Symbol Audio, designer of furniture for living, working, and listening, unveils a new series of speaker modules engineered specifically to integrate directly into the USM Modular Furniture system. The launch employs USM’s modular framework as a structural foundation — marking an evolution in how high-performance audio can be incorporated into the iconic Swiss furniture system.

Debuting during NYCxDesign, Symbol’s collection will be presented in an immersive “Wall of Sound” installation designed in collaboration with USM at the Afternoon Light Design Fair, alongside a dedicated presentation at the Symbol Loft in Lower Manhattan.

At the center of the launch is Symbol’s new Speaker Module, which incorporates high-fidelity audio components within USM’s signature modular structure. Available exclusively through Symbol in three sizes—small, large, and subwoofer—the speaker delivers premium sound while maintaining the clean, architectural language that defines USM, allowing clients to seamlessly integrate listening into living and working environments.

The presentation builds on Symbol’s work within the USM Haller system for vinyl storage and audio equipment. This latest chapter extends that award-winning vision, transforming the furniture itself into a fully integrated listening system.

“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.”

Founded by furniture designer Blake Tovin, Symbol began as a project to create refined, display-worthy furniture for vinyl collections and listening equipment. The brand has since developed a following among design-focused audiophiles, with collections supporting premium audio systems, including Sonos and McIntosh.

Timed to New York City’s preeminent design event, NYCxDesign, Symbol introduces the Speaker Module across four core designs: a DJ Console, Speaker Towers, Mobile Stereo Cabinet, and Hi-Fi Wall, all made from USM components. On view across the city, the pieces can be found at the Symbol Loft on Bowery, and in an immersive installation at the Afternoon Light Design Fair. Inspired by the Grateful Dead’s stage design at Woodstock and Jamaican hi-ficulture, the “Wall of Sound” installation underscores the customizability of the new work with 18 Speaker Modules built into an expansive Hi-Fi Wall.

“For decades, USM has provided a structure for creativity — supporting a wide range of uses and visions,” says Jon Thorson, Brand Experience Director and CEO of USM North America. “What the team at Symbol has achieved here, both with the pieces and the ‘Wall of Sound’ installation, speaks to the system’s inherent flexibility. They’re working within the system, not around it – integrating sound in a way that respects its underlying logic.”

For USM, the installation also marks the US debut of the USM Haller Soft Panel — a new product expansion of the USM Haller system.

Since its inception in 1965, the USM Haller system has been a timeless icon, and the addition of the Soft Panel continues to highlight its creative potential and adds another customizable touch. The Soft Panel seamlessly integrates into the USM system with a magnetic, hardware-less connection, allowing effortless repositioning without tools.

Images courtesy of Symbol, Black & Steil, and Marco Galloway