erwan bouroullec shapes samsung's 'music studio' speakers

Erwan Bouroullec and Samsung’s speakers to debut at CES 2026

At CES 2026, Samsung Electronics introduces the Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7, two Wi-Fi speakers designed to coexist with interiors, operate flexibly within a connected system, and adapt to how people actually inhabit their homes. AI-driven sound processing plays a central role, with features such as dynamic bass management and spatial tuning responding to placement and room conditions, allowing the speakers to adjust themselves without demanding technical calibration from the user.

Developed in collaboration with Erwan Bouroullec, the Music Studio series adopts a restrained, circular dot form, an abstract reference to musical notation, positioning the objects somewhere between furniture, sculptural element, and instrument.

all images courtesy of Samsung

from standalone object to shared sound field

The Music Studio 7 is the more immersive of the two models. Configured as a 3.1.1-channel speaker with left, front, right, and top-firing drivers, it produces a sense of verticality and spatial depth from a single unit. Samsung’s Pattern Control Technology is used to limit signal overlap between channels, aiming for clearer directionality, while AI Dynamic Bass Control manages low frequencies to reduce distortion. Hi-resolution audio processing up to 24-bit/96kHz situates the speaker closer to high-fidelity listening than to lifestyle audio. It can function independently or expand into wider stereo or surround arrangements when paired with additional speakers or compatible Samsung TVs through Q-Symphony.

The Music Studio 5, smaller and more deliberately gallery-like, is designed for environments where visual calm is as important as acoustic clarity. A 4-inch woofer and dual tweeters with an integrated waveguide deliver balanced sound tuned by the company’s Audio Lab, while AI bass control enhances depth without overwhelming the room. Connectivity, Wi-Fi streaming, voice control, and Bluetooth via Samsung’s Seamless Codec are integrated without altering the visual simplicity of the object.

Samsung Electronics introduces the Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7

Music Studio 5 and 7: a quieter proposition for home audio

What distinguishes the Music Studio speakers is their role within a broader, modular audio ecosystem. Through Q-Symphony, multiple speakers and TVs can operate together as a distributed sound field rather than a single focal point. Sound becomes something that can be layered across a room, adjusted to layout and placement, and scaled over time as needs change. Control is consolidated through SmartThings, reinforcing the idea of audio as an ambient system rather than a set of isolated devices.

Presented at CES 2026, the Music Studio 5 and 7 suggest a shift in how consumer audio is framed. The series prioritizes integration, between object and interior, sound and space, technology and everyday life.

designed to coexist with interiors