The Thing: a speaker that looks even better than it sounds

The Bang and Olufsen BeoPlay A9 plays music wirelessly from iTunes or any music streaming service, and it plays it loudly—a killer bass reflex and typically crisp B&O sound quality will put your current iPod dock to shame. But why do we really love it? Because unlike most speakers, which are designed to be inconspicuous, this one is self-consciously stylish. It looks like an audio version of the iconic Eames DSW chair, and it’s about the same size as one when mounted on its teak (or beech or oak) tripod. That is, the A9 is a significant piece of furniture in its own right—possibly the most exciting piece of furniture in your house. $2,999. Bang and Olufsen, 175 Avenue Rd., 416-935-1919.