For design minded individuals, it can be difficult to find a quality stereo system that doesn’t look like a prop from a sci-fi movie.

We recently met the folks behind Q Speakers Ltd, which offers a sound system made from 100% real hardwoods, with clean lines and a contemporary design appropriate for anything from a dorm room to a mid century mansion. The unit offers 360 degree sound coverage from a 90 watt amplifier, built in bass woofer and stereo speakers, all mounted on an aluminum frame. Plug in any iPod or smartphone and the sound will easily fill a room up to 800 square feet. We can’t help but agree with their tagline, “Music looks better in Wood.” 

The idea for Q came from New Zealand audio engineer and designer Grier Govorko and his sister Thea, a film industry vet, who wanted to put their experience in design, production and music to good use. The speakers may not be made in USA, but that doesn’t mean the company doesn’t have the same dedication to craftmanship and quality. Every speaker is made from a unique piece of oak, maple or walnut, “thinned, planed, cut, mitered, glued, sanded and finished” over a 12 hour process. In their own words, it’s “like slow food – takes longer but tastes better.” We think one would fit perfectly in the design office.

If you are more of an on-the-go person, but like the idea of mixing of music and wood, thinksound makes a line of wooden earbuds that mix portability with a similar attention to design.