New York’s appetite for boundary-pushing design finds expression in the Hum Speaker, conceived by Kouros Maghsoudi in collaboration with Silence Please—where sound becomes sculpture. Composed of layered, rounded brutalist elements, the body reflects Maghsoudi’s distinct geometric approach. The silhouette brings to mind a refined, compact club speaker stack, finished in lustrous lacquer and accented by a gramophone-inspired horn.
Design Inspiration and NYC Techno Culture
Drawing from New York’s techno scene, the collaboration evokes the energy of massive speaker stacks, austere brutalist spaces, and late-night rooms alive with sound. Debuted at the Silence Please Bowery listening room for NYCxDesign 2026, the edition is limited to 10 sets in Bone and Black, with custom lacquer options available.
Audiophile Performance and Technical Specs
Beneath its striking exterior, the Hum is engineered for true high-fidelity performance. This passive two-way bookshelf speaker pairs a 6.5-inch woofer with a horn-loaded tweeter in a 15-liter bass-reflex enclosure tuned to 45Hz, delivering full-bodied sound without the need for a subwoofer. Free from wireless features, it relies on dedicated amplification, firmly aligning with audiophile expectations.
With a tailor-made passive crossover that integrates the drivers and a horn shaped to the Jean-Michel Le Cléac’h specification, valued for its consistent dispersion and tonal equilibrium, the system produces a rich, articulate soundstage offering realistic presence, transparent detail, and extended listening comfort, placing the Hum firmly alongside high-end, sculptural audio pioneers like Oswalds Mill Audio.
Key Specs: The Hum Speaker
- Speaker Type: Passive 2-way bookshelf loudspeaker
- Configuration: Sold as a pair (L+R)
- Drivers: 6.5″ woofer, horn-loaded tweeter
- Enclosure: 15 L bass-reflex, tuned to 45 Hz
- Frequency Response: 42 Hz to 20 kHz (-6 dB)
- Sensitivity: 90 dB (2.83 V / 1 m)
- Nominal Impedance: 4 Ω
- Recommended Power: 30-80 watts per channel
- Max Power Handling: 60 W
- Inputs: Terminal post
- Dimensions: 298 × 298 × 596 mm
- Finishes: Bone or Black (custom lacquer available)
- Limited Edition: Yes, 10 sets
- Price: USD$6,600
Pricing & Availability
Available through Silence Please at $6,600 per pair, the Hum Speaker arrives in Bone and Black, with custom lacquer options for a more tailored finish. With only 10 sets produced, it remains an object of rarefied appeal, experienced by few and admired by many.
