It feels like the Bluetooth speaker market has bottomed out. We’re missing new and exciting designs, as each release feels like a knockoff of the one before it. Finding a way to reinvent this wheel is proving to be difficult for audio manufacturers. Simply put, Bluetooth is everywhere we look.
Today, Bang & Olufsen released its smallest speaker yet in an effort to shake up the competition. The BeoPlay A1 has the familiar styling of its larger siblings but comes in at a smaller size that is comparable to the popular UE ROLL. However, it sets itself apart in one key area: 24-hour battery life. More below.
The BeoPlay A1 is a classic Bang & Olufsen release. It has the classic aluminum speaker grille and matte rubber base brought together by a thin leather strap. Bang & Olufsen has also made a few interesting decisions with this new release, starting with the inclusion of USB-C as a source for transferring power. We have seen an increase in USB-C products recently, with smartphones and laptops dominating in this area.
A tiny USB-C port is stashed next to a battery indicator light that provides alerts on power levels. It takes roughly three hours to fully charge the A1. As we noted above, 24 hours of playback is impressive for a portable speaker of this size. Most of the Bluetooth devices that come across our desk are only capable of half that, if not less.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSNcRKFNWv4
Along the side you’ll also find controls for the speaker, like Bluetooth pairing, playback and speakerphone functionality. The A1 also sports a new B&O feature called ‘Connect’ that remembers your last device/song played. This allows you to pick up right where you left off.
Inside there is a driver and amp capable of delivering up to 280 watts of power with an audible range of 60 – 24,000Hz. That’s an impressive return given the speaker only weighs 600 grams. There are two Class D amplifiers for the woofer and tweeter alongside a passive bass radiator. Much like the UE ROLL referenced above, the 360-degree design is meant to provide a louder soundstage than traditional speakers that only face one direction.
Additional features include the ability to pair two A1’s together for a stereo setup. The BeoPlay App for iOS and Android adds more functionality to the speaker with custom EQ setups and firmware updates.
Bang & Olufsen’s new A1 Portable Bluetooth speaker ships in Natural Silver or Moss Green. It is available today at Amazon for $249 and includes a two-year warranty.
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Source: Bang & Olufsen
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