I haven’t seen a speaker with an awkward shape like this. But then, I haven’t seen a lot of things, and that especially includes what’s under the hood of Beolab 90 floorstanding speakers from Bang & Olufsen. For its 100th anniversary, the Danish giant has taken its flagship speaker, stripped it down to its skeleton, and made it to look as striking as it could be with volcanic rocks and aluminum construction. And now I know what with the looks!
Centenary celebrations bring out the best in the iconic brands that have stood the test of time and the change in generations. Arguably, watchmakers are the best at revisiting their iconic timepieces and launching them with charisma and finesse to celebrate their 100th year; furniture makers follow closely. Now, Bang & Olufsen is treading the route with this stunning speaker – if you like what you see i.e., by reimaging its star from a decade ago.
The revisited stunner is called the Beolab 90 Titan Edition, and it highlights a raw, textured finish achieved with 65kg aluminum sandblasted using particles from crushed volcanic rock. It is decorated with commemorative laser-engraved details on each speaker fastener and drivers, and forms part of a series of interesting products the brand has designed to commemorate its 100th anniversary.
Bang & Olufsen, earlier this year, launched another sensation: Atelier Limited Edition Art Deco collection comprising Beolab 28 speakers and the Beovision Theatre soundbar. And recently, we were privy to the three special edition pieces. These, if you are unaware, were the gorgeous pair of Beoplay H100 headphones, Beosound A5 portable wireless speaker that charmed with its vintage radio vibes, and the showstopper, the Beosound A9, which flaunted Kvadrat’s Centennial Cadence fabric alongside a natural aluminum ring and brushed legs.
The new Titan Edition floorstanding speakers are fundamentally the most interesting entrant in the brand’s Centennial Collection. By the sight of it, the speakers are a replica of the original Beolab 90. It looks stunning, but really, it’s almost the same speaker with the outer housings removed to showcase the impressive array of drive units, which were earlier in the hiding beneath it.
The angular design and solid aluminum construction make the speakers seem unearthly, but a calm, closer look reveals the magnanimity of their 360-degree design, where no less than 18 premium drivers are firing in different directions to create the most thrilling surround sound in the room. The speakers also feature seven 30mm tweeters, as many 8.6cm midrange drivers, a trio of 21cm side and rear woofers, and the solitary 26cm front woofer.
The Beolab 90 Titan Edition floorstanding speakers are available, but we are short on the pricing information. The Titan Edition will be built to order, so its anyone’s guess that it will be way more expensive than the OG Beolab 90, that’s $185,000 for a set. B&O says four more editions of the Beolab 90 will be released in the coming months, also as part of the centenary celebrations.
Few brands have successfully merged sound and sculptural elements quite like Harman Kardon. For decades, the New York-based company has treated speakers not merely as audio devices but as design objects. More than just audio accessories, they are pieces that add emotion and visual rhythm to any interior space. From the transparent SoundSticks that became a millennial desktop icon to the elegantly curved Aura series, every release has carried that distinctive harmony of sublime clarity and unique form.
The newly introduced Aura Studio 5 builds on that legacy, reinterpreting Harman Kardon’s classic dome aesthetic for a generation that values both sensory immersion and timeless design. Its combination of audio performance, ambient lighting, and sculptural form positions it not just as a speaker but as an artful centerpiece for modern interiors. In the age of portable sound and smart assistants, the Aura Studio 5 stands apart by focusing on the audio and visual experience. The sculptural speaker is designed to fill a room not only with rich sound but with presence. For longtime admirers of Harman Kardon’s design language, this evolution feels like a thoughtful homage. One that reconnects with the brand’s expressive past while embracing a distinctly modern sensibility.
At first glance, the Aura Studio 5 feels familiar yet freshly refined. The transparent dome remains its signature feature, offering a glimpse of the internal architecture while softly diffusing light. On the Inside, there’s a carefully engineered 360-degree sound system that combines a 25 mm tweeter, six 40 mm mid-range drivers, and a 143 mm subwoofer driven by a powerful 160-watt amplifier. Together, they deliver Harman Kardon’s “Constant Sound Field” experience, balancing acoustics that maintain their character no matter where you sit in the room. With a frequency response from 45 Hz to 20 kHz, the speaker captures both the warmth of low-end depth and the sparkle of treble detail with remarkable precision.
