The 'form follows function' philosophy has been discarded in the design of audio speakers, and now anything goes
'Form follows function' or 'form ever follows function', as it was actually said, was a phrase made famous by American architect Louis Henri Sullivan. At the time, architectural design took a leap forward from the neoclassical world of the 19th century, when form followed precedent, to a brave new world, where conventions were dropped and design was ruled by practical concerns.
In the late 20th century, the form follows function design philosophy was turned on its head to become a well-worn set of conventions. These have since been used liberally to justify the designs of consumer products, from cars to kitchen equipment, much of which is form led by gimmickry.
The aesthetic credo of purposeful and utilitarian design, however, has lived on and continues to find expression in the design of loudspeakers for the high-end audio market, where form determines the character and quality of the product.
'The cabinet which holds driver units has a big influence on the overall sound - not just the shape but the materials used in construction. The cabinet can be the most expensive component of the speaker, due to the materials and equipment needed to manufacture it, and the extensive research and development underlying its design,' said Antony Yim of B&W Asia.
What makes a good cabinet? Ask six sound engineers and you may get six different answers, but there are two principles that they all must adhere to. The cabinet must be solidly constructed. The speaker driver's motion, which creates sound, also creates pressure inside a cabinet. If the cabinet is not constructed using a high-density material and tightly braced, it will flex under pressure, producing its own sound. This reduces the clarity of the music reproduced by the speaker.