Mar 16, 2015 8 Questions With: Archt Audio
ARCHT One. A multi-directional wireless speaker that can automatically adapt to its surroundings to deliver optimal sound quality. Launched on Kickstarter back in late 2014, ARCHT One gained immediate popularity amongst the major tech publications and consumers alike more than tripling their funding goal to the tune of $240,000 by the time their campaign closed. In addition to having an assortment of modern features and design built into the speaker, it can also double as an unlikely guitar amp that can pack some serious punch for its small size – a feature that can certainly provide some great value for your average guitar hobbyist.
Co-founder Evan Foo had a vision to change the way that music is both seen and heard, and had no shortage of talent to bring that vision to fruition. Starting his career in the global technology hub of Silicon Valley he eventually moved on to managing a government-backed Venture Capital fund in Singapore where he was instrumental in developing their entrepreneurial ecosystem. He also graduated from the National University of Singapore with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, and earned a minor in Technopreneurship through the NUS Overseas College Scholarship at Stanford University.
1) What is ARCHT ONE and how did you come up with the idea?
ARCHT One (pronounced ARK), is an all-in-one wireless speaker that delivers consistent multidirectional sound, optimized to your surroundings. The design architecture of ARCHT One is based on its patented Sound Array, located at the top of the speaker. It incorporates a multi-speaker audio experience into a single device, delivering rich highs and deep bass that is optimized to your environment via a mobile application. The revolutionary sonic signature, modern design and intuitive features allows users to place ARCHT One anywhere to enjoy consistent, high-quality sound everywhere – all from the comforts of a single audio device.
ARCHT One is the brainchild of audio expert, Samuel Tan. Samuel has extensive experience in the car audio industry and engineered ARCHT One’s patented Sound Array, the key innovation piece that marries ARCHT One’s groundbreaking design with its acoustic technology. An award-winning car audio enthusiast, Sam specializes in building advanced speakers in tight spaces. This gave rise to the creation of the Sound Array, which delivers consistent, high-quality sound in a compact space.
2) What does a typical day look like for you?
Typically my mornings are spent on strategic planning and team calls while my afternoons are for business development and external calls/meetings. Dinners are reserved for family and friends and later at night I’ll correspond with our Singapore office on ARCHT Audio’s Asian sales and operations.
3) As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up?
As a kid I wanted to play football for Manchester United, scoring the winning goal in injury time to win the Champions league.
4) What do you find most challenging about your role?
As CEO of my own company one of the biggest challenges is ensuring that the team is moving forward at the same pace. Running a global operation means partners have to think and act independently while working in the same strategic direction. However, the nature of the job requires adapting quickly to the ever-changing market conditions and having the flexibility to perform more than one role effectively. So the idea is to promote independent action toward an end goal with certain boundaries.
Establishing clear communication channels and objectives are key. At this stage, adding a new person to the team changes this dynamic. If it works out better, great. However, if it doesn’t then a decision needs to be made if the system or personnel should be changed.
5) How does ARCHT One adapt to its surroundings and how does this differ from traditional surround sound speakers?
In order to adapt to its environment the ARCHT One includes a location-based optimization sensor that works with the iOS ARCHT One app to optimize the equalization settings on the system. Users control the app from their smartphone and it directs the ARCHT One’s sound optimizer to send out spatial test tones that measures the acoustics of the environment. The ARCHT One receives feedback and balances its frequency response for the best sound configuration. ARCHT One is different from traditional surround sound speakers as the Sound Array modifies the dispersion pattern.
Unlike traditional speakers that diffuse sound horizontally, ARCHT One diffuses sound on both a horizontal and vertical plane and the result is an even sound dispersion that is much wider and provides a more dynamic audio experience for users. What’s more, the ARCHT One uses three speakers – a full range driver for the mids and highs, and a subwoofer and a passive radiator for the bass. Each of these speakers are equipped with a Sound Array module that transforms the speakers from directional to omnidirectional.
6) What’s your favorite post-work destination?
My favorite post-work destination is the gym and soccer pitch.
7) If you could give some advice to your teenage self, what would it be?
I would tell my teenage self that learning begins with trying something new.
8) Where do you find inspiration?
This excerpt from the poem ‘The Man Who Thinks He Can’ by Napoleon Hill has been a source for my inspiration: “Life battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man who wins is the one who thinks he can.”