tune X3 headphones by préssec take design cues from vintage studio equipment

tune x3 brings back tactile dials and switches

Préssec imagines a return to the tactile controls of traditional audio equipment with its Tune X3 headphones. The concept places a series of knurled dials and switches directly onto the earcups, including a dedicated control marked for bass and treble. Volume and active noise cancellation receive their own physical controls as well. These adjustments, often handled through a companion app, become part of the brushed aluminum headphones themselves and allow listeners to reach up and change the sound by feel.

The bass and treble adjustment is perhaps the most interesting detail. Borrowing from the familiar controls of stereo receivers and mixing consoles, the design brings the experience of tuning audio directly to the listener’s ears. Each dial has a ridged edge that suggests a satisfying resistance beneath the fingertips, while the different shapes help distinguish one function from another. The arrangement gives the headphones an unusually hands-on character to recall a time when interacting with music involved turning a few knobs.

brushed aluminum and orange fabric echo vintage equipment

The headphones themselves take on the appearance of old studio hardware, with brushed aluminum housings and vivid orange textile padding across the ear cushions and headband. The team at Préssec Design leaves the construction details visible, from the small fasteners along the metal body to the cylindrical fittings that connect the earcups to the headband. There is something appealingly mechanical about the whole arrangement, which could sit comfortably alongside a reel-to-reel tape recorder or an old stereo amplifier.

The contrast between the materials is especially effective. Soft orange cushions sit against hard metallic surfaces, while the slender connecting hardware gives the relatively substantial earcups a lighter profile. Even the controls contribute to the composition, their textured surfaces interrupting the smooth circular housings. The design suggests the precision of professional audio equipment, with enough color and softness to give it a playful edge.

préssec explores a family of imaginary electronics

Tune X3 belongs to a fictional product family developed by Préssec, which also includes the CINE X3 camera concept. The two objects share a visual language through their metallic finishes and exposed hardware, adapted to the proportions of each device. The studio used Vizcom as part of the design process, exploring how an established set of visual references could inform other products within the same imagined collection.

For now, Tune X3 remains a concept, with its technical specifications and production plans still to be established. Questions about weight, comfort and acoustic performance are left open. Even so, its interface offers an interesting proposition for personal audio design. The controls are visible and easily understood, giving listeners a more immediate relationship with the equipment. One can almost imagine reaching for the bass dial halfway through a favorite record.

project info:

name: Tune X3

designer: Préssec Design | @pressec.design