One of the more unique audio announcements at the CES 2024 came from Samsung with the release of the Music Frame.
Those familiar with their hugely successful Frame TV will know exactly what's going on here, but for those who aren't, let's take a step back. In 2021, Samsung released the Frame TV, a 4K QLED TV that looks nothing like a television -- but instead has the appearance of a picture in a frame. With a matte screen and customisable bezels, the Frame TV is almost indistinguishable from a picture frame. This product was a huge success and the perfect solution for those who wanted their TV to blend in with the rest of their decor.
To complement the effect, the Frame TV also offers a massive collection of renowned artwork that cycles on the screen while it's idle -- so you may actually forget a TV is even there. The Frame TV is available in a variety of sizes from 43 inches to a whopping 85 inches.
To follow up this iconic product, Samsung announced a new line at this year's consumer electronics show: the Music Frame.
As you may have guessed based on the name, this product has the same design principle as the Frame TV, but plays audio instead. The Music Frame has no physical resemblance to a speaker, and instead looks like a typical square picture frame. The Music Frame can be used as a standalone wireless speaker or, using Q-symphony, can be paired with a Samsung TV and soundbar for an "invisible" surround sound system.
The physical print on the Music Frame will be customisable by buyers once orders go live, and measures 12.9 x 12.9 inches. With two built-in woofers, mid-range drivers, and tweeters, along with intelligent audio processing, the Music Frame is said to deliver a premium audio experience.
Although Samsung was an industry leader with the Frame TV, they aren't the first company to release a hidden speaker design. The Music Frame is looking like Samsung's take on the Symfonisk frame speaker, borne of a collaboration between Sonos and IKEA in 2021. The Symfonisk is priced at $260 USD, and we're not sure how this will compare to the Music Frame's price tag, as Samsung hasn't released any information concerning the cost just yet.
For fans of the Frame TV and those looking for a musical version, the Music Frame seems to be a promising option. The biggest consideration for buyers is going to be where and how to hide the power cable (albeit very thin) that must run to the product.
We can expect the first of these speakers -- I mean, frames -- to roll out sometime this spring.
Image credit: Samsung
