Design Insights NX-70A

A form that emerges from refining sound.

The NX-70A is an all-in-one Hi-Fi speaker that could only come from Yamaha, a company that also manufactures musical instruments. With the amplifier and network functions housed in a single unit, it welcomes even those who are experiencing Hi-Fi audio for the first time. Because the NX-70A’s position is fundamentally different from that of previous products, its form, too, had to be explored anew. Giving the speaker the presence of a musical instrument was another important theme of this design.

The starting point was the very principle by which musical instruments produce beautiful sound. In a box-shaped enclosure, sound reflected inside bounces back and forth between opposing surfaces, creating standing waves that muddy the overall tone. Instead, a non-parallel structure of smooth, curved surfaces, much like the sides of an acoustic guitar, was adopted to create an enclosure in which standing waves are less likely to form in the first place. These instrument-like curves were not an attempt to imitate an instrument; they emerged as a result of uncompromising pursuit of superior sound.

In determining the basic shape, the last question to be resolved was whether the top panel should be slanted or horizontal. Slanting it would break the parallel relationship between the top and bottom surfaces, resulting in an even clearer sound. The approach of letting sound determine the form can also be conveyed to anyone who sees it. The large curves on the sides reduce sound diffraction, while the three-dimensional shape around the tweeter balances directivity with an expansive sound field. The aluminum plates on the top and bottom dampen unwanted resonance while also increasing the rigidity of the enclosure. The screws that secure them are also deliberately left visible, so that the solidity of the construction itself becomes an expression of quality.

The appearance of the speaker’s rear was also important to this design. In many musical instruments, beauty extends even to interior parts that are rarely seen. When a grand piano is played, its lid is raised to reveal the intricate mechanism within. That same sensibility is brought to the NX-70A, where copper-colored accents highlight functionally important elements. The color was inspired by the frame inside a piano, while also representing copper, the conductive material that supports the amplifier’s performance. Likewise, the bass reflex port, heat vents, and terminals are not simply lined up in orderly rows, but rather arranged with a sense of rhythm so that they sit harmoniously alongside one another.

Every element is aligned on a central axis. The top plate of the dedicated floor stand is tilted at the same angle as the slanted top panel of the speaker, and its base is shaped as a concentric arc mirroring the curve on the front of the main unit. The same design language carries through to the remote control.

Color, too, was approached with the same mindset. For the white model, a grayish tone with subdued brightness was chosen. There is no such thing as a dazzling white in everyday living spaces. This understated white conveys a soft, subtle quality that lends character to the color itself. Rather than being the first thing to catch the eye upon entering a room, it is intended to blend quietly into the space. Because the product combines metal, resin, and MDF—materials that differ in both shrinkage rates and manufacturing methods—achieving this single, unified tone required many rounds of fine-tuning in collaboration with the engineers.

With the NX-70A, audio becomes not a piece of precision equipment, but a cherished partner in daily life—much like a musical instrument. The form of the NX-70A exists entirely for the sake of sound. The result is a speaker embodying the idea that the power of design can truly contribute to sound quality.