Kunihiro Tsuji's water-based MODAL loudspeaker

We've seen our fair share of strange, outlandish, overly heavy, and even ocean-related speakers before, but Japanese "sound space designer" Kunihiro Tsuji has crafted a sound reproducing medium that just might make the fishes a bit envious. The MODAL Water Speaker will be presented at this year's Milano Design Week, and aside from belting out tones, it sports quite a peculiar (albeit impressive) design scheme. The presumably monophonic speaker "transmits sound via a resonance box filled with water," and features four surrounding support beams that hold a long vase of liquid, topped off with a loudspeaker that sits atop the water's surface. Although we're not savvy on the RMS rating, price, or availability outside of the design show, we appreciate the ingenuity if nothing else, but just thinking about how our favorite artists would sound gargling a mouth full of water while singing certainly gives us pause. Click on through for the full, unadulterated (and uber-lengthy) photo.

[top 100 baby names @ Feb 2nd 2007 8:44AM]

well if it doesn't work at least it will look nice in a corner of yourliving room.

I'm just wondering what's the maximum decibel it can go upto ...

baby boy and baby girl names

[JB @ Feb 2nd 2007 10:56AM]

But, does it blend?

[Chocolate Starfish @ Feb 2nd 2007 11:02AM]

Why should the fishes be jealous? Let them live in it.

[tundraboy @ Feb 2nd 2007 11:29AM]

So who's going to clean up the green gunk when it starts to build up in the water?

[davix @ Feb 2nd 2007 12:01PM]

That would one cool aquarium. Fish on one side some baby water turtles on the other...

[Hobo Joe Junkpan @ Feb 2nd 2007 1:21PM]

But what about the sounds waves hitting those fish. I mean, we could be talking about exploding aquatic life here if that thing really is a loudspeaker.

[Bud2000 @ Feb 2nd 2007 4:14PM]

I bet that sounds crystal clear

[tijn @ Feb 2nd 2007 4:16PM]

Looks nice, i wonder if it doubles as a bong too :p

[terry @ Feb 3rd 2007 10:47AM]

what happens when the water evaporates? does it loose pitch?