DESIGN AND ENGINEERING: HIGH-END AT A NEW LEVEL
MAKING CHERISHED PRODUCTS EVEN BETTER – BUT HOW?
As our high-end T1 and T5 headphones have so impressively demonstrated, our products stand out because of the quality of their materials and not only due to the brilliance of their sound. When planning the successor product to our first-generation XELENTO, the challenge was to take the materials, design and engineering to a new level. So, we first asked ourselves: What is it exactly that our customers love about the XELENTO (1st generation) – and how can we further improve on it?
“The pursuit of something special – ultimately the search for a creative story – led us eventually back to the point of origin.“
Niko, Product Designer
Aesthetic sound tuning
The driver showed us the creative direction to take. We wanted our customers to appreciate the refinement of our sound using their eyes as well as their ears.
The new “TESLA.11” driver delivers a fine sound, coupled with a bass that brings pleasure to lovers of all styles of music. And it was precisely this lightness and authenticity that we also wanted to express in our product design. Many rejected versions later, and after hours of arduous hand-shaping using file and sandpaper, we finally came up with the perfect lines for the XELENTO (2nd generation).
Ergonomics and transparency
The XELENTO’s outstanding ergonomics is one of the things our customers cherished most about the first generation of these in-ear headphones, and this spurred us on to adapt the second generation to the needs of the human ear in an even better way. Visual changes were made to underline this aspect in the design, particularly the interplay between concave and convex elements on the decorative faceplate of the XELENTO (2nd generation).
“It was important for us to also make its incredibly transparent sound discernible for the eye as well.“
Niko, Product Designer
One of the methods used to convey its lightness and transparency though visual means was making the ear bud connectors transparent, giving a glimpse of the gold plating inside. The connectors are therefore connecting elements that play a visual role as well as a physical one.
The artwork on the faceplate of the new XELENTO is a unique feature. Logo and delicate lettering in 24-carat gold are added by hand to the faceplate’s high-gloss surface – and represent the crowning visual touch to our masterpiece.
Optics and engineering – one complements the other
Our newest in-ear has enabled us to reach a new high-end level. The visual changes, the super TESLA.11 driver and the enhanced ergonomics were the three major challenges facing engineers during development of the XELENTO (2nd generation). As part of the acoustic enhancements, a new fabric needed to be integrated into the miniature headphones to keep out moisture. This required setting up a new manufacturing process to reliably attach the delicate new fabric without damaging it.
“The second-generation XELENTO posed particular challenges due to the small dimensions of the housing. But we still managed to overcome them.“
Larissa, Mechanical Design Engineer
Our newest in-ear has enabled us to reach a new high-end level. The visual changes, the super TESLA.11 driver and the enhanced ergonomics were the three major challenges facing engineers during development of the XELENTO (2nd generation).
As part of the acoustic enhancements, a new fabric needed to be integrated into the miniature headphones to keep out moisture. This required setting up a new manufacturing process to reliably attach the delicate new fabric without damaging it.
“The second-generation XELENTO posed particular challenges due to the small dimensions of the housing. But we still managed to overcome them.“
Larissa, Mechanical Design Engineer
Surfaces – Overcoming challenges without making compromises
Due to the varying reflective properties and joins on the decorative faceplate, special attention was paid to the interplay of shiny and matt surfaces. And, over the entire course of the XELENTO (2nd generation) project, no compromises were ever envisaged with regard to surface quality. A particularly robust and scratch resistant coating was chosen to ensure our customers would have many years of enjoyment.
And the connectors between headphones and cables had to be of the very highest calibre. We carried out long-term tests on a wide range of possible connection combinations to identify the perfect candidates.
We are proud to be able to place this masterpiece of in-ear engineering at your disposal – a product you can take anywhere and always brings a smile to your face.
Outstanding design: Red Dot Award 2023 and iF Design Award 2023
Prestigious awards have confirmed how well we were able to master the challenges posed by the second generation of the XELENTO and bring the product to a new level.
With its exclusive design and audiophile sound quality, the XELENTO (2nd generation) boasts outstanding acoustics, superb ergonomics, technical precision and top quality – handcrafted in Germany. That the design is on the same first-class level as the sound was confirmed by the juries responsible for the Red Dot Award 2023 and the iF Design Award 2023.
“We were impressed by the precision craftsmanship of the XELENTO (2nd generation) in-ear headphones, which has resulted in a visually and acoustically flawless product.“
Jury, Red Dot Award 2023
Every year, the international experts on these juries choose top products with an exceptionally high standard in terms of design. These coveted awards number among the world’s most prestigious design prizes, and we are delighted that both product versions (XELENTO remote and XELENTO wireless) were chosen for their outstanding product design quality.
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