A-PQ1 — An Industrial Audio Unit That Chose Not to Hide Its Wiring
Most audio gear tries hard to hide its wiring, but this one does the opposite — it openly exposes the cables and connectors. The industrial look, with an analog VU meter and a cluster of knobs, is exactly my kind of thing, so it immediately caught my eye.
📊 Quick Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Designer | Hagar Guri (industrial designer) |
| Price | TBD |
| Materials/Specs | Metal housing, 2 analog VU meters, GAIN/BASS/TREBLE/MASTER and other knobs |
| Key Feature | An audio gain/EQ unit that leaves its wiring and connectors fully exposed |
| One-line Review | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Not hiding anything actually makes it look cooler |
✨ 3-Line Summary
- 👍 Best thing: The strong presence created by exposed wiring and the analog VU meter
- 👎 What's unclear: The exact purpose (speaker or audio processor?) and the price
- 🎯 Who it's for: Anyone who wants a vintage-audio-gear-style object on their desk
📸 Product Gallery
A classic industrial look with the VU meters and knobs placed right on the front
The connector and cable layout seen from another angle
Close-up of the knobs and switches
The full silhouette
🔍 Why I'm Interested
A design philosophy that refuses to hide
Most audio gear is finished to keep internal wiring out of sight, but this one goes the opposite direction and leaves the cables fully exposed. Showing exactly "how this thing works" with your own eyes somehow made it feel more trustworthy.
The appeal of an analog VU meter
Using a needle-based VU meter instead of a digital display is a definite emotional touch point. It's refreshing to see a product deliberately adopt this kind of analog interface these days.
The finish of a designer object
Maybe because it comes from an individual industrial designer's work, it feels more polished as an object than a simple functional product. Placed on a desk, it seems like it would have real presence on its own.
🤔 What Gives Me Pause
The exact product identity is unclear
It's introduced as a "speaker," but from the images it looks more like an audio processing unit with gain and equalizer knobs attached. I'd need to confirm whether it actually includes a speaker driver.
Price and purchase route unknown
It has strong overtones of an individual designer's personal work, so I'd need to check whether there's actually a route for a regular consumer to buy it.
📋 Product Features (Subjective Rating)
- Design: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Portability: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (a stationary object)
- Practicality: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- Value: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (price unconfirmed)
🛒 Before You Buy
✅ Recommended for
- Anyone who loves the industrial look distinctive of vintage audio gear
- Anyone looking for a design object to place on their desk
❌ Not recommended for
- Anyone who prefers minimalist appliances with wiring cleanly hidden away
- Anyone who prioritizes practicality and value above all else
🎯 Final Verdict
The very idea of building audio gear this way — "showing all its insides" — was fascinating to me. The industrial look created by the VU meter and exposed wiring is definitely an appealing object.
The exact specs and purchase route still need confirming, but the design alone is eye-catching enough to earn a spot on my wishlist.
Source: Yanko Design product page
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