The ultimate in sound design

The world of the hi-fi enthusiast is one of constant contradiction. The more they pay for an item, the less they want it to do. Simplicity of function leading to purity of sound. Equally, the more it costs, the less they want to notice it. So, the ideal system recreates music so purely it sounds as if the artist is in the room.

In other words, you pay lots of money in order to make your system disappear. But you do want your friends to notice it. Enter the usually down-to-earth British hi-fi firm KEF and a remarkable collaboration with industrial designer Ross Lovegrove. A bit like couture fashion, these £70,000 Muon loudspeakers are more about making a brand statement than making kit that sells. But with Lovegrove's track record they're likely to sound as good as they look.

The 2m tall speakers are made from super-formed aluminium, damped to prevent vibrations from colouring the sound. There's a four-way speaker system mounted into the front of the structure and an additional two bass drivers in the back. With the best of KEF's technology and its stunning looks, this might be the ultimate speaker.