The Prodigy’s founder Liam Howlett has worked alongside band member Maxim and Flare inventor Davies Roberts for over two years with the mission of finding earphones with “extraordinary clarity, dynamics and raw energy.” Howlett had been using Flare earphones since June 2017; the brand also admitted they were fans of The Prodigy since the beginning, with Howlett’s “extraordinary approach to music production” having resonated with them. Howlett said, “There were no earphones out there that I could trust the sound of. So Maxim and I decided to build our own from scratch.” The Prodigy tasked Flare with creating an earphone that could reproduce their music exactly as they intended, whilst simultaneously transforming the average music listening experience.
The element of Bluetooth was disregarded very early on, the band collectively agreeing that a wired connection was the most efficient way to gain immaculate sound quality. The earphones incorporate three key components to ensure maximum performance and distinction: an internal waveguide, precision-tuned sound and the signature gold Prodigy ant. The internal waveguide paired with external exhausts releases pressure to reveal exceptional clarity and detail, minimising unwanted resonance that can distort audio. Sound from a high-performance beryllium driver is precisely tuned for the human ear, uncovering more depth in music. Davies Roberts explains, “The earphone is laser-infused layer by layer and designed to deliver high-energy sound without loss of detail, to make sure the listening experience is uncompromised.” As a finishing touch, the earphone is designed with a solid brass back picturing the iconic Prodigy ant in an eye-catching gold and black finish.
Through repeated listening sessions, each detail had been meticulously crafted by the creative minds of both the band and Flare Audio’s expertise, ensuring a smooth listening experience for each buyer. Additionally, the design played a crucial part in the manufacturing of the earphones — “Once we’d perfected the sound signature, that same level of scrutiny from Maxim and Liam went into the design.” Attributes from how the earphone sits in the ear to the shade and depth of black used were perfectly planned out, analysed and refined.
The Prodigy refused to create another piece of mass-produced, celebrity-endorsed, disposable product, putting passion and excellence at the forefront always. The launch of the product also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the band’s hit singles ‘Breathe’ and ‘Firestarter’, and the renewed engagement in wired audio with big-name brands such as Bose, introducing plans to announce wired earphones for the first time in 11 years. It seems Prodigy’s earphones are perfectly designed, perfectly tuned and perfectly timed. The BLK.ANT wired earphones are available to order now from BLK-ANT.com, with deliveries expected to begin in December.
Pamela Kates
Image Prodigy x Flare Earphone Official Website
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