Florian Wiegand appreciates working with high-end homeowners across Florida’s coasts. As founder and head of global distribution for Clarisys Audio, he sees clients who value a personal listening experience and invest in pieces that stand out both visually and sonically. “Recently I spoke with a homeowner who said, ‘I’ve worked my entire life, now I’m retired, so I’m going to get what I want and spend this money,’” Wiegand says. For him, that meant a pair of $160,000 speakers—an order he notes is far more straightforward here than in European markets, where customers often spend years making the decision.
Founded in 2015, Clarisys Audio Global counts Sarasota’s Suncoast Audio among its distributors; Suncoast owner Michael Bovaird also joined Wiegand as a partner in 2022. Each Clarisys speaker is built as a bespoke commission, engineered specifically for the room it inhabits.
Crafted between Switzerland and Vietnam, Clarisys ribbon loudspeakers use a thin, conductive ribbon of silver foil suspended within a magnetic field to produce sound. The effect is intended to approximate a live performance—and the design recalls musical instruments as much as electronics. The Piccolo stands 3.5 feet tall, while the flagship Atrium can reach up to nearly 9 feet and weigh as much as 1,650 pounds.
“The panel and the drivers of several models are designed like harps,” Wiegand explains. “The silver foils are tensioned from left to right, exactly like a piano string. And a different tension creates a different pitch.” Most Clarisys models fall within the high-end luxury tier, while the largest Atrium version can reach around $1 million.
Clarisys is part of a larger movement reshaping home audio. For years, the prevailing goal was to hide equipment behind walls or cabinetry. That still holds true for many homeowners. But a new generation of makers is creating pieces so sculptural and technically sophisticated that people want them on display—objects that invite attention rather than disappear into the room. From statement speakers to amplifiers and turntables, the highest-end pieces are conceived as design objects in their own right.
The Danish brand Bang & Olufsen—which celebrated 100 years in 2025—has long treated audio equipment as functional sculpture. The Beolab 28, a slender, architectural pair finished in a brushed gold tone, exemplifies the brand’s approach. The conical Beosound 2 acts as a movable wireless speaker that can shift throughout the home.
Even Louis Vuitton has entered the category with the 2025 Totem Vinyle and integrated sound system. Produced by Studio LV, the limited-edition piece features petal-like leather panels and 11 speakers arranged to create a 360-degree sound field.
Of course, design-forward audio isn’t new. McIntosh Audio—founded in 1949—became iconic for its blue-lit meters and black-glass front panels, originally created in the late 1960s for readability in low light. “People who love audio really love that look,” says Mike Novak, president and CEO of Naples-based Epic Audio Video. “Homeowners often have wanted their components tucked away and unseen, but not with McIntosh. They want it front and center.” Among the latest releases is the MSA5500, a streaming integrated amplifier that blends a classic 100-watt stereo amp with support for today’s most popular streaming platforms.
Estelon takes the sculptural approach even further. Its speakers, distributed locally through Premiere Systems in Naples and Ferrari Consulting in Key Biscayne, resemble contemporary artworks. “The chief appeal of Estelon is the aesthetics; it looks like art,” says Aldo Filippelli, president and CEO of Luxury Audio Group. The cabinets are formed from a marble composite and proprietary epoxy to create a dense, seamless unibody. The shape—sleek curves without edges—eliminates resonant vibrations and standing waves, producing an enveloping, lifelike sound. The finish receives as many as 15 coats of automotive lacquer.
Estelon models begin in the luxury tier and climb into the ultra-high-end, with the Extreme LE at the top. Clients can choose from standard finishes or commission bespoke colors, including a coastal-inspired teal known as Ocean Mystery. One Florida homeowner requested his Extreme Mk II speakers match the Azure Blue of his McLaren, complete with custom accents in a proprietary Mercedes black—a request the brand fulfilled by coordinating directly with the automaker.
For clients navigating this tier of high-end audio, Filippelli has simple advice: Hear the equipment set up exactly as intended. “If you’re considering this investment, go to a dealer that has them properly set up to enjoy the true experience,” he says. Many retailers also demonstrate the systems in a client’s home.
“That makes it a very personal experience,” he adds. “After all, you’d never buy a Ferrari or a Porsche without driving it.”