Swedish audio brand Knox and industrial designer Daniel Allm have unveiled 'Braque,' a stereo system inspired by Cubism. The name is derived from Georges Braque, considered a pioneer of Cubism alongside Picasso. True to its name, the product emphasizes form and structure. Designed as two cubes stacked vertically, the speakers are positioned not merely as electronic devices, but as objects within the space.
The Brac consists of an upper speaker cube and a lower steel cube. The top is crafted from CNC-machined plywood and finished with a deep matte black oil finish. The bottom is a 25kg solid steel base that was hand-welded and brushed in Sweden. Both materials are black, but they have different textures. As a result, when illuminated, the top appears as a restrained surface, while the bottom creates more complex reflections and asserts its presence.
The Brac features the UK-based Celestion FTX0820 coaxial driver. By arranging an 8-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter compression driver on a single axis, it delivers consistent sound close to a point source. The amplification is provided by an active 2-way structure utilizing Hypex FA122 modules for each left and right channel. The frequency response supports a range from 42Hz to 20kHz. Eight Sorbose dampers are placed between the speakers and the bass to reduce resonance and vibration.
Connectivity is analog-centric. It supports RCA and XLR optical inputs, allowing for direct connection of line-level sources such as turntables and streamers. Knox describes the Brac not as a machine to embellish music, but as a tool to reveal the textures and emotions within the recording. The speaker units are assembled in Estonia, and the steel cubes are manufactured in Sweden. Final tuning takes place at the Knox Labs. This also embodies a strategy to reduce production distances within Europe while maintaining quality control and long-term manufacturing decisions.
Brac is a technical product that simultaneously looks like a minimalist sculpture. Amid the recent trend of retro and lifestyle design gaining attention in the audio market, Brac has chosen to create a stronger presence with fewer forms. This product quite convincingly demonstrates that sound and form can coexist in balance.