This new model, replacing the Aura 4, introduces a refreshed layer of sensory engagement through its ambient light projection system. Nature-inspired themes like Snowy Fireplace, Sunrise, Blossom, Aurora, and Ocean, cast subtle, dynamic visuals across walls and ceilings, transforming listening sessions into immersive environments. Through the companion Harman Kardon app, users can control lighting effects, adjust brightness, fine-tune the equalizer, install firmware updates, or even link two Aura Studio 5 units for a stereophonic setup.
Modern connectivity keeps the overall experience seamless. Bluetooth 5.4 ensures stable wireless streaming with minimal latency, while the 3.5 mm auxiliary input offers a wired alternative for traditional audio sources. This versatility makes the speaker equally at home in a contemporary living space, creative studio, or office setting. The Aura Studio 5 debuted in Japan at around 46,200 Yen (approximately $300) with sales starting on 13 November. Availability in other markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe is expected soon.
If you’ve ever admired the sculpted lines of a Lamborghini supercar and thought, “I wish I could bring that into my living room”, then the new collaboration from iXOOST offers exactly that in audio form. Known for their bold pieces that bridge high-end hi-fi and automotive design, iXOOST ESAVOX Bluetooth speaker system, crafted from real Lamborghini exhaust components and carbon-fibre supercar materials, is designed to blur the line between listening room and showroom.
The ESAVOX isn’t just a styled speaker; it is built around the actual exhaust cover of a Lamborghini Aventador, nestled in a monocoque chassis made from autoclave-cured 3K twill carbon fiber, with hexagonal motifs and sharp edges that echo Lamborghini’s design language.
Inside this sculptural cabinet lies serious audio hardware: two 1-inch tweeters, two 6.5-inch mid-bass drivers, and a 10-inch down-firing subwoofer, powered by a total output of 640 W amplification. The frequency response extends down to 20 Hz, delivering bass you feel as much as hear. Weighing in at approximately 117 lb and measuring 49 inches x 20 inches x 26 inches, the ESAVOX is clearly not for casual portability but for a dedicated listening space or display garage.
Its styling comes in the iconic Lamborghini palette: Green Gea, Grey Keres Matte, Orange Anthaeus, Red Epona, Blue Uranus and White Siderale. The speaker is produced in a strictly limited run of just 63 units worldwide, which makes it highly desirable. On the connectivity front, you get Bluetooth 5.0 and traditional RCA inputs, allowing both wireless streaming and classic wired sources. The power supply supports 110–240 V, making it globally deployable.
So what makes this more than just a flashy statement piece? For one, the use of genuine Lamborghini parts and automotive-grade materials lends it a storytelling edge: a carbon fibre monocoque, passive vibration damping (akin to a race-car chassis), and an aesthetic lifted directly from the supercar world. On the other hand, from an audio-engineering perspective, the configuration of large mid/bass drivers plus a substantial subwoofer and dedicated amplification points to real performance ambitions rather than just looks.
That said, its size, weight, price, and niche appeal mean the ESAVOX is designed for a particular buyer: a Lamborghini owner or ultra-luxury audio aficionado who wants a unique ‘hero piece’ for home audio, not someone seeking a practical bookshelf speaker. The iXOOST ESAVOX for Automobili Lamborghini fuses automotive heritage, high-end craftsmanship, and serious audio hardware into a distinctive luxury item. If you have the space, budget and passion for both supercars and high-end sound, this is a conversation piece that delivers both visually and sonically. As ever, buyers should consider installation logistics, room-tuning, and source equipment to make the most of its capabilities.
Automobili Lamborghini ESAVOX is going to be up for grabs in the U.K. via Harrods of London, and also on display at the renowned Knightsbridge store in the pristine Green Gea color. The speaker is priced at £34,999 (approximately $46,000) for which you can buy a Ford Mustang, if you want to go for the real thing.
