HYLIXA and the Evolution of Hi-Fi Design – Presence vs. Convenience

When Node stepped onto the Hi-Fi stage in the late 2010s, it entered a community that seemed to be going in two directions.

At one end, high-end audio manufacturers continued to gravitate toward monolithic, box-like loudspeakers, which had, up until the early 2000s, been the preferred design for most home Hi-Fi systems. At the other, there was a clear swing in the industry toward smaller, more discreet speakers, which have now become almost hegemonic in meeting most people’s home audio needs. This transition has been a result of the evolution of digital technology over the past thirty years, and the increasing importance of convenience in modern music culture, as listeners now pursue speed, size and aesthetics over sound quality.

While this change poses important questions as to how we as a culture consume music, it is not all bad for traditionally leaning audiophiles. What had been an axiom within the Hi-Fi community, that larger, and usually wired, loudspeakers offered better sound as it was easier to transmit large amounts of data down a wire than it was via wireless methods, has been challenged as wireless transmission technology continues to improve. With lossless compression of sound files and more powerful drivers for smaller devices, smaller loudspeakers are getting better at producing sound as truthfully as possible.

Nevertheless, the point remains that a larger loudspeaker will tend to outperform a smaller one, thanks to a more natural bass extension and an ability to deliver low pitch and large sounds without strain or distortion.

The problem this presented for Node was that an overbearing physicality to loudspeakers was rightly being taken away, but at the expense of audio quality. The question then was how to create a loudspeaker that had the highest audio standards, whilst also being a design that people would want, and have the space to own, regardless of it being a luxury loudspeaker.

Through an innovative approach to cabinet design, Node’s answer has been HYLIXA, which extensively uses additive manufacturing to unlock new levels of performance and aesthetics. ‘Grown’ as a 3D structure, via Selective Laser Sintering, HYLIXA exists a relatively small, 960x330x378mm, 15 kg cabinet, which hidden within is a helical transmission line that if unfurled would reach 1.6m long. The result is a bass extension that can more than compete with its much larger counterparts.

Additionally, far from being the archetypal loudspeaker with huge circular drivers mounted in an imposing composite enclosure, HYLIXA’s drive units are all part of one coherent, cylindrical design. This region usually houses the crossover, the device that splits the audio signal into specific frequencies for each driver. The crossover can also clutter transmission, so HYLIXA’s crossover is instead stored in the stand, in a unique magazine-like design, which means that frequencies emanate almost all from one origin and in the crucial time-domain, giving the loudspeaker superior texture and sonic timbre.    

Slender and discrete whilst also visually engaging, HYLIXA’s organic looking shape and options for customisation allow it to blend well into any environment - the pod can be glossed or finished in silk, while the metal facia and feet are available in a wide range of finishes, including 24 karat gold, rose gold and polished nickel, amongst many others.

With HYLIXA, Node brings back a sense of presence to loudspeaker design, reconnecting listeners to the multi-sensory experience of music, whilst avoiding the overwhelming physicality of other Hi-Fi sets.