Lenny, a Bluetooth speaker from Elipson and Habitat, is the most beautiful thing we’ve seen all IFA
…and its big brother Timber comes a close second
Ignore the big-name smartphones, TVs and tablets launched at IFA – none are as desirable as Elipson’s new Bluetooth speakers.
Borne of a collaboration between French high-design hi-fi house Elipson and British high street interior design guru Habitat, the Lenny and Timber speakers are so beautiful you might start licking your screen. Try not to.
Lenny – for the aesthete on the hop
Designed by Pierre Favresse of Habitat and Jean-Yves Le Porcher of Elipson (good work, chaps), Lenny’s soft-touch plastic body houses two 2.5in drivers and a 4in passive radiator. These are hooked up to 10W stereo amplifier and fed signal via any smartphone, laptop or tablet via Bluetooth 2.1 A2DP (no superior-quality aptX here, sadly) or a 3.5mm input.
There’s a battery inside that’s good for eight hours on a charge, it’s splash-resistant and its real leather carry strap facilitates jaunts to the park or use as the world’s most ludicrously stylish ghetto blaster. Lenny will retail at €200.
Timber – for the perfectly appointed loft apartment
Named for its real walnut end panels, the Timber is a less portable but barely less desirable beast. It packs dual 3in drivers and a 15W stereo amp, and like Lenny can be fed via Bluetooth 2.1 (again, aptX is missing) or its 3.5mm input.
As a bonus, there’s a USB port built in for charging your smartphone or tablet. Timber will cost around €300, which puts it in the realm of B&W’s excellent Zeppelin range – so we hope it sounds as good as it looks.
Time for a cold shower.
Will Findlater
Contributing Editor 
