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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.
