BangOlufsen
Latest
Bang & Olufsen's Beosound Balance is a $2,250 statement speaker
Bang & Olufsen is back with another stylish speaker for deep-pocketed audiophiles. The Beosound Balance, which sits somewhere between the Besound 2 and disc-shaped Beosound Edge, has been conceived with a London design agency called Layer. It's split into two parts: a cylindrical base and larger bucket-shaped upper, that work in tandem to fill your room with hopefully-great sound. "Together, these two elemental forms create a sculptural object," Layer explained in a press release, "like a plinth supporting an artwork or vase that disrupts the monoblock format of most speakers." We'll let you decide if it looks like a museum exhibit or not.
B&O brings noise cancellation to its wireless over-ear headphones
Bang & Olufsen debuted its wireless over-ear headphones over two years ago and despite offering active noise cancellation (ANC) for its on-ear model, the Beoplay H7 lacked that important feature. Just in time for Christmas, the company is back with an update to those over-ear headphones that delivers ANC for $100 more. The new Beoplay H9 looks nearly identical to the H7s with the only aesthetic difference being the addition of microphones on the outside of the ear cups to help block out unwanted noise.
B&O Play get into the wireless earbud game
B&O Play came very late to the Bluetooth audio game, but it didn't matter because the sound quality was worth the wait. The firm is now widening its wireless range with the H5, its first set of in-ear buds that ditch the 3.5 mm connector. The big selling point is that the gear will connect to a smartphone app, letting you tweak the sound profile to the situation, such as commuting, podcasts or working out. They can also tweak the "tonality and staging" to their own ends by delving further into the app, the settings saved until you choose to readjust.
LG agrees to build Bang & Olufsen's pricey TVs
Even if you really love Danish design, $8,000 is insane for a 55-inch Bang & Olufsen 4K TV, since a superior OLED model from LG costs about three grand. B&O may have though the same thing, because it decided to outsource its television manufacturing to LG Electronics. While it's still responsible for the design and acoustics, LG will take take over development and production, saving B&O 150 million kroner ($23 million) over three years. "We've been losing significant amounts of money on developing and building the TVs because we're sub-scale." CEO Tue Mantoni tells Bloomberg. "We make about 30,000 TVs a year and LG produces about 40 million."
B&O Play's H7 headphones trade silence for longevity
Bang and Olufsen held out on Bluetooth for a lot longer than other audio businesses, waiting until it could guarantee that the standard had good enough sound. Ever since it was satisfied, the usually restrained Danish firm has been throwing out wireless audio gear at a rate of knots, and another one arrives today. The BeoPlay H7 is a cheaper, over-ear version of the on-ear H8 cans we first saw in January, the biggest difference between the two being the loss of active noise cancellation. Losing that feature means that the battery, rated for 14 hours on the H8, is promised to last 20 hours on its smaller sibling.
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.
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.
CES 2014: Audio roundup
Imagine the footsteps of thousands and thousands of people. Now add in hundreds of booths showing loud promo videos, playing music and giving demos over microphones. That is the literal sound of CES. The theoretical sound of CES will come from some of the products you see below. We feel this selection of products gives you a pretty good feel for the trends we're likely to see in 2014. Enjoy.
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.
Spotify's new Connect feature seems as good an excuse as any to throw a party
This is a sort of hardware / software announcement for Spotify, a hardware partnership with a number of big names in audio like Philips, Pioneer, Bang & Olufsen, Denon, Marantz and Yamaha that allows you to keep the party going on those Spotify playlists. Start playing one on your handset, click play on a compatible speaker system, and it will keep streaming on the speaker without interruption -- even when you take a call or leave the vicinity of your WiFi network. The audio system will actually start streaming music directly from the cloud. That means you can, say, turn on an iPad in another room and let your party guests skip songs -- though, granted, that might not be the greatest idea, depending on who you invite. Specific devices have yet to be named, though compatible systems will be branded with a Spotify Connect logo, so you'll know what you're getting yourself into. Those should be arriving in a late-October / early-November timeframe. Spotify will be holding up its end of the bargain by rolling out a software update for iOS ahead of those launches. Android and other operating systems will be receiving it at a later date.
B&O Play previews A9 Nordic Sky edition wireless speakers (eyes-on)
Not to leave its $2,699 A9 wireless speaker stuck with solid colors for the fall and winter, B&O Play's added some limited editions inspired by the natural color palette of Scandinavia. Dubbed the Nordic Sky editions, the three variants previewed for Copenhagen Fashion Week represent dawn, twilight and dusk. The pastel gradient grilles aim to keep the summer night's visual influence alive through the colder seasons, as B&O explains it. The units still feature the same 480-watt (x5) 2.1 stereo output, with DLNA and AirPlay to keep the music flowing. The Nordic Sky editions will retail for the same $2,699 price as the standard versions, while current A9 owners can also purchase each color kit (three wooden legs and a grille cloth) for $259 a pop. There's no exact arrival date yet, but B&O says to expect them on its shelves in September. No doubt these pieces scream opulence, but they're a visual treat in person. Full press release after the break. %Gallery-195483%
B&O Play's Corporate VP Henrik Taudorf Lorensen on Path and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum
Every week, a new and interesting human being tackles our decidedly geeky take on the Proustian Q&A. This is the Engadget Questionnaire. In this installment of our regular session of inquiry, B&O Play's Corporate Vice President Henrik Taudof Lorensen discusses the focused Path and face-to-face connectivity. Meet us on the other side of the break to peruse the full lot of answers.
