There’s something that every audiophile out there needs – an arsenal of excellent audio devices to blast out some groovy music at their parties, or to sing along to their favorite tunes alone in the comfort of their room. Whatever your musical need may be, it is integral to own clear, distortion-free, nifty, and interactive audio devices. And, we’ve curated a collection of unique and innovative audio designs to cater to people’s diverse range of diverse audio requirements. From an invisible turntable to a Nothing-inspired resurrected iPod – there’s an ideal audio device in here for everyone!
1. The Black Wheel
Dubbed the Black Wheel, this is the latest version of the Wheel design by Miniot. The innovative Black Wheel smartly conceals the electronic and mechanical components under the record, this ensures that the various parts are seated within a thin circular body, which disappears the instant you put a record on.
Why is it noteworthy?
The illusion created by the Black Wheel is more apparent when you stand it upright, however, it does have an alluring minimalist charm even if you lay it horizontally. It also features a unique control system, that is felt but can be hardly seen.
What we like
- Has an incredibly thin body, that doesn’t compromise the audio quality at all
What we dislike
- Has a bit of an old-fashioned charm which may not be preferred by those who like modern aesthetics
2. Wall Hanging CD Cover Player
With an innovative retro design, this minimalist CD player perfectly merges a distinctive listening experience with the impact of visual art. You don’t need to put aside the CD jacket or sleeve, all you have to do is simply slip it inside the specially-designed pocket, creating a beautiful display for you.
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Why is it noteworthy?
Displaying this CD player is the physical equivalent of displaying digital album art. Still, it also allows you to boast the fact that you own the physical original CD as well.
What we like
- Features an incredibly portable design, showcasing a 40mm full-range speaker and a woofer unit, allowing you to listen to your music by placing it in your room or while traveling
- Equipped with a 1800mAh battery that offers 7-8 hours of unparalleled audio experience wherever you go
What we dislike
- Solely an analog style of listening to music, it does not support syncing music or playlists with any digital medium
3. Sony Conceptual Earbuds
Designed by Marc Senar, this conceptual audio accessory is designed for the tech-savvy crowd who want to boast their earbuds in style. It features an innovative display on the charging case, and on the stem of one of the earbuds. The other bud stem is equipped with a volume control knob.
Why is it noteworthy?
This unique display gives the listener an idea of the charge levels during the juicing up session in the case, or when they are being utilized. The charging case also showcases the track being played, the play seek bar, the start/stop button, and the track toggle buttons.
What we like
- Has a unique Cyberpunkish-vibe
What we dislike
- It’s a concept, so we don’t know how ergonomic it will be when translated into an actual product
4. ERA
ERA is a retro-modern portable cassette tape player that features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 3.5mm jack to plug in your headphones of choice. It combines a retro aesthetic with modern functionality, creating a unique product with the best of both worlds or generations to be accurate.
Why is it noteworthy?
To feature modern functionality, the ERA is equipped with a small display beside the physical play/pause and track change buttons. Although a volume knob much like the radio sets of the past is located between the buttons and the display.
What we like
- Can be connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth
What we dislike
- Not intended for those who may have a bias towards the medium they’re consuming their favorite music on
5. Battery-free Amplifying iSpeakers
Say hello to this battery-free iPhone speaker! It is a unique and exciting upgrade to the typical no-power smartphone speaker. It is made using metal, unlike other speakers on the market, offering you a product with boosted functionality and value, making it stand apart from the crowd.
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Why is it noteworthy?
The speaker is built using Duralumin, which is a type of aluminum alloy that is utilized in the aviation and aerospace industries, as it is vibration-resistant and durable. You simply need to insert your smartphone into the speaker and feel the sound surround you from all sides.
What we like
- It is an electricity speaker that doesn’t need any power to use
- A minimalist and unique aesthetic that is captivating to look at
What we dislike
- Will not fit with bulky smartphone cases
6. The Sole Speaker
The Sole Speaker is essentially a waste material transformed into a unique design and audio object. They took the rejected soles from Axel Arigato sneaker production and upcycled them to create this innovative speaker cabinet. The cabinet is 97% upcycled sneaker soles and holds the TS-W modules.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Soler Speaker sheds light on how a circular material concept was utilized to create a speaker. Rubber waste was elevated by using waste from the sneaker soles molding process to create the cabinet of a speaker, providing rubber granules with a three-dimensional shape.
What we like
- It is a prime specimen of circular design and upcycling
What we dislike
- The parts cannot be easily replaced
7. Nothing Npod (1)
Dubbed the Nothing Npod (1), this resurrected iPod by Shreyansh Onial and Aditya Pandharpure pays tribute to Apple’s iconic iPod Shuffle, as well as Nothing’s signature transparent aesthetic and glyph interface. It reflects how Nothing may be able to transform the music industry through technology and nostalgia.
Why is it noteworthy?
It features a signature control panel on the front, as well as a matching circular glyph interface on the back, truly functioning as a fan-made reinterpretation of the iPod Shuffle. It also has a wireless charging coil on the back, as well as a USB-C charger on the bottom.
What we like
- Perfectly combines the design language of Apple and Nothing, creating a truly groundbreaking audio device
What we dislike
- Doesn’t feature a pocket clip that would allow you to attach it to your clothes for easy control and usage
8. Tempo
Tempo is an IKEA-inspired modular wall and ceiling baffle system that absorbs any sound, making a space sound-proof, while also doubling up as art for your room. It includes 12 modules, and each module and system can be attached to work across the ceiling and the wall.
Why is it noteworthy?
Since the modules can be attached, it allows you to build your customizable art that matches. Each panel can be easily layered and is available in different colors, which when unified together, create a lovely and complete art piece.
What we like
- It is a fun and engaging experience for those designing, installing, and experiencing the design
What we dislike
- Geometric design may not align with everyone’s taste or interior decor
9. Nothing Head (1)
These conceptual pair of over-ear cans are called the Nothing Head (1), and they’re inspired by Nothing’s design language and company DNA. The Head (1) is open, transparent, and extremely fun, and comes with its own Glyph Interface.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Glyph Interface takes the usual audio experience of a headphone and transforms it into an audiovisual one. It also signifies the branding of the headphones, while also functioning as a notification light to let you know if your headphones are connected, or to let others know you’re listening to music and don’t wanna be bothered!
What we like
- Features transparency-focused design that lets you see underneath the hood
What we dislike
- While innovative, the Glyph could be seen as overly flashy or distracting for some users.
10. Earbugs
This unique audio accessory provides an innovative audio experience for the listener by merging the goodness of in-ear sound isolation of wireless earbuds with the abilities of bone conducting technology to provide users with a comfortable and top-notch experience.
Why is it noteworthy?
The combination of bone conduction with the earbuds’ dynamic drivers creates a 3D soundscape to provide a never-before audio delivery. The ergonomically shaped earbuds are ideal for fitness and outdoorsy enthusiasts offering them a decent water-resistant rating.
What we like
- Features bone conducting technology for superior transparency mode
What we dislike
- Not ideal for bedtime listening, since they don’t seem to be comfy to use while sleeping or lying on one side
