Bang and Olufsen Beosound Balance part 1: Find out what makes this new B&O speaker so special!

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To mark the launch of Beosound Balance, Steve at Sounds Heavenly talks to Bang and Olufsen's Vice President of Design, Gavin Ivester and to Benjamin Hubert, Founder of Layer Design Studio, to find out all about B&O's ground-breaking new speaker.
If you are a fan of Bang and Olufsen, then this interview will take you see behind the scenes into the product development process and give insights into B&O's design inspirations.
A full product review of Beosound Balance (including ideas to integrate with existing B&O systems) is now online here: • Bang and Olufsen Beoso...
More B&O videos will follow very soon, so please subscribe to be the first to see these!
For friendly advice on connecting any Bang and Olufsen products (including Beosound Balance!), please contact Steve at soundsheavenly...
If these videos have helped you to enjoy your B&O products, please consider buying Steve a coffee at www.buymeacoff... - many thanks!
Thanks go to Bang & Olufsen for the access to this product. Steve has not received any payment or incentive for reviewing this product.
#Bang #Olufsen #BeosoundBalance

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks for watching! Every cable you ever need for your B&O system can be seen on Steve's website here: soundsheavenly.com If these videos have helped you to enjoy your Bang and Olufsen products, please consider buying Steve a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/soundsheavenly - many thanks!

[@Mikipedia]

I find it odd that they don't see this as a big design change... Don't get me wrong, I do like it, but it's definitely a new direction. great video once again!

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks! I agree with you, it is a big design change....lets see what they produce next!

[@Mikipedia]

@@soundsheavenly I can't wait, especially if everything is going to be this powerful out of the box :D

[@soundsheavenly]

@@Mikipedia I think Devialet's Phantom has made B&O improve their speakers enormously, Beosound Balance shows that they are still the best in terms of sound quality for small speakers

[@pascalkrzeminski7341]

What an awfull boring box ! This is not Design. Davis Lewis is missing.

[@soundsheavenly]

It certainly isn't an iconic, instantly recognisable design like Beolab 8000, the styling of the Balance is far more subtle. However, I think B&O really need a new style icon now, more than ever......

[@BangOlufsenManchester]

Very interesting Steve, nicely done. I love the stories behind the products.

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks! It was a privilege to be able to meet the speaker designer and B&O's head of design prior to the launch.

[@jonathanthemad7071]

So when they say “want you to pass it down” are they going to make it repairable and last? I’ve been with B&O since 2008 (as a millennial) i have five pairs of Beolab 3’s, two 3500’s, three pairs of 6000’s, five pairs of 4000’s, pair of 1’s, four 7.1/2 and a pair of 9’s and a few of the beosounds and beosystems I’m a big fan of David Lewis stuff, but my point is, i have had enough of not being able to replace of repair those useless power supply boards that are prone to blowing and the new stuff has just got to much tech in it, (speaking to someone who had to have the 20’s replaced twice in one year) if they dont start making this stuff last and repairable im jacking it all in never to come back and replacing it all with ether Anthony Gallo or B&W 80x’s The beoplay was a big disappointment, great bass but really lacking mid, i hope this is an improvement. P.s really nice to see your channel Steve, you have always been a big help and your cables have always been top notch.

[@soundsheavenly]

Hi, Steve here. Thanks for your kind words, I'm glad you like my channel and cables! Yes, I think B&O need to work on the reliability and parts supply for their products long term, this is something that I have been saying to them for some time. Lets hope they are listening, then you can keep some of those great B&O speakers.......

[@mathiasrstedjensen5631]

Hey SH - thank you so much for these videos. I really like all your guidens and your passion for B&O. I looking forward to see the next video, hopefully that will be the test of Beosound Balance, I really cant wait to here what you think about it. Myself, I really dislike the way B&O are moving with this new speaker. And it pisses me of when they talking about sustainability (06:02), i can't imagine that this product can be used in 10 years without an old smartphone, when they haven't build in any form of cable system. I would like to hear your opinion about this, as a "cable man" Agian - thank you for all the videos you are producing !

[@soundsheavenly]

Many thanks, I'm glad you like my videos! I have an idea that will help to make this speaker sustainable and useful for many years to come - please check out my next video (coming this week) for more information.....

[@ajc5869]

Good product I do like it don’t get me wrong but, 6:11 you mean until it’s no longer supported.... there’s no such thing as longevity anymore.

[@soundsheavenly]

I get your point, but in terms of a wired connection via the input socket, this speaker can be used for decades to come. My next video will explain how this speaker integrates into almost any B&O system built since 1961 onwards ;-)

[@andreatanzi3191]

Bang & Olufsen was always ahead in terms of design making an odd device beautiful. In my opinion, despite the profitability issues they are currently facing, this is the direction. There is no reason why we shall buy a pair of loudspeakers! Interiors are changing and the way we listen to music as we move in our houses and else. Accordingly, heaving 3-4 of them across our home completely synchronised is the future for experience!

[@soundsheavenly]

Yes, this is certainly a bold step forwards in terms of interior design, as it represents a major change in the way speakers are placed and used within our homes. This could be a sign of a new direction within B&O......

[@gerardvanwinssen7958]

Mmm, looking at B&O’s website it appears to me that they also sell a version without Google assistent? Spying speakers I don’t want in my house...

[@soundsheavenly]

Yes, you can choose whether to have Google Assistant within the speaker, or not - I agree with you, my house has no room for spying speakers....

[@5oclockhero542]

I would love this product. Does anyone else think it's kind of a look a like of the sonos/Ikea light?

[@soundsheavenly]

Hi, it sounds great, but I agree it looks kind of strange for a speaker......

[@5oclockhero542]

I have b&o throughout my house and many people say it is a small version of the 50s. It just doesn't look "b&o". I'm being picky but if it was more...aluminium?

[@soundsheavenly]

@@5oclockhero542 Absolutely agree with you! Let's hope B&O are listening......

[@5oclockhero542]

I have 8000s, 6000s, beo5, 2xbeo1s, bat man wings player and 2 a1s. I would love to add this product to my collection, however it just wouldn't "sit". Do they sound as good as people say, ie miniature 50s?

[@tonkerdog1243]

Why not show us those drivers?

[@soundsheavenly]

Hi, I do show the drivers at the start of the video, here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jarPq6mjbJerg5Y

[@tonkerdog1243]

Sounds Heavenly Sorry Steve, I’ll have a look.

[@soundsheavenly]

@@tonkerdog1243 Thanks!

[@gorter23]

thank you for the youtube. the second question that comes to mind, how would it hold up as surround speaker in a home theatre. the directional sound dispersion on paper looks amazing

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks! Whilst Beosound Balance is superb as a single "point source" speaker, as when used in stereo as a pair, it would not perform well as part of a surround sound setup. This is because the audio processing in the speaker causes a small delay to the sound that doesn't affect music, but it would cause the Balance to lag behind other speakers in the surround setup.

[@dougdavis8986]

​@soundsheavenly if a speaker is processing mÿ music to that level I don't want it.

[@soundsheavenly]

@dougdavis8986 ok, but think how much your room is affecting your music in a negative way…if a speaker can correct for the problems in your room, then the processing actually brings you closer to the original sound, not further from it…

[@dougdavis8986]

@soundsheavenly I suppose, for the customer that wants plug and play. But, as you know, the listener can correct for the room through speaker placement, room treatment etc. I would rather have control over that than let a machine do it.

[@soundsheavenly]

@@dougdavis8986 Sure, I have two setups, one with room correction and one without that uses traditional passive speakers. Both sound great, but the one with room correction is more accurate for serious listening.

[@alextao7719]

will they permanently cancel the support for network link in their future products?

[@AlexBergvall]

That would be awful, it's one of the main reasons for using B&O part from the beautiful design, build- and sound quality.

[@soundsheavenly]

@@AlexBergvall Although this speaker isn't multi-room enabled at the launch date, this functionality may be enabled via a software update in the future - I suggest checking with your B&O dealer for more information

[@AlexBergvall]

@@soundsheavenly That's great news, thanks!

[@AlexBergvall]

@@soundsheavenly "As the brand new BeoSound Balance does not have the respective older ASE (Audio Stream Engine), I am afraid that this is not technically possible through a pure software update." maybe not then

[@soundsheavenly]

Alex Bergvall that is a shame, I hope this isn’t the end of Network Link....

[@browserrr1]

Wat makes this speaker so special is that it looks boringly dull like a 1950's table lamp. Boring color combination. After Jacob Jensen left the appearance of the products have slowly but steadily become less and less appealing. The crisp and sharp Danish designs have sadly enough become a thing of the past. I may be an old stick-in-the-mud but I wouldn't spend the amounts of money needed to buy something looking so bland, even if I could afford it.

[@soundsheavenly]

Good point, we each have our favourite era of B&O design and Jacob Jensen is unsurpassed-I have several of his products in pride of place at home. Looking back through B&O design over the decades, there have been several different themes to fit in with styling and home decor at the time. I suspect that Beosound Balance is a product that will grow into its style as people get used to this new approach, only time will tell.....

[@jumbocrunchh]

Gen Z here, and I bought one when I was 19 and soon another and I love this new approach with the wood and simplicity. Wasn't around during those guys but they looked old and not something I would use.

[@soundsheavenly]

Good to hear that you like the design, it is an interesting new direction for B&O. The new speakers have amazing sound!