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B&O hides high-end speakers in hexagonal wall art
When buying a new piece of tech that's going to live with you for years, your primary concern is balancing price, features and future-proofing. But some products don't wave spec sheets around, instead focusing on design that complements minimalist spaces, or conceals its true function. Bang & Olufsen's new BeoSound Shape modular speaker system falls firmly into that category, and would look more at home in a modern art gallery than a high-end Hi-Fi store.
B&O puts its smallest speaker in your pocket for $169
What's next for high-end audio company Bang and Olufsen following last year's handheld BeoPlay A1 speaker? Making a smaller model, of course. The Beoplay P2 fits in the palm of your hand and perhaps more closely resembles an earbud case than it does a speaker. But maybe don't fret that sound quality diminished because the speaker's size did. Like the A1, the P2 blasts sound out in 360 degrees and it inherited a tweaked version of the mid-woofer from last year's model. 2016's sound carries forward in another way as well -- the P2 shares its 0.75-inch tweeter with the A1.
Bang & Olufsen's modular speakers double as wall art
There hasn't been a shortage of attempts at modular speakers, but how many of them would you be willing to place at the center of your living room decor? Not many, we'd wager. Bang & Olufsen, however, thinks it can do better. It's introducing a wall-mounted speaker system, BeoSound Shape, that's designed to be as artistic as it is functional. You can scale your system to the exact size and pattern you want, including color -- a range of fabric options lets you be as flamboyant or subdued as you like. You need at least six modules, but B&O is promising that you can have a "practically unlimited" number of them if it suits your fancy.
B&O adds to its wireless speaker lineup with the Beolit 17
The Beolit 12 speaker was the first device introduced on Bang & Olufen's Play line of audio gear back in 2012. It was followed by the Beolit 15 in 2015 and now the company has an even larger model: the Beolit 17. As you might expect, the larger size delivers more power for the wireless speaker with 240 watts. While the overall design remains the same, the Beolit 17's speaker grill has been tweaked to remove the cable compartment. That change helps the device to pack that increased power and enhanced sound.
B&O adds a $299 option to its wireless headphone line
When it comes to Bang and Olufsen's audio gear, you have to be willing to shell out some extra cash to get the company's mix of design and sound. The Beoplay line does offer some more affordable options and today the over-ear Beoplay H4 wireless headphones make their debut. Priced at $299 (£249/€299), the H4s are $100 less than B&O's current most affordable wireless option: the over-ear H7.
Technology helped me through the emotional roller coaster of CES
Humans love to control how they feel. Booze and coffee have been perking us up and lubricating social situations for millennia. Mood-enhancing technology, on the other hand, usually tries to emulate a cup of joe or a glass of wine but without the need for rinsing your liver. I'm generally OK with pumping chemicals into my body, but with a few mood-changing gadgets catching my eye in the run-up to this year's CES, I thought I'd give some a go. The hope was that I could avoid the usual uppers-and-downers routine that a week in Vegas demands.
B&O's Beoplay M5 wireless speaker has a lot of competition
Bang and Olufsen revealed its pricey Beoplay A6 wireless speaker back in 2015. Here at CES, the company has a new model that also handles multiroom audio. The Beoplay M5 projects that trademark B&O sound 360 degrees from a device that's designed to be a showpiece rather than extra clutter. Just like the A6, wool speaker covers are interchangeable so you will have options for what looks best in your home.
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 speakers get Google Cast multiroom support
In its battle to cover consumers' homes with connected speakers, B&O recently began outfitting its gear with Google Cast functionality. Operating like a Chromecast does on your TV, the company's speakers can directly pull music from the streaming service you're using instead of either your smartphone or tablet. That's on top of its existing AirPlay, DNLA and Bluetooth support. After initially allowing owners to Cast their music to individual speakers, B&O confirmed today that the technology has been opened up to work seamlessly with the other B&O speakers in their multiroom setup.
Bang and Olufsen's 360-degree speakers deliver sound in style
Earlier this week, Bang and Olufsen introduced its BeoSound 1 and BeoSound 2 multi-room speakers, and we just checked them out at IFA 2016. As expected, considering they both cost upward of $1,000 each, the new 360-degree speakers look stylish and unordinary. And while they do resemble Samsung's R wireless speakers, B&O's set is made with more premium materials -- namely "rock solid" aluminum, according to the company. The biggest feature of the BeoSound 1 and BeoSound 2, however, is the fact they can project sound all around you. That, in theory, should make for a more immersive experience when you're listening to any audio.
Bang and Olufsen's new BeoSound speakers project music 360 degrees
Bang and Olufsen typically unveils new audio gear at IFA and this year is no exception. Following last year's $1,000 BeoPlay A6, the company has two new speakers that project sound 360 degrees. The new devices are called BeoSound 1 and BeoSound 2, both sporting a conical design that looks like a base of a lamp more than a speaker. That's not a criticism though, it will actually blend in better on a shelf or side table than a boxy cube typically would. B&O is known for its high-end aesthetics and these new speakers continue the lineage with aluminum shells that project bass out from bottom and are open up top for acoustics.
