If you saw the new iPod dock or the Ferrari music system from David Wiener Ventures (DWV), you know that its designs are anything but ordinary.

The company showed off its umbrella-like LeonarDomes speakers this week at a VIP reception for the Body Worlds 3 exhibition in Salt Lake City, and the speakers certainly have the same eye-catching flair, and wonderment. The museum was the Leonardo art and science museum, and the great inventor and artist’s name was invoked in the speakers.

The domes beam audio straight down to whomever is standing beneath, so the whole room doesn’t flood with sound. Each LeonarDome has handcrafted, laser-cut aluminum panels that are put together in a silver and black checkerboard pattern. There are seven sizes of panels that help comprise the unusual system.

Sound comes from speaker pods that include an 8-inch woofer, tweeter, crossover network and custom enclosure.

We’re not sure if these will hit the consumer market, but for museums they seem to fit in well as works of art themselves.

Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!