A portable Bluetooth® speaker in the 400% BE@RBRICK size that generated significant buzz at "MEDICOM TOY EXHIBITION '23." We spoke with Pavlo, the founder and CEO of Rinaro, who spearheaded this project and led it to product development.

At "MEDICOM TOY EXHIBITION '23," held this July, numerous new MEDICOM TOY products were showcased. Among them, the spotlight was on the first-ever portable Bluetooth® speaker in the 400% BE@RBRICK size.
Displayed in three gradient colors – CLEAR, SMOKE, and BLACK – it captivated not only BE@RBRICK fans but also audiophiles and gadget enthusiasts.

The developer, Ukraine-based Rinaro Isodynamics (hereafter Rinaro), boasts over 30 years of history, including its predecessor research institute, and is a specialized manufacturer of magnetic drivers, having supplied them to numerous headphone makers.

Pavlo Shymanovych, founder and CEO of Rinaro, has long been a devoted BE@RBRICK fan. To bring this project to fruition, he visited MEDICOM TOY four years ago. His passion and the high quality of his work were recognized, leading to the green light for collaboration. Rinaro then pooled its acoustic engineering expertise, culminating in a development period of over 20,000 hours.

A portable Bluetooth® speaker that retains the 400% size form factor and incorporates the innovative "QUAD'360™" audio technology. To commemorate its release, we interviewed Pavlo, CEO of Rinaro and the project's initiator, about his encounter with BE@RBRICK, his thoughts, and the development story and features of the Bluetooth® speaker.

— First, for our Japanese readers, could you tell us about Rinaro's history and the products you've worked on so far?

PavloI am deeply grateful for this opportunity to introduce the unique collaboration, the BE@RBRICK AUDIO project, with MEDICOM TOY.

Rinaro was founded in 2014, but the core team was formed in 1985 as a research institute in Lviv, Ukraine. Our focus is on high-end audio equipment utilizing our proprietary isodynamic audio technology.

Our collaboration with Romania's Meze AUDIO resulted in three headphone models: Empyrean (retail price $3,000 USD), Elite (retail price $4,000 USD), and Liric (retail price $2,000 USD). Fortunately, they have been immensely popular and are sold in 55 countries worldwide, including Japan.
We continue to strive for the development and manufacturing of innovative audio equipment for home, professional, and automotive applications.

— We've heard that you yourself are a big BE@RBRICK fan. How did you first encounter BE@RBRICK? And could you tell us about your collection and favorite pieces?

PavloI first saw BE@RBRICK in a display window at a CHANEL store. If I had to pick a BE@RBRICK that greatly influenced me, it would be the KAWS Companion model.
I've collected over 30 BE@RBRICKs to date, with my favorites being the Hajime Soroyama x Daniel Arsham, Karimoku, and Tom & Jerry items.

In the future, I hope to add a 2000% BE@RBRICK to my collection and expand into new collaborations through the BE@RBRICK AUDIO project.

— We understand you visited MEDICOM TOY's office in Japan to propose this speaker project. What were your impressions of MEDICOM TOY at the time?

PavloFrom the moment I learned about BE@RBRICK, I was deeply impressed and dreamed of visiting MEDICOM TOY and meeting Mr. Akashi (Representative Director) and his team.

In 2018, we released our first Empyrean headphones, created in collaboration with Meze AUDIO, which garnered significant media attention and popularity worldwide, including in Japan.
In 2019, during a press conference visit to Japan, I visited MEDICOM TOY's office in Tokyo and met Mr. Akashi. I still vividly remember being impressed by the progressive and creative vision of the MEDICOM TOY team. It was also the first time I saw a 2000% BE@RBRICK displayed in their office.

Following that meeting, we deepened our communication and together explored the vision for a speaker collaboration. We were eager to create something entirely new that would invite BE@RBRICK fans into a new dimension and experience.

I believe our expertise aligned perfectly with that vision and aspiration. To create an unprecedented Bluetooth® speaker, we first chose the 400% BE@RBRICK size.
Our goal was to minimize changes to the BE@RBRICK form while effectively integrating our audio technology. We wanted to preserve the original BE@RBRICK's shape and articulation with minimal visual alteration. Ultimately, we succeeded in making only slight differences compared to a standard 400% BE@RBRICK.

Specifically, we embedded four audio drivers in the head, covered by acoustic grilles, incorporated control buttons in the waist area, and added a USB-C port for charging. Furthermore, like a regular BE@RBRICK, most of the BE@RBRICK AUDIO 400% body can be articulated.

— That's a dedication only a BE@RBRICK fan could have. The internal speaker structure is also astonishing. Could you tell us about the most challenging aspects of the development?

PavloThe primary challenge was integrating a high-quality audio system into the 400% BE@RBRICK form.
It was an extremely complex challenge from both acoustic and mechanical engineering perspectives. Therefore, the project required creating an entirely new concept rather than simply fitting sound into an existing format.

