IKEA seems to have unveiled the next wireless speaker in its cooperation with Sonos, after concisely featuring the “Symfonisk Picture Frame with Wi-Fi Speaker” on its site, according to The Verge. The listing, which has now been withdrawn, confirms rumors that the next IKEA Symfonisk Sonos speaker will be transformed into a piece of wall art. The speaker, which hasn't been announced by either company yet, will cost $XNUMX, which works out to about $XNUMX / AU$XNUMX. As listed, the Symfonisk Photo Framed Speaker will measure XNUMX x XNUMX x XNUMX inches (H x W x D) and the frame will come in black or white. Customers of the service will be able to select from "multiple interchangeable faceplates", suggesting that a range of different artistic styles will grace the face of the devices, which appears to work like a speaker grill. This means you won't be able to edit your footage, which can limit the speaker's appeal, unless IKEA has a very diverse selection of images.
The photo frame will reportedly be joined by an updated version of the IKEA Symfonisk Sonos lamp speaker (right), shown here with the Symfonisk bookshelf speaker. (Image credit: IKEA) Before the ad was removed, IKEA offered multiple ways to bring the photo framed speaker into your home: "You can choose to hang it alone on the wall for attention, pair it with your other pictures in a wall, put it on the floor or lean it against a wall," the company said. The listing also uncovered some specs of the wireless speaker, including support for AirPlay XNUMX connectivity, stereo pairing (even as rear speakers for a Sonos Arc or Beam soundbar), and control via the Sonos app. Although The Verge didn't say much in the way of audio specs, the list included a quote from Sonos product manager Sara Morris, who said: “By working with the designers, we were able to sustain the limit of the photo frame. while hiding a deeper acoustic volume behind it. With a waveguide, this allows us to generate full-scale sound from what feels like a thin speaker. As with any Sonos product, we have high hopes for great audio performance, despite the restrictions imposed by the speaker's flat shape.
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Sonos and IKEA have previously teamed up to create wireless speakers that look like furniture; In 2, the companies released a bookshelf speaker and lamp housing. According to The Verge and an FCC filing, the photo frame speaker will be joined by an upgraded lamp speaker, which will cost around the same price as its predecessor ($XNUMX / €XNUMX / two hundred and sixty-nine AT). The two models are expected to launch on June XNUMX, after a leaked internal IKEA marketing calendar was shared on Reddit, revealing that a "SYMFONISK Virtual Press Event" is taking place around that time. This most recent leak only adds more weight to this gossip. The expansion of the Sonos IKEA Symfonisk line is indicative of a broader trend of speakers with innovative designs that make them work as home furnishings and even actual furniture. As Sara Morris told us in a recent interview, "there are areas of the house where a loudspeaker does not fit", whether due to lack of space, lack of energy, or because "technology is not at the center, like in the bedrooms ”. "By integrating speakers into home furnishings, we can overcome these XNUMX challenges and let people decorate their homes with objects and sound," she explained. Sonos isn't the only company questioning our perception of what a wireless speaker should look like. Bang & Olufsen recently released a wireless speaker that resembles a book, allowing you to put it neatly on a shelf, as a modular speaker that can be wall-mounted to save valuable space. Meanwhile, JLA has created high-fidelity, downward-firing speakers that double as elegant coffee tables, while Transparent's acoustic statue combines art and audio in a way we've never seen before. Whether this is a passing fad or a sign of the family audio world entering a new era, and the success (or bust) of any new speaker, remains to be seen. Hopefully, Symfonisk will give us a better insight into the latter. trend in home entertainment. Today's best deals on IKEA Symfonisk Sonos speakers and IKEA Symfonisk Sonos bookshelf speakers