In November, we asked our readers if the $1,400 Devialet Portable Smart Speaker was worth the price tag. Well, now we have a USD$1,200 (AUD$2,000) limited-edition hand-made speaker from Swedish designers at Nocs Lab that promises to revolutionise the speaker. Aiming to create “a world-class experience that would perform in all settings,” The Monolith has been given one job: get out of the way of the listening experience.
RELATED: Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound Theatre Soundbar is an Investment for Decades to Come
Monolith Speaker | Image: Nocs Design
There’s no shortage of premium speakers hitting the market, with the likes of Sonos, Bowers & Wilkins, Bose and Sony flooding the market with the latest advances in speaker technology. Even LG is making some revolutionary waves in the industry by unveiling their new ‘invisible speakers‘, which promise to turn any in-car surface into a fully-fledged sound system.
But turning our attention back to home-listening experiences and premium HiFi, The Monolith from Nocs Design falls back on the roots of its loudspeaker past. A design that wouldn’t look out of place at a rock show or outdoor concert, this speaker is hand-made to “ensure meticulous production and a flawless design each and every time.”
Constructed with local birch plywood, sourced from various local suppliers – “the epitome of high-quality design” – no two speakers are the same, with each one boasting a grain and texture that makes The Monolith “as unique as its listener.” The manufacturing process involves CNC-machining for accurate geometry, plus four layers of oil and wax to treat the raw wood surface.
Monolith Speaker | Image: Nocs Design
The Monolith is then given a deep, matte black finish, “infusing a subtle touch of personality to set your piece apart”, which is great since you can pair up to eight of these speakers together for a seamless loudspeaker experience that could rival live concert setups.
As for the speaker technology, you can thank Denmark-based loudspeaker supplier Scan-Speak, a local partner delivering the highest calibre of speaker performance since 1970. Nocs Lab engineers based its audio development on the musician community using these renowned speakers to create a 5-way driver array. Complemented by next-generation audio technology, it’s billed as “the finest Studio Sound experience designed for the home.”
Monolith Speaker | Image: Nocs Design
“Each musician has a distinct vision for the listening experience, and the speaker’s job is to get out of its way. Like an artist chiselling away at a marble sculpture, we’re just revealing the true sound that was there all along.”
The process saw engineers tuning drivers to perform in the vented acoustic levels while focusing on the interaction between the artist and the listener, enhancing the audio experience with premium components. The Monolith also offers less distortion, and deeper bass thanks to a newly developed piezo vent design created in-house and inspired by automobile exhaust systems. If you’re ready to listen like never before, Noc Labs invites you to join the sound revolution – your Monolith is waiting.
Monolith Speaker | Image: Nocs Design
Monolith Speaker | Image: Nocs Design
