diff --git a/web/app.js b/web/app.js
index 1e62fe5..55d4ba5 100644
--- a/web/app.js
+++ b/web/app.js
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ const muteBtn = document.getElementById("muteBtn");
 let micMuted = false;
 const statusEl = document.getElementById("status");
 const messagesEl = document.getElementById("messages");
-const orbEl = document.getElementById("orb");
+const ledWallEl = document.getElementById("ledWall");
 const stateLabelEl = document.getElementById("stateLabel");
 const thinkingChipEl = document.getElementById("thinkingChip");
 const bargeHintEl = document.getElementById("bargeHint");
@@ -262,6 +262,84 @@ function teardownAudio() {
     remoteCtx = remoteAnalyser = remoteFreqBuf = null;
 }
 
+// ── LED wall — a grid of dots that pulses with the agent's audio ────────────
+const LED_COLS = 21;
+const LED_ROWS = 21;
+const LED_GROW = 1.4;               // how much the dots grow toward the center
+let ledDots = [];
+let ledWallTime = 0;
+
+function buildLedWall() {
+    const inner = Math.floor(LED_COLS / 2);
+    const frag = document.createDocumentFragment();
+    for (let r = 0; r < LED_ROWS; r++) {
+        for (let c = 0; c < LED_COLS; c++) {
+            const b = document.createElement("button");
+            b.type = "button";
+            b.className = "led-dot";
+            b.disabled = true;
+            b.tabIndex = -1;
+            // Radial position: 0 at the center, 1 at the corner
+            const dx = (c - inner) / (LED_COLS / 2);
+            const dy = (r - inner) / (LED_ROWS / 2);
+            const rad = Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy);
+            // Push a radial cluster toward the center; scale its base brightness down
+            // as it moves outward so the wall reads as a soft round bloom.
+            b.dataset.rad = rad.toFixed(4);
+            // A per-dot phase so the wave ripples rather than flashing in unison.
+            b.dataset.phase = (Math.sin(r * 12.9898 + c * 78.233) * 43758.5453 % 1 * Math.PI * 2).toFixed(3);
+            ledDots.push(b);
+            frag.appendChild(b);
+        }
+    }
+    ledWallEl.appendChild(frag);
+}
+
+// Renders one frame of the LED wall. `level` is 0..1 (agent audio when speaking,
+// mic when listening). `mode` picks the palette/gradient by conversation state.
+function renderLedWall(level, mode) {
+    ledWallTime += 1;
+    ledWallEl.dataset.mode = mode;
+    const n = ledDots.length;
+    for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+        const dot = ledDots[i];
+        const rad = parseFloat(dot.dataset.rad);
+        const phase = parseFloat(dot.dataset.phase || 0);
+
+        let vis = 0;
+        let size = 1;
+
+        if (mode === "idle") {
+            // A faint, static dot matrix — present but clearly dormant.
+            vis = 0.16 - rad * 0.08;
+            size = 1;
+        } else if (level > 0.005) {
+            // Centered breathing bloom that widens and brightens with the
+            // signal. A soft gaussian falloff keeps it circular; a gentle
+            // per-dot phase ripple adds life without banding.
+            const lvl = Math.min(1, level * 1.3);
+            const falloff = Math.exp(-rad * rad * (2.0 - lvl * 1.1));
+            const ripple = 0.62 + 0.38 * Math.sin(ledWallTime * 0.32 + phase);
+            vis = falloff * (0.35 + lvl) * ripple;
+            size = 1 + (1 - rad) * LED_GROW * lvl;
+            // Keep listening dimmer than speaking so the wall leans into the
+            // agent's output.
+            if (mode !== "speaking") vis *= 0.55;
+        } else {
+            // Powered state with no signal (e.g. thinking gap) — soft breathing.
+            const breathe = 0.5 + 0.5 * Math.sin(ledWallTime * 0.12 + phase);
+            vis = 0.14 - rad * 0.06 + 0.04 * breathe;
+            size = 1 + (1 - rad) * 0.3;
+        }
+
+        vis = Math.max(0.02, Math.min(1, vis));
+        // Dot grows toward the center and sits on a subtle 4px grid inset.
+        const px = (2 * size).toFixed(1);
+        dot.style.setProperty("--sz", `${px}px`);
+        dot.style.opacity = vis.toFixed(3);
+    }
+}
+
 function readMicLevel() {
     let level = 0;
     if (micAnalyser && micBuf) {
@@ -308,7 +386,7 @@ const STATE_LABELS = {
 
