Speakers have long been a compromise between function and form. They need to sound good, but they also take up space, often standing out as clunky, boxy contraptions in an otherwise well-designed room. This speaker, however, rewrites that equation entirely. Instead of a traditional box with drivers and grilles, it transforms its entire front surface into a vibrating diaphragm, producing sound in a way that feels almost magical. The result? A speaker that’s not just slim—it’s practically a piece of art.
The illusion that the DIYR speaker creates is that at first glance, you wouldn’t even guess it’s a speaker. Its ultra-thin profile makes it look more like a decorative panel or divider than an audio device, and that’s precisely the point. It can be propped against a wall, used to divide spaces, or simply be placed somewhere as an accent piece, all while filling the space with rich, immersive sound. The fact that it doesn’t rely on conventional speaker cones means it disperses audio more evenly, avoiding that directional, pinpointed effect most traditional speakers create. Instead of sound coming from one focused area, it radiates across the entire surface, creating an almost ethereal listening experience.
Designer: DIYR.DEV
You’d expect the DIYR speaker to come from a predominantly tech company, but their ethos is more around build-it-yourself decor and lifestyle tech. DIYR, also the company behind this innovation, is all about modular, easy-to-assemble products that encourage a hands-on approach. You won’t find an over-complicated mess of wires and screws here. Instead, it comes together intuitively, making the act of putting it together feel like part of the experience rather than a chore. That said, this isn’t just an exercise in aesthetic minimalism—it’s a serious piece of audio tech.
Underneath the sleek design, the speaker boasts high-quality engineering for optimal sound reproduction. Traditional speakers rely on cones that push air in a focused direction, but this one uses exciters attached to a flat panel, turning the entire surface into a sound source. The technology isn’t entirely new—flat-panel speakers have existed in various forms—but few have executed it with this level of refinement. The result is a sound profile that’s not just immersive but also uniquely diffused, almost as if the music is emanating from the air itself rather than a specific point in the room.
The speaker is powered by a 40W amplifier, ensuring strong, clear output despite its slim profile. The frequency response ranges from 40Hz to 20kHz, covering a full spectrum from deep bass to crisp highs. Unlike traditional speakers that rely on forward-facing drivers, this one disperses sound in a more even manner, making it ideal for both near-field listening and filling an entire room with audio.
Connectivity is as modern as the design itself. The DIYR Speaker supports Bluetooth 5.1 for seamless wireless streaming and also includes a 3.5mm auxiliary input for wired connections. Powering this device is a 7,200mAh rechargeable battery, giving it an impressive 10-hour playback time on a single charge. This means you can move it freely around your space without worrying about cables or power outlets, making it as versatile as it is stylish.
The DIYR Speaker arrives entirely flat-packed, so you get to put it together as a part of the experience. Just the act of assembly gives you a very clear understanding and appreciation of exactly how unique the thing is. I’ve covered tech for 10 years – I’ve never ‘assembled’ a speaker, so the idea of doing so with a flat-panel speaker isn’t just refreshing, it’s entirely new. The process isn’t difficult – The speaker’s panel is actually a 4mm-thick cardboard membrane (making it easy to source, budget-friendly, and recyclable) that you cut out. After that, you simply follow the guide and snap the exciters to the left and right sides of the panel, with the wires leading to the processor which mounts on a pole that holds the panel up.
You’re probably wondering whether a cardboard panel does a good job of producing music, and it’s something the DIYR folks point out too, researching a variety of materials before zeroing on the cardboard panel for its budget-friendliness as well as its ability to produce great sound. Plus, cardboard is easy to print on too, which means the DIYR speaker can come in a variety of gorgeous patterns, designs, gradients, and color variants, blending into your space seamlessly as haute decor.
This kind of innovation hints at a broader shift in product design—one where technology dissolves into living spaces rather than disrupting them. So for those tired of conventional speaker design, this is a glimpse into the future. A future where sound isn’t confined to a black box, but instead radiates from a surface as thin as a canvas. Where technology isn’t something you have to accommodate, but something that seamlessly integrates into your space. It’s rare to find a speaker that excites both audiophiles and design enthusiasts in equal measure, but this one does exactly that—without compromise.
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