Your soundbar probably was not the first thing you considered when decorating your living room. Knit Sound Company is betting that you would like something that looks a little more at home beneath your television, and it is asking $999 for the privilege.
The new Michigan-based audio company is launching with Knit Form, a Dolby Atmos soundbar wrapped almost entirely in knitted fabric. It comes in five colors, skips the front-facing logo, and turns off its lights during viewing. The idea is to make the speaker fit into your room without becoming another glowing gadget demanding attention.
There is some substance beneath that fabric, at least on paper. Knit describes Form as a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar with 14 channels of Class D amplification and dual built-in subwoofers. Those integrated subwoofers are intended to supply bass without requiring another box on the floor, although how well that works in practice will require actual listening.
Dialogue gets its own attention through a center voice array, with adjustments available through the optional Knit app. The app also offers four sound modes and over-the-air software updates, giving owners some control beyond whatever settings they choose on the television.
One of the more interesting features has nothing to do with interior design. Form can broadcast audio through Auracast to compatible headphones and hearing aids, adding an accessibility angle to a product otherwise being pitched heavily on appearance.
That could be useful for someone who prefers receiving television audio through a hearing device or wants to listen through headphones. Compatibility matters here, though, as Knit specifically identifies Auracast-enabled headphones and hearing aids. Buyers should not assume that any existing Bluetooth device will work with that broadcast feature.
For everyday television use, Knit is keeping the setup relatively straightforward. Form connects through HDMI eARC or ARC, includes an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, and works with the TV remote. The television acts as the entertainment hub, passing audio from its own apps and connected devices to the soundbar.
There is a detail worth understanding before getting excited about music streaming. Knit mentions AirPlay, Google Cast, and Spotify Connect, but describes those services working through the television. That is not a promise that Form independently supports each service as a network speaker.
Instead, music played through supported TV apps or cast to a compatible television reaches Form over HDMI. Depending on the television and app, album artwork and track information can appear on the screen while the soundbar plays. Phones and tablets can also connect directly to Form using Bluetooth 5.3.
The fabric itself has a name, naturally. Knit calls it Threadform and says it developed the textile with a fourth-generation European textile mill, refining it for appearance, acoustic transparency, and durability. Buyers can choose Cloud White, Slate Black, Pebble, Sandstone, or Ember, which at least gives them options beyond the usual black rectangle.
Form measures 46 inches wide and 3.5 inches tall, and Knit says it is best suited to televisions measuring 55 inches or larger. It can sit on furniture or mount beneath a television, although the matching flush wall mount costs another $79. At this price, including that bracket would have been a welcome touch.
Founder and CEO Joel Sietsema previously held senior product and brand roles at Sound United, the company behind Denon and Marantz. He says the inspiration came partly from bringing speaker concepts home to his wife, an interior designer, who wanted them hidden.
“I’ve spent 20 years building speakers designed to win on a store shelf. I’d bring new concepts home, and my wife, an interior designer by trade, wanted every one of them hidden,” Sietsema says. “Form is what happens when you design for the home first.”
Interior designer Nate Berkus and Brand Foundry Ventures have joined Knit as strategic investors and advisors. That backing fits the design-focused pitch, but endorsements and attractive fabric do not tell us how a soundbar handles a difficult movie soundtrack or whether its dialogue processing delivers.
Knit Form goes on sale November 10 exclusively through Knit Sound for $999, with free ground shipping to the 48 contiguous United States. The appearance gives it a reason to stand out, and Auracast adds something useful beyond the decor story. For nearly a thousand dollars, though, it needs to sound as convincing as it looks.
Support independent tech journalism
NERDS.xyz is independently owned and operated. If you enjoy my coverage of Linux, AI, hardware, cybersecurity, and tech culture, consider supporting the site on Ko-fi.
Support NERDS.xyz