 function setState(next) {
     uiState = next;
-    orbEl.dataset.state = next;
+    ledWallEl.dataset.state = next;
     stateLabelEl.textContent = STATE_LABELS[conversationMode][next] || next;
 
     // Thinking timer: show the "thinking..." chip if it lingers past 2s
@@ -359,16 +437,14 @@ function startVisualLoop() {
         // Mic meter (thin bar under the status line)
         micMeterFillEl.style.width = `${Math.min(100, Math.round(micLevel * 250))}%`;
 
-        // Orb pulse: scale/opacity from whichever stream is active
+        // LED wall: pulse on the agent's rendered audio when speaking, the mic
+        // while listening, and hold a faint matrix when idle.
         if (uiState === "speaking") {
-            orbEl.style.setProperty("--pulse-scale", (1 + agentAudioLevel * 0.35).toFixed(3));
-            orbEl.style.setProperty("--pulse-opacity", Math.min(1, 0.55 + agentAudioLevel).toFixed(3));
+            renderLedWall(agentAudioLevel, "speaking");
         } else if (uiState === "listening" && userSpeaking) {
-            orbEl.style.setProperty("--pulse-scale", (1 + micLevel * 0.4).toFixed(3));
-            orbEl.style.setProperty("--pulse-opacity", Math.min(1, 0.5 + micLevel).toFixed(3));
+            renderLedWall(micLevel, "listening");
         } else {
-            orbEl.style.setProperty("--pulse-scale", "1");
-            orbEl.style.setProperty("--pulse-opacity", "");
+            renderLedWall(0, "idle");
         }
 
         // Agent audio visualizer bars on the latest agent bubble
@@ -393,8 +469,7 @@ function stopVisualLoop() {
     if (visualTimer) clearInterval(visualTimer);
     visualTimer = null;
     micMeterFillEl.style.width = "0%";
-    orbEl.style.setProperty("--pulse-scale", "1");
-    orbEl.style.setProperty("--pulse-opacity", "");
+    renderLedWall(0, "idle");
 }
 
 // ── Conversation history (localStorage) ─────────────────────────────────────
@@ -1587,3 +1662,4 @@ closeMediaBtn.addEventListener("click", () => setMediaOpen(false));
 
 startMediaPolling();
 updateMediaControls();
+buildLedWall();
diff --git a/web/index.html b/web/index.html
index 4a361b3..217ce05 100644
--- a/web/index.html
+++ b/web/index.html
@@ -58,12 +58,7 @@
                 </div>
 
                 <div class="orb-stage">
-                    <div class="orb" id="orb" data-state="idle" aria-hidden="true">
-                        <div class="orb-orbit orbit-one"></div>
-                        <div class="orb-orbit orbit-two"></div>
-                        <div class="orb-core"><span class="orb-shimmer"></span></div>
-                        <div class="orb-ring"></div>
-                    </div>
+                    <div class="led-wall" id="ledWall" data-state="idle" aria-hidden="true"></div>
                     <div class="orb-labels" aria-live="polite">
                         <span class="state-label" id="stateLabel">Ready when you are</span>
                         <span class="thinking-chip" id="thinkingChip" hidden>Thinking&hellip;</span>
diff --git a/web/style.css b/web/style.css
index 60cf3e8..d103b96 100644
--- a/web/style.css
+++ b/web/style.css
@@ -327,149 +327,68 @@ button {
     padding-top: 0.75rem;
 }
 
