Braun has re-entered the audio market with the LE series, its first lineup of new audio products in thirty years. The collection comprises three premium hi‑fi speakers: the LE01 flagship, the mid-sized LE02, and the compact LE03. Each model is offered alongside a range of dedicated floor stands that neatly conceal cable routing and complement the speakers’ minimalist aesthetic.
The LE series channels the spirit of Dieter Rams’ influential LE1 from 1959, a design now preserved in the Museum of Modern Art. While the new speakers incorporate modern electronics and audio engineering, their visual language is clearly rooted in Braun’s historical design principles: clarity, restraint, and long-lasting usefulness. During Rams’ tenure as chief design officer, Braun introduced several groundbreaking audio products that established a tradition of thoughtful, functional design. Examples from that era include the TP1, an early portable record player; the TS45, an integrated wall-mounted sound system; and the Atelier, a modular stacked hi‑fi system. The LE series revisits that lineage with contemporary performance and materials.
British audio company Pure manufactures the LE speakers under license to Braun, which today operates as a brand within a larger corporate group. The partnership emphasizes fidelity to Braun’s design DNA: minimal controls, subtle detailing, and a focus on sound quality rather than feature overload. The speakers avoid unnecessary ornamentation, favoring clean surfaces and balanced proportions that make them at home in modern interiors.
Design cues drawn from premium furniture are visible in refined details such as the stainless steel feet, which lift the cabinets and create a sense of lightness. That elevation helps present each speaker as an object of design as much as an audio device. The frameless front treatments reference high‑end upholstery and further the impression of a crafted, timeless product. Practical considerations are also addressed: a mechanical switch allows the built‑in voice microphone to be physically disconnected, and an LED indicator clearly shows green when active and red when muted, providing transparent control over privacy.
Braun’s return to audio has also included collaborations that broaden the brand’s cultural reach. Special projects with fashion and creative partners demonstrate how the LE series can align with contemporary lifestyles while remaining faithful to the brand’s minimalist roots. These collaborations highlight the speakers both as high‑performance audio pieces and as enduring design objects that integrate smoothly with curated interiors and wardrobes.
Beyond their looks, the LE speakers are engineered to deliver refined sound. Each model targets a specific combination of power and footprint: the LE01 for larger rooms and critical listening, the LE02 for versatile home use, and the LE03 for smaller spaces or secondary listening points. The optional stands not only improve acoustics by providing a stable mounting surface, but they also keep cables organized and out of sight, preserving the clean visual presentation.
In sum, the LE series represents Braun’s effort to marry the brand’s storied design heritage with modern audio technology. By prioritizing simplicity, durability, and honest functionality, these speakers aim to appeal to listeners who value both excellent sound and understated, lasting design.
Images courtesy of Braun audio