As people become more aware of the role that sound plays in immersive content, the number of speakers in homes also begins to rise. This means that these audio equipment are starting to make their presence not just heard but also seen, and sometimes not in pleasing ways. Fortunately, manufacturers are also becoming more sensitive to this aspect of product design, and we’re seeing a growing number of speakers that extol aesthetics as much as audio quality, though the side effect of this trend means getting locked into a specific design the moment you make your purchase. This customizable speaker concept, on the other hand, offers some flexibility that not only lets you decide how the speaker will look but where you want to put it as well.
Designer: Eshant Kumbhakarn
Compared to TVs, the true value of speakers lies not in their appearance but in their audio output. Unfortunately, these products still take up physical space, and hiding them doesn’t exactly work because that can negatively affect the way sound travels. Some audio equipment brands try to disguise speakers as art objects or minimize their footprint as soundbars, but this speaker concept design tries to combine both ideas to deliver the best of both worlds.
Aura is a concept for a speaker panel that delivers audio in 360 degrees. Rather than pushing sound from the front as you might expect from a flat box, the actual speakers are located around the edges. Thanks to this design, it is possible to place Aura anywhere and in any orientation, whether vertically on a wall, horizontally below a TV, or even lying flat on a long meeting table.
To help make this flexibility more practical, Aura has a special feature that very few speakers have. It has physical controls as well as input ports on both long sides of the speaker, letting you control it directly regardless of the position or orientation. Admittedly, that does add a complication to the internal implementation of the speaker, but it’s not entirely impossible given today’s technology.
That alone already makes it notable, but Aura’s real value comes from its customizable and interchangeable front panel. In theory, this lets you select a design that would match the motif of the room or even the material of the table on which it will be placed. Whether it’s a marble-like finish, wood, or a typical gray mesh, Aura puts the owner in control of how the speaker looks and blends into the background. Even better, you can always change that panel when you change your interior design, prolonging the speaker’s usefulness for years to come.
Luxury and cutting-edge audio design converge in the Marantz Grand Horizon and its smaller counterpart, the Horizon. These speakers merge visual sophistication, material innovation, and immersive sound quality, setting a new standard in high-end audio. Reflecting Marantz’s legacy in audio craftsmanship, they combine advanced technology with artistic design for a truly immersive experience.
Designer: Marantz
The Grand Horizon transforms its sound and visual presence by redefining what a speaker can be. The iconic porthole motif, a core element of Marantz’s design language for decades, is embraced in this new offering to deliver a listening experience that is as visually inspiring as it is acoustically impactful.
Model Distinctions: Horizon vs. Grand Horizon
The Marantz Horizon is the smaller of the two models, featuring a 310-watt FTC-rated power output (745 watts peak). It includes a driver configuration of one 165mm subwoofer, two 25mm silk-dome tweeters, and three 50mm full-range drivers. With dimensions of 364 x 210 x 387.5mm (14.33 x 8.27 x 15.26 inches), it is priced at $3,500.
In contrast, the larger model, the Marantz Grand Horizon, boasts a 370-watt FTC-rated power output (860 watts peak). Its driver configuration comprises one 200-mm subwoofer, three 25-mm tweeters, and four 76-mm midrange drivers. Measuring 493 x 255 x 529.2mm (19.41 x 10.04 x 20.83 inches), it is priced at $5,500.
Both models share features such as the circular design, HEOS platform integration, and Marantz Mirage DSP. However, the Grand Horizon is larger and more powerful and offers a more advanced driver configuration, providing a richer audio experience.
Sophisticated Circular Design and Materials
With its circular design, the Grand Horizon draws immediate attention. Unlike most rectangular wireless speakers, its sculptural form makes a bold visual statement in any room. Thesphere’s symmetry, paired with premium materials like natural marble and sustainable fabrics, transforms it into a luxurious art piece that delivers world-class sound.
