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Stuff.tv
12-05-2025
- Stuff.tv
Here's why the B&O Beosound A1 3rd Gen is the new premium portable speaker to beat
Stuff Verdict Still possibly the best-looking Bluetooth travel speaker, and now with more low-end muscle. You pay a premium for the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1's signature styling, but it's brilliantly capable all t Pros Gorgeous, uses luxury yet environmentally conscious materials Wonderfully engaging audio Long-lasting battery Cons B&O name carries a significant price premium Not as future-proof as some rivals There are louder outdoor speakers Introduction Every bit of Bang and Olufsen kit sits at a crossroads between gadget and art piece, and the new Beosound A1 is no exception. This (relatively) affordable Bluetooth speaker might be a heck of a lot smaller than the firm's statement-making floor standers, but it's just as iconic. So much so, you might think little has changed for this third generation. Underneath, though, the audio engineers have been hard at work boosting bass response. It means this mini music box should have the low end oomph to rival much larger speakers. Battery life has also been extended, making it even more of an outdoor essential. One or two features from the old model have been jettisoned, though, and the $349/£299/€349 asking price puts an awful lot of room between it and the more mainstream travel speaker crowd. I took one on tour for a week to see how it performs. How we test Hi-Fi products Every speaker, amp and Hi-Fi separate reviewed on Stuff is used for a minimum of a week's worth of daily listening. We use a playlist of test tracks made up of multiple genres to assess sound, and use our years of experience to compare to other models. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products. Find out more about how we test and rate products. Design & build: pearl-blasted burger bun I'm not sure there's another portable speaker as distinctive as the Beosound A1. The puck-like unit stays true to the two previous versions, keeping the pearl-blasted aluminium top grille with 2173 holes precision-milled across its surface. The polymer underside is built to withstand more punishment, and prevents speaker vibrations passing through to whatever surface you place it on. It's plenty grippy, too. There's some serious heft here, given the whole thing fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. Yet at 576g it's not so heavy I wanted to leave it at home, instead of bringing it with me on the move. Shape-wise it's not as easy to say, shove in a bike or bag bottle holder than some rivals, but I had no qualms finding room for it in my backpack's other pockets. My Honey Tone review unit (which lands somewhere between bronze and rose gold) is one of two new colours, the other being Eucalyptus. Bang & Olufsen has also brought back Natural Aluminium. Personally I don't think you can go wrong; all would look comfortable in an interior design catalogue. Danish industrial designer Cecilie Manz was brought back in for a third time to keep the new Beosound A1 looking fresh. The only real changes are to the leather wrist strap's metal fastener, which is a little simpler this time around. It's still water resistant, just like the speaker itself: an IP67 rating means it can shrug off showers and splashes. B&O also get a thumbs up for securing 'Cradle-to-Cradle Bronze' certification – the first Bluetooth speaker to get one – meaning it uses sustainable, recyclable materials. Though with the battery now able to be replaced (by a firm-approved technician, that is), this speaker should hopefully never see the scrapheap. Features & battery: Dane kept a-rollin' The 3rd-gen Beosound A1 keeps things simple, with just a single activity LED on the top subtly integrated into the grille, and a few buttons dotted around the edge for controlling power, playback, volume, and Bluetooth pairing. There's also a microphone mute button, as it still doubles as a speakerphone; the three integrated mics had no trouble picking up my voice when taking calls via my paired smartphone. What you won't find here is any sort of Alexa integration. The outgoing Beosound A1 2nd Gen could piggyback off your phone to ask Amazon's voice assistant questions, despite not having any Wi-Fi on board. Personally I don't miss it, as I usually have my phone close by when using any kind of travel speaker, but it's something to think about if you're an Alexa super-fan. The single USB-C port can be used for wired playback if you're so inclined, but I'm betting most owners will stick with Bluetooth. The Beosound A1 has multipoint connectivity, Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair, which makes getting set up a breeze. aptX Adaptive returns for high quality streaming, though because B&O has gone with Bluetooth 5.1, it rules out getting Auracast connectivity later down the line via software updates. That makes it just a little less future-proof than some rivals. Though I didn't have a second speaker to test it, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen does support stereo pairing. It can also pair with the older A1 