Today we have introduced a new member of the Bang & Olufsen Family: Beosound Level. Sound, size, features and price taken into account we would like to compare this new wireless speaker with one of our best-selling products in the same category, namely Beosound 1. Below we will try to clarify what similarities and differences there are on these two very exciting B&O products.
THE DESIGN
No matter where you place Beosound Level and Beosound 1, they will stand beautifully and elegantly. But the expression on the two products is very different.
Beosound 1 is designed in pure aluminium for a cooler and simpler look. If you choose Beosound 1 in the aluminium colour, it will also mirror the surroundings, and thus blend in, while the naturally anodized, tapered and slightly curved cabinet creates a compact visual expression that gives edge and style to the décor.
Beosound Level is designed in warm materials such as oak and woven fabric, giving a softer and at the same time more distinctive expression. Beosound Level is a pure expression of minimal Scandinavian design. Its unique adaptive nature makes it easy to enjoy your speaker anywhere around the home. Use it as you like: standing on a shelf, hanging elegantly on the wall or lying on a table.
BATTERY / PORTABILITY
Beosound Level and Beosound 1 are both designed based on the philosophy that portable sound in the home means more and more to our customers. Flexibility is thus the key word for both of these beautiful music systems.
Beosound 1 is easy to move around the house and place wherever you want. With the built-in battery, you get up to 12 hours of continuous playback at moderate sound levels. However, Beosound 1 must be plugged into charging plugs unless you have purchased a charging station (can be purchased, retail price EUR 135) that makes it incredibly easy to charge, lift and use the product. The charging station is only compatible with Beosound 1 with built-in Google Assistant and can be purchased separately.
Beosound Level is the epitome of flexible portability. Level is charged easily and elegantly with the included stylish magnetic connector or a magnestic wall mount (available for purchase in April). The aluminium connector is easily clicked on the back, making charging as aesthetically pleasing as the speaker itself. And with up to 16 hours of battery life at moderate volume and up to 4 hours at maximum volume, it gives you wireless sound anywhere. Level offers a great deal of flexibility with three options: standing, hanging on a wall or lying down. The perfectly integrated handle makes the speaker extremely easy to carry around. In addition, Beosound Level is offering an IP54 water resistance rating, which means that it is dustprotected (5) and protected from spraying water (4). This is to limit constrains for the in and around home use.
In addition, Beosound Level is offering an IP54 water resistance rating, which means that it is dustprotected (5) and protected from spraying water (4) to limit constrains for the in and around home use.
THE SOUND
Featuring a powerful speaker configuration with five speaker units, two large bass units, as well as low-distortion devices and amplifiers, The Beosound Level delivers an adaptive soundscape.
Beosound Level is tuned by acclaimed Bang Olufsen sound engineers to deliver powerful high fidelity audio with excellent clarity and dynamic bass. The sound delivery is automatically adjusted to the room and speaker’s position, ensuring an optimal listening experience.
Beosound Level has also been equipped with “Active Room Compensation”, which ensures that your Beosound Level not only looks good, but also sounds good. The technology comes from the creation of our proudest speaker to date, Beolab 90. Reflections from furniture and wall surfaces affect the acoustic properties of the room and distort the sound of your speakers. Active Room Compensation technology analyzes your room with an internal microphone and creates a set of custom filters that compensate for these reflections. The result is perfect, tailored sound in all your preferred listening positions.
Beosound 1 also offers an amazing soundscape. Using our Acoustic Lens Technology, the tapered speaker creates a 360-degree soundscape that fills the entire room wherever you place it. The acoustic lens spreads the high frequencies of sound in a horizontal range to cover a wider listening area while reducing reflections from the floor and ceiling. If you move around the room, you will find that the Bang & Olufsen sound remains unchanged. The lens is beautifully crafted in extruded aluminum. Lovingly processed and acoustically thought out.
However, Beosound 1 offers slightly fewer speaker units than Beosound Level. A total of 2 amplifiers and 2 speakers. But don’t be fooled by the technical numbers, Beosound 1 undoubtedly offers a great and powerful audio experience, while delivering incredibly clear and precise sound.
