Kickstarter

it's been a while since the last update, and here is why: I was busy improving the sound quality and didn't want to post half-baked news.

Short story:

I have secured a new supplier for all electronic and technical components: The Berlin Boombox will feature MIVOC PRO (http://www.mivoc.com/) speakers and amplifier.
The new amplifier is more powerful, the speakers are smaller, heavier and have a much much much better sound.
Just from looking at the pictures below you get an idea of the difference of quality between the speakers.
MIVOC are a German company who operate their own factory in China, where the speakers and amplifier will be custom made for the Berlin Boombox. They will also supply everything else, like the Rotary knob, and the audio cable and packaging.

Left: MIVOC PRO speaker, right: old paper cone speaker

Long story:
This new partnership with MIVOC is another example of the greatness of kickstarter.
Michael v. Keitz, owner of MIVOC from Solingen, Germany, heard about my kickstarter campaign and liked the project. He contacted me and offered to help me optimize and supply better components for the Berlin Boombox.
Since then he has been incredibly helpful, his audio engineers even helped me optimize the construction of the cardboard body. And they will design and manufacture the packaging for the Berlin Boombox.
I only now realize how crazy optimistic my original plan was to handle 5 different chinese suppliers, which proved difficult enough during the process of getting samples from them.
But the one thing that will be most important to you as a backer: the sound quality of the Berlin Boombox is really good now. I know that you all care about sound quality a lot, so I am happy about this. In fact, the audio people at MIVOC themselves were amazed how good a cardboard speaker could sound.

I will post an update on the tech specs soon.

Next up:
I will order the manufacturing of the components today, and everyone at MIVOC is trying their best to meet the timeplan. However if it comes to another delay I am confident that the quantum leap in quality is well worth it.
While the components are being manufactured in China, I will design the user manual, packaging graphics, run print test on cardboard. I will contact all backers who ordered custom versions in time so we can work on the custom graphics. Then the cardboard will be printed and die-cut. As soon as the container from China arrives everything will be packaged and shipped.

work in progress at the MIVOC factory in China

A funny looking mockup with the new speakers and amplifier arrives at my studio.

The new speakers

The new amp (sample, final product will have fewer and smaller elements)