Why Your Smart Appliances Have Built-In DJs

Home electronics firms are using sound to brighten the domestic experience.

I must confess, I find myself engaged in few conversations about home appliances. Indispensable they may be, but my passion they are not. Yet, I recall chatting to a friend a while back about his new LG washing machine. After delivery and installation, he was delighted to catch up with the titanic mountain of laundry that had accumulated since the family’s old machine kicked the bucket a few days before. His delight cranked up a notch or two after discovering the ubiquitous mod con’s ability to sing cheerily while going about its job. This, my friend spiritedly argued, brightened up the domestic drudgery of his Saturday morning.

I smiled widely throughout the story, nodding and raising my eyebrows at just the right times, but none of what he said came as a surprise to me. Many electronics brands are synonymous with certain sounds, and it’s no different when it comes to home appliances — not just washing machines, but also fridges, ovens, microwaves, tumble dryers, and so on. These gizmos no longer simply beep or ping when they’re finished doing what they do — they now play jaunty and appealing tunes, all carefully composed by experts to enhance the user experience and increase happiness accordingly.