Wrapped in Marantz’s Radiance 360 Seamless Ecofiber, made from recycled ocean plastics, the Grand Horizon is visually stunning and eco-conscious. The fabric’s intricate texture enhances its aesthetic and diffuses sound, ensuring optimal acoustic performance. This recycled Ecofiber underscores Marantz’s commitment to sustainability while retaining an opulent feel. The fabric’s texture contrasts with the smooth metal accents that form the porthole ring, creating a tactile, luxurious experience.
The marble base, available in different colors to complement each fabric finish, adds a touch of natural elegance. Solid and stable, it elevates the speaker beyond a mere device; it becomes a significant decor element. Each marble base is sculpted to be smooth and substantial, grounding the spherical form and creating an interplay between nature and technology.
Powerful Audio Performance
With its striking design, the Marantz Grand Horizon also delivers serious audio performance. With a 200mm subwoofer, three 25mm tweeters, and four 76mm midrange drivers, it offers deep bass, clear highs, and immersive midrange. This driver array is key to producing the full-bodied sound Marantz is known for—rich, warm, and incredibly lifelike.
The Grand Horizon’s 370-watt amplification is powered by Marantz’s Rise amplification technology, featuring GaN FETs for high power efficiency and reduced thermal distortion. It delivers sound as close as possible to the original recording. Even at high volumes, the Grand Horizon remains poised, delivering uncompromised sound.
A key feature is its ability to adjust and fine-tune the audio experience through Marantz Mirage DSP. Users can personalize the sound by adjusting clarity, warmth, and spaciousness to their preference, ensuring each listening session meets unique tastes. The Sound Master mode offers a refined experience curated by Marantz Sound Master Yoshinori Ogata, bringing out the best in any track.
Interactive and Customizable Design Features
The use of light and motion elevates the Grand Horizon beyond a mere object. The AuraControl system incorporates concealed LEDs that respond to proximity. As someone approaches the speaker, the lights subtly activate, giving the impression that it comes to life, adding an interactive component that feels almost personable. This thoughtful addition sets it apart from other luxury speakers.
This light ring also serves as a touch-sensitive interface, allowing users to adjust the volume by simply running their hand along the edge of the gold ring. This feature feels natural and almost ceremonial—a tactile connection to the sound. It transforms the speaker from a mere device into an experience.
The base, made from natural marble, enhances the speaker’s stature. Different stone types for each colorway—from Midnight Sky’s dark elegance to Marantz Champagne’s warmth—allow the speakers to adapt to various living spaces. They are designed to blend seamlessly into both modern and classic interiors.
Comprehensive Connectivity and Multi-Room Integration
With advanced connectivity features, the Marantz Grand Horizon is as versatile as it is beautiful. The speaker supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect, providing direct access to streaming services such as Amazon Music, Deezer, and TIDAL. Whether it’s a quick Bluetooth pairing for an impromptu playlist or immersing yourself in a high-resolution stream, Marantz ensures accessing your favorite content is effortless.
Physical inputs add flexibility, with stereo RCA, optical, HDMI eARC, and USB-C available to connect to various sources. The HDMI eARC input also supports Dolby decoding, allowing users to experience the nuance of Dolby Atmos content when connected to a compatible display, expanding its use beyond music to home cinema.
Through the HEOS multi-room audio platform, the Grand Horizon can integrate into a broader home audio setup. You can easily sync multiple speakers throughout the home, playing synchronized music in each room or creating unique sound environments in different spaces—all managed through the HEOS app. Its ability to pair with another unit also allows for a true stereo experience, transforming any room into a high-fidelity listening space.
Aesthetics for Any Space
Available in three finishes—Midnight Sky, Moon Ray, and Marantz Champagne—the Grand Horizon and its smaller counterpart, the Horizon, provide a distinct visual identity. Midnight Sky is dark and sleek, exuding sophisticated elegance for minimalist or modernist settings. Moon Ray, by contrast, is a bright, off-white finish that brings a subtle sparkle, ideal for spaces that value lightness and openness. Finally, Marantz Champagne adds warmth and luxurious charm, making it perfect for spaces seeking a more inviting and traditional touch.
