It went out into space on September 5, 1977 and is now the farthest man-made object from our planet. I’m talking about the Voyager spacecraft, which is now in interstellar space, and contains something extremely unique not only in the annals of audiophile history, but in human history too. Affixed to the Voyager spacecraft, in an attempt to communicate with intelligent, extraterrestrial beings is the so-called Golden Record. Contained on this metal LP was as then-U.S. President Jimmy Carter said “… a present from a small, distant world, a token of our sounds, our science, our images, our music, our thoughts and our feelings. We are attempting to survive our time so we may live into yours.”
With the crossover nexus of art, culture, design, and music being lifestyle, Wynn Wong of Wynn Audio has chosen to showcase a unique concept space at the Interior Design Show in Toronto from January 18-21. Wong commissioned Arc & Co. to handle the design, and construction of a truly unique listening “room” for show goers to experience what it’s like to be completely immersed in an aural space, but an aural space featuring the powered, wireless, 600-watt, three-way Goldmund Logos Satya loudspeakers, and Thales TTT Compact turntable as an analog source.
I’ve personally never seen, or even heard of anything like this, so when I got wind that Wong was planning it, I wanted more details because I think this could be something to not only really capture both traditional audiophile, and music lovers imaginations, but also people at a design show who have never been exposed to a high-end, two-channel home hifi system. Many of those attending a high-end interior design show would think nothing of spending $200,000 USD on a new kitchen, so why not show them what their money can buy when it comes to state-of-the-art stereo equipment? The Satya’s are an amazing statement loudspeaker that require only to be plugged in to power on, the rest is handled via a wireless dongle – because c’mon, unsightly cables aren’t a selling point to anyone in my experience.
Wong said, “The Interior Design Show is perfect for us to reach out to non-audiophiles and demonstrate one of the best high-end audio systems to the public, which allows them to have a better understanding of true fidelity. It’s important to educate them and show them the difference between their ‘everyday audio system’ and a properly set up high-fidelity audio system. I hope this experience will bring more people into the high-end audio hobby.”
The concept space designers Annie Chou, and Robert Joe Cortez, explained it thusly:
“The concept revolves around the The Golden Record. Since the Golden Record was sent into space back in the 1977 with the sounds of the Earth, we want to take that experience into the IDS floor. Wynn Audio will be a listening booth where people will go in and peek their heads inside to listen to the Golden Record. Inside it will be dark with a fire rated sparkle velvet curtain and a few hints of light (lighting the product and the perimeter of the ceiling). The outside is a full brushed-gold laminate exterior designed to resemble the shape of a modern gramophone.”
They added this about the Goldmund Speakers featured at the Wynn Audio space:
“Aside from its ultra-luxe price point (pricing can go up to $700,000 USD/pair), the Satya made it into MOMA in 1987 and has such a visionary concept/design that is impossible to be outdated. Words can not describe the sound they produce, once you experience it— it stays with you for the rest of your life. This is also why we are creating this space to reference the Golden Record, because both of them made history and are symbols of human excellence.”
–Rafe Arnott
Loved it!
What a superb idea and project, well done Wynn Audio for thinking ‘outside the box’ and creating an incredible space that’s let’s people experience the amazing performance of a Goldmund audio system, which I think is simply the best in the world.
AMAZING!!