Ikea Symfonisk picture frame review: Sonos wifi speaker hidden by art

Latest collaboration puts great sound behind fabric art panel that can be hung or leant against a wall

The latest device from Ikea’s novel partnership with the wifi-speaker maker Sonos is a bit different: a speaker hidden in a picture frame.

The Symfonisk picture frame costs £179 ($199) and joins Ikea’s other unusual speakers – one is in a shelf while another is a table lamp – which are all fully compatible with Sonos’s whole-home wireless audio system.

Dimensions: 41 x 57 x 6cm

Weight: 3.8kg

Connectivity: Wifi, ethernet, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect

Cord length: 350cm

The body vibrates slightly when the volume is pushed beyond 80%.

There is an ethernet port in the back if you don’t want to use wifi.

The frame doesn’t have any microphones, so while it can be controlled via Amazon’s Alexa or Google’s Assistant on another device or phone, it is not a smart speaker.

Pros: good sound, well designed, can be hung or stood against a wall in portrait or landscape, easy setup, Sonos control, wide support for music services, can be paired up, optional ethernet, new front plates available at later date.

Cons: art may not be everyone’s taste, can’t have your own art prints, more obvious than a small bookshelf speaker, no smart speaker mics, no Bluetooth or line in, still needs a dangling power cord if hung.

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