What makes it special isn’t solely the material quality but also how each design decision serves form and function. The combination of woven Ecofiber and marble elements shows Marantz’s dedication to crafting a speaker that emphasizes the experience of seeing and touching as much as listening. This philosophy positions the Grand Horizon as more than an audio device but a versatile component of the home’s overall design.
Innovating Sound and Style
The Marantz Grand Horizon redefines what a high-end speaker can be, presenting itself as an acoustic marvel and a design masterpiece. Its unique circular form, sustainable luxury materials, customizable sound tuning, and thoughtful interactivity elevate the typical wireless speaker experience—it embodies Marantz’s blend of heritage and forward-thinking design in home audio.
From motion-activated LEDs to tactile controls in the gold accents, Marantz has crafted a speaker for those who view audio equipment as more than mere utility. It’s a convergence of technology, art, and sustainable design—a statement for any discerning listener seeking luxury without compromise.
Experience movie nights like never before with the Sonos Arc Ultra, the latest flagship soundbar that merges cinema-quality audio with a design that’s as sophisticated as it is sleek. Built with breakthrough Sound Motion technology, Arc Ultra brings your entertainment to life with deep bass, immersive spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, and a refined look that complements large TVs without overpowering your space. It is the sleekest and most powerful soundbar Sonos has ever created. Available for $999.
Designer: Sonos
Sonos Arc Ultra brings sound and crafts an expansive sound stage that fills every inch of the room. Featuring an all-new architecture powered by 14 Sonos-engineered drivers, including the Sound Motion woofer and advanced tweeters, it delivers a 9.1.4 spatial audio experience that feels out of this world. Trueplay, now available for iOS and Android, allows you to fine-tune the sound for your specific space, transforming any room into a personal movie theater.
Sound Motion technology enhances the immersive experience by packing impressive performance into a compact design. This innovation provides greater clarity, depth, and balance, allowing you to hear every frequency with accuracy. It also delivers double the bass output compared to the previous Arc model.
With Dolby Atmos, Arc Ultra brings sound to life with sensational definition, enveloping you in a 9.1.4 spatial audio experience that places you right in the middle of the action. To elevate the experience further, pair Arc Ultra with Sonos Sub 4 and Era 300 rear speakers for a fully immersive Dolby Atmos setup that delivers incredible detail from every direction. For personal listening, you can even integrate Sonos Ace headphones for private surround sound and sensational spatial audio.
Never strain to hear dialogue again. The new center channel architecture in the Sonos Arc Ultra ensures every word, whisper, and subtle vocal cue is crystal clear. The advanced Speech Enhancement feature, adjustable via the Sonos app, allows you to customize dialogue clarity further to suit your preference, ensuring that conversations and vocals are always easy to follow.
Sonos partnered with industry veterans like Chris Jenkins and Onnalee Blank to fine-tune Arc Ultra for Dolby Atmos content, achieving a sound profile that rivals professional studio systems. This collaboration ensures you get an audio experience as rich and immersive as the creators intended, giving you a true theater-like atmosphere at home.
Arc Ultra is thoughtfully crafted with a distinctive curved shape, low-profile design, and matte finish, making it a stylish addition to your home while keeping the focus on your entertainment. The wrap-around grille extends sound in every direction, ensuring you’re completely surrounded, while the slimmer design prevents obstructing the TV screen whether it’s mounted or placed on a credenza.
Setting up the Arc Ultra is straightforward—connect it via HDMI eARC for a seamless experience. Once connected, it can be effortlessly controlled using your TV remote, the Sonos app, Sonos Voice Control, or Amazon Alexa. Touch controls are cleverly positioned on a hidden ledge to minimize visual distractions, and Bluetooth line-in adds even more streaming flexibility. Additionally, with Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility, the Arc Ultra integrates smoothly into your home ecosystem.
Sonos has also prioritized sustainability with Arc Ultra. Improved serviceability, reduced adhesive usage, lower idle power consumption, and smaller packaging volume all contribute to an environmentally friendly product without compromising on performance. The packaging is fully recyclable, and the product is designed to ship more efficiently with a lighter weight and reduced materials.
