John
Sonos’ collaboration with IKEA clicks up a notch with the announcement of the SYMFONISK picture frame wi-fi loudspeaker (US$199/£179 each). Bound by a black (or white) frame that’s roughly the size of an A2 piece of paper, this new IKEA device allows us to put a Sonos speaker on the wall.
And because the SYMFONISK picture frame speaker integrates Sonos’ streaming hardware, we use Sonos’ own app to say hello to 100 integrated streaming services, Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2 and Roon. And, as with standard Sonos loudspeakers, we have the option to deploy two SYMFONISK picture frames as a stereo pair.
Painting more of a surrealist’s vision of Future-Fi, the wall mountable model can also be paired with the Sonos-loaded SYMFONISK table lamp or the €99 SYMFONISK loudspeaker.
From the press release: “The space-saving picture frame speaker can hang on its own on the wall as an eye-catching art piece, be matched with other art on the wall, be placed on a shelf or on the floor, leaning against the wall.”
What we don’t get is the ability to supply our own artwork. IKEA will reportedly offer a range of interchangeable fronts, presumably made from an acoustically transparent material.
The SYMFONISK picture frame wi-fi loudspeaker will be available from IKEA in North America and Europe from 15th July. Other territories will follow ‘later’.
More info in this launch video:
Further information: IKEA
