Saga Björklund
The days of needing to fill your living room with gigantic, boxy speakers and a tangle of cables for great sound are long gone. Today, premium audio is as much about visual aesthetics as it is about acoustic engineering. A truly great speaker should not only be heard but also admired, like a centerpiece or a work of art in the room.
Here are five handpicked premium speakers that masterfully balance uncompromising sound quality with award-winning industrial design.
1. Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro
Category: Wireless all-in-one speaker
For whom: Those who want an iconic design piece and broad, rich stereo sound from a single unit.
The elliptical airship shape is unmistakable. The advanced Zeppelin Pro from Bowers & Wilkins is acoustically optimized to spread sound widely throughout the room and minimize internal vibrations. With 240 watts of power and technology borrowed from their legendary studio monitors, it delivers crystal-clear treble and surprisingly deep bass.
Why it’s great: It offers an incredibly spacious soundstage for a single speaker, while looking like a futuristic sculpture on your sideboard.
Product link: Find more information on Bowers & Wilkins’ official product page.
2. Sonus faber Omnia
Category: Luxurious all-in-one system
For whom: The design lover who appreciates natural materials, tactile luxury, and a warm, organic sound.
Italian Sonus faber is known for building speakers as if they were exclusive string instruments. Omnia is their vision of the modern wireless home. The top is crafted from real walnut or graphite wood with integrated touch controls that light up subtly when you wave your hand over it. Sound-wise, it uses an advanced four-way system that projects sound into the room in a way that makes the speaker seem to disappear entirely.
Why it’s great: The wood finish and tactile lighting provide an extreme sense of luxury, while the sound is rich, natural, and perfect for jazz, acoustic, and vocals.
Product link: Read more on Sonus faber’s official product page.
3. Devialet Phantom I
Category: High-end wireless speaker
For whom: Those who want extreme power, modern sci-fi design, and bass you can feel throughout your body.
French Devialet has revolutionized the audio world with its Phantom series. The spherical, implosive design looks like it belongs on a spaceship. When the music starts, you see the side-mounted bass elements vibrate in sync to create extreme pressure. Thanks to their patented ADH amplifier technology, Phantom delivers completely distortion-free sound, even at extremely high volumes that can fill the largest rooms.
Why it’s great: No other compact speaker in the world can produce the same abyssal bass and pure power without shaking apart the furniture it’s placed on.
Product link: Explore the power on Devialet’s official product page.
4. KEF LS50 Wireless II
Category: Active stereo speakers (pair)
For whom: The true audiophile who demands genuine stereo separation without a separate amplifier.
If you want a true hi-fi experience where you can pinpoint exactly where the singer stands on stage, you need a pair of speakers. KEF LS50 Wireless II combines the best of both worlds. The curved front and iconic Uni-Q driver provide a completely unique look. Since the amplifiers are built into the cabinets, you only need power cables to have a complete, high-resolution music system of absolute world-class.
Why it’s great: The unique driver design makes the entire room a so-called “sweet spot.” The sound is extremely detailed, accurate, and dynamic.
Product link: See all color combinations on KEF’s official product page.
5. Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5
Category: Premium portable speaker
For whom: Those who want the flexibility to move luxury between rooms or out onto the patio.
Danish Bang & Olufsen are masters at blurring the line between technology and interior design. Beosound A5 is designed in collaboration with design duo GamFratesi and resembles an exclusive picnic basket in woven paper fiber or dark oak with a robust aluminum handle. Despite being battery-powered and portable, it pumps out heavy 360-degree sound. The top also functions as a wireless Qi charger for your phone.
Why it’s great: It’s fully portable but doesn’t compromise on material choices. The built-in room correction also adapts the sound to wherever you place it.
Product link: See the details on Bang & Olufsen’s official product page.
