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Sound In Technicolor

by Anton D. Javier
Photos courtesy of Sonos
01 Feb 2019

HAY’s smart use of color breathes new life to the Sonos One speaker, resulting in a gadget that looks and sounds superb

The Sonos philosophy is a simple one: A music-filled home is a happier home. Beyond this, the global music brand also dedicated itself to transform the simple yet joyful experience of listening to music out loud by turning it into something that can be visually appreciated.

Enter HAY, the Danish design brand known for colorful, contemporary furniture made for modern living. The collaboration between the two companies resulted in the Sonos One smart speaker, which is a bold expression of music complemented by a new range of eye-catching colors, such as vivid red, forest green, pale yellow, baby pink, and light grey.

In addition to the new colors, Sonos One’s claim to fame lies in its capability to support multiple voice services and playing music, podcasts, audiobooks, as well as the best of sonic culture from over 80 content services. With its simple, streamlined design, the device works seamlessly with all other Sonos speakers to play music in any part of the home.

Accroding to Mr. Tad Toulis, Vice President for Design at Sonos, “Sonos’ design philosophy focuses on achieving the elegant integration of domestic life and sound design. We strive toward this goal without compromising on acoustics, connectivity or the listening experience. Our speakers aren’t designed to claim attention, they are designed to blend naturally into their surroundings.” He adds, “With HAY, a company whose work we greatly respect and whose design philosophy is aligned with our own, we found a partner with whom to explore the evolving role of sound as an architectural element in the home.”

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Meanwhile, Ms. Mette Hay, Co-founder of HAY, reveals, “We were intrigued by Sonos’ philosophy of sound architecture, its approach to contemporary design, and sophisticated manufacturing techniques – values both companies share.”

Where color is concerned, Ms. Hay shares, “Colors can hide completely and disappear, or provide contrast. Creating ranges in more colors produces more impact and opportunities for mixing items in the home. These speakers deserve to be treated like furniture; strong, independent objects that can blend in or stand out – functional accessories that fit different needs and different spaces.”