Friends

The scene

Joey and Chandler's apartment at 19 Grove Street is one of the most recognizable sets in television history — the foosball table, the recliners, the Magna Doodle on the door. But flanking their big TV are two tall, slim speakers that most viewers never gave a second glance. They should have.

Those are Martin Logan Aerius electrostatic speakers — a $2,000+ pair of audiophile-grade panels that absolutely no one on Joey Tribbiani's acting income could reasonably afford. But hey, this is the same show where a struggling chef and a waitress share a massive two-bedroom in the West Village, so we'll let the economics slide.

The gear

The Martin Logan Aerius is a hybrid electrostatic speaker — the top half is a transparent electrostatic panel (you can literally see through it), and the bottom half is a conventional woofer for bass. The electrostatic panel produces sound by vibrating a thin membrane suspended between two charged metal grids. The result is a sound that's remarkably clear, detailed, and airy — completely different from a conventional box speaker.

Martin Logan, based in Lawrence, Kansas, has been making electrostatic speakers since 1983. The Aerius was their entry-level model in the 1990s, designed to bring electrostatic sound to a wider audience. "Entry-level" is relative — the originals still ran about $2,000 per pair.

Why it matters

Martin Logan speakers are a cult favorite in the audiophile world. The transparent panels look like nothing else — they're as much a design object as they are audio equipment. Having them in one of the most-watched sitcoms in history was essentially a decade of free advertising.

Vintage Aerius pairs now sell for $400–$1,000 on the used market, depending on condition and whether the electrostatic panels are still functioning properly. The panels can degrade over time, so buyers should test before purchasing.