When you first use AIAIAI’s modular headphones, you should start by opening six separate bags. Each case has a different component inside that you need to connect to the others before finally plugging them in or turning on Bluetooth. But this unusual assembly process, which takes about five minutes, is a minor inconvenience for what will create a potentially seismic shift in our approach to electronics and sustainability.
Danish audio firm AIAIAI – pronounced ‘I, I, I’ – designed its latest TMA-2 Studio Wireless+ headphones to be fully modular, separating the headband, speaker units, ear pads, wireless transmitter and cables. Therefore, each of these components can be replaced if broken, upgraded to a newer or better part, or combined into a different configuration for different uses.
“Our goal was not to create the flavor of the month, but to create something that will be relevant for many years to come,” says AIAIAI founder Frederik Jørgensen. Independent.
“Modularity offers a much more sustainable and efficient way to replace and upgrade a product and create less waste over the life of the product. This is important in every industry, but it is even more important in technology, where technology often evolves rapidly, resulting in shorter product lifespans. This requires much more responsible and intelligently designed products.”
This isn’t the first attempt at modularity for consumer electronics. Google famously introduced its smartphone concept with Project Ara, but that effort failed before reaching customers.
Dutch firm Fairphone has made a more successful effort with its modular phones, which allow users to swap out everything from the battery to the camera component. The company also launched its own detachable over-ear headphones, but reviewers complained that the sound quality was poor compared to their £200 premium price.
What makes AIAIAI’s similarly priced headphones different is that they’re made by a company whose main focus has been audio for almost two decades. These are designed specifically for music creators; This means there are no shortcuts when it comes to sound quality.
The sound is truly extraordinary. I’m not an audiophile, but I’ve tried or reviewed most off-the-shelf brands, from Bose to Beats, and it matches the best of them. Comfort-wise, only the pillow-like Bose felt better on my head, and wearing them for six consecutive hours left no marks or discomfort.
People who understand things like frequency response and total harmonic distortion are also convinced of their own competence. While they’ve been used by the likes of Bonobo and Annie Mac, one expert audio reviewer described them as “exactly what you’d expect from a premium, premium headphone.”
So it’s no surprise that the first thing you see when you visit the company’s website is a bold statement that AIAIAI is “dedicated to powering the future of music creation.” But its newest headphones point not just to the future of music, but also to the future of consumer electronics.
“Sustainability is the future of electronics,” says Geonode innovation expert Philipp Pratt Independent. It highlights a growing trend “towards a future where electronics are innovative, efficient and kind to our planet.”
Pratt points out that, according to the 2023 report published by the World Economic Forum, the electronics industry produces 54 million tons of e-waste every year. A separate report by the United Nations last month found that world production of electronic waste is growing five times faster than e-waste recycling. The problem will continue to get worse unless various solutions are implemented.
“Simply put: Business as usual cannot continue,” said Krees Baldé, lead author of the UN report, and called for “more investment in infrastructure development, greater promotion of repair and reuse, capacity building and measures to stop illicit email” . -waste shipment”.
One way is for manufacturers to rethink how they produce their products. AIAIAI uses recycled plastic for its headphones and also subscribes to the right to repair movement. It provides detailed instructions on its website on how to repair any parts that might break. And if repairing them yourself is not an option, then each part can be ordered as spare parts.
For those who outgrow the headphones, there’s also a trade-in incentive program called Remixed; This means AIAIAI complies with all three principles of sustainability: Reduce, reuse, recycle.
They may have been one of the first to introduce recycled materials and reparability over a decade ago, but that trend appears to be continuing.
“Until recently, we were one of the few companies focused on sustainability. Tom Fletcher, AIAIAI Product Manager, told The Independent: “It’s really encouraging to see that there are now more companies in our industry embracing sustainable materials and practices.
Founder Frederik Jørgensen adds: “More companies are starting to use recycled materials, we can see more manufacturers introducing this, which is great for the industry as a whole. It’s very inspiring for us that we can be part of pushing some boundaries and making an impact in the industry.”
For some, the biggest appeal of these headphones will be the promise of lag-free wireless connectivity via an external transmitter, allowing them to play live music or edit videos without the noticeable lag introduced by Bluetooth connectivity.
For others, the main draw may be its amazing battery life. I’ve been using it every day for a month using Bluetooth and they’re still at 80 percent. Others may still be impressed by the minimalist, matte black aesthetic that suits their utilitarian design.
But much more than a great headphone, they quietly offer a model for how electronics can be produced sustainably and successfully.
“For us, as a small company, it is very inspiring and encouraging to be able to raise awareness of the urgency of improvements and support others in learning how to do this,” says Jørgensen.
“We all need to continue to get better; it’s an ongoing process where even small steps matter.”