New Products

Next Level Acoustics, the New England-based custom-speaker specialist best known for making custom enclosures for Sonos soundbars, has introduced a stealth speaker system that can be custom-fitted around almost any TV.

Disguised as a picture frame, the Audio Art system is designed to create an art gallery vibe when a wall-mounted TV is displaying artwork through an app such as ArtCast.

The company is offering three versions of the system: Stereo (left + right), LCR (left, dual center, right), and Audio Art LCR + Heights. Each version is based on a compact woofer-tweeter-woofer speaker module with a pair of 2.5-inch long-throw mini-woofers on either side of a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter.

The two-channel Stereo model features a vertically-aligned driver complement on each side, while the LCR model adds two horizontally-aligned center-channel driver modules to the L/R configuration — one above the TV screen and one below (the configuration shown in the photo).

In the LCR + Heights model, the center-channel module above the screen is replaced with speakers that convey Dolby Atmos/DTS:X height effects channels to create a 3.0.2-channel setup (which in many cases will be augmented with a subwoofer and additional rear speakers for a more robust home theater setup).

The frame in which the speakers are embedded is covered with a magnetic grille that mimics the look of a custom picture frame; the grille can be customized with more than 15 fabrics and hundreds of Benjamin Moore paint colors to match a color scheme or décor. The depth and width of the frame varies according to the type of TV, but starts at around 3 x 3 inches.

The system is rated down to 75-80 Hz and can handle up to 300 watts of power. Sensitivity is spec’d at 89 dB (1 watt/1 meter) and max output level as 98 dB SPL (@ 2 meters).

For a 65-inch TV, pricing starts at around $9,600 for an Audio Art Stereo system and around $10,000 for either the LCR or LCR + Heights system.

In addition to offering a décor-friendly enclosure for the Sonos Arc soundbar, NextLevel makes a number of other speakers and related products, including a series of in-wall/ceiling speakers and subwoofers and a soundbar called the Fusion Frame Slim that matches Samsung’s ultra-thin Frame TV, which has a matte screen that was expressly designed to display artwork.

For more information, visit nextlevelacoustics.com.