Superfine Stuff Designing Sound and Objects Full of Character

3 Questions for Petr Vykoukal

Q: HORNY BOY has a strong personality, almost like a cartoon character about to start speaking. Was this anthropomorphic character intentional, and where did the idea for such an unusual design come from?

A: Yes, the speaker’s personality was intentional. I wanted HORNY BOY to be more than just a functional device – it needed its own character and visual presence. The idea came from the horn element itself: the sound wave guide also became the defining visual gesture. By transforming this technical component into a bold sculptural feature, the speaker gains a playful, almost alive quality that brings energy and life to any space.

“I wanted HORNY BOY to be more than just a functional device – it needed its own character and visual presence.”

Q: With speakers, performance is crucial. How did the technical solutions work together with the sculptural form – were there moments when they conflicted, and others when they inspired each other?

A: There were definitely moments when technical constraints and visual ideas didn’t align, for example in shaping the horn or selecting materials. Yet these challenges often led to innovations – when form influenced the construction, new acoustic solutions emerged that wouldn’t have occurred otherwise. The process is an ongoing dialogue between function and design, and it’s exactly in this interaction that the final character of the speaker is born.

“Technical constraints and visual ideas didn’t always align – yet these challenges often led to innovations.”

Q:Who do you primarily design for – yourselves, audiophiles, or design collectors?

A: I design for all of these groups at once. The products need to perform as high-quality audio devices while also being visually striking design objects. The goal is to appeal to audiophiles seeking character and sound quality, design collectors appreciating originality, and of course myself – these projects are always driven by personal curiosity and the joy of creation.

“The goal is to appeal to audiophiles seeking character and sound quality, design collectors appreciating originality, and of course myself – it’s always driven by curiosity and the joy of creation.”

About Horny Boy

HORNY BOY is a small-batch passive loudspeaker with 100 W of power, combining technological precision with bold sculptural form. Its defining feature is a uniquely shaped horn, designed to deliver accurate and detailed reproduction of high frequencies. The low end is handled by an 8″ mid-bass driver, giving HORNY BOY a full, dynamic sound with a surprisingly deep response.

The name itself derives from this prominent horn element, which acts not only as an acoustic solution but also as a central visual gesture. Function and aesthetics are in constant dialogue here: what is essential for sonic quality simultaneously defines the identity and character of the speaker.

Like all products from Superfine Stuff, HORNY BOY pushes beyond the boundary between audio equipment and design object. It appears as a standalone sculpture – playful, colorful, and influenced by both the aesthetics of retro gaming consoles and the clarity of industrial design. While its form might feel lighthearted, almost cartoon-like, HORNY BOY is a fully functional hi-fi device capable of delivering a refined listening experience.

This loudspeaker is created for those who seek more than just technical quality – it speaks to audiophiles and design collectors alike, adding a striking and unexpected presence to any interior. Handcrafted in Prague in a limited series, each

piece embodies the belief that sound and form can merge into a single, inseparable whole.

Petr Vykoukal is a product designer and founder of Superfine Stuff, a brand dedicated to small-batch production of unconventional loudspeakers. His work combines sculptural form with technological precision, elevating speakers from purely functional objects into striking design artifacts. A graduate of the Product Design Studio at UMPRUM in Prague, he is also active in the Monopost studio, focusing on interior and product projects for notable clients. His inspiration comes both from music, which has been close to him since childhood, and from the aesthetics of Japanese game consoles of the past century, whose bold color accents inform the visual identity of his objects. His loudspeakers were first presented at Prague’s Designblok festival, where they immediately captured the attention of both Czech and international audiences.