STREAMING
Beosound Level is the second in a generation of products based on a new advanced platform that will change our perception of what a sound product can be. Level is a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connected speaker that allows you to easily stream from your favorite music services via AirPlay 2, Chromecast or Bluetooth. Beosound Level does not have Bang & Olufsen Multiroom, but can be seamlessly interacted with the entire portfolio of 19 speakers in the Flexible Living category and deliver audio to TV products via AirPlay 2 and Chromecast.
Beosound 1 is also a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-connected speaker that allows you to stream via AirPlay 2, Chromecast or Bluetooth, but unlike Beosound Level, Beosound 1 also offers streaming via Bang & Olufsen Multiroom that allows you to use the Bang & Olufsen app to start your music via Deezer or radio via TuneIn, as well as touch to join if you have multiple Bang & Olufsen multiroom products in your home installation.
Both speakers offer Voice Assistant through Google Assistant.
PRICES
Beosound Level: from 1.399€
Beosound 1: from 1.500€ – DISCONTINUED PRODUCT
Below you will see a comparison of the technical figures on Beosound Level and Beosound 1:
FACTS / NUMBERS
DESIGN & DIMENSIONS
DESIGNER
Torsten Valeur, David Lewis Designers
WEIGHT
3.3 kg
7.28 pounds
DIMENSIONS (L x H x D)
34.8 x 23 x 5.6 cm.
13.7 x 9.05 x 2.2 inches
MATERIALS
Oak, woven fabric from Kvadrat, aluminium, polymer and fabric-covered power cable
LOCATION
Lying, standing or hanging on a wall (magnetic wall mounts can be purchased)
DESIGNER
Torsten Valeur, David Lewis Designers
WEIGHT
3.5 kg
DIMENSIONS (Dia x H)
16.2 x 32.7 cm.
MATERIALS
Aluminum
LOCATION
Table, shelf, floor or wall (wall brackets available for purchase)
CONNECTIONS
WIRELESS CONNECTIONS
Bluetooth
Apple AirPlay
2Google Chromecast
Dual bandWLAN 2.4 and 5 GHz
IEEE 802.11 b/g/a/n/ac
MULTIROOM AND STREAMING
Chromecast built-in
Apple AirPlay 2
Bluetooth
CONNECTIONS
1 x Line-in / Optica combi-jack
1 x Ethernet 10/100 Mbit
Charging via USB-C
VOICE ASSISTANT
Google Assistant
WIRELESS CONNECTIONS
Bluetooth 4.2
Apple AirPlay 2
Google Chromecast
Wi-Fi/WLAN (2.4GHz
& 5GHz)
MULTIROOM AND STREAMING
Bang & Olufsen Multiroom
Chromecast built-in
Apple AirPlay 2
Bluetooth
CONNECTIONS
Line-in (analog & digital combo)
1 x Ethernet 10/100 Mbit/s
VOICE ASSISTANT
Google Assistant
REMOTE CONTROL
Bang & Olufsen app
Beosound Essence Remote
Beoremote One
THE SOUND
DRIVER UNITS
2 x 4″ bass unit is
1 x 2″ full tone units
1
x 0.8″ treble
POWER AMPLIFIERS
2 x class D at 30 W to
bass units1 x class D at 30 W for full tone units
1 x class D at 15W to tweeter unit
ACTIVE SPACE
CUSTOMIZATION Technology analyzes your room with an internal microphone and creates a set of custom filters that compensate for reflections from furniture and wall surfaces
TONE TOUCH
Your personal audio settings directly in the Bang & Olufsen app
DRIVER UNITS
1 x 54″ bass unit is
1 x 11/2″ full tone unit
POWER AMPLIFIERS
1 x class D, 20 watts for bass units
1 x class D, 40 watts for full tone unit
ACOUSTIC LENS TECHNOLOGY
Clear and detailed 360 degree sound
TONE TOUCH
Your personal audio settings directly in the Bang & Olufsen app