Bang & Olufsen has unveiled a new portable Bluetooth speaker, marking a bit of a departure for the premium electronics brand.
B&O, as it’s more commonly known, is typically associated with prohibitively expensive home audio set-ups for those with money to burn.
However, the new B&O BeoPlay A2 represents the company’s first ever portable Bluetooth speaker, and it comes at an almost-accessible price point.
It’s certainly a looker, formed from a single block of aluminium and flanked by two parallel overhanging polycarbonate grilles. This flat, machined look – complemented by a leather carry-strap – somehow gives the BeoPlay A2 a retro vibe.
When you get down to the technology involved, of course, it’s anything but retro. As a recent Engadget report notes, B&O has finally adopted the Bluetooth standard thanks to aptX – a technology that promises CD-quality sound over the well-established (but typically low quality) wireless connection standard.
As for sound, B&O has installed a large woofer at one end of the device, a smaller tweeter at the other, and a passive bass radiator in the middle. Thanks to some careful design, it means that the BeoPlay A2 will sound great regardless of orientation.
Bang & Olufsen is claiming 24 hours battery life, so it should be good for extended trips. Also, thanks to the presence of a USB port, you’ll be able to use the BeoPlay A2 as a portable phone charger. Handy.
The B&O BeoPlay A2 is available from today for £299 in elegant green, pitch black or cool grey.
Read More: Best portable speakers 2014
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
