Bang & Olufsen Evokes Sun And Sand In Elegant Speaker Resembling A Basket

You don’t need to put it against your ear to hear the waves crashing against the shore. Bang & Olufsen’s latest Beosound A5 portable speaker blends the beauty of the outdoors with the functionality its audio offerings are best known for. Music and art aficionados will like the sound of that.

The A5 arrives in two colors and finishes—‘Nordic Weave’ and ‘Dark Oak’—and is the result of a partnership with Danish-Italian design duo GamFratesi. In posh lingo, B&O describes that the designs “[bridge] northern and southern design cultures with an immersive sound, meticulous craftsmanship, and product longevity.”

First up, there’s the lighter woven paper fiber variant with a natural aluminum base, which B&O explains draws from “laid-back Scandinavian summers spent at the beach.” Digital Trends has a more on-the-nose analogy for this speaker, likening it to a picnic basket.

But please, do not carry food on it.

The other colorway, ‘Dark Oak’, brings to mind winter woodlands with its dark-oak speaker grille and black anthracite aluminum body.

GamFratesi explains that the influence of the speaker “came from many places,” including B&O’s classic Beolit range, and the colors and textures in Scandinavian landscapes.

“From the traditional Panama straw hats worn on beaches to the hand-woven leather accents of Danish chairs from the 1960s, blends of natural materials applied in experimental ways guided our design journey.”

Specs-wise, the speakers are packed with quad digital amplifiers for a combined 280 watts of power, allowing them to echo through large rooms with dynamic 360° sound.

The Beosound A5 has an IP65 water- and dust-proof rating, and is “designed for longevity,” with modular parts that can be easily serviced and customized. 

Dubbed the brand’s most versatile speaker yet, the A5 delivers over 12 hours of playtime and carries a built-in wireless phone charger on its lid. A solid oak handle allows it to be taken from room to room without hassle. 

Elsewhere, the speaker has Wi-Fi connectivity, and is compatible with AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect.

Both versions of the speaker will retail from April 27, with the Nordic Weave variation going for US$1,049 and the Dark Oak option priced at US$1,149.

[via Digital Trends and Forbes, images via Bang & Olufsen]