Pair the Arc Ultra with Sonos’ new Sub 4 for an extraordinary home theater experience. Sub 4 features dual custom woofers that generate deep, dynamic low frequencies, enhancing your entertainment without distortion. Its sculptural design allows it to fit seamlessly into your home—whether standing upright, lying on its side, or tucked under furniture. The next-generation Sub 4 includes increased processing power, memory, and new WiFi radios for better connectivity.
Alongside Arc Ultra and Sub 4, Sonos is rolling out an improved version of its app. This new software enhances the user experience by improving system identification, simplifying device setup, and offering better grouping capabilities. It also includes new features like improved queue management, music library indexing, and enhanced accessibility options, such as TalkBack improvements on Android.
With Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4, I’m excited to bring the next-level sound system into the comfort of my own home—experiencing exceptional sound quality, advanced features, and a sophisticated design that transforms my living room into a true cinematic space.
Nothing’s story has been nothing short of inspirational considering their ethical intent towards the marketplace and its consumers. Their sub-brand CMF adapts the same values for the lower segment of the market that serves the budget segment of the market.
While we’ve been awed by the Nothing Sound (1) and Nothing Bass (1) concepts – envisioning the see-through aesthetics of what a Nothing branded would be like. Since Nothing and CMF are already a strong force to reckon with for competitors, a portable speaker is something that we cannot count out from Nothing’s scheme of things.
Unlike its big brother, CMF by Nothing doesn’t rely on transparent aesthetics to create a unique statement. Rather the brand focuses on core functionality and accessibility for a greater chunk of the market. The phones, watches and earbuds in the line-up have the signature papaya orange influence but nothing that’s see-through actually. In the concept world that is not the limiting factor and this CMF Speaker takes due advantage.
Not only does it break the convention of a portable speaker design but also fuses form with function with maximum conviction. The music accessory has the playback information including Albumart, now playing controls and track selection buttons displayed on the touchscreen, along with the Bluetooth toggle and volume knob on one side. The frosted cover panel on all sides keeps the innards semi-transparent and the USB-C charging port is positioned on the rear to keep visual integrity intact.
The front portion is reserved for the grill that conceals the drivers and the back side also has a Nothing-inspired baseplate on which the driver housing is mounted. Abdelrahman has borrowed the classic radio look for this speaker, and I appreciate this nostalgic element. Even though we will never see a transparent CMF speaker (Nothing Speaker still I’m hopeful), this is a good starting point for a budding audio accessories brand to derive inspiration.
Audio can determine how you enjoy your gaming, movies, or music playlists. While 360-directional audio can elevate our listening experience, there is yet another layer of realism that can take it to another level and help you feel the sound to your core. Meet GADOL, the world’s first omnidirectional vibration speaker that opens up a new world of audio to your ears. The sleek gadget has 360-degree omnidirectional sound and the ability to vibrate for a new sense of realism that will transform and make your experience even more immersive, whether it’s watching movies, playing games, meditating and more.
Designer: iTEC Technologies
Click Here to Buy Now: $349$699 ($350 off). Hurry, only 56/300 left, less than 6 days to go. Raised over $100,000.
Transform your space with Gadol
The Bluetooth 5.0 speaker comes with Vibration Sound Transfer (VST) technology to create a vibration effect, so the audio in your ears matches the vibration created by the full-range speaker. This results in a sound profile that’s balanced and immersive. The GADOL speaker produces sound through the surface it is placed on, and the sound adapts to the room’s setup for consistent sound regardless of your position in the room. Sound waves from the speaker spread evenly in every direction so you can enjoy meditation sessions, movie sprees, grooving to favorite playlists, or playing horror games in the dark hours.
Those resonance vibrations created by the speaker have therapeutic and relaxation benefits for a holistic healing solution when it’s time to rejuvenate. The benefits of such a listening session go beyond just the auditory experience, as it eases you into a state of focus no matter what the task. In particular, the VST technology produces different resonance vibrations on different surfaces it is placed on. For example, on a glass surface, the speaker delivers a fuller sound, while on a wooden surface, the acoustics are deep.
