by TOK TOK
The portable and sustainable solution that enhances your phone’s sound in style.
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.
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.
Trobla is adapted to be flexible in matching the diversity of smartphones available today and in the future. Focusing on devices with speakers on the bottom, we developed a system of detachable pieces that can be easily interchanged to fit changing generations of iPhone or different smartphone models.
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.
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.
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
Mitja Cerkvenik alias Jesusonecstasy – the musician
Niko Klanšek – the business consultant
Supported by the coworking space RIIBA
Special thanks to Jurij Lozić, Tine Nagy and Jan Kikelj
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.
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.