Forbes Innovation Consumer Tech Bang & Olufsen Unveils Its New Beolab 8 Wireless Speaker Mark Sparrow Senior Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Technology journalist specializing in audio, computing and photography Following Sep 7, 2023, 04:00am EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to
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Twitter Share to Linkedin The Bang & Olufsen Beolab 8 is a new speaker that can be used as a standalone unit or paired with a ... [+] second Beolab 8, or connected to other Bang & Olufsen speakers. Bang & Olufsen Possibly the world’s coolest and most stylish audio brand has just announced a new speaker to join the brand’s high-end Beolab Series. The Beolab 8 is made by Danish audio brand Bang & Olufsen and can be used as a system speaker to create an immersive home theater setup using the latest high-end Bang & Olufsen speakers or even heritage B&O speakers dating back to 1984. As well as being part of a home theater, the two Beolab 8 speakers can be connected wirelessly to create a stereo pair of speakers for a high-fidelity audio setup. The Beolab 8 can also function as a stand-alone speaker, serving up audiophile sound with an intense bass, considering its compact size. The Beolab 8 has been designed to look beautiful and sound sublime. Its one-piece aluminum body blends a sphere and cylinder to create a solid shape. The build quality of the housing is a showcase for the level of craftsmanship that comes out of Bang & Olufsen’s renowned Factory No 5. Two Beolab 8 speakers can be linked together as a steer pair. Bang & Olufsen The new speaker is available with Danish manufactured wooden lamellas or a fabric grille. The design echoes the characteristic appearance of Bang & Olufsen’s Beolab and Beosound ranges, including Beosound Theatre, Beolab 28 and Beolab 50. MORE FOR YOU
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Apple Suddenly Unveils Video Countdown iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Pro Release Problems Hit Apple s New iPhones New iPhone 15 Exclusive Exposes Surprise Apple Design Decision In keeping with Scandinavian design principles, where form follows function, the shape of the Beolab 8 is an object of beauty while its shape enhances the speaker’s acoustics. The glass interface on the Beolab 8’s top creates a perfect curve that guides the user’s finger along its surface without any effort. Tuned by Bang & Olufsen tonmeisters , the Beolab 8 has three drivers: a 16mm tweeter, a 3-inch midrange and a 5.25-inch woofer. The company claims the speaker's performance has been significantly improved on previous generations by incorporating beam-width control, room compensation, adaptive tuning, and ultra-wideband technology. The top of the Bang & Olufsen Beolab 8 has a curved glass top with touch capacitive controls. The ... [+] speaker can also be controled using a smartphone. Bang & Olufsen The Beolab 8’s beam-width control lets users switch between two listening modes. The first mode narrows the speaker’s beam to focus the sound into a sweet spot for one or two listeners. Alternatively, users can opt for a wide mode, which diffuses and wafts sound around a room. LEDs on the front of the speaker display which sound mode the speaker is using. The Beolab 8’s Room Compensation feature optimizes the soundscape based on a room’s unique acoustic properties. The speaker can map a room’s environment and then adjust the tone to deliver clear sound no matter the size or space it’s playing in. With adaptive sound tuning, Beolab 8 adapts to its configuration by using sensors that detect whether the front cover is on or off. It fine-tunes the sound for optimal performance. The adaptive sound tuning is made possible by using small sensors secreted in the speaker and magnets within the cover. The sensors enable the Beolab 8 to detect the type of cover fitted and automatically apply the appropriate tuning. The Beolab 8 speakers from Bang & Olufsen can be part of a wireless home theater setup. Bang & Olufsen By using ultra-wide band technology, the Beolab 8 can adapt to a room’s acoustics and provide the ideal sound by referencing the user’s
smartphone location, which is fed back to the speaker via the Bang & Olufsen app. At the heart of the Beolab 8 is Bang & Olufsen’s Mozart digital platform, which connects to a home network using Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 technology. With Powerlink, the Beolab 8 can become a true system speaker, connecting to Bang & Olufsen TVs and sound systems dating back more than 30 years. Pricing & Availability: The Bang & Olufsen Beolab 8 is available in Silver/Natural Aluminium, Gold Tone or Black Anthracite, combined with speaker covers in oak, light oak, dark oak, or fabric. Prices start from £2,199 / $2,749 / €2,499. More info: www.bang-olufsen.com Follow me on LinkedIn . Mark Sparrow Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions