Bang & Olufsen claims the BeoSound 1 and 2 speakers combine the wireless convenience of Bluetooth with audiophile-grade 360-degree audio, all from a form factor reminiscent of Doctor Who's most memorable foes, the Daleks.
Revealed at IFA 2016, the speakers are built in aluminium, a material the company says reduces dissonance and distortion. Meanwhile the retro-futuristic conical shape enables the aforementioned 360-degree sound through a unique sound dispersion method where top-mounted tweeter plays audio downwards into a disperser, before the audio spreads outwards through the open top.
Wireless connectivity comes through AirPlay, Google Cast, Bluetooth and DLNA.
The speakers come in two sizes-- the BeoSound 1 is 33cm tall and weighs 3.5kg, while the BeoSound 2 stands 43cm tall and weighs 4.1kg. The BeoSound 1 is portable, with a built-in battery powering up to 16 hours of playback on a single charge. On the other hand the BeoSound 2 requires a permanent power connection.
The BeoSound 1 carries two class D amps, 40W full-range speaker and a 20W woofer. The BeoSound 2 promises beefier sound through a 40W tweeter, two 11W mid-range speakers and two 20W woofers.
"We live in a time of cord cutting where everyone wants more freedom," B&O says. "No one wants to be hindered by technological restriction. BeoSound 1 and 2 are designed to cater for a flexible lifestyle."
Also unveiled at IFA 2016 is the BeoVision Horizon-- a 4K/UHD TV featuring a perhaps unusual retro style. Built in black aluminium, the TV comes in 40- and 48-inch sizes and ships with an unfortunately designed wheel stand, although customers can replace it with a variety of mounting options, including a 360-degree swivel stand, leaning easel stand and wall mount.
B&O says the TV is actually designed to be moved from room-to-room, and as such it features a built-in sensor for the automatic changing of picture settings according to the lighting in the room in question.
The BeoSound 1 speaker is available now before the BeoSound 2 ships from October 2016. The BeoVision Horizon should hit the market in December 2016.
