Looks like music, sounds like art: IKEA’s latest tech release wows shoppers
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Feeling overwhelmed? Are you the type of person who prefers to listen to their favourite music, over a cup of coffee, to destress? Maybe while getting lost in the details of an artwork at the same time?
Then, this article is for you!
The experts at IKEA just came up with a new release that combines the qualities of a good WiFi speaker and the visual aesthetics of a picture frame in one, and it’s now available in Australian stores nationwide.
Introducing the SYMFONISK picture frame with WiFi speaker.
Credit: IKEA.
In partnership with the audio brand Sonos, IKEA came up with a modern and stylish speaker that can connect to your WiFi, allowing you to stream any music, radio shows, or podcasts, and seamlessly blend it into the interior of your home.
“It’s a really good combination to help more people enjoy streaming music and podcasts without speakers that steal space,” says Stjepan Begic, one of the people behind the product’s development.
We know you might be wondering how can such a thin speaker generate sounds loud enough to fill a room. And what is the quality like?
Sara Morris, Senior Principal Product Manager at Sonos, explains: ”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 big room-filling sound from what looks like a thin speaker.”
Setting up the speaker is easy, simply plug it in the nearest outlet and follow the steps on the Sonos app.
You can choose to hang it on the wall on its own as an eye-catching piece or match it with your other pictures. If you prefer to keep the speaker’s portability, you can also place it on the floor or simply lean it against a wall for easy moving.
The Symfonisk picture frame speaker is available for $299 online and comes in two colours: white and black.
Credit: IKEA.
However, customers who have bought the item noticed one small caveat: despite being called a “picture frame” speaker, it doesn’t actually work as a picture frame at all. Unless you count the four different designs that IKEA offers.
According to Simon Cohen of Digital Trends: “There’s no way to place your own art on the front of the speaker. And even if you could, it would ruin the speaker’s acoustics; unless it was printed on the same kind of acoustically-transparent fabric that IKEA uses for its own covers.”
If you’re interested in getting your hands on one of these WiFi speakers, we suggest checking out this video first, so you know exactly what the product offers!
Credit: Smart Home Sounds Ltd.