The Concrete Canvas Speaker That Proudly Shows Its Wires
Valeriy Bagrintsev
Music Tech
5 minute read
The Concrete Canvas Speaker That Proudly Shows Its Wires
This concrete canvas speaker boldly flaunts its wiring and industrial design, redefining how we see audio equipment.
Breaking the Mold: A Speaker That Doesn’t Hide
Most of us are used to speakers that play hide-and-seek with their inner workings. The drivers? Out of sight. The wires? Tucked away like embarrassing secrets. The whole mechanism? Behind a polished wood or aluminum shell, meant to vanish into the background. You just hit play and let the music do its magic, never thinking about the tech behind the sound.
But then you stumble upon A-PQ 31.37 speaker, and suddenly that whole idea flips on its head.

An exposed, suspended speaker made from concrete canvas, showcasing its raw mechanics.
Concrete Canvas: The Unlikely Star Material
A-PQ 31.37 isn’t your grandma’s speaker. It’s crafted from concrete canvas—a flexible, fabric-reinforced material that, once hydrated, hardens into a rigid, curved form. This material is usually reserved for tough environments like emergency shelters or civil engineering, not cozy listening rooms.
This bold choice grabs your attention instantly. Concrete canvas brings a dense, industrial vibe that synthetic plastics or MDF just can’t match. The sleek, curved shell looks raw yet refined, balancing the gritty with the elegant in a way that’s tough to pull off.

Detail showing the rugged yet refined texture of the concrete canvas speaker body.

The industrial design proudly on display, with fasteners and raw edges clearly visible.
Open-Baffle Design: Amplifying Sound and Style
Open-baffle speakers have been the darling of audiophiles for decades. The principle is simple yet powerful: without a closed box, sound radiates freely forward and backward, creating a more open, natural audio experience. It’s like the music is breathing all around you.
However, this openness often sacrifices low-end bass, making the choice of drivers and signal processing critical. Guri’s solution? A custom control unit embedded in the system, packing digital signal processing, preamplification, and analog controls. This isn’t just art—it’s a fully realized audio system.

The custom control unit integrates seamlessly, reinforcing the speaker’s industrial theme.

Steel cables suspend the speaker, highlighting its open and sculptural presence.
A Sculptural Statement in Your Listening Room
Calling A-PQ 31.37 “just a speaker” wouldn’t do it justice. Suspended mid-air by steel cables, it almost floats, interacting with the room’s architecture rather than hiding in a corner. This changes the dynamic — instead of ignoring your speakers, you’re invited to look at and appreciate them.
It’s a conversation piece, an industrial sculpture, and a hi-fi system rolled into one. Exposed fasteners and typographic details extend the design language throughout, showing that every inch was thoughtfully considered.

The speaker’s design boldly displays its components — no hiding, no compromises.

Visual coherence ties the control unit and speaker design into one seamless experience.
“Visibility, the kind that shows you exactly how something is built and why it sounds the way it does, can be its own form of refinement.” — Hagar Guri
Honest Technology: A New Design Philosophy
The conversation this speaker sparks is part of a larger debate in design: what does it mean for technology to be honest? Most gadgets these days aim for smooth, seamless surfaces that hide complexity. The sleeker the exterior, the “smarter” or more advanced it’s supposed to seem.
Guri flips that notion on its head. The A-PQ 31.37 proves that showing every detail—the wires, the fasteners, the raw materials—can be a form of sophistication all on its own. It’s like peeling back the curtain and saying, “Here’s how the magic really happens.”

The speaker’s honest construction invites curiosity and appreciation.
Looking Forward: Could This Shape Speaker Design’s Future?
Will the A-PQ 31.37 inspire mainstream speakers? That’s hard to predict. The audio world tends to stick with tried-and-true designs, and audiophiles are famously loyal to their traditions.
But for those intrigued by the crossroads of materials innovation, acoustic science, and spatial design, this speaker is a bold challenge to the norm. It’s not just something to listen to; it’s something to look at, think about, and experience.

An industrial yet artistic presence that transforms how we think about audio equipment.
FAQ
- What makes concrete canvas special for this speaker design?
Concrete canvas is a fabric-reinforced material that hardens when wet, providing a dense, rigid shell with a raw, industrial aesthetic unlike traditional plastics or MDF. - How does the open-baffle design affect sound quality?
It allows sound to radiate freely both forward and backward, creating a more spacious and natural listening experience, though it requires careful signal processing to manage bass response. - Why are the wires and internal components exposed?
Exposing the wiring and mechanical elements embraces an “honest technology” philosophy, celebrating the speaker’s construction rather than hiding it behind panels. - Is this speaker more of an art piece or functional audio equipment?
It’s both. The A-PQ 31.37 combines sculptural design with a fully integrated audio system, including custom digital signal processing and controls. - Could this design influence future audio equipment?
While mainstream adoption is uncertain due to the conservative nature of audio gear, it’s a compelling example at the intersection of material innovation and open design thinking.
If this bold, raw design strikes a chord with you, why not bring that same energy into your space? Shop your favorite album cover posters at our store and complement your setup with art that speaks volumes. Browse now.
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