ecopixel's ghetto blaster is a bluetooth stereo made from recycled plastics

designed by jan puylaert, ecopixel’s ‘ghetto blaster’ is a vented bluetooth stereo offering top-quality sound in a stylish, portable design. boasting a 240 watt (120 watt AES/RMS) 5,5” coaxial speaker, the product also utilizes a new sound-absorbing material made from recycled plastics.

all images © mariandrea zambrano

ecopixel is an italian company that develops recycled plastic materials for use in architecture and design. in their continuous research into waste plastics, they have recently created a new range of materials based on a ‘multiple layer’ concept. with this approach it is possible to create a single material that builds up in different layers. different layers with different densities or even with different structural qualities can be combined. this variation affords countless possibilities, one of which includes a sound-absorbing material.

due to a softer, roughly shaped inner layer and a higher density, or ‘stiffer’, outer layer, a new material was created with high sound-absorbing capacity. this material, aptly named ‘audio’, proved to be ideal for loudspeaker enclosures especially since ecopixel can be shaped into any design. together with sound engineer joseph szall, an italo/hungarian specialist, the research and testing of ecopixel’s new material led to a spherical-shaped stereo.

in this first edition ecopixel integrated a simple bluetooth receiver in order to enjoy music in high quality ‘without instructions’. using the latest italian-made coaxial speaker units, featuring neodymium 1,5” treated silk dome-tweeters and 5,5” rubber surround double asymmetric damped cone woofer (DAR), a frequency response from 70hz to well over 20khz was achieved. the incredibly clean bass response was obtained thanks to the ‘audio’ material enclosure that with very little extra sound absorbing material translates the electrical input into a warm but firm and clean bass sound.

the design includes separated calculated vented pipes for DX and SX channel point in both directions, as well as DX and SX speakers, point to opposite directions creating special stereo effects playing with various wall-reflection possibilities. the specially developed 6/12db crossover filter divides woofer from tweeter at 3.500hz and the cylindrical-enclosure even incorporates a handle for easy portability. 

render of the ghetto blaster

exploded view

due to a softer roughly shaped inner layer and a higher densified ‘stiffer’ outer layer, a new material was created with high sound-absorbing capacity

project info:

project name: ghetto blaster by ecopixel
design: jan puylaert

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom