B&O Beosound Balance review: Astonishing connected speakers!

BANG & OLUFSEN Beosound Balance test: If there is one audio / video manufacturer where aesthetics are inseparable from technique, it is Bang & Olufsen. Always on the cutting edge with devices equipped with the latest technologies, B&O never hesitates to break the codes by creating products with shapes never seen elsewhere. The Beosound Balance speaker continues the tradition. But what does it look like after all?

In this article, we will find out what the editor thinks and B&O Beosound Balance test, if you love good sound but have a habit of camouflaging or disguising your speakers, you might want to consider exhibiting hi-fi products that are so beautiful to look at they are scandalous!

BANG & OLUFSEN review Beosound Balance: Astonishing connected speakers for audiophiles

At B&O, the family spirit does not go through the variation of the same design to infinity in smaller, larger, higher ...

The Beosound Balance unlike any other product of the brand. At most, we will find similarities in the use of certain materials or the arrangement of the controls.

But again, the ergonomics can be totally different from one device to another. Libra takes on the appearance of a vase, or a light fixture.

But with acoustic fabric, it cannot be either. It is an enclosure with forms never seen, that's all.

A little like the Beosound Edge speaker wheel shaped that we tested last year. The creation of the Libra was entrusted to a London design studio.

The participatory process was spread over 18 months with the aim of eliminating the technological object behind its function of high quality sound reproducer.

Specifications

• Wireless connected speaker
• Type: three-way, seven-speaker mono speaker
• Equipment: 1x 19 mm tweeter, 2x 50 mm wideband, 2x 75 mm wideband, 2x 13,3 cm woofers
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, multiroom B&O, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Chromecast
• Others: Google Assistant, analog / optical input
• Dimensions (H x D): 380 x 200 mm
• Weight: 7,2kg
• Link

Our Opinion: 4,5 / 5

Construction: 4,5 / 5

Ergonomics: 4/5

Equipment: 4,5 / 5

Performance: 4/5

Writing Reviews

Generous dimensions

B&O presents Libra as a compact speaker to place on a side table or shelf. Plan something sturdy because it weighs 7,2 kg and it measures no less than 38 cm high and 20 cm in diameter.

We can not hide it, it is a truly imposing format in the world of wireless speakers. It is available in two colors: in light oak with gray acoustic fabric or in black oak with black fabric.

The Beosound Balance loudspeaker contains seven loudspeakers, providing the volume necessary to let them express themselves. A 13,3cm woofer is placed in the wood-covered base. The sound escapes through a metal cup surmounted by a diffuser to obtain a 360 ° sound.

In the fabric covered part is another 13,3cm woofer positioned flat, a set consisting of a 19mm tweeter and two 5cm wide bands, as well as two more 7cm wide bands.

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There is therefore only one tweeter, compared to other competing speakers equipped with multiple tweeters all around the speaker. B&O does not communicate on the power but indicates that the 104 dB of maximum sound pressure is intended for rooms from 10 to 60 m2.

The upper metal face accommodates indicators and controls: play / pause, volume, four presets for your favorite radios for example, Bluetooth pairing and mute deactivation for the integrated Google Assistant.

It is also possible to mute the microphone completely via a switch placed under the speaker. B&O specifies that the competitor assistant Amazon Alexa will soon be available as an alternative, to be selected in the application.

The volume is adjusted by sliding your finger on the circle drawn on the upper face, the small LEDs light up more or less to confirm the level. It is a pity that the principle of the Beoplay M5 was not taken up: we liked the concept of the upper side which turns entirely like a giant volume potentiometer.

The connection is sufficient, with a mixed analogue mini-jack and optical auxiliary input. There is a double Ethernet port, to chain another device as well as Bluetooth.

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In addition to the Bang & Olufsen multiroom, the Balance is Chromecast, AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect compatible. All this in fact a very complete enclosure in terms of connectivity.

B&O Beosound Balance: A wireless speaker that knows how to win

• Beosound Balance's audio adjustments are not limited to simple bass / treble tone correctors.
• They are present but above all supplemented by “lounge”, “optimal” or even “speech” modes.
• A visual adjustment allows to vary the sound signature between clear, relaxed, dynamic and warm. This is where we select the direction of the sound: in front, on the sides or 360 °.
• To add a layer, there is also a loudness. Let's start off on a good basis, let the Beosound Balance calibrate itself automatically thanks to its microphones.
• You just have to define if the speaker is positioned in the middle of the room or near a wall and the procedure takes 2 seconds altogether.
• The rendering after calibration and even without calibration is not the one that will get the best out of Beosound Balance. A little too ethereal, it really pulls on the treble with a lack of stance.

So we played with the settings to find something warmer, with more body. We got there quickly, realizing that religious listening doesn't really work.

The Balance is a room speaker: it works everywhere in the room except when seated on the sofa in front of the tweeter.

Finally, it's all the better because as soon as you move away, the Balance delivers a bass that has weight and punch, and an exuberant atmosphere while it is only a mono speaker.

Our Opinion: 4,5 / 5

Construction: 4,5 / 5

Ergonomics: 4/5

Equipment: 4,5 / 5

Performance: 4/5

Writing Reviews

The overall rendering is always clean and intelligible without highlighting or particular coloring. The Beosound Balance will have no difficulty in bringing sound to 60 m2 with a sound level from reasonable to very high.

The deal is fully respected. Its price of almost 2000 € reserves it nevertheless to luxury HiFi sound system.

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