The Syng Cell Alpha speaker is what James Caan would use to make his high-rise apartment sound like in Rollerball. It might be something that Charlton Heston, a grubby detective, would notice when he visited Joseph Cotton’s luxurious digs in 1972’s . It’s our sci-fi vision.
Although the path of industrial design did not follow that exact course, Syng still chose to embrace the aesthetic and launch an audio company that produces a single product. It is a speaker that fulfills both that retro promise and looks great in any mid-century modern setting.
Christopher Stringer, an ex-Apple industrial designer and lead designer for the original iPhone, founded Syng. Damon Way, the founder of DC Shoes, is Stringer’s cofounder. These two men are experts in creating consumer goods that inspire fierce devotion. The Cell Alpha speakers will bring that joy to those who listen and accept them as they are.
Assembling the Syng Cell Alpha and setting it up
Syng
Syng has designed a simple and elegant experience that will appeal to all listeners. The Cell Alpha isn’t for audio-heads who value flexibility, versatility and the ability to tweak settings endlessly. The Cell Alpha is a private garden that offers a well-curated experience from beginning to end.
The unboxing begins the experience. To prevent scratches during shipping, each speaker is removed from the box and wrapped in a protective shiny-silver covering. The dull matte black covering that was meant to protect the trashcan could have worked just as well. Yes, the silver has a sci-fi feel that syng is trying to convey.
As the power cable threads through the stand, it disappears. The assembly is simple and satisfying. You can expect high-quality parts at this price. However, it is always a relief to see the threads match on the first attempt. The resistance you feel after screwing them together will let you know when you have achieved the perfect torque.
James Barber/Foundry
The Syng app for iOS continues the setup. This is another aspect of the Syng experience that will frustrate some of its potential users. Although the company claims that Android support will be available soon, the seamless setup and fact that the designer is an Apple alum suggest that the whole experience may be tied to iOS. It’s not possible for them to duplicate it on other platforms.
The Syng Space app has become so integral to the experience, that the instructions for setting up the speakers stop at the point you turn them on. They tell you to “continue setup within the Syng app” until your iPhone takes control.
First, create an account using your phone number. This is so Syng can send you a verification code to tie your device to the speaker. Once you are done, you will enjoy an intuitive and clear setup experience in a beautifully designed application.
Bluetooth is used to establish the initial connection. The speaker will make a beep when it adds your account. Next, connect to your Wi-Fi network using the Syng Space app. Next, you will need to name the area where your Cell Alpha will reside. Next, activate Syng’s Soundcheck process. Your speaker will then play sounds to help you read the room. To match the position of the speaker in your room, you can move the image on the app screen.