B&O Play speakers add Google Cast for wireless audio
Google Cast for audio is a standard feature on most new wireless speakers these days, and Bang & Olufsen is making sure its B&O Play customers can use that tool as well. The company announced an update for the BeoPlay A6 and the larger (and much pricier) second-gen A9 that will add Google's wireless connectivity. If you'll recall, the option works like a Chromecast for TV: it pulls content directly from the service you're using rather than using your phone or tablet's connection. Back at CES, Google revealed that Cast would arrive on more speakers this year, and B&O is helping it keep that promise.
Bang and Olufsen's new compact speaker packs big sound
Bang and Olufsen is well-known for its high-end audio gear, but the Danish electronics company has a number of portable devices under its belt, too. Today, the company announced the BeoPlay A1: the company's smallest portable speaker to date. The Bluetooth-enabled accessory not only offers a wireless speaker for listening to tunes, but it's small enough to easily pack away in your rucksack. Similar to other wireless gadgets, the A1 also handles calls via a built-in microphone should the need arise. B&O touts a full 24 hours of battery life for its newest BeoPlay device, which is certainly an attractive feature.
Bang and Olufsen couldn't convince me a speaker is worth $1,000
Bang and Olufsen is known for two things: unique design and high prices. Sometimes, the cost isn't so much of an issue if the design is matched by quality audio or a solid display panel. The company's new BeoPlay A6 is a $1,000 wireless speaker with three modes to change its sound based on where it's placed in a room. With Sonos and others already offering similar products for a fraction of the price, I was unsure if B&O's latest product would live up to steep asking price. Unfortunately, my suspicions were correct.
HP's new PCs include an updated convertible, a thin-and-light and some all-in-ones
Of all the products HP is announcing this morning, its Surface Pro competitor is likely to get the most attention. That said, the company's new line of PCs doesn't end there. HP is making some minor tweaks to its premium Spectre x360 convertible, which we liked very much the first time around. For those with simpler tastes, the firm unveiled a new thin and light notebook that keeps its weight (and waistline) down by forgoing a touchscreen and sticking with a basic clamshell design. And, completing the gamut, HP also introduced some new all-in-one desktops.
Bang and Olufsen's BeoPlay A6 is a $1,000 wireless speaker
Luxury audiovisual brand Bang & Olufsen (B&O) has just announced a pricey wireless speaker, the $999 BeoPlay A6. The style evokes the back of a chair, gently curving and covered in designer fabric from Danish studio Kvadrat. Apparently, this isn't all about looks, though. B&O says its unique shape "enables sound to fill an entire room whilst creating ambience in multiple areas of a house." The interface for the A6 is pretty interesting too. It's all based around swiping and tapping the top of the speaker. A swipe right, for example, turns the volume up. Holding the center mutes, and a quick tap skips the track. Perhaps not the most intuitive control scheme ever, but a cool talking point nonetheless.
Bang & Olufsen is the latest to jump into multi-room audio
It's almost trivially easy to buy a multi-room audio system at this point, but what if you want stylish audio to go with your designer home? Don't worry -- Bang & Olufsen has you covered. The Danish brand has launched its own platform, BeoLink Multiroom, that pipes music throughout your home. While that concept isn't exactly novel, B&O is counting on simplicity to reel you in. All you do is tap devices to either start playing or link them to playback elsewhere. You might tap the BeoSound Moment (the company's adaptive music hub) to start listening in the living room, and a BeoPlay speaker to carry that sound into the kitchen. While you can use either a BeoMusic app on your phone or a BeoRemote One to steer the sound, you don't have to depend on controllers as much as you would with some rivals.
B&O's H8 wireless headphones offer stellar audio at a steep price
I'm pretty vocal about my love for Bang and Olufsen's BeoPlay H6 headphones. To me, they're the best wired set I've used in the last three years and they still hold their own against newer rivals, even though they've been on sale for two years now. That being said, you can imagine my feelings when B&O announced the wireless H8 back at CES. The best set of cans I've used in ages are now wireless? I couldn't wait to get my hands on a pair. By now, I've spent several weeks getting to know the new headphones, and I have to say, I'm not quite ready to ditch the old model just yet.
B&O launches its first wireless headphones, the BeoPlay H8
Bang & Olufsen's main announcement this year is the wonderfully weird "Moment" home music system. The Danish company had a few other things to show though, and the BeoPlay H8 Bluetooth headphones are one of them. A mixture of cowhide, lambskin and aluminum, the H8 is definitely one of the more premium-feeling pairs of Bluetooth headphones we've held in a while. With active noise-cancellation, a bunch of high-quality playback features (aptX/A2DP) and a custom metal touch interface, they're one of the nicer specced ones, too. We took a quick look at CES.
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.