About this project
Trobla: A wooden amplifier for iPhone and other smartphones
$58,941
In this day of e-waste and fast consumption, smartphones are a common reality, and while the thought of ridding ourselves completely of all hard-to-recycle gadgets is not realistic, the way in which we use these products is.
We use our smartphones to play music, yet we find it frustrating that their tiny speakers are not strong enough to set any sort of atmosphere. We like to work with wood, so we set ourselves the challenge of creating an amplifier that doesn’t require a single electronic component.
We have developed a product whose function lies in its simplicity and sustainability. With no complex technology involved, all emphasis is centered on quality sound. And, you don’t need an app for that.
SOUND
We designed and tested multiple prototypes to make our amplifier live up to its name. Trobla is the Slovenian word for horn, and we want to orchestrate the best sound a horn can produce. The secret lies in getting it to come out as smooth as possible from your smartphone through the amp. We used a cone to keep tones sharp and created a special chamber to enhance the stereophony and low frequencies.
FUNCTION
Trobla is made to be adaptable to the diversity of smartphones available today and in the future. By focusing on devices with speakers on the bottom, we developed a system of detachable pieces (adapters) that can be easily interchanged to fit different generations of iPhone or other smartphone models
HANDSOME AND ON THE GO
Whether you’re setting the mood on a picnic, leading a yoga class, or cooking with friends, Trobla has got you covered. It is light in weight and can easily be thrown into your bag, so you can create atmosphere wherever you go.
The feeling of wood in your hands connects you back to nature, where this wood was sourced. The design and function make Trobla an object of desire in sight and sound.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP
A lot of handwork and material goes into building one single Trobla. Backing us means we will be able to procure new tools, equipment, materials for production, and set up our production process.
TEAM
Matej Rodela - TOK TOK
Andrej Koruza - TOK TOK
Martin Šoštarič - TOK TOK
Dean Grgurica and Suzana Srdić - pictures and moving pictures team
Nina Mršnik - the illustrator
Davor Lonzarič - master of the interwebs
Marko Bergamasco - builder of prototypes
Melissa Gagné - the communicator, the copy writer and the Canadian
Maja Rodela - the communicator #2
Nika Logar - social media dweller
Mitja Cerkvenik alias Jesusonecstasy - the musician
Niko Klanšek - the business consultant
Supported by the coworking space RIIBA
Special thanks to Jurij Lozić, Tine Nagy, Tomaž Cindrič and Jan Kikelj
SPECIFICATIONS AND SHIPPING
Trobla is almost a cube. It measures 3.15 x 3.9 x 3.9 inches or 8 x 10 x 10 centimeters (LxWxH) and weighs 0.66 pounds or 300 grams. Worldwide priority shipping is $8.
TIMELINE
Once we reach our goal, we will start production immediately because everything is set and ready to go. We only need to purchase wood, magnets, and make the necessary tools. The earlybird Troblas will be shipped in the first half of June, while the others will be shipped late June/July.
Risks and challenges
The Trobla is a product that we’ve been working on for almost 15 months. We made our first prototype completely by hand and then tried to produce a larger amount, only to discover that it’s impossible to work this way. We searched for solutions and obtained access to a CNC cutting machine that will make our work much easier, allowing us to focus on the details. We still glue and sand each Trobla by hand because we want to ensure quality production.
We have also tested prototypes for the tools we’ll need to make such as the press and sanding adapters. We have established contact with wood suppliers and have secured worldwide delivery for Trobla.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterFAQ
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We have designed each detachable piece/adapter to fit the measurements of each listed phone. This means your phone will work and fit best without the case on. There are too many types of smartphone cases on the market to create pieces that will fit different phones with these added variations. Keep your phones naked!
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If you want another adapter (or two, three, four…) you can increase your pledge amount by $5/adapter and send us a message indicating that you have increased the pledge for this purpose.
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When the campaign is over and you end up getting a different phone, you can contact us at www.trobla.com and order a new adapter directly from us. We will also create new adapters to fit future generations of smartphones once they are released.
Rewards
Funding period
- (40 days)