Sonos and IKEA join forces for sound and light

IKEA and Sonos have joined forces to produce the first products in the ‘SYMFONISK’ range, the first of which the companies call the “loudest table lamp ever.” The SYMFONISK table lamp with WiFi speaker is a piece of furniture that “blends into the home in a new way, making it easier to furnish with sound.” IKEA believes, probably rightly, that its heritage lies in home furnishing knowledge and design direction, while Sonos brings to the party its “profound sound skills.”

The range includes the SYMFONISK table lamp with WiFi speaker and the SYMFONISK book-shelf with WiFi speaker, retailing at $179 and $100 respectively. Both products are compatible with Sonos’ own product range and can be steered through the Sonos app. IKEA says the table lamp combines light and sound into one product in order to de-clutter the home with less devices and cords, while the book-shelf speaker can either be hidden or mounted in view with an included bracket, either horizontally or vertically.

 “We knew from the start that we wanted to challenge the traditional high-tech aesthetics. The lamp-speaker partly springs from the idea of the fireplace – one single piece that spreads warm light as well as sound”, says Iina Vuorivirta, one of the designers of SYMFONISK lamp-speaker at IKEA of Sweden.

“This partnership has always been about our two companies’ shared passion, values and knowledge. IKEA and Sonos recognize the importance of great sound and its potential to positively affect life at home for the many people. We set out to create products neither of us would or could develop independently. To this end, since music and light are both instrumental in creating a sense of place, we developed a product that can deliver both – the SYMFONISK lamp speaker”, says Tad Toulis.

IKEA’s foray into audio is part of a bigger journey promoting smarter homes, which started with a wireless charging range in 2015, and is slated to progress. “Creating atmosphere and convenience are central in the creation of the IKEA Home Smart concept, and the SYMFONISK range are perfectly designed with that in mind. IKEA is always looking for ideas that improve life at home. By integrating technology with home furnishing products and solutions we can do that in an even better way”, says Björn Block, Business Leader for IKEA Home Smart at IKEA of Sweden.