-.orb {
-    --pulse-scale: 1;
-    --pulse-opacity: 0.28;
+/* ── LED wall avatar ────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+.led-wall {
     position: relative;
-    width: 260px;
-    height: 260px;
-    display: grid;
-    place-items: center;
-    isolation: isolate;
-}
-
-.orb-core {
-    position: relative;
-    z-index: 3;
-    width: 116px;
-    height: 116px;
-    overflow: hidden;
-    border-radius: 50%;
-    background:
-        radial-gradient(circle at 32% 24%, rgba(244, 247, 251, 0.96) 0 3%, transparent 20%),
-        radial-gradient(circle at 38% 30%, #b9c9ff, #6f8ff7 42%, #3d57ab 72%, #23305b 100%);
-    box-shadow:
-        0 0 0 1px rgba(213, 222, 255, 0.24),
-        0 12px 28px rgba(2, 8, 20, 0.34),
-        0 0 52px rgba(111, 143, 247, 0.32),
-        inset -12px -14px 26px rgba(10, 20, 50, 0.34);
-    transform: scale(var(--pulse-scale));
-    transition: filter 220ms ease, box-shadow 220ms ease, transform 90ms linear;
-}
-
-.orb-shimmer {
-    position: absolute;
-    width: 90px;
-    height: 34px;
-    left: 9px;
-    top: 18px;
-    border-radius: 50%;
-    border-top: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.52);
-    transform: rotate(-22deg);
-    opacity: 0.7;
-}
-
-.orb-ring,
-.orb-orbit {
-    position: absolute;
-    border-radius: 50%;
-    pointer-events: none;
-}
-
-.orb-ring {
-    z-index: 2;
-    width: 164px;
-    height: 164px;
-    border: 1px solid rgba(139, 167, 255, 0.2);
-    opacity: var(--pulse-opacity);
-    transform: scale(var(--pulse-scale));
-    transition: opacity 180ms ease, transform 90ms linear;
-}
-
-.orb-orbit {
     z-index: 1;
-    border: 1px solid rgba(139, 167, 255, 0.15);
+    width: 320px;
+    height: 320px;
+    max-width: 100%;
+    display: grid;
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(21, 1fr);
+    grid-template-rows: repeat(21, 1fr);
+    gap: 2px;
+    place-items: center;
+    padding: 12px;
+    border-radius: 26px;
+    isolation: isolate;
+    transition: filter 220ms ease;
 }
 
-.orbit-one {
-    width: 214px;
-    height: 140px;
-    transform: rotate(-18deg);
-}
-
-.orbit-one::after {
+/* A soft glass panel that holds the matrix up off the page. */
+.led-wall::before {
     content: "";
     position: absolute;
-    width: 7px;
-    height: 7px;
-    top: 12px;
-    right: 37px;
-    border-radius: 50%;
-    background: var(--warm);
-    box-shadow: 0 0 13px rgba(255, 179, 142, 0.65);
-}
-
-.orbit-two {
-    width: 230px;
-    height: 230px;
-    border-color: rgba(139, 167, 255, 0.08);
-}
-
-.orb[data-state="idle"] .orb-core {
-    filter: saturate(0.72) brightness(0.78);
-    box-shadow:
-        0 0 0 1px rgba(213, 222, 255, 0.13),
-        0 12px 28px rgba(2, 8, 20, 0.3),
-        0 0 28px rgba(111, 143, 247, 0.16);
-}
-
-.orb[data-state="connecting"] .orbit-one,
-.orb[data-state="thinking"] .orbit-one {
-    animation: orbit-turn 3.5s linear infinite;
-}
-
-.orb[data-state="connecting"] .orb-core {
-    animation: presence-breathe 1.7s ease-in-out infinite;
-}
-
-.orb[data-state="listening"] .orb-core {
-    box-shadow:
-        0 0 0 1px rgba(213, 222, 255, 0.4),
-        0 12px 28px rgba(2, 8, 20, 0.34),
-        0 0 68px rgba(111, 143, 247, 0.56),
-        inset -12px -14px 26px rgba(10, 20, 50, 0.28);
-}
-
-.orb[data-state="listening"] .orb-ring {
-    border-color: rgba(139, 167, 255, 0.5);
-}
-
-.orb[data-state="thinking"] .orb-core {
+    inset: 0;
+    border-radius: 26px;
+    border: 1px solid rgba(139, 167, 255, 0.14);
     background:
-        radial-gradient(circle at 32% 24%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9) 0 3%, transparent 20%),
-        radial-gradient(circle at 38% 30%, #f3c9b5, #a783ca 42%, #5d68bd 72%, #29365f 100%);
-    box-shadow: 0 0 62px rgba(167, 131, 202, 0.48);
+        radial-gradient(circle at 50% 50%, rgba(111, 143, 247, 0.1), transparent 62%),
+        rgba(6, 12, 24, 0.4);
+    z-index: -1;
 }
 
