7 Best Brooklyn Artisanal Speaker Manufacturers Defining High-Fidelity
Brooklyn's reputation as a global hub for artisanal craftsmanship goes far beyond small-batch coffee and bespoke denim. This creative energy extends deep into the world of high-end audio, where a dedicated group of engineers, designers, and music lovers are building some of the world's most unique and musically engaging loudspeakers.
If you're looking for a quick overview, here is a spreadsheet comparing pricing, model, best suitable music per manufacturer.
Forget mass-produced black boxes. The speaker makers of Brooklyn are defined by a diversity of philosophy, a commitment to hand-built quality, and a shared belief that listening to music should be an emotional, transformative experience. From historic workshops to trendy Navy Yard studios, here are the best speaker manufacturers crafting sound in Brooklyn today:
Comparison and ranking of Brooklyn-Made Hi-Fi Speakers 6"-9":
The Bernie's Monitor has quickly become a favorite in the Brooklyn audio community because it captures the soul of a live performance without the harshness often found in modern high-end gear. While other monitors strive for clinical precision, Bernie’s focuses on a "warm, live" sound profile specifically tuned for analog listening environments.
This warmth is achieved through the use of solid wood cabinetry finished with natural oils, which allows for a more organic resonance compared to synthetic enclosures. The result is a sound that feels textured and visceral, making jazz, soul, and rock recordings feel like they are being played in a dimly lit Brooklyn club rather than a sterile studio.
Updated Key Differentiators
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Bernie's Monitor: The "Analog Sweetheart." It trades clinical flatness for a lush, fatigue-free warmth. Its 8-inch coaxial driver is tuned to emphasize mid-range texture, providing a "live" energy that pairs beautifully with vinyl and tube-buffered digital sources.
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Ojas Artbook Shelf Speaker: It is built to produce massive scale from tiny amounts of power. Its sound is raw, immediate, and dynamic, ideal for those who want a front-row concert experience.
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Silence Please Hum: The "Holographic Artist." Thanks to its Le Cléac’h horn, this speaker creates a three-dimensional soundstage where instruments feel physically present in the room. It is the most visually and sonically sculptural option.
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DeVore Orangutan O/baby: The "Refined Minimalist." It offers a sophisticated, balanced tone with the deepest bass in this group. It is the "furniture-grade" choice for those who want a high-end sound that looks as good as it performs.
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Ohm Walsh 2000 Tall: The "Room Filler." Using unique omnidirectional technology, it eliminates the traditional "sweet spot," making it the best choice for social spaces or large open-plan lofts.
Brooklyn Speaker Manufacturers Profiles
1. Bernie's Audio
Operating at the intersection of professional-grade engineering and boutique aesthetics, Bernie’s Audio is a relative newcomer that has quickly made a mark with its "Founders’ Batch" philosophy. While many Brooklyn makers look strictly to the past for inspiration, Bernie’s blends the timeless appeal of artisanal woodcraft with modern high-performance standards.
2. DeVore Fidelity
For over two decades, John DeVore's company has been a cornerstone of the Brooklyn audio scene. Operating out of a space in the Brooklyn Navy Yard before moving to their current location, DeVore Fidelity is world-renowned for speakers that are as beautiful to look at as they are to listen to. Their design philosophy centers on creating high-sensitivity speakers that are easy to drive, making them a perfect match for low-powered tube amplifiers. The result, found in their celebrated Orangutan and Gibbon series, is a sound that is dynamic, textured, and incredibly lifelike, prioritizing musical flow over clinical specs.
3. Ohm Acoustics
Ohm Acoustics is a true Brooklyn survivor, operating in the borough since 1971. They are famous for a singular, proprietary technology: the Walsh Coherent Line Source (CLS) driver. Unlike traditional forward-firing speakers, Ohm's Walsh drivers are omnidirectional, radiating sound in a 360-degree pattern. This creates a massive, spacious soundstage and a wide "sweet spot" that allows everyone in the room to enjoy a 3D stereo image. Remarkably, Ohm still supports virtually every speaker they've ever made and builds their current models to order, a testament to their lasting quality.
4. Ojas
Founded by Devon Turnbull, Ojas has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in audio, bridging the gap between streetwear culture, art, and high-fidelity. Based in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Ojas is inspired by vintage American cinema sound and the Japanese audiophile listening bar tradition. Their speakers are typically large, high-efficiency, horn-loaded designs meant to be paired with low-wattage tube amps. An Ojas system is a statement piece, offering a visceral, live-feeling sound and a stunning, retro-industrial aesthetic.
5. Oswalds Mill Audio (OMA)
While their heavy manufacturing takes place in a restored mill in Pennsylvania, Oswalds Mill Audio's heart and spectacular showroom are located in Dumbo, Brooklyn. Founder Jonathan Weiss has created a brand that is unapologetically extreme. OMA builds massive, horn-loaded loudspeaker systems using materials rarely seen in audio, such as solid Pennsylvania hardwoods, slate, and cast iron. Their philosophy is a return to the golden age of cinema audio, prioritizing sheer scale, dynamics, and efficiency to create an overwhelming emotional connection to the music. A visit to their Dumbo listening room is a pilgrimage for serious audiophiles.
6. Fleetwood Sound Co.
As a division of OMA, Fleetwood Sound Co. was created to bring the company's high-efficiency, horn-loaded philosophy to a wider audience and smaller living spaces. Sharing the same DNA as their larger OMA siblings, Fleetwood speakers like the DeVille are hand-crafted from solid wood and utilize professional-grade drivers. They offer a taste of that big, effortless horn sound in a more accessible, though still distinctly high-end, package.
7. Bache Audio
Bache Audio is the definition of a boutique Brooklyn operation. Run by designer Greg Belman, this small company focuses on creating high-sensitivity speakers that appeal to purist audiophiles. Belman's designs often feature wide-band drivers augmented by super-tweeters and woofers to achieve a coherent, detailed, and dynamic sound that works beautifully with tube amplification. Tucked away in Brooklyn, Bache Audio is a hidden gem for those seeking a personal connection with their equipment's creator.
Bonus Manufacturers
Gowanus Audio, founded by Pete Raho, offers a completely different entry point into high-quality sound. Their mission is to demystify audio by empowering people to build their own gear. While they do offer custom finished builds, their heart is in their DIY speaker kits and workshops. By guiding customers through the process of assembling their own speakers, they foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the craft, proving that great sound is something you can create with your own hands.
Western Acoustics. A relatively new arrival to the Brooklyn scene, Western Acoustics represents the next generation of high-fidelity design. Founded by Liam Porr (originally in San Francisco before relocating to Brooklyn), this studio challenges the traditional "audiophile altar" mentality. Their flagship Type 2.1 is designed not for a dedicated, sound-proofed dungeon, but for real living spaces where aesthetics matter as much as acoustics.
Western Acoustics speakers are immediately recognizable by their stunning, donut-shaped wave horns carved from solid hardwoods like maple, paired with bold, colorful grilles. But they aren't just design objects; they are serious active monitors. By integrating powerful Hypex amplifiers directly into the cabinets, they eliminate the need for racks of external gear, offering a clean, "plug-and-play" solution that delivers massive, room-filling sound without the clutter. It’s a perfect marriage of sculptural art and modern sonic engineering.