* DESIGN OF
THE YEAR 2015

Dita, The Answer Earphones, says Danny Tan, was conceived as a solution to the problem of personal spaces shrinking as a result of an increasingly crowded environment. “We wanted to expand the quality of an individual’s personal space so that they could enjoy their music any time in any place. So, the brief we gave ourselves was simple: build the best device we can using the most advanced technics that is at once state-of-the-art and simple to use.”

The team – which comprised Danny Tan, Desmond Tan and Darren Goh – took an engineering approach to the design. Getting the ergonomics right was a challenge, as was the machining of the components and material selection.

The solution was found in breaking each problem down to its most minute detail. “This way,” says Danny, “we could get to the root of the problem.”

For instance, the designers insisted on using commonly available raw materials. “When used creatively, they can produce products that are best in class,” Danny explains. “It is also far easier to predict and control the manufacturing process. This, in turn, allows us to reduce unnecessary manufacturing costs.”

In the same vein, Dita, The Answer Earphones is engineered with standard multi-axis CNC machining and chemical etching to produce a consistent and durable finish.

The result is a high-fidelity earphone that is voiced with reference grade speakers to closely reproduce the tonality and dynamic impact of top-tier stereo systems. The design is packed with intuitive features, not least a tactile nub that enables left and right plugs to be easily identified in dimly lit settings like aircraft cabins, while the flight adaptor is custom-designed to work with most commercial passenger aircrafts and highlights the technical emphasis of the company.

Even the cables have been considered – not only are they weather-tested for heavy use in a tropical climate, they are oversized so as to be less prone to tangling.

What’s more, the main earphone body is flat and compact to keep the centre of gravity close to the ear. This design feature prevents the piece from losing its seal against the ear canal that would result in marginal low frequency perception. The earpieces also stay securely in place so that the user is not constantly adjusting and fiddling with them.

These are design considerations – and there are many more – that result from patient dissection of engineering problems which, in turn, are solved by original analysis. The cause is also aided by a practicality that’s based on thorough research and canvassing of all available options.

“We wanted our products to be as easy to use as possible while also balancing certain specialist technical merits,” says Danny.

From the sounds of it, he and his team have certainly achieved that objective.