The Monar Canvas is not a conventional speaker system. In fact, it’s something quite different from the usual Bluetooth speakers that pass across my desk. The Canvas combines a multi-driver speaker system with a large digital display designed to showcase artwork, photos, and visual features while music plays in the background. The company’s tagline is “looks like music, sounds like art”, which sums up the concept fairly well.

At its core, the Canvas is a Bluetooth speaker system featuring six drivers: two titanium tweeters, two midrange drivers, and two 4-inch subwoofers built into the frame. According to the company, the sound was developed by the same R&D team that supplies brands such as Harman Kardon and Bang & Olufsen, though I’ll leave readers to interpret that claim however they wish.

Where the Canvas really stands apart, however, is the large display panel that dominates the front of the unit.

The Monar Canvas is launching as a Kickstarter project with a retail price of $1,299 USD. Early backers who pay a small reservation fee can reportedly secure the speaker for around $800, making it significantly more affordable during the launch campaign.

Disclaimer: This sample was provided by monar for an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own, based on my experience with the product.

monar Canvas

Design and Display

Physically, the Canvas looks more like a framed piece of wall art than a traditional speaker. It measures 63 cm high, 54 cm wide, and 61 mm deep, with a total weight of 7.5 kg. The device can be mounted on a wall using the included bracket, placed on furniture, or even displayed on a painter’s easel if you want to lean into the gallery aesthetic.

I initially expected the display to feel like a secondary feature — perhaps a small add-on screen attached to an otherwise ordinary speaker. In reality, the opposite is true. The display is surprisingly good, with smooth motion and rich colours that look clean and natural to the naked eye.

If you notice colour banding or strange artefacts in my video footage, that’s entirely due to the camera. In person, the image quality is excellent.

Another nice touch is the magnetic interchangeable frame. The frame simply snaps into place and can be removed in seconds. While it might look like cardboard at first glance, it’s actually made from a durable vinyl-type material. The ability to swap frames makes it easy to change the visual style of the Canvas depending on your space or mood.

Controls and Operation

Controls are located on the side of the device. There’s a power button, a large rotary volume wheel, and a small control arm that can be pushed or pulled to handle playback functions such as play, pause, and track skipping.

Most of the functionality, however, is accessed through the companion mobile app.

App Features

The Canvas app unlocks a surprisingly large range of visual and lifestyle features.

One of the most interesting is Live Lyrics, which displays song lyrics on the screen while music plays, provided your streaming service supports lyric syncing. These lyrics appear over animated backgrounds that add some visual flair to the listening session.

Another highlight is the World Gallery, which provides access to a library of over 50,000 artworks. These can be displayed individually or cycled through in a looping slideshow, effectively turning the Canvas into a digital art frame when music isn’t the main focus.

There’s also an AI Studio, where you can generate your own artwork using text prompts. The idea is simple: type in a description and the system generates a unique image that can then be displayed on the screen.

Beyond that, you can upload your own photos and videos to create custom albums or photo walls, which makes the Canvas function as a family display for personal memories. Other features include meditation scenes with ambient visuals and sound, as well as a selection of clock faces that transform the device into a large decorative timepiece.

Taken together, the software features make the Canvas feel less like a traditional speaker and more like a multimedia décor device designed to blend into everyday living spaces.

Sound Quality

In terms of sound, the Canvas performs well for what it is, though it’s important to keep expectations realistic.

If you’re a hardcore audiophile with a high-end stereo system, the audio performance here probably won’t blow you away. This isn’t meant to compete with dedicated hi-fi speakers.

However, for casual listening, background music, or social settings, the Canvas sounds genuinely pleasant. Genres such as jazz and classical work particularly well, where the system’s smooth presentation suits the material nicely.

The main limitation is sub-bass extension, which is essentially absent. What you do get instead is a fairly strong mid-bass response, which can sometimes become a little overbearing depending on placement.

During testing, I found the best results when the Canvas was positioned about an inch or two away from the wall. When placed flush against the wall, the bass can become slightly boomy at higher volumes, and mild distortion may appear if the volume is pushed too far.

The system includes four EQ modes: Standard, Vocal, Jazz, and Classical. Switching to modes like Vocal or Jazz can help tame the bass somewhat, especially if the device is positioned close to a wall.

On the positive side, the Canvas is capable of filling a medium-to-large room without difficulty. In my dining room, for example, I rarely needed to push the volume beyond 50–60%.

Verdict

The Monar Canvas is an unusual product that blends audio, visual art, and home décor into a single device. It won’t replace a proper hi-fi system, and it’s not designed to. Instead, it works best as a lifestyle product — something that provides music while also functioning as a decorative display.

If you approach it with that mindset, the Canvas becomes an enjoyable and surprisingly versatile addition to a living space. The display quality is excellent, the app features are genuinely fun to explore, and the sound is perfectly capable for casual listening.

In short, it’s less about pure audio performance and more about the overall concept — and as a piece of interactive wall art that happens to play music, the Canvas makes a strong impression.