Bang Olufsen Beosound Level Continues Elimination of Beoplay Range With a Quality Release.

 

Bang & Olufsen made a strange choice several years ago to produce a "budget" range of products aimed supposedly at a younger audience.  In reality, it was clear that the line was designed to profit from the huge audio market by offering more affordable devices.  It would have been amusing to be in the room when that was pitched, and to try to understand the decision making process that led someone to think that producing a budget range would would  be a "good look" for a premium luxury goods brand.  

Sure enough within a few years the new range was more of a draw than their premium products, and Bang & Olufsen products were being sold alongside, and compared to, Apple and Bose.  Like we said, not a good look.  The brand stopped making Beoplay branded audio systems, but certain products remain as they were ultra-high end, but branded Beoplay, such as the Beoplay A9, so their product line up is now an odd hybrid of premium Beosound products and out of place Beoplay ones.

Continuing the move, the latest product which would most certainly be released under the Beoplay banner is the Beosound Level.  In essence it's a wireless speaker, like most systems are these days, with Bluetooth, WI-FI, multi-room capabilities Spotify Connect, Apple Airplay2, Chromecast, and Google Assistant.  On the hardware side, it's mobile, with 16hr battery, two 4in woofers, one 2in full range driver, two 0.8in tweeters and low-distortion amplifiers.  Meaning a total 105 watts output.

But this is a Bang & Olufsen device, and so despite a bad couple of decades, we come for the design, as frankly, all of these features can be obtained for far less than the £1,099 this costs.  The Beosound Level doesn't disappoint, decked out in either elegant wood or sleek aluminium and Kvadrat covers, and a "one more thing" touch of a magsafe style charger.  The really interesting feature about this is its modular design, wherein the streaming module and battery can be removed and upgraded, making it effectively capable of lasting for a good five years at least.  Oh and it's waterproof too for added longevity.

We think this represents a return to Bang & Olufsen's roots.  Cutting edge technology, high design, and made with the intention of it being kept around for a good few years, not just swapped out for the latest and greatest thing that comes along.  We applaud B&O for firing the incompetent's making appalling  marketing and product design decisions, and hope this return to form continues.