Speck CandyShell AMPED
The world’s first commercially successful sound-amplifying phone case
CandyShell AMPED was the product that launched FISH Innovation. It remains the only mass-produced smartphone case to deliver a measurable doubling of loudness without electronics, external power, or added bulk.
The original challenge was simple: smartphone speakers are quiet and lacking in bass. Early experimentation quickly revealed that a flattened, convoluted horn geometry could significantly increase the loudspeaker output even down to lower frequencies.
After multiple prototypes and extensive 3D printing trials, a compact acoustic horn solution was developed. Speck – a leading US case manufacturer – licensed the design and took it to market in 2014. Independent testing at Salford University validated the claims of a 100% increase in loudness, with 12dB of mid-frequency amplification, and 4dB at 250Hz. This confirmed performance far beyond typical consumer audio accessories.
Engineering and commercialisation
The initial design was created for the iPhone, but a dual-horn variant was also developed for the Samsung Galaxy S5. The product was discontinued when Speck was acquired by Samsonite in 2015, rather than due to performance limitations.
Over its commercial lifetime, AMPED demonstrated that miniaturised passive acoustics could deliver a real, market-differentiating benefit in consumer electronics – a rare achievement in an ultra-commoditised category.
Legacy and future potential
Despite appearing over a decade ago, no subsequent device has matched the performance of AMPED in a similar form factor. The underlying concept – a compact, flattened, folded horn optimised for broadband gain – continues to hold significant potential for integration into next-generation devices where sound quality is constrained by space and power.
FISH Innovation retains experience and IP relating to this domain and remains open to new partnerships or licensing opportunities for applications beyond mobile phones.
Organisations interested in applying compact, passive acoustic amplification in consumer electronics or embedded devices are encouraged to make contact.