This Epic Audiophile System Blends Traditional Hi-Fi with Iconic Vintage Design

Symbol Audio is a New York-based hi-fi company known for making beautifully designed hi-fi gear and vinyl storage solutions that masquerade as mid-century decor. (The company’s background is in woodworking and furniture design.)

For a little better idea of what the brand is known for, check out its Modern Record Console. It’s an all-in-one vinyl hi-fi system housed in a gorgeous cabinet crafted out of American Black Walnut. It costs over $30,000 and is designed to be the focal point of any room.

Back in 2024, Symbol Audio teamed up with USM, the Swiss design company known for its unique modular furniture, to create a special collection of record storage solutions and media stations that work with USM’s iconic Haller modular system, which debuted in 1965.

Two years later, the two brands have added to this collection. Only this time, Symbol Audio has integrated speaker modules directly into the USM’s modular furniture system.

According to the brands, it marks a new “evolution in how high-performance audio can be incorporated into the iconic Swiss furniture system.”

Symbol x USM Speaker Collection

Symbol x USM

Admittedly, it’s a new look for Symbol Audio, which has been best known for custom audio gear, hi-fi cabinetry and vinyl storage solutions crafted from beautiful hardwoods. With this collection, it’s dealing in USM’s elements, which are mostly comprised of chromed steel frames and powder-coated steel panels.

It’s a different vibe, for sure. But like Symbol Audio’s existing offerings, the new collection is designed to make a statement or be the focal point of any room.

Symbol x USM

Symbol Audio x USM

Eight Speaker modules

The collaboration comes in eight distinct speaker modules, each of which is a passive system but can be purchased with Sonos’s streaming amplifier, the Amp. All models are available in 14 colors to match the rest of the brand’s modular systems.

As for standalone speakers, there’s the USM Bookshelf Speaker ($6,595) and the USM Large Speaker ($8,685), both bookshelf and standmount loudspeakers. Each of these can be purchased with or without the accompanying stands (which also double as shelving units).

And there’s the USM Speaker Towers ($18,505), a pair of full-range floorstanding speakers with dedicated subwoofers. The two driver units are separated by a shelving unit.

Symbol x USM

Symbol x USM

If you’re looking for speakers that are integrated into larger furniture units, the two brands have you covered.

There’s the USM HiFi Bookcase ($11,135+), which integrates two passive bookshelf speakers directly into the USM’s Haller shelving system. The USM HiFi Media Console ($9,895+) is a TV media console with integrated speakers.

The USM Hi-Fi Wall ($17,970) is quite a bit larger with dedicated shelves for your turntable and amplifier, as well as multiple vinyl storage cubbies. There’s also integrated wire-management so the setup looks as tidy as possible.

And finally, there are two stereo consoles: USM Audio Cart ($9,250) and USM Audio Console ($9,165). Each console has integrated speakers, a turntable platform and vinyl storage cubbies. The “cart” has wheels, so it’s technically mobile.

Symbol x USM

Symbol x USM

“As longtime admirers of USM, it has been an exciting opportunity for us to experiment with the legendary design system through the lens of music,” says Walker Tovin, Managing Director of Symbol.

“With these pieces, we’ve built sound directly into the USM framework: creating a seamless listening experience without compromising the integrity of the design.”

Symbol x USM

Symbol x USM

Price and availability

The Symbol Audio and USM Speaker Collection debuted this month during NYCxDesign, the annual NYC-based design show.

All new speaker modules are now available on Symbol Audio’s website. They range from around around $4,850 to $19,000. And each one is designed to partner with USM’s greater Haller modular system.

Check out the complete Symbol x USM Speaker Collection, here.