Global artists seek out NNNN’s innovative speaker systems

According to Mellingen, more and more people want to experience sound – not just as a digital stream, but as something physical – a real experience.

“The music and clubbing scenes are changing. Young people are starting to think differently about what they want when they go out. No matter what, quality and design are at the centre of it,” he explains.

NNNN delivers innovative speaker systems for live music, clubbing and recording studios. It also provides distributed audio to high-end retail shops, hotels, restaurants and the like.

Founded in 2016, the company has been on a journey to define its space and refine its ideas. “People want to experience high-fidelity audio again. The listening experience can also be an artistic experience,” says Mellingen.

“The great thing about the ‘club’ market is that it’s everything but traditional; it’s ever-evolving and open to new ideas.” For example, NNNN’s speakers are used at Gehør, a listening bar in Oslo where the ambience gradually turns into a club at night. The integrated experience of design and audio quality draws audiophiles and top DJs and has made it a venue for album releases.

The company also collaborates with global innovators. Recently, it started working with the world-famous acoustic designer Devon Turnbull, founder of OJAS, on a low-impact, outdoor music venue in New York City. In 2023, NNNN supplied the audio systems for two shows at Milan Fashion Week.

The company’s speakers can also be found at high-end retailers such as Supreme Seoul and Under Tokyo.

NNNN holds two patents. The first, simply put, enables exceptionally clear sound at high volume in fewer and smaller cabinets. The second applies specifically to subwoofers, which play low frequencies. Normally subwoofers play in all directions, but this one focuses the energy in one direction throughout the whole frequency range.

“This gives much more control over the audio at low frequencies. It’s a great acoustic concept because it creates better sound through less distortion from the environment,” says Mellingen.

Industrial design is a natural part of being a Scandinavian manufacturer. When working with unique acoustic concepts, the value of form follows function and a refined sense of minimalism enables distinct and differentiated products

Moreover, the speakers are eco-friendly. Horn speakers are famously energy efficient, and with NNNN’s patented acoustic principles this energy efficiency also brings eco-efficiencies throughout the life cycle of the products. Because most of Norway’s electricity supply is generated by zero-emission hydroelectric power, emissions from manufacturing are reduced as well.

Read more: The efficient loudspeaker

The global professional audio market is expected to grow from USD 11.7 billion in 2024 to USD 16.0 million by 2029. But for NNNN, this is only part of the story. Mellingen says that the market for NNNN speakers is hard to define and melts into lifestyle.

“We’re getting a lot of attention internationally. It’s exciting to partner with a US company such as OJAS, which is a brand with an evolving genre and following. Devon is an artist,” he says.

“Being part of that journey and defining our own along the way – many customers see the potential in our products and imagine how they can work in other market segments. It’s a different way of meeting the market than what we imagined.”

NNNN’s products are sold all over the world, from Berlin and New York to Malaysia and Tokyo. “We work with people creating their own journey and that’s inspiring to be a part of,” he concludes.