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B&O wants you to touch wood to control your music at home
Knocking on wood is said to bring you luck. Those of a less fortunate disposition will be interested to know about Bang & Olufsen's new wireless home music system then. It's called "Moment" and features (among other things) a wooden touch-sensitive interface. It could be the luckiest HiFi you'll ever own. The curious device comes in two parts: the dock/base station, and a wireless controller. It's the latter that gets the wood treatment. As you can probably already tell, the Moment is typical Bang & Olufsen, in that it's not typical at all.
B&O to release its own celebrity-endorsed headphones with DJ Khaled
Beats has Dr. Dre and a host of artists and popular athletes sporting its headphones. Soul and SMS Audio both have a stable of recognizable users as well. Now, high-end audio outfit Bang & Olufsen are joining the endorsement fray with DJ Khaled. Announcing the new endeavor on his Instagram account, the rapper/producer revealed a trio of color options -- some of which are quite the departure from B&O's usual aesthetics -- but few details. "I take pride in crafting a sound based on time, care and, most importantly, the best quality sound on the planet," says DJ Khaled. Of course, we'll have to wait until the new BeoPlay H6s arrive before we can determine for sure if all he does is in fact win. The regular cans are already priced at $399, so we'd surmise the upcoming offerings would hit the wallet for larger investment. If this inaugural release doesn't appeal to you, more artist collaborations are on the way in the near future.
Vertu's Signature Touch puts the luxury back into specs
It's been a year and a half since luxury phone maker Vertu ditched Symbian in favor of Android, thus slowly catching up with the rest of the mobile market. Its first Android phone, the Ti, fell behind the curve with its dual-core processor, tiny battery and low screen resolution; then the more affordable Constellation arrived with a larger screen but also let down by a similar chip. Somewhere along the line, though, Vertu finally decided "enough is enough." The result is this good-looking Signature Touch which, for a change, packs pretty much everything you'd expect on a modern flagship smartphone: a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 chip, a 4.7-inch 1080p display, Cat 4 LTE radio (with bands covering many parts of the world), NFC plus Qi wireless charging.
Bang & Olufsen's BeoVision Avant is a 55-inch UHD TV that moves
As a group of journalists huddled together in a function room, deep within a central London hotel, a wide, framed display stands before them. Walled on three sides, a long, Bang & Olufsen-branded curtain hangs across the front-facing section -- clearly hiding whatever product the company has gathered them there to announce. The host spares everyone a long intro, the curtain dramatically drops (was there a small theatrical "pop"? We can't be sure.). As the veil falls to the ground, three fancy looking television sets are revealed, they spring into life, revolving on their stands as if slowly lurching towards the audience. A short, lively video plays. The demo finishes to one, well-intended, solitary clap. Hanging above the TVs, right in the middle it reads: Bang & Olufsen BeoVision Avant "The one that moves." On each screen, as if by way of clarification, the words "Movement with purpose" are displayed. This is how the Danish firm introduces the world to its new 55-inch 4K TV. The one that moves.
B&O's Beosound Essence allows wall-mounted music control of your wireless streaming habits (hands-on)
Here at CES 2014, Bang & Olufsen is looking to make access to tunes as soon as you get out of bed "as easy as turning on the lights." To do so, the high-end audio company has announced Beosound Essence: a circular music control dial that can be either wall mounted or fixed to a small metal plate for use around the house. The device features a rotating aluminum ring that doubles as a volume dial with track skipping, play/pause and power touch control on the face. In fact, it'll pick up at the exact point you last listened. That bit of silver alongside minimal graphics and black accents keeps the unit inline with B&O's upscale look. Measuring about two-inches across, the Essence is quite small and only extends a couple of inches off of the wall -- when mounted in that fashion. Up to three of the controls can be used in a single room, if you'd like to spread out multiples. In the event that you need that controller to be a bit more mobile, B&O had accounted for that. The company is calling it a "table-top" mount and it's attached to a metal plate that's about the size of an index card. As you might expect, the add-on keeps with the aesthetic while making the Essence a bit easier to keep track of. In order to connect to that gaggle of speakers -- like the recently announced BeoLab 17, 18 and 19, for example -- there's a separate box that can remain hidden in a cabinet and connects to the controller via low-energy Bluetooth. In terms of compatibility, you can expect AirPlay and DLNA support as well as streaming from Spotify Connect, QPlay and a variety of internet radio providers at launch. It also plays nice with the BeoPlay smartphone app, too. Speaking of its arrival, the Essence will be available this spring for $995 and that so-called table-top option tacks on an additional $200. Despite showing off a smattering of color options for the back plate here in Vegas, we're told only the dark grey option will be available at launch -- which is a bummer, because the wood grain looks really nice. We've already had a look at the device for ourselves, so jump down in the gallery that follows for some snapshots.
