IKEA Unveils A Picture Frame That Doubles As A Speaker
Image via IKEA
Everyone has a song that takes them back to a memory. IKEA’s latest speakers do you one further—they’ll put your memories on view while on blast.
As part of a growing array of SYMFONISK speakers with audio product maker Sonos, the furniture giant has rolled out a “Wi-Fi speaker and a picture frame in one” that is meant to blend into your home, just like its other “invisible” speakers.
The SYMFONISK picture frame, which comes in black and white options, can be hung on the wall or supported with a base. IKEA lauds the speaker’s “fantastic sound,” available to stream via Apple’s Airplay 2 or Spotify Connect.
However, the listing’s limited images don’t show a slot to fit your photos in, so it could really just be a home accent masquerading as a picture frame. With its LED light panel, the speaker aims to harmonize the senses of sight and sound.
To switch on the SYMFONISK picture frame, you’ll simply need to plug it into a power outlet. Volume and other controls can be toggled through the accompanying SONOS S2 app, which will also be used to automatically update the speaker’s software.
IKEA said it could not have been able to design the waiflike speaker on its own.
“[IKEA and Sonos are] a really good combination to help more people enjoy streamed music and podcasts without speakers that steal space,” described IKEA Home Smart product developer Stjepan Begic. “We challenge each other and find new solutions.”
Sara Morris, Sonos’ Senior Principal Product Manager shared, “By working together with the designers we were able to keep the thin edge of the picture frame while hiding a deeper acoustic volume behind it. Together with a waveguide, this lets us make [a] big room-filling sound from what looks like a thin speaker.”
That visual simplicity might be its strength, but it’s not the only one. The US$199 picture frame, as are IKEA’s other SYMFONISK speakers, can be integrated with Sonos speakers to create a larger sound system. Whether you’d like a serenade or a whole orchestra, that’s your call.
Image via IKEA
Image via IKEA
[via SlashGear, images via IKEA]
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