decor.
The ARCHT One is rated for 100W, so it packs quite a bit of a volume punch in relation to its size. Only three speakers are used; a full range driver for mids and highs, with a sub-woofer and passive radiator for the bass. A Sound Array module turns the sound waves from directional to omni-directional. What this means is that unlike most conventional speaker systems you don’t need to be in a specific location to enjoy the ‘sweet spot.’
Its connectivity options are impressive as well – the ARCHT One supports Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Wi-Fi, DLNA, direct USB (for iPhone), and standard 3.5mm auxiliary-in. With Wi-Fi, you are able to stream high-resolution audio of up to 24-bit/192kHz. You can link up to six ARCHT devices can be linked over AirPlay in a multi-room (or single room) arrangement, and you also have the option to do a stereo setup with a second ARCHT One via Bluetooth.
They’ve included basic, capacitive-touch controls like play/pause and track skipping on the distinctive halo-like implement of the ARCHT One (the sound array), but you’ll get the most out of the ARCHT via the free app, which enables an easy setup, gives you custom EQ presets, and even sound optimisation calibration for your room.
It may also surprise you that ARCHT (pronounced ark) Audio, the company responsible for the ARCHT One wireless speaker, actually hails from Singapore. The ARCHT One was developed here and then validated in the US. It first made an appearance on Kickstarter, and exceeded its original target of USD$70,000 with USD$242,000 from over 500 backers.
The ARCHT One is now retailing for S$999 in Gloss Black, with Gloss White and Gloss Red to follow in November 2015 and January 2016 respectively. It is available at AV Intelligence (Millenia Walk), Nimbus (Wheelock), CumulusNimbus (Bugis Junction), TwoBros Lifestyle & Gadget Store (Novena Square), The Bear Knows (Park Mall & The Centrepoint) and other authorised ARCHT Audio dealers and departmental stores.