2nd Gen if you have one of those already. I was happy to see B&O's claim of improved battery life stack up. The 3300mAh cell inside the A1 3rd Gen gives it a six hour lead over the previous generation speaker, meaning at sensible volume levels I could eke 24 hours of playback per charge. Refuelling isn't the fastest, though, needing several hours on mains power before I was fully recharged. Interface: tune it in, turn it up With those on-device controls you might not instantly reach for the Bang & Olufsen smartphone companion app, but it's worth a download. As well as handling firmware updates and setting up stereo pairing (assuming you have the funds to buy two A1s) it also lets you customise the sound. A few of the five equalizer presets are a bit nebulous (ambient, favourite) while others are a little clearer (party, speech, optimal – which the speaker defaults to). You can create your own, but B&O has rejected the usual multi-band EQ in favour of a simple circle with labels like Energetic and Relaxed. It's a great way to simplify things for owners who might not understand bass or treble frequencies. The app in general doesn't overwhelm you with options, and the layout is as minimal as the speaker itself. Integrating an internet radio player into the app was a clever move, as it means you'll never be short on something to listen to. You can access your Deezer and Tidal libraries here too. Spotify also gets a mention here, though it's a token one – you've got to open the Spotify app proper to pick playlists. Sound quality: let me entertain you B&O has managed to squeeze an 85mm mid/bass driver and 15mm tweeter inside the Beosound A1. They're powered by 30W of Class D amplification, and promise a fair bit more bass this time around. Not to say the old one sounded at all hollow, mind – but I definitely appreciated a little extra oomph when playing my Spotify 'summer dance anthems' playlist. The kicks on Phats & Small's Turn around had real punch. It's not like Bang and Olufsen has cranked the tuning dial to totally favour the low-end, though – but the A1 3rd Gen isn't an analytical listen intended to only please audiophiles, either. This listen leans a little warm, a bit more dynamic than the firm's higher-end gear, just in a way that works so well for the sort of impromptu backing tracks a Bluetooth speaker is best at. Chaism's Isolated kept its soft electronic drum track intact while outdoors, so it's not like the presence falls off once you've left four walls behind. Things are clean and contained at the top-end, with no shortage of detail for such a compact speaker. Vocals have enough presence, with Luude's Big City Life coming through clearly over the relentless snares. Every part of the frequency range is well controlled, with rumble where it's deserved and room for the rest of the mix to breathe when it isn't. There's no obvious crossover point between the two drivers, and volume can be pushed pretty high without affecting the soundstage. OK, it's not going to out-shout speakers several times its size. I've heard similarly travel-friendly speakers get louder, which might be something to consider if you were hoping to supply sound for a pool party. But will it soundtrack a yacht pleasure cruise or après ski session? Absolutely. Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen verdict Rugged, long-lasting portable Bluetooth speakers aren't exactly a rarity, but there are far fewer that feel as luxurious as the Beosound A1. It continues to impress in its third generation, with the sound to match its styling. That sound isn't perhaps as loud as some of the cheaper alternatives, admittedly, but the quality is really rather great. So sure, a JBL Flip 7 costs almost a third of the price and has extra goodies like Auracast – but it's nowhere near as easy on the eyes, as repairable, or as much of a style statement as this. If your outdoor speaker needs are more garden party than trail hike (and your budget stretches this far) the B&O should be a top contender. Stuff Says… Score: 5/5 Still possibly the best-looking Bluetooth travel speaker, and now with more low-end muscle. You pay a premium for the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1's signature styling, but it's brilliantly capable all the same. Pros Gorgeous, uses luxury yet environmentally conscious materials Wonderfully engaging audio Long-lasting battery Cons B&O name carries a significant price premium Not as future-proof as some rivals There are louder outdoor speakers Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen technical specifications Drivers 1x 3.25in woofer, 1x 0.6in tweeter Amplification 2x 30W class D Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.1 Codecs supported aptX Adaptive, AAC Durability IP67 Battery life Up to 24 hours Dimensions 133x46x133mm, 576g
Engadget
06-05-2025
- Engadget
Bang & Olufsen's third-gen Beosound A1 Bluetooth speaker has more battery life and bass
