Bang & Olufsen’s Besound A5 portable wireless speaker was just released in April 2023 and the initial market reaction was quite positive. The Danish manufacturer, however, has just announced a number of design and technology changes for the wireless loudspeaker that has barely been in the market for seven months.
The new changes offer a more modern twist on an already attractive Scandinavian design.
The Besound A5 with Spaced Aluminium design honors the brand’s excellence in craftsmanship, with each speaker being handcrafted from over 3,500 aluminum discs in the brand’s Struer-based Factory 5.
From Michael Henriksson Bang & Olufsen Vice President of Product Marketing: “We have worked with different circular patterns across our speaker grille designs for many years. It has become a signature, but this is a brand-new style…The look of the “floating discs” is created using a second layer of aluminum, carefully designed in a grid behind the surface to create the optical illusion and let the sound flow through”.
Modular Convenience
Beosound A5’s modular design allows users to easily swap the front cover to any of the three designs to suit their personal style and ensures that the speaker can be repaired and upgraded for an extended lifespan.
New Features
The launch of the new design and color also coincides with the introduction of two new features.
- Automatic Stereo Pairing: Via software update, two Beosound A5 speakers can automatically pair once in range of one another. Using the B&O app (Android/iOS), Beosound A5 can also seamlessly integrate into a multi-product Bang & Olufsen home audio setup.
- Fluid Sweet Spot: This enhancement provides a music listening experience as the artist intended. When stereo-paired, a single tap in the B&O app will let the Beosound A5 fix an ideal sound output based on the listener’s position.
Beosound A5
Beosound A5 provides big sound for a portable speaker. The A5 incorporates a four-way driver setup supported by four digital amplifiers providing a combined 280 watts of power.
The driver complemented includes 1 x 5.25” woofer, 2 x 2” midrange, and 1 x ¾ tweeter.
Whilst taking aesthetic inspiration from Bang & Olufsen’s Beolit series, the technology in Beosound A5 draws from the class-leading Beolab 90 and 50 hi-fi speakers. Beamforming technology, an innovation first built into the Beolab series, was brought to Beosound A5 to control the sound with higher precision. This resulted in an immersive listening experience beyond what you would expect from a portable speaker.
As well as being a standalone speaker, B&O’s Mozart platform allows two Beosound A5s to connect seamlessly with each other in a stereo system or any other Mozart-enabled speaker in Bang & Olufsen’s portfolio.
The A5 can also integrate smoothly into a Bang & Olufsen smart home system, creating an immersive multiroom experience at the tap of a button. The Mozart Platform can be upgraded via periodic software updates or, when it is limit is reached, replaced by a new Mozart module.
The Beosound A5 is compatible with Beolink Multiroom, Airplay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth 5.3, and more.
Specifications
Streaming Services:
- Apple AirPlay 2
- Spotify Connect
- Chromecast built-in
- TIDAL Connect
- B&O Radio
- Deezer
- QPlay 2.0
Amplification by Speaker (Class D):
- Woofer: 1 x 70 watts
- Full Range: 2 x 70 watts
- Tweeter: 1 x 70 watts
Size & Performance
- Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
- Supported Audio Formats: MP3, WMA (WMA Lossless not supported), AAC, ALAC, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, OGG, HLS. Up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM
- Maximum SPL: 101dB
- Maximum SPL (Bass): 80 db
- Frequency Response: 32Hz to 23kHZ
- Dust and Weatherproof Rating: IP65 (Wood components and paper weave may be damaged by water)
- Dimensions (WHD) with handle: 28.5 x 18.7 x 13 cm (11.22 x 7.36 x 5.12 inches)
- Dimensions (WHD) without handle: 26 x 18.7 x 13 cm (10.2 x 7.36 x 5.12 inches)
- Weight: Varies slightly with the finish, but starts about 3.7Kg (8 lbs 3 oz)
Availability and Pricing
- Beosound A5 Spaced Aluminium is now available for $1,399 at bangolufsen.com
- (£1,299)
- Beosound A5 in Dark Oak is $1,149 at bangolufsen.com
- (£999 / 1099 EUR / 8299 DKK / 1599 CAD)
- Beosound A5 in Nordic Weave is $1,049 at bangolufsen.com
- (£899 / 999 EUR / 7499 DKK / 1499 CAD)
Tip: The Besound A5 is also available with its original colors/design: Dark Oak or Nordic Weave
Related Reading
Benjamin Smith
October 29, 2023 at 9:04 pm
You’d have to be on crack to think a Bluetooth speaker is worth $1399.00.
Ian White
October 29, 2023 at 9:18 pm
Benjamin,
The KEF LSX II are definitely worth their asking price. I’ve yet to listen to the B&O so I can’t say if they are but there are a number of wireless/BT speakers that cost significantly more than the Beosound A5 and their sound quality is superb.
IW