A major initial hurdle was acoustic analysis. In acoustics, the larger the speaker enclosure, the easier it is to achieve the desired acoustic parameters and sound quality.
However, with the 400% BE@RBRICK, the only usable acoustic volume was the head, which is less than a third of the total. Producing quality sound within such a limited volume was the first and greatest difficulty. We spent nearly a year solving this problem.

Essentially, we designed new drivers from scratch and specifically tuned them to operate within this extremely limited volume. This contrasts with the typical approach where developers use existing drivers and design the surrounding acoustic elements to achieve the desired results and sound. This figure is not just a speaker; it's also a collectible piece of art.

PavloThis project incorporates a great many engineering solutions, and we have patents pending for some of them.

For example, we designed a system with a total of four speakers—in the back of the head and on both ears—to distribute sound evenly, allowing the figure to be moved freely without compromising sound quality. This is our proprietary, patent-pending "QUAD'360™" technology, developed specifically for this project, which guarantees excellent, uniform sound regardless of placement. This is particularly important for portable speakers like the BE@RBRICK AUDIO.

The center of gravity of the BE@RBRICK also shifted significantly due to the speakers being housed in the head, making the initial prototypes very unstable and prone to tipping. To solve this, we designed additional counterweights in the feet.
We also aimed to simplify the control interface as much as possible, consolidating functions into a single button. A two-second press turns the power on or off, while a short press initiates Bluetooth® pairing. It's a simple and intuitive interface.

Furthermore, to ensure the BE@RBRICK AUDIO can be enjoyed for a long time, we designed it with a replaceable battery. We fully understand that this figure is not only a speaker but also a collectible art piece with long-term value.

— Could you tell us about the design details? The Black version is substantial and calm, while the Clear and Smoke versions, showing the internal structure, are incredibly beautiful.

PavloWe share a commitment to perfection in all our processes. We pay particular attention to the beauty and design of our products, believing that both the interior and exterior should be aesthetically pleasing, even if not visible.

Therefore, we created the Clear version to present the technical beauty and complexity of the BE@RBRICK AUDIO 400% in an understandable way. Our team spent countless hours ensuring that every part would be a design element. The Smoke and Black versions were created with the goal of forming a palette that showcases the evolution of this product when displayed together.

From the beginning of development, we also wanted to do something special for BE@RBRICK fans. This led to the idea of adjusting the volume by twisting the BE@RBRICK's hand parts and switching tracks. While this presented significant engineering design challenges, our team worked hard to realize these ideas. We would be delighted if BE@RBRICK fans appreciate it.

— What are your thoughts on the completed BE@RBRICK AUDIO 400% Portable Bluetooth® Speaker? How did the development team react, and what was the internal reception like?

PavloWe hope this collaboration will be significant news for BE@RBRICK enthusiasts, as it opens a new dimension for BE@RBRICK. It marks a new chapter in BE@RBRICK's history and will showcase entirely new experiences and technologies for its fans.

Our company faced various engineering, technical, and organizational challenges. Despite the outbreak of war in Ukraine, which placed a mental burden on the team, we persevered with development. We believe we have overcome every obstacle, and we are very satisfied with the results.
Over 20,000 hours were dedicated to development for this project, involving more than 20 engineers and requiring the creation of 214 new custom parts. We are confident in the product we have created. This achievement belongs to the entire team!

We are now very curious to see how BE@RBRICK collectors and fans will receive this collaboration.

— How do you envision it being used?

PavloAbove all, this speaker is designed to be placed anywhere in your room while maintaining high-quality sound.
I believe it's also suitable for playing background music at home parties or during outdoor activities like camping. We plan to release accessories for outdoor use next year. However, the speaker itself is not waterproof, so we recommend avoiding exposure to water during use.

— Congratulations again on the completion. We are eagerly awaiting the release date. What kind of projects would you like to tackle in the future?

PavloWe are currently working on a lineup of official accessories for the BE@RBRICK AUDIO 400%. The first accessory will likely be a travel case to carry the BE@RBRICK AUDIO 400% anywhere. We expect to introduce other accessories in 2024.

While we can't reveal much at this stage, we are also developing a 1000% size product. We hope to continue delighting many BE@RBRICK fans in the future.

BE@RBRICK AUDIO 400% Portable Bluetooth® Speaker
Size | Approx. 280mm total height
Colors | CLEAR, SMOKE, BLACK
Release Date | Scheduled for November release at all MEDICOM TOY direct stores, MCT TOKYO, BE@RBRICK.AUDIO ( https://www.bearbrick.audio), and other select retailers.
Price | ¥77,000 (tax included)
*All three colors are limited production runs.
©︎BE@RBRICK TM & ©️ 2001-2023
MEDICOM TOY CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

You can currently experience the BE@RBRICK AUDIO 400% Portable Bluetooth® Speaker at all MEDICOM TOY direct stores.
[MEDICOM TOY Direct Stores]http://www.medicomtoy.co.jp/official_shop/
Experience available from November 1st (Wed.) at b8ta Tokyo - Yurakucho and Tsutaya Electrronics +.
[b8ta Tokyo - Yurakucho]https://b8ta.jp/store/yurakucho
[Tsutaya Electrronics +]https://store.tsite.jp/tsutayaelectricsplus-futako/