Louis Vuitton’s $ 2,890 lightbox looks like a UFO

Louis Vuitton’s forays into tech-infused luxury amenities have focused on handbags with screens and luggage trackers. A year after the release of its $ 1,000 headphones, the French fashion house’s latest stab in audio is as eccentric as it gets. The new LV Horizon Light Up speaker resembles a spaceship sculpted by aliens to look like a sawn-off top. Plus, it costs $ 2,890, but you knew it wouldn’t be cheap.

Inspired by its Toupie handbag, the speaker lights up to accentuate the brand’s floral badge and a Louis Vuitton spelled around the center. There is also a top ring light with 23 LEDs that stages a rainbow color show. Neon lights combined with perforated and embossed black leather are best described as cyber chic.

But, if you’re going to splurge with just under $ 3,000 on a speaker, you probably want it to sound good. The Horizon features a 3-inch woofer paired with two 0.75-inch tweeters which LV says combine to deliver 360-degree sound. However, the jury is out on whether it can match the immersive audio touted by the $ 700 Sony SRS-RA5000. If the mid-range Qualcomm QCS 404 chipset inside is anything to go by, it might not deliver the big sound you associate with its price. It also comes with three microphones in case you want to take calls on the light-up mothership on your desk.

The tapered shape means the speaker is seated on its side, which has no impact on the sound as it can apparently “adjust to its orientation”. Do not leave it on a sloping surface. To avoid any (costly) accidents, the Horizon comes with a docking station you can put it down. Being wireless, it works with Bluetooth and supports Apple AirPlay to boot. You can buy the speaker now from the Louis Vuitton online store.