Nocs Braque: Sculptural Stereo System Stacks Two Cubes into a 25kg Audio Masterpiece

Elevate your listening experience with the Nocs Braque sculptural stereo system—where design and sound unite in perfect harmony.

A Bold Statement Beyond Typical Speakers

Let’s be honest: most hi-fi speakers tend to blend into the background, resembling black rectangles that do their job but hardly inspire. I remember countless setups where the speakers were just that—functional but forgettable. Enter the Nocs Braque stereo system, a breath of fresh air that dares to merge sculpture with sound. This isn’t your usual tech gadget tossed into a room; it’s a thoughtful union of visual poetry and audio engineering.

Nocs Design coined it perfectly: “two cubes, one sculptural stereo system.” The concept is beautifully simple yet profound—a pair of cubes stacked to create a stereo system that both looks and sounds like art. Each speaker is a combination of a CNC-machined plywood enclosure resting atop a hefty 25-kilogram solid steel base. Every set is hand-assembled in Estonia, with the steel block meticulously crafted in Sweden, culminating in a carefully tuned masterpiece back at the Nocs Lab.

Craftsmanship That Speaks Volumes

Digging deeper, the upper cube impresses with its rigid plywood finished in deep matte-black oil. This finish doesn’t just look exquisite; it enhances tonal warmth and maintains acoustic integrity. It’s like how a fine violin's wood affects its voice—the material matters. The base cube is a hand-welded brushed steel block that grounds the system both physically and aesthetically.

Between these two elements sit Sorbothane isolation pads that cleverly decouple the enclosure from the base. This lets the drivers move freely without turning your furniture into a mini subwoofer or muddling the soundstage. The result? A visual and sonic harmony that balances minimalism with expressive detail.

Engineering That Resonates

What about the heart of the system? The Braque features an 8-inch Celestion FTX0820 coaxial driver, crowned with a 1-inch compression tweeter right at the center. This driver arrangement acts like a point-source, meaning the sound emanates with precision and accuracy. Powered by dual Hypex FA122 amplifier modules, each side pumps out a clean 125 watts with integrated DSP (digital signal processing) that lets Nocs finely tune the crossover and EQ.

This gives a frequency response spanning a rich 42 Hz to 20 kHz—a range that’s carefully tailored, not just guessed at through traditional passive circuits.

Tuning Like Sculpture

Nocs describes their studio approach beautifully: tuning like sculpture. Instead of adding unnecessary elements, they work to reveal what’s already there—balancing emotion, texture, and detail in the music. This isn’t about pushing a brand’s sound signature but about uncovering music’s true character.

The stacked cubes lift the drivers to ear level when you’re seated—an often overlooked but crucial detail for optimal listening. Meanwhile, the weight and isolation keep the sound clean and stable, even at higher volumes. It’s a thoughtful design that caters to real-world use, whether a cozy living room or a precise studio environment.

Connectivity for the Purist Listener

In terms of inputs, Braque embraces versatility without overcomplication. It comes with analog RCA and XLR inputs and digital options like S/PDIF, AES/EBU, and coaxial. It’s ready to connect directly to turntables (with a phono stage), streamers, or studio interfaces. Notably, there’s no built-in streaming or app control—this absence feels deliberate. Nocs expects you to bring your own source and lets the speakers handle the rest, focusing purely on amplification and conversion without trying to be an ecosystem.

More Than Just Speakers—A Statement

When you see Braque in a room, you’re looking at strict, minimalist cubes that feel like curated pieces of Cubist architecture. Yet, the magic happens when you hit play—the sound fills the space with rich detail and clarity. For those who want their audio gear to be part of the room’s composition, not shoved into corners or ignored, Braque strikes a rare balance. It's a deliberate, thoughtful answer to the question of what stereo should look and sound like in 2025: a beautiful coexistence of form and function without compromise.

“Braque signals that this is not a mass-market soundbar or a safe play for casual listeners who just want something wireless.”
– Nocs Design

Have you ever owned a speaker that felt more like a sculpture than just a piece of electronics? How important is the visual presence of your audio gear to your listening experience? Share your thoughts below!

FAQ

• What materials are used in the Nocs Braque speakers?
  The upper cube is made of CNC-machined plywood finished with matte-black oil, while the base is a hand-welded brushed steel block weighing 25 kg.
• What kind of drivers power the Braque system?
  Each speaker has an 8-inch Celestion FTX0820 coaxial driver combined with a 1-inch compression tweeter.
• Are the Braque speakers wireless?
  No, they are designed without built-in streaming or wireless features, focusing on high-quality analog and digital connections.
• Where are the Braque speakers assembled?
  The speakers are assembled in Estonia, with the steel bases handcrafted in Sweden.
• Can the Braque connect to turntables?
  Yes, the system supports connection to turntables with a phono stage, as well as other analog and digital sources.

Ready to bring a piece of sculptural audio art into your space? Explore your favorite album cover posters to complement your new setup at Architeg Prints—where music meets design.