Bang & Olufsen reveals trio of wireless BeoLab speakers, the first with WiSA support
Cast your mind back to the end of September, and you might remember Bang & Olufsen teasing us with its forthcoming wireless platform. Today we get to see them in the flesh, and there are in fact three new models to consider. All of them support the WiSA standard (5.2-5.8 GHz with 24bit audio, up to 96KHz), and are the first commercial speakers to do so. These are also the first wireless speakers ever from the Danish company, testament, we hope, to its intentions to focus on maintaining a high standard of sound -- something that has often been been a tradeoff when losing the wires. The three speakers we see today are the BeoLab 17, 18 and 19. Working up the numbers, the BeoLab 17 is a "place-anywhere" aluminum-housed compact speaker with interchangeable facias, and a choice of mount options. The new BeoLab 18 is a newly re-imagined version of the company's long-serving BeoLab 8000 floor-based tower speaker, while the BeoLab 19 is a new beefy subwoofer. Scoot past the break for the low down on each device.
Bang & Olufsen promises 'second-to-none' experience from new wireless speaker technology
Wireless speakers still aren't usually the first choice of those primarily concerned with sound quality, but high-end manufacturer Bang & Olufsen is setting out to change that perception with its latest offering. Announced at the CEDIA conference this week, the company's new wireless speaker platform promises to deliver 24-bit, uncompressed audio to either a pair of speakers or a full 7.1 surround setup. To do that, the platform employs the WiSA open standard, which operates in the 5.2-5.8 GHz range, along with some more proprietary tech from B&O and Summit Semiconductor. The end result of that, the company says, is not only speakers that provide a "second-to-none multi-channel wireless experience," but ones that are compatible with any WiSA-compliant device. The company isn't quite ready to show off any new speakers based on the new platform just yet, though; it's saving that announcement for late October, when a new set of "Immaculate Wireless Sound" speakers is set to debut.
Bang & Olufsen's BeoVision 12-65 New Generation TV includes its own 7.1-channel sound module
Bang & Olufsen is all about elegant design, and it's not about to let a home theater receiver spoil those clean looks -- see its newly unveiled BeoVision 12-65 New Generation TV as an example. This refresh of last year's BeoVision 12-65 includes its own 7.1-channel audio module, letting viewers plug surround speakers into the 65-inch plasma without a go-between box. The upgrade also brings TrueImage, which mixes the sound to fit all available speakers, and lets owners customize audio presets. Bang & Olufsen hasn't disclosed pricing for the New Generation, but the set should reach company stores in early September.
Bang & Olufsen intros Beolab 14 surround speakers, considered 'entry-level' at $3,995
Bang & Olufsen has been known to occasionally lower the price floor on its line of A/V gear. Continuing in that direction, the company just unveiled its Beolab 14 surround sound speakers, an entry-level offering starting at $3,995 for a 4.1 setup. The rig centers around a petite cylindrical tower that houses a 280-watt amp for its eight-inch down-firing bass driver and connections for up to five individually powered (140 watts) and equalized 2.5-inch satellite speakers. The circular drivers can be wall-mounted or set on stands, and those aluminum enclosures act as heat sinks (in addition to looking dapper). While B&0 anticipates that the soundbars on its existing TVs will act as a center channel, a 5.1 setup will be available for $4,395 if you need an independent middle speaker instead. The Beolab 14 will come in black or white when it launches in June and additional grille clothes will be an extra $99 per set, should you want to change the colors. You can find more details in the press release after the break while you start saving up.
