A styrophone is an acoustic device made from expanded polystyrene foam (often referred to by the genericized trademark Styrofoam). There are at least two varieties:
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Musical instrument
The musical Styrophone is a type of friction idiophone created by Robert Rutman in the 1990s as a parody of his well-known sheetmetal instrument, the Bow Chimes. It consists of a foam box from which protrude a series of thin brass rods played with a violin bow. Rutman's ensemble would build the impromptu instruments prior to a performance, and they destroy them through the process of their use. Other versions have been created with wooden sticks used in place of metal.
Styrophone loudspeaker
An inexpensive alternative to heavy-duty amplification systems, the Styrophone loudspeaker is usually of a cheap homemade variety that consists of a crystal earpiece attached to a cone made from a foam cup or sections of packing material.