Bang & Olufsen’s $ 2,000 ‘portable’ speaker is built to last for decades

Bang & Olufsen’s audio equipment ranges from the opulent at the functional. The company offers a range of speakers that encompasses everything from sound bars and pocket bluetooth units at modular wall sculptures and expensive centerpieces. Today, the company is launching its latest creation: the Beosound Level. With this speaker, B&O offers a “portable” option that you can move around your home – from a wall mount to a side table or even take it outside. The company claims the expensive speaker is designed to last longer, thanks to a construction that allows “easy maintenance, servicing and repair.”

First of all, the Beosound Level is a true wireless speaker. This includes both Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, with Airplay 2, Google Cast, and Spotify Connect all supported. There are physical connections for line / optical and Ethernet input if you need them. The book or tile design allows you to lay the speaker flat on a table, set it upright on a shelf, or mount it on the wall. The Beosound Level can change its setting depending on its position, automatically going from 180 degrees to 360 degrees depending on how you put it or hang it on the wall.

Many people might want to display the Beosound Level prominently as it is constructed with microblasted aluminum and comes with a choice of natural oak and knit fabric covers. The controls are integrated into the metal frame and the “buttons” are activated by touch gestures. Bang & Olufsen says the speaker “lights up to welcome you” using proximity sensors, taking into account the time of day by automatically adjusting the brightness.

To improve portability, Bang & Olufsen has included a rechargeable battery capable of 16 hours of playback “at typical volumes”. The company says it can achieve this by “intelligently analyzing behavior and continuously adjusting power consumption and tuning.” B&O also made the charger a magnetic washer that snaps into the back of the speaker rather than a typical plug. In addition, IP54 dust and splash resistance makes the Beosound Level suitable for occasional outdoor entertainment.

Inside, a network of five speakers manages all your audio content. The company claims that its collection of two four-inch woofers, one two-inch full-range speaker, two 0.8-inch tweeters, and low-distortion amplifiers can muster 79dB of bass and 96dB of average volume. However, the most interesting components are those that B&O says “will combat technology obsolescence, improve resource efficiency and improve longevity.”

The Beosound Level comes with a replaceable broadcast module that will further power the company’s future home speakers. Bang & Olufsen explains that one part has received “enough processing power and connectivity technology” to accommodate updates to improve performance and new features “for many years to come”. The company also claims that the “modular” design of the speakers allows customers to perform easy maintenance tasks such as battery replacement and gives service partners better access to key components. Of course, depending on the new audio technology available, we’ll have to wait and see if this speaker can truly stay up to date for “decades of great sound experiences.”

The Beosound Level is now on sale for $ 1,999 (€ 1099 / £ 9,499) in natural and gold for $ 2,299 (€ 1299 / £ 10,900). The wall bracket you’ll need to hang the speaker won’t arrive until April 29, and it’s $ 149 more (€ 89 / £ 739). As in the past with other speakers, B&O promises that more colors and materials for the front covers are on the way.