High-end Danish audio brand Bang & Olufsen has announced the third generation of its Beosound A1 Bluetooth speaker. The updated A1 remains as portable as its predecessor, retaining its puck-shaped design and minimalist appearance, but there are some key upgrades under its pearl-blasted aluminum shell. Arguably the most important of these is the larger woofer, which delivers a bass of 64dB, a 2dB improvement on the second-generation model. While that admittedly sounds modest on paper, B&O claims it's one that makes the speaker capable of comfortably filling a room with meaty sound. If you happen to have an older A1 around, you can form a stereo pair with the latest model for even more sonic muscle. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Battery life has also been increased to 24 hours, which is a sizable six hours more than its predecessor. And while it uses the slightly older Bluetooth 5.1 standard, the new A1 supports Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair, both of which cut down on the steps required to pair devices. The previous speaker's three-microphone setup also makes its way to the A1 3rd Gen, allowing you to take calls from the device itself. The updated speaker has an IP67 dust and waterproof rating, and sports a modular design that allows you to replace or upgrade broken or outdated components over time. Bang & Olufsen say it's the first speaker in the world to get a Bronze certification from Cradle to Cradle. The C2C is a globally recognized sustainability standard that assesses a product from its supply chain through to production, and coaches companies in minimizing waste. The Bronze level awarded to the Beosound A1 is the lowest on C2C's scale, but it's evidence that Bang & Olufsen is paying mind to sustainability. The Bang & Olufsen A1 3rd Gen can be purchased in the same Natural Aluminium finish as its predecessor, as well as the two new 'nature-inspired' colorways of Honey Tone and Eucalyptus Green. It's available to buy today and costs $349.
Forbes
06-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Bang & Olufsen Updates Award-Winning Portable Beosound A1 Bluetooth Speaker
Created in collaboration with the renowned Danish designer Cecilie Manz, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen ... More speaker manages to balance minimalist design with advanced acoustics. Premium Danish audio brand Bang & Olufsen has announced the launch of its third generation of the award-winning and portable Beosound A1 Bluetooth speaker. The latest iteration combines enhanced performance with a circular design and an elevated sound quality. Created in collaboration with the renowned Danish designer Cecilie Manz, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen speaker manages to balance minimalist design with advanced acoustics, which the company claims set a new standard for portable sound. 'Beosound A1 3rd Gen represents everything we stand for at Bang & Olufsen – beautiful sound, enduring design, and a commitment to doing things better. It's a speaker that not only elevates everyday listening but also reflects our vision for more thoughtful, lasting products. We're proud to offer something that combines aesthetic integrity with meaningful innovation,' says B&O CEO Kristian Teär. The Beosound A is available in Bang & Olufsen's classic Natural Aluminum colorway, as well as Honey ... More Tone and Eucalyptus Green, shown here. Touted as more than a speaker, the Beosound A1 has a sculptural feel and is crafted from pearl-blasted aluminum featuring more than 2,000 precision-milled holes and a soft, waterproof leather strap. The speaker is available in Bang & Olufsen's classic Natural Aluminum colorway, as well as two new finishes: Honey Tone and Eucalyptus Green, both inspired by nature. A redesigned aluminum strap lock by Cecilie Manz reinforces the minimalist expression while enhancing the robustness of the A1. With its IP67 rating, the speaker is completely dust and waterproof for life on the go. The A1 3rd Gen has the largest woofer in its class. The result is a deep bass with a Bass SPL of 64dB, a full 2dB more than its predecessor. B&O says the result is rich, room-filling sound. Battery life now extends up to 24 hours, for a longer-lasting performance. With stereo pairing across both 2nd and 3rd Gen models, it's possible to create a wide and immersive soundstage. The Beosound A1 has a sculptural feel and is crafted from pearl-blasted aluminum featuring more than ... More 2,000 precision-milled holes and a soft, waterproof leather strap. With support for Bluetooth 5.1, the new speaker includes a three-microphone array for high-quality calls when the A1 is used as a speakerphone. With Bluetooth, Microsoft Swift Pair, and Google Fast Pair, the A1 can connect instantly. Like many of B&O's products, the A1 has a modular architecture with a designed lifespan of 10 years in its first useful lifecycle. The A1 3rd Gen is also designed with circularity in mind and B&O claims it's the first of its kind to be Cradle-to-Cradle Certified at Bronze Level. This ambitious certification aims to support a serviceable, upgradeable and repairable approach to product design. The A1's rechargeable battery can be replaced by Bang & Olufsen stores and it includes up to five years warranty with Beocare. The Beosound A1 3rd Gen will be available from 6th May at Bang & Olufsen stores and priced at $349 / £299 / €349.