-.orb[data-state="speaking"] .orb-core {
-    box-shadow:
-        0 0 0 1px rgba(213, 222, 255, 0.45),
-        0 12px 28px rgba(2, 8, 20, 0.34),
-        0 0 78px rgba(111, 143, 247, 0.64),
-        0 0 105px rgba(255, 179, 142, 0.11);
+.led-dot {
+    --sz: 5px;
+    width: var(--sz);
+    height: var(--sz);
+    min-width: 3px;
+    min-height: 3px;
+    border: 0;
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    background: currentColor;
+    opacity: 0.16;
+    transition: opacity 90ms linear, width 90ms linear, height 90ms linear;
 }
 
-.orb[data-state="speaking"] .orbit-one::after {
-    background: #ffd0b8;
+/* Palette shifts by state — a cool blue while it listens, warm toward the
+   center as the agent speaks, amber while thinking, dim when idle. */
+.led-wall[data-state="idle"] {
+    color: #56739e;
 }
 
-@keyframes presence-breathe {
-    0%, 100% { transform: scale(calc(var(--pulse-scale) * 0.98)); }
-    50% { transform: scale(calc(var(--pulse-scale) * 1.045)); }
+.led-wall[data-state="connecting"],
+.led-wall[data-state="thinking"] {
+    color: #d99a6c;
 }
 
-@keyframes orbit-turn {
-    to { transform: rotate(342deg); }
+.led-wall[data-state="listening"] {
+    color: #6f8ff7;
+}
+
+.led-wall[data-state="speaking"] {
+    color: #9dc2ff;
+    filter: drop-shadow(0 0 14px rgba(111, 143, 247, 0.35));
 }
 
 .orb-labels {
@@ -964,10 +883,9 @@ body[data-mode="text"] .orb-stage {
     min-height: 220px;
 }
 
-body[data-mode="text"] .orb {
-    width: 180px;
-    height: 180px;
-    transform: scale(0.72);
+body[data-mode="text"] .led-wall {
+    width: 260px;
+    height: 260px;
 }
 
 body[data-mode="text"] .controls {
@@ -1548,8 +1466,9 @@ body[data-mode="text"] .mic-meter {
         margin: -1rem 0;
     }
 
-    .orb {
-        transform: scale(0.78);
+    .led-wall {
+        width: 260px;
+        height: 260px;
     }
 
     .connection-strip,
@@ -1628,8 +1547,9 @@ body[data-mode="text"] .mic-meter {
         margin: -0.75rem 0;
     }
 
-    body[data-mode="text"] .orb {
-        transform: scale(0.48);
+    body[data-mode="text"] .led-wall {
+        width: 210px;
+        height: 210px;
     }
 
     .console-intro h2 {
@@ -1640,10 +1560,10 @@ body[data-mode="text"] .mic-meter {
         min-height: 300px;
     }
 
-    .orb {
-        width: 235px;
-        height: 235px;
-        transform: scale(0.94);
+    .led-wall {
+        width: 270px;
+        height: 270px;
+        padding: 9px;
     }
 
     .controls {