B&O announces first portable Bluetooth speaker
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.
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