Bang & Olufsen has introduced the first television, iPad speaker frame, and an updated, rebranded portable AirPlay speaker for its newly launched B&O Play brand.
There are three mounting options for the BeoPlay V1: a wall bracket, which resembles a hinge on one side; a table slant, allowing the flat-panel to lean on a surface; and a hanging cord stand, for a suspended effect.
Some B&O Play products will be available at Apple retail stores while other third-party premium CE and design retailers are also being pursued. Magnolia has been approached, but when pressed, VP Henrik Lorensen declined to comment on any specifics.
The BeoPlay V1 TV features a different design and setup from flat-panels previously released by Bang & Olufsen, seeking to address sound quality, design, and remote control improvements, according to Lorensen.
Available in 32- and 42-inch models in either black or white frames, the steel casing enclosed TV includes a back panel that can fit an Apple TV inside. A wireless antenna comes included as well.
There are three mounting options for the BeoPlay V1: a wall bracket, which resembles a hinge on one side; a table slant, allowing the flat-panel to lean on a surface; and a hanging cord stand, for a suspended effect.
The BeoPlay V1 detects content type and automatically adjusts the sound mode accordingly. For users that may want to add speakers to the system, there is an integrated 5.1 surround module and speaker/subwoofer connections to support 5.1 surround sound. The TV detects and configures connected set-top boxes, gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, NAS servers, and hard discs. An integrated media browser allows users to view personal photos or listen to music from a USB drive or NAS server. A dedicated remote can be programmed to handle third-party devices.
Top: The BeoPlay A speaker frame for iPad features a stylish wedge-type shape for various orientations. Bottom: The BeoPlay A8 sireless sound system features Apple AirPlay and a removable iDevice dock.
Also released was the BeoPlay A3, a speaker frame for iPad featuring a stylish wedge-type shape for various orientations. A built-in accelerometer enables Bang & Olusfsen’s adaptive stereo orientation technology, which quickly adjusts sound orientation if the speaker placement is changed while playing. Lorensen said potential uses include Skype conferencing with multiple people in a room, and entertaining children with video programming capable of filling a room.
The third new product released by the brand is the BeoPlay A8 wireless sound system. This wireless, AirPlay update to Bang & Olufsen’s BeoSound 8 docking station features a removable dock, and two-way 5-inch midrange/bass speakers with 70-watt output of integrated Class D amplifiers. The 0.75-inch tweeters are powered by 35 watts each. A switch allows users to compensate for wall resonance by selecting three pre-programmed modes: wall, corner, or freestanding. Music control comes either from the user’s iDevice or a dedicated remote.
These products should all be in Bang & Olufsen retail showrooms by the end of May.
