A design that overlaps with my ideals.
. I would like to ask you about music in terms of fashion and culture.
Seki:I was in the heyday of melocoa for my generation, so I was mainly listening to punk in my 20s and was very influenced by the music. I also went to London Nights (a legendary rock event that started in 1980), and I also did events when I was in college. At that time, people who liked punk also dressed like punks, and fashion and music were very close in terms of culture. Actually, I have a Technics SL-1200MK3 turntable.
Mr. Seki, looking at it from the aspect of architectural design, what would you like to see in the design of audio equipment in a space?
Seki:Personally, when installing audio equipment, I prefer something that does not look out of place when placed, rather than the idea of fitting into a space. . Many of them stand out badly because of their materials and finishes.
Today I brought the SC-C70MK2 from Technics, what do you think of this one?
Seki:From this perspective, the SC-C70MK2 seems to fit whether the floor material is mortar or wood. . I felt that it would fit in any space and would raise the quality of the space to a higher level. I think the best product is an empty box, in other words, something that can be placed in an empty space and make the space more uplifting. I would like to use it in a hotel I am designing, and personally, I think it would be nice to put it in a Japanese-style room, and I would like to have it in a townhouse (laughs).
Japanese-style rooms? I heard that some hotels are actually installing them. The SC-C70MK2 seems to be a newly designed, modern version of the high-end audio system from the "National" era inspired by the "Shosoin" (Japanese storehouse).
Seki:I see, it is the louver part of the front, isn't it? . No wonder it reminds me of a Japanese-style room. Also, I like the way the corners from the top panel to the sides of the panel are laid out. The way the edges are drawn out gives it a much more luxurious appearance. It is a cool design that also has a "Technics" feel to it.
You look at products from the same perspective as architectural design, in terms of their individual parts. Usually, I notice something "nice" when I use a product.
Seki:I would look at it in parts. That being said, I think the fit of the volume buttons and such is very nice. I'm also glad that only the power and volume controls are analog, because it's easy to see how much volume you've turned up, and it's a specification that ensures reliable operation.
Seki:And what I especially like is the way the shadows fall. As I do when I design, it looks completely different depending on how the shadows are cast. . I personally think that the quality of an object is determined by the mass of the shadows.
. It is an oriental aesthetic, as described by Junichiro Tanizaki in his famous book "In-ei Raisan". What do you think of the design as a whole?
Seki:I am impressed by the fact that it is well designed but not too assertive. I think people are always tempted to make their own assertions. I sometimes feel the same way about a space, but I think that you try to avoid that as much as possible. You are designing, but you are not trying to show too much of it. That would be the ideal design for me, too. How did you come up with the dimensions of the "SC-C70MK2"?
I heard that they put a wooden box inside for sound quality, but there is a constant struggle between the inside and the outside, starting with the need to take the space volume into account for sound quality.
Seki:. It is similar to the way I think about architecture. In a restaurant, the kitchen space is absolute, so we organize information from the things that will be placed there and assemble them. The reason I asked you about this is because in architecture, dimensions are generally chosen based on a neat number, but in our studio, we try to create what we think are beautiful dimensions after a thorough trial.
That's an unusual way of doing things. Both are invisible, but both are filled with feelings.
Seki:I realized that the best thing to do with such a product is to place it in a space to enhance the quality of the space. This is because the technology is the best available today, and the appearance is the same. The same is true for the appearance of the product. It is the right thing to do, not just to use inexpensive materials, but to pay attention to the beauty of the product, such as by creating clean edges.
Now that you've actually heard the music, how do you like the sound?
Seki:. It has a very dynamic sound despite its compact size. It's great for home use, but it's also loud enough to be used in a café or restaurant. You can also listen to CDs, play music right from a subscribe such as Spotify, or use "Space Tune™ Auto" to automatically adjust the sound to match the environment.