B&O Play H3 and H6 bring Bang & Olufsen's newer badge to headphones
Bang & Olufsen already offers headphones, and it has the B&O Play line to serve a mobile-oriented world. Wouldn't it be nice if the two categories mixed? As of today, they do. The B&O Play H3 in-ears and H6 over-ears apply that Danish love of aluminum and leather to the kind of headphones you'd want to pack with your MP3 player or smartphone. The H3 carries 10.8mm drivers, a mini bass port and a 20Hz to 16kHz range in a unibody shape that should hold up to exercise; the slightly more stationary H6 over-ears sport 40mm drivers and a wider 20Hz to 22kHz range. Both have primarily iOS-oriented in-line mics and remotes, although the H6 alone has Monster-sourced daisy chaining support to share tunes with others. Don't expect a significant break in B&O's premium pricing just because they're B&O Play-branded headsets, however. The H3 and H6 will respectively cost €249 and €399 when they hit some retail stores in May, and US pricing isn't likely to be much cheaper.
Bang & Olufsen announces Spotify partnership, brings streaming integration to BeoSound 5
The BeoSound 5 is, without a doubt, among the priciest of its kind, but thanks to a new partnership with Spotify, Bang & Olufsen has just added a little more value to its lavish controller. According to the company, those with a BeoSound 5 in their possession will able able to start streaming up to 320 Kbps tunes from Spotify as soon as they snag a software update, which will be available to download starting today -- though it's worth noting that a Spotify Premium account is a must for owners looking to stream. Still, since these are folks who've already paid the extravagant premium that's attached to the BeoSound 5 systems, chances are they already have the proper credentials or won't mind shelling out a few bucks per month on some quality internet-based music.
The Engadget Interview: Vertu CEO Perry Oosting talks specs and rationale
Vertu CEO Perry Oosting talks about the rationale for buying luxury goods.
Bang & Olufsen launches BeoLab 15 in-wall speakers for stealthier beats (update: ears-on)
Most Bang & Olufsen audio systems' designs virtually beg for attention in the living room. The company's just-launched combo of two BeoLab 15 satellite speakers, a BeoLab 16 subwoofer and an Amplifier 1 is very nearly designed for the opposite. The entire array can hide in the walls or ceiling, and juts out only when it's tilting to direct sound to a specific area. The Amplifier 1's 195W of total output won't produce the most thundering sound, but this is one time when subtlety is arguably the greater value -- it's more about a discreet background tune than making the house rattle. Just be prepared to deal with the value Bang & Olufsen puts on its stealthy Danish design. You'll need to pay $4,595 for the package when it ships this month, and that won't include the costs of putting holes in the drywall. Update: We had the chance to listen to the system for ourselves, and it's no slouch even with power small relative to other luxury systems. The test conditions weren't ideal -- the speakers weren't as separated as they could be, and Bang & Olufsen understandably couldn't get permission to carve into hotel walls -- but the BeoLab 15 handled music from Above & Beyond and the Beatles, among others, with a pleasingly warm sound and solid (but not overwhelming) bass. Those who hate the buzz of motorized components will be glad to know the satellites are virtually noiseless when they move, as well. Head past the break for a close-up of the subwoofer.
Bang & Olufsen unveils Playmaker wireless audio bridge, makes sure AirPlay and DLNA speak Danish
Bang & Olufsen has been slowly but surely adapting to a wireless world. Its new Playmaker (shown at center) brings that evolution to audio: with the receiver linked up, any AirPlay- or DLNA-friendly audio device can beam its sound to a set of the Danish firm's designer speakers. Wireless audio bridging isn't anything new by itself -- we know at least one rival that might say it's old hat -- but the company is promising clean and powerful sound through a built-in DAC that can drive even the beefiest of BeoLabs, like the 2,500-watt BeoLab 5. We can look forward to the Playmaker reaching stores before the end of the month, but we'll pay a premium for all that theoretical power. The bridge by itself costs $425, while a special bundle with BeoLab 3 speakers will set listeners back an eyewatering (if ear-melting) $4,310.
New promo video for ASUS N-Series notebooks makes us want to hug it out
Nothing stokes the emotional coals like slow-mo drops of water and orchestral strings. That's at least what the team behind this ASUS promo video seem to think. Amidst the melodrama there are actually a few new nuggets of info about the rained-on N-series Notebook. There's "SonicMaster Premium" sound from Bang and Olufsen on board, which the firm claims should please the pickiest of ears, and full HD wide-view screens. A backlit keyboard and fancy touch pad are also shown off, with the latter matching the aspect ratio of the screen for "intuitive control." The claimed (up to) two-week standby time should please the infrequent user, while the impatient will like the two second wake-up time. Whether it'll have Oscar-winning performance to match the video, however, is yet to be known.
