2nd-generation Beosound A1 Bluetooth Speaker Has A Longer Battery Life And Alexa Built-In

Bang & Olufsen has announced the second generation of its Beosound A1 portable Bluetooth speaker.

The new version includes both design changes and performance improvements. The speaker now features a refined and slimmer design that is also resistant to dust and water. Additionally, the A1 has a much-improved battery life with up to 18 hours of playing time. The user interface has been overhauled and the Beosound A1 is the first Bluetooth-only speaker to include a built-in Alexa voice assistant.

The new A1 is 7% lighter than the original model with a slightly lighter casing and a tapered base. The original A1’s leather strap has a new tag so it can be hung up while playing.

The speaker’s buttons are now closer to the strap, so they are easier to reach, plus they feature bigger and clearer symbols.

Inside the Beosound A1 are two re-designed speakers for a full 360-degree sound. The main driver is a 3.5-inch aluminum cone mid woofer with a neodymium magnetic system. The treble end is delivered via a ¾ inch silk dome tweeter driven by advanced DSP filtering and two 30-watt Class D amplifiers. The Bluetooth circuitry also supports Qualcomm’s apt-X audio codec.

B&O claims that the new Beosound A1 is the first Bluetooth speaker to include a fully integrated Alexa voice assistant. Using Far-Field microphone technology, Alexa can be activated from up to five meters away, depending on the room conditions, and will remain responsive for up to 3 hours after being turned off.

In addition, the Beosound A1 can now play for up to 18 hours at typical volume levels of 70dB; that compares to just four hours in the first edition. At more moderate volume levels, the new A1 can play for up to 48 hours, which is double the time of its predecessor.

With an IP67 certification for water-resistance, the Beosound A1 can repel both water and dust.

The Beosound A1 will go on sale from May 14 and costs €250. It’s available in Black Anthracite and Grey Mist finishes.

Specs

Sound

5-30 m² room
50-300 ft² room
Ideal for small social gatherings, in the office and mid-sized rooms around the home
Speaker Configuration

1 x 3.5" Woofer
1 x 3/5" Tweeter

Amplifier:2 x 30W Class D For Woofer And Tweeter
Sound Direction: 360 Degrees
Frequency Range: 55-20.000 Hz
Maximum Loudness @1m (SPL):92 dB SPL
Bass Capability:62 dB SPL
Wireless Codec: AAC, aptX Adaptive
Stereo Pairing: Available between two Beosound A1 2nd Gen
Multipoint: Available with up to two devices
Customizable Sound EQ:Five Presets Available And Fully Customisable on Bang & Olufsen App

Design

Designer:Cecilie Manz
Materials: Pearl Blasted Aluminium, Polymer, Waterproof Leather
Waterproof Level: Fully dust and waterproof, IP67 certified
Dimensions (mm): 133 W x 46 H x 133 D
Weight (g): 558

Battery

Battery Playtime:Typical Listening Volumes: up to 18 hours
Battery Size:3.000 mAh

Power Consumption:

Typical: 5W
Standby: 0.12W
Power Supply:5V DC / 3A Via USB-C Connector
Charging Time: 2.75 Hours At 5V - 3A Charging
Battery Life Indicator: :Battery LED, also viewable on the Bang & Olufsen app

Connectivity

Bluetooth Version:5.1
Inputs and Outputs: USB-C For charging, speakerphone and streaming

On-Device Controls

Power button
Bluetooth connect button
Microphone button
Play/Pause button
Volume up/down buttons
Microphone

3 microphone array
Voice Assistant Integration

Wake Word Alexa Voice Assistant
Source device Voice Assistant via push button to talk
The voice assistant language selection needs to be selected in the Bang & Olufsen App