Bang & Olufsen is one of those high-end audio brands that often polarizes listeners; some marvel at their often bold and creative industrial design — but pushback when it comes to the sound quality at rather high asking prices. We think there is some truth to both of those views — but having spent some time with their headphones, portable wireless speakers, and home audio loudspeakers over the past 3 years, we actually think the brand has turned a corner.
The creativity on the design front is second-to-none. We rather like the Danish design ethos and find the use of color and different materials to be rather fresh in a world of boring looking components.
We also think that a number of their products really perform at a much higher level than what they offered during their “American Mall” phase and whilst they are still expensive — we would certainly consider owning a number of them in our own homes.
The latest example is the introduction by B&O’s Atelier team of the limited edition Beoplay EX Wireless Earbuds and Beosound 2 Wireless Speaker in a Northern Sky Turquoise finish. The blue hues of the Northern Sky Turquoise are designed to evoke the look of winter night sky.
For the Beoplay EX and Beosound 2, the gradient way the color is applied gravitates from an ice-cool blue to a deeper celestial blue, evocative of the northern lights.
From Christian Bauers, Director of Bang & Olufsen Atelier commenting on the how the color is applied to the Beosound 2: “One by one, each Beosound 2 is carefully anodized following a delicate method, where the aluminum piece is slowly dipped upside down into the turquoise color bath. The speed at which the operator dips the piece gradually increases to the beat of a metronome as it gets immersed deeper in the color bath, ensuring a high saturation at the top and a subtle finish at the bottom“.
The Beoplay EX
The Beoplay EX are versatile, great-looking earbuds. The earbuds include Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and feature a deep full sound, along with snug comfort for hours-long listening.
The EX earbuds carry an IP57 weatherproof rating which means they can survive up to 30 minutes in one meter of water and are dust and sand-resistant.
In addition to the earbuds, the Beoplay EX comes with a charging case with a wireless Qi receiver, a .5 meter USB-A/USB-C charging cable, four sizes of COMPLY™ silicone tips, and a quick start guide.
Tip: Read our report on the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX Wireless ANC Earbuds
Beosound 2 3rd Generation
The Beosound 2 is a powerful multiroom speaker that matches a unique high-design aesthetic with stand-out sound. Originally launched in 2016 and now in its third iteration, Beosound 2 has been transported into the new generation of Bang & Olufsen sound whilst remaining iconic.
Crafted from high-grade aluminum, a material now synonymous with Bang & Olufsen, the instantly recognizable cone shape of Beosound 2 commands attention no matter where it’s placed in the room.
Beosound 2 incorporates Mozart which ensures the exterior craftsmanship and software longevity last for years to follow in equal measure, and that the speaker seamlessly integrates into any luxurious multiroom system.
Also, with Active Room Compensation, the Beosound 2 can detect its position in any space and distribute sound accordingly to ensure the optimum listening experience.
Tip: Read our previous report that includes information on the Besound 2
Pricing & Availability
The Limited Edition Beosound 2 3rd Gen and Beoplay EX Atelier Northern Sky Turquoise will be available online and in selected stores in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa, beginning March 25th, 2024.
- Beoplay EX: $699 / £599 / €699
- Beosound 2: $5,699 / £4,699 / €5,299
Tip: Production will be limited to 100 Beoplay EX earphones and 48 Beosound 2 home speakers – available in select markets.
The Beoplay EX is also available in Oxygen Anthracite, Black Anthracite, Gold Tone for $399 (€399 / £349) – Ferrari Red Edition available for $499 (£449 / €499)
The Beosound 2 is also available in Black Anthracite, Gold Tone, Natural, and Daybreak Blossom for $3,199, while the Ferrari Red Edition is available for $5,499.
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GM
March 17, 2024 at 2:40 pm
Most ridiculous brand ever. I once auditioned a pair of their $100,000.00 USD+ speakers and I came away totally underwhelmed. But hey, maybe you can get them in other fashion colours.