GADOL offers a solid 18 hours of playback at high volumes, and you can achieve even more backup if played at lower volumes. Made from a durable iron alloy chassis with an aluminum top cover, the compact listening machine is designed to fit any space or cater to any occasion. Other products offer such features, but auditory fatigue is one problem with them. This speaker doesn’t have any such issues as it’s been tested extensively before creating a consumer-ready version.
Currently up on Kickstarter for crowdfunding, the GADOL omnidirectional speaker has well surpassed its funding goal for good reason. The prospect of something different from conventional listening methods has piqued the interest of music lovers who backed the project. Early bird pledges come with the prospect of getting the $700 speaker at half the price if you resonate with the idea.
Click Here to Buy Now: $349$699 ($350 off). Hurry, only 56/300 left, less than 6 days to go. Raised over $100,000.
Nocs Design is known for its intricately crafted audio accessories that hone minimalism. Purely focused on the acoustic signature and the build quality, the Sweden-based studio has revealed its new wireless speaker as a follow-up to the popular hand-crafted Monolith speaker.
This is the Nocs Monolith Aluminium speaker designed for audiophiles who give high weightage to minimalism in their lifestyle. The material choice for this wireless speaker is a deep research exercise for eliminating recycled plastics. According to Founder Daniel Alms, the result is a single block of aluminum CNC machined to achieve a classy look. Most of all the speaker is fully recyclable, making it the ideal choice when it comes to sustainability that the brand is highly conscious of.
According to Daniel, a lot of time and effort was put into crafting the perfect symmetry for driver positioning inside the anodized aluminum housing. Unlike any other product design, minimalism isn’t just a fancy word here. Nocs refrains from using any logos, highlighting the sleek appearance of the solid aluminum form. This speaker is well positioned in the lineup, right between the Mini and the Monolith. To top it all, the ‘cradle-to-cradle consumer product’ is fully repairable and boasts easily replaceable parts.
Those grilles lie just above the five drivers are precisely positioned to deliver a rich and wide sound in any room. Alm has tuned the sound signature in collaboration with musicians and DJs which speaks highly about the speaker’s capability when it comes to satisfying audiophiles. The idea behind this distinction is to foster a “deep connection between the artist and the audience.”
Nocs Monolith Aluminium speaker is all set to be delivered to interested buyers in November 2024. Along with the classic aluminum option, you can also choose the more muted yet classy matte black finish. The price tag of $1,000 is on the steeper side but it’s all worth for purists who known what Nocs stands for.
There are people that love to pit technology against art or craftsmanship but those of us who know better know that the two can actually complement each other. There are products and designers out there who seek to fuse the two together and even bring innovation and improvements to the two worlds. One such product is a speaker that uses natural materials and is created by traditional craftspeople.
Designer: Mapu
The Mapu Speakers is a line of speakers that are made from natural materials like clay, wood, cork, and wool and handcrafted by traditional craftsmen in Chile and Portugal The goal is to create a new generation of craftspeople, “building a bridge between ancestral knowledge and technology”. Aside from having quality speakers so you can listen to your music, audiobooks, and podcasts, you also get a piece of art that you can display in your space.
The wooden cones and caps that are in the center of the driveractually optimize the high frequencies so you get a “vivid, spatial, and engaging sound”. The wool is used for the internal acoustic insulation while the leather and cork are also ideal for insulation due to their high tensile strength and heat resistance. The spherical shape of the vessel also adds to the sound quality that you get so you know that it’s not just beautiful but you get a pretty good speaker.
The Mapu Speakers are also 80% biodegradable so that’s another bonus for those who are looking for something pretty different for their speakers. The Mapuguaquén is already sold out on their website but the Mapu Preto and the Mapu Soenga, available in mono and stereo versions. The vessel-like shapes of the speaker line make it pretty attractive even if you don’t know yet the handicraft story behind it.
