Tewo Audio – design and some history
What should be noted here is that this manufacturer is not actually a beginner here when it comes to the anti-vibration platform design. The company has been around for a while and also were on the market before its actual inception as Tewo Audio in 2017 year. And this is one of those brands that actually was born out of passions and real interest in making the audio sound better. I talked with the main designer and owner here, Mr. Daniel Okwiet and asked how it all has begun. So, let’s start with a little bit of history:
As far as I can remember, I was always interested in various kinds of audio reproducing equipment. My father was working in a metallurgy sector, so when there was a need to repair something of make a missing element to anything, at our house there were steel elements that were previously welded, milled, lathed or bended. So, steel is a material that has been with me my entire life.
Around the year 2000 there was the first serious hi-fi system at our house, that used a stand-mount speakers. These speakers needed solid stands, the first ones were bought together with the mentioned system. Looking closer at those stands, I came to a realization that making such stands is thoroughly within my possibilities.
When I finished the secondary school there were the first models of stands that were made by me, that was the year 2007. The first pair went to my friend who uses them to this day with great results. Helping to develop my passions were the booming on-line selling sites that made reaching my customers directly possible. This is the way I do it up to this day. My products were sold previously under the name Sfinx Audio.
Tewo Audio was estabilished in 2017 basing on the anti-vibration platforms that were initially made from aluminium. Nowadays, both the platforms and the stands are made from the steel, which is the material I prefer.
Ok, fair enough you could say, this would explain it all, yet there was another important question that I wanted to ask. Since we are actually reviewing two platforms here, I then asked about the difference between them:
The main criteria were making the platform from steel, which would be the most minimalistic one, that would also be as simple as possible, yet that would be also very efficient at what it does at the same time. Steel is heavy, so with relatively low dimensions it allows me to obtain the required weight and strength. In order to achieve the completely dull, devoid of any resonances surface I used two steel sheets and a special gum sheet that is between them. The lower steel slab is attached to the upper steel slab using special screws (that are protected from unscrewing by the means of using special glue) and the gum sheet is compressed between them. By the virtue of this the GUM platform is so shallow and discreet that it’s almost unnoticeable, and this discerns it from the fat and ostentatious products of other brands. And when first lifting the GUM, our customers are usually very surprised at how heavy it is.
GUM Evolution is a further development of the GUM, which is basing on the same design, yet there are serious differences in used vibro-isolators that are more advanced and more effective. The platform is standing on the gum cushions that have very high vertical and horizontal stiffness.
When designing my products, I tend to avoid any elements that are of no actual use like superfluous quirks. With such an attitude the results are rather minimalistic, yet this is just my approach and I will keep it that way even when the minimalistic approach will stop being that trendy.
Another assumption when making my products is that they are offered at hones and reasonable prices and still be made to a very high standard. There are many various ways of steel processing, and my approach is to use them in such a way so that I can achieve the results I mentioned.
This is where I need to confirm one thing instantly – both of the platforms are heavy. I mean really heavy. It’s especially striking with the GUM, which height is really something like 2 cm, yet you really need to stretch your muscles to lift if. The other thing is that something that I would call the presentation layer is really nice. You see, there’s a small Tewo Audio logo in the middle of the bases, just close to the front, but there’s also nothing too flashy there. It really reminds me of all those form-follows-function devices that are made to work and not to look. With that difference here that the look of the GUM and the GUM Evolution is actually really, I mean really nice. It’s not too flashy obviously, but will definitely appeal to those that do own some serious gear and do not need ten emblems on it to be sure of what they got. And while the smaller (regarding the price and the height of it) GUM looks rather discreet then the GUM Evolution really means business. It’s actually quite visually striking, especially because of it’s isolating feet. This is especially interesting since this is still a low-profile design that just happens to subtly convey the message.