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, H6 headphones debut stateside: danish design, premium prices
It was just last month that Bang & Olufsen unveiled the H3 and H6 headphones under its cheaper-to-enter B&0 Play brand for the EU. Today, B&O introduced these two dapper additions stateside, announcing them at its SoHo NY shop. If you'll recall, the aluminum-clad H3 in-ears pack 10.3mm drivers aided by mini bass ports, while the H6 over-ears feature 40mm drivers and a healthy heaping of leather-wrapped memory foam padding. Both have an iOS-friendly inline remote and straight 3.5mm-capped cabling. We spent some time with the H6 and we're surprised at how light it is -- which also made for an extremely comfortable first impression when it was placed around this editor's ears. The sound from the H6's drivers is crispy and light with a fairly flat voicing that's free of any noticeable sibilance. A 3.5mm input resides on each of its earcups, which allows for daisy-chaining so you can listen with a buddy. We're told the H3 intra-aurals should sound similar (we couldn't get a clean pair to jam in our ears). %Gallery-187820% Expect to pay $250 for the H3 and $400 for the H6 come July, which is a bit pricier than the likes of B&W's P3 and P5 headphones. We'll have to get back to you about whether the prices match the products, but grab a look in the gallery for now.
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.
Bang & Olufsen gets connected with BeoVision 11 Smart TV
There's a new Bang & Olufsen set in town. The BeoVision 11 Smart TV gives viewers access to the Web courtesy of a browser that can be navigated via remote, iPad or Android tablet. You can also check out apps like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube on the set. There's DLNA enabled for media streaming, two USB ports, Ethernet, six HDMI sockets, six speakers and a cabinet in the back for storing your Apple TV. Aesthetically, the TV doesn't look all too different from the BeoVision 10, though the company is calling this its "most ambitious television to date." The 11 comes in 40-, 46- and 55-inch varieties and a slew of color options. You can pick one up (use your back) at B&O stores beginning today, priced at £4,995 (around $8,000). Stay tuned after the break for a press release and a video in which B&O's CEO humbly calls it the best TV his company has ever made.
B&O Play's BeoPlay A9 wireless speaker gets your classy party jumping for a cool $2,699 (eyes-on)
B&O Play is at it again for the younger crowd with money to burn. With a TV, a hybrid iPad dock, an iPad friendly speaker system and a portable speaker already under its belt, Bang & Olufsen's spin-off brand is ready to really get the festivities going with its new BeoPlay A9. Starting at cool $2,799, this satellite dish circular eye-catcher also doubles as a full-on 2.1 speaker system. Simply put, we'd describe its looks as a super-sized half of the BeoPlay A8 speaker dock. We'd guess the A9 stands at roughly three feet tall (legs mounted) and three feet wide based on our quick in-person look. Behind its fabric grill you'll find a duo of three-quarter-inch tweeters and a pair of three-inch mid-range drivers, all of which get their power from independent 80-watt digital amps. Of course, the A9 brings the rumble as well, featuring an 8-inch "bass unit" that gets double the wattage of its drivers. Notably, AirPlay & DLNA are baked right in, ensuring you'll have access to WiFi streaming across whichever platforms you prefer. You won't find any physical controls, but on the top-edge of its backside you'll notice a status light and a power button, both separated by a long touch-sensitive strip that lets you adjusts the volume, or mute it completely. Below that, a pop-off cap hides a USB port for docking and charging devices and a 3.5mm jack if wireless isn't an option, but it's also where an admittedly unsightly power cord plugs in as well. As you can see in the photo, the A9 can be supported by a trio of wooden legs, however, it can also be wall-mounted or hung from a ceiling like the BeoPlay V1 TV -- thankfully, it features three DSP presets to cope with however you'd decide to place it. As you might imagine, it's also incredibly loud -- just a duo of A9s were being used as the sound system at the large Penthouse party we were in. As such, it wasn't an ideal environment to comment much further on its audio performance. If it's up your alley, expect the system to hit B&O and select Apple stores near the end of November, with your choice of a black, red, silver, green or white grill, and wooden legs in beech, oak or teak -- all of which can be purchased separately. For now, you can get your own eyes-on with it in the gallery below. Update: Check out the video past the break to catch a video of how it's made.
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.
Beoplay A3 iPad stereo dock has a unique design
Bang & Olufsen offshoot brand Beoplay is giving the iPad speaker dock the B&O design treatment with the new Beoplay A3 iPad stereo dock. As you'd expect from the Danish electronics design firm, the Beoplay A3 is a minimalist, slim, black and polished metal wedge into which a first or second generation iPad is placed (no word on whether the shipping product will support the new iPad). The dock sense the iPad's orientation and adjusts which speakers are activated in order to produce the best possible sound quality. The A3 is designed to run off of AC if you want to use it as a kitchen or coffee table information center, but can also be powered for up to five hours off of a built-in battery. The firmware of the device is upgradeable through the free Bang & Olufsen Setup Utility app. There's no price or availability information for the Beoplay A3 yet, but you can sign up to be notified when it appears in the Beoplay online store.
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.
