Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen in any market. Whether you’re looking for something within your budget or you want to find something that matches your space’s aesthetic or you want something that looks like just any other speaker, you won’t run out of options. But of course product designers don’t run out of ideas for coming up with new concepts and eventually even actual products. There are those who carefully think about both the design part or the technical specs or in the case of really good designers, both. Desktop speakers have fewer innovative designs compared to bluetooth speakers but there are still some concepts out there worth noting.

Designer: Hao Kong

The Hoan desktop speaker concept brings about a minimalist aesthetic but with a functional elegance. The designer also adds an element of eco-friendliness as one of their goals is to minimize the carbon footprint of the product if it ever gets produced. The speaker’s functionality is a key visual element as the structural integrity is highlighted in the design. It has a clean, uncluttered design that integrates it into most of the modern desktop setups now. The speaker’s aesthetic is emphasized more on the side and rear views where the structural beauty is highlighted but you can also see it from various angles.

The main focal point of the speaker is the grill that has a detailed mesh design that both covers and highlights the functional structure. The main body rests on a circular stand with a metal curvature holding it in between. It’s such a simple, minimalist design but it means it can blend well with your desktop setup and also is economical in terms of space and production. He didn’t indicate what materials will be used but if lessening the product footprint is the goal, then we can expect something that is sustainable as well.

The HOAN desktop speaker concept represents a thoughtful approach to desktop audio, blending minimalist design with functional elegance. As the concept gains traction, it will be interesting to see if it evolves into a commercially available product. Ultimately, the HOAN concept serves as a reminder that even in a saturated market, fresh perspectives and innovative design can capture attention. It highlights the potential for desktop audio to transcend mere functionality, becoming a visually compelling element within our personal workspaces.

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Hisense is set to redefine home theater audio in 2025 with its new sound system designed to make great sound feel effortless. The Hisense HT Saturn offers a bold promise of fully wireless surround with a 4.1.2 channel audio system, delivering cinematic sound without the hassle that plagued older setups. It transforms the usual nest of cables into a sleek environment, allowing four individual wireless satellite speakers and a standalone 6.5-inch subwoofer to settle comfortably wherever the room’s personality leads. The company’s engineers believe it’s time to give home audio the freedom it deserves. As Hisense describes it, “Everything sounds like it’s a perfectly balanced home theater audio system.”

Designer: Hisense

Hisense’s approach draws attention to how people actually live. The HT Saturn listens to the room before it does anything else, using a small dongle that connects to the TV and emits a precise calibration tone. This tone interacts with the room’s surfaces, furniture, and layout, allowing the system to analyze sound reflections and distances. Based on this data, the system automatically adjusts each speaker and subwoofer to deliver balanced audio tailored to the unique acoustics of the space.

A Home Theater Built for Big Screens

The HT Saturn sets a new standard in audio performance. It was purpose-built to complement Hisense TVs 85 inches and larger. Featuring Pure Surround Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, it surrounds users with multidimensional soundscapes, ensuring every audio detail is delivered with precision and creating a fully immersive experience. Whether you’re watching a blockbuster or gaming with friends, the system captures every detail with precision, enhancing the emotional impact of every scene.

The company seems intent on proving that there is more to a satisfying experience than numbers on a spec sheet. The HT Saturn distinguishes itself acoustically by pairing premium sound quality with intuitive features that simplify its use, from its automatic calibration to its seamless integration with TV speakers. This seamless collaboration is powered by Hisense’s proprietary Hi-Concerto Technology, which synchronizes the HT Saturn with the TV’s built-in speakers to deliver an expanded and immersive audio field.

Another subtle touch is the single remote approach, which simplifies daily interactions by replacing the need for multiple remotes. This integration ensures that users can control the HT Saturn and TV seamlessly, avoiding the clutter and confusion often associated with multi-remote setups. Everything is integrated, even the onscreen menus. The company’s representatives made it clear that the HT Saturn is less about forcing people to understand complex settings and more about putting them at ease from day one. The inclusion of EZ Play ensures direct control via the Hisense remote, further simplifying the user experience.

Hisense’s forward-thinking design choices extend to the system’s use of advanced connectivity options and seamless integration with evolving home entertainment setups. The HT Saturn fully utilizes advanced connectivity options like HDMI eARC and Bluetooth 5.3, enhancing the user experience by ensuring high-quality audio transmission, seamless device pairing, and broad compatibility with evolving television technologies. The system also includes five tailored EQ modes, optimizing sound for movies, music, sports, and more to suit user preferences.

Tailored Sound Modes for Every Occasion

One of the HT Saturn’s defining acoustic qualities is its ability to adapt. The system’s ability to compensate for unconventional speaker placement ensures “tremendous flexibility” while delivering uncompromised sound. Wherever you’re seated—directly in front of the screen or off to the side—the HT Saturn fine-tunes its output to ensure every spot feels optimal.

While final pricing and release details remain unannounced, Hisense plans to showcase the HT Saturn at CES 2025, where attendees can experience its innovative wireless capabilities and immersive sound performance firsthand. I’ll be at CES to explore Hisense’s innovations in depth, focusing on HT Saturn’s wireless flexibility, acoustic calibration, and overall user experience. I’m eager to test how it performs in a live environment and will share those insights with you.

Initial observations suggest that this wireless sound system, with its 13-speaker system and tailored sound modes, might redefine expectations regarding installation and comfort.

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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.

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