Bang & Olufsen caters to the iOS crowd with Apple TV-friendly BeoPlay V1 TV set, A3 iPad speaker dock (update)
If your gadget life centers equally on Apple devices and luxury Danish home theater, Bang & Olufsen now has you officially covered. The BeoPlay V1 TV, which we got a sneak peek at just over a week ago, has a slot to connect your Apple TV without wires spoiling the look of your upscale loft. Both 32- and 40-inch versions have relatively powerful speakers, too, with as many as three 32W amps in the 40-inch version being joined by discrete treble / mid speakers and a bass unit. Either of the 1080p TVs carries a 100Hz refresh rate, five HDMI inputs, and a USB port for your music and photos. Just as new is a BeoPlay A3 speaker dock for the iPad, which nestles your first- or second-generation iPad into what Bang & Olufsen calls a "stable wedge" that not only keeps the iPad comfy but adapts the speakers to get maximum output depending on its orientation. An eight-hour 10-hour battery keeps the speakers completely wireless, although it won't charge your iPad in the process. The company will have the V1 in British shops on May 3rd at a comparatively frugal £1,999 ($3,238) and £2,499 ($4,047) for the respective 32- and 40-inch sizes, while fans of Hamlet's homeland will have to wait until May 23rd to pay £449 ($727) for an A3 dock, a picture of which you can find after the break. Update: As it turns out, the A3 will priced at $550 with it hits the US later this month, not $727 as we previously reported.
New BeoPlay V1 shows up ahead of time, hearts and wallets flutter
We're more used to phones getting leaked ahead of time, but it's not always just the latest and greatest handset that sneaks its way into our inbox. Danish website Recordere has managed to get a cheeky glimpse of the new BeoPlay V1 TV from Bang & Olufsen. Pegged as the new "affordable" model from the Scandinavian manufacturer, it'll come in two flavors: the BeoPlay V1-32 and V1-40 (the numbers representing screen size,) which include DLNA functionality, five HDMI ports, one USB, and integrated 5.1 surround sound, as well as a few other treats. The official launch is the 5th of May, with pricing set at €2,399 and €2,899 (about $3,170 and $3,831 respectively) depending how big the space in your front room is.
Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 12-65 hits North America in March for $11,350
Have you been shoring up funds since you first heard about the Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 12-65 last month? We sure hope so. The company has announced that its 65-inch full HD and 3D compatible plasma TV will hit showrooms in the Canada, Mexico and the US in a matter of days. Featuring an integrated center speaker and a NeoPDP panel, the BeoVision display will carry a hefty price tag of $11,350. If money really is no object, you can spring for the $19,749 package that includes the B&O's BeoSystem 3 'stage manager' for your living room. The 12-65 arrives stateside in March, so you've got a short time to finish getting your finances in order. But for now, hit the eyes-on gallery below for another look before committing.
Bang & Olufsen debuts BeoVision 12-65 plasma TV, BeoLab 12 speakers (update: eyes-on, video)
Bang & Olufsen's TVs aren't exactly for everyone, but those willing to spare no expense to turn a few heads now have yet another impressive model to consider from the company. It's just announced its new BeoVision 12-65, a plasma TV that makes use of a so-called NeoPDP panel and some clever design touches that make the 65-inch set appear as thin as possible. It's also naturally full HD and 3D compatible, and it packs an integrated center channel speaker that can be paired with a surround sound setup. Alongside it, B&O has also debuted its new BeoLab 12 loudspeakers, which pack a total of 480W and once again place a heavy emphasis on style. No word on pricing for either just yet, but the TV will be available this March, with the speakers rolling out in "early spring."
Bang & Olufsen's Beolit 12 sends the FCC a little bit of Don Draper
Imagine when the Bang & Olufsen Beolit 12 (label after the break) came through the double doors of the FCC's underground bunker. Seeing the golden honeycomb speaker and faux-Bakelite styling, the technicians all dashed home to slick back their hair and put on sharp suits before subjecting this particular iPod dock with AirPlay capabilities to the usual multimeter and rulers treatment we expect from our boys. The top area is hollow to keep your futuristic-looking iDevice from sticking out and ruining the illusion that you're living in 1964 (did you see the brown leather carrying strap?). Since it's been approved by the Government, we can only assume it's not long for these shores, and since it's a B&O device, we can expect it to retail for four or five times what you'd expect to pay.[Image courtesy AMC TV]
