Bang & Olufsen's new Beosound A5 portable speaker is here! Steve from SoundsHeavenly.com presents a full review, including a sound test and unboxing. The speaker featured in this video was provided free of charge for review by Bang & Olufsen, however you will always hear Steve's own opinions on this channel. Please check out Wailing Badger's CZcams channel for more of their great music here: www.youtube.com/@wailingbadger7310 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!
B&O is getting too expensive.... I have a number of B&O equipment... and I love them. But it comes to the time people can not pay the price anymore. Brilliant video, Steve. Thank you
Hey Steve, thanks for the super informative review. This helped me pull the trigger on the dark oak version a few days ago and the A5 arrived yesterday. It’s a phenomenal speaker with fabulous sound, balance and clarity. It brings music alive just as my A6 does. Of course it’s expensive but well worth it in my view especially when you can expect to have years of pleasure from it. The versatility of being able to move it around the house, the garden and take it on holidays is compelling. Love it!
So I went to buy the Sonos Move which was half the price of the beo A5 , and the shop had no A5 in stock. After about 10 mins of playing at home I was so underwhelmed by the quality and took it back and swapped for the beo a5 (+£500😅) . It’s my first BEO product …. And all I can say is WOW …. It’s absolutely kick ass and you see why they charge what they charge . You really get what you pay for.The sound is truly amazing and totally baffles everyone that it comes out of such a small ish package … love it ! Zero regrets
Wife bought the Beoplay HX last year as a request for Xmas and I’m building a extension at the moment and the wife wanted speakers in the ceiling but I was dead against it so I’ve just purchased the oak A5, thanks for the review by far the best out there and I’m now officially a B&O fanatical, thanks again 👌
As ever, thanks for a very informative and enjoyable video Steve. Maybe the look of the new A5 is a little too ‘picnic basket’ for me, but I haven’t experienced it in store yet so I’m sure my initial thoughts will change once I do. Thanks
Hi Steve, I enjoyed your video! I bought an A5 from Bicester Village B&O store back in February and have been immensely impressed with the sound quality and power...so much so that I've just bought another (immaculate apparently) on ebay for a considerable saving. Very much looking forward to stereo-pairing them. They ARE expensive, but the quality is clear, and it's hugely added to my pleasure in listening to music. Thanks again for the great review!
Steve, I love the way the A5 beosonic pinch/pull feature changes the ambiance! I’ve only just discovered it after owning the A5 since launch. It’s quite amazing how it changes the sound to like a studio sound then to an larger openness sound!
@@soundsheavenly I now keep thinking what if I had 2 A5’s plus wouldn’t it be great if there was a custom made loudspeaker stand for the A5 and shaped the same oval way! Umm, 🤔
Your video by the way as usual is awesome and you are presenting the material with so much passion that I need to get fight myself not jumping in B&O store to by Oak Model ;) even if I do not have really usage of it !
I’m listening to a pair of these right now. I sold a pair of B&W 805 D3, powered with PS Audio gear, a while back due to marriage and family growth. I had been looking for a “replacement” music system that didn’t require so much permanent space and that allowed me to easily move my listening location around the house and outdoors. I had just bought a Beosound Level a few weeks ago but returned it because I didn’t like the unstable design or the power puck. I ordered the first A5 on April 27 direct from B&O. The second one arrived yesterday from Amazon. I’ve been trying to finish this comment for over an hour but the music keeps distracting me! These A5’s sound sublime.
Thank you Steve for a very good overview video as always, and one of the first on the web. I can’t wait for your Beloit 20 vs A5 sound test! Literally, I’m going to B&O Harrogate for a listen as you suggest. I’ve already migrated from the A1 second gen to the Beloit 20 (all great in their own right) and I think this is the next step up for me!
Thanks, glad you liked the video. Yes, these are great speakers, I still love the A1 and the Beolit but the A5 raises the bar even further. Please let me know what you think once you have heard it! Beolit vs A5 review to follow very soon...
MY god what a speaker!! Just arrived today.. It's amazing. Yes mega ££ but unbelievable. Looking forward to your sound optimisation video. It's that good isn't it?
So how would you say this compares to Level? I want something portable so I will be using those on bluetooth only and I’m just needing an upgrade to my Beolit 20
I just bought the oak one with a voucher for 10% off from the bang and Olufsen site. It’s on the way. I have a stereo pair of 20s in a bedroom and they are great still. Seems like an absolute bargain. Thanks as always Steve.
Thanks for this breakdown! I'm really tempted by this. By any chance could you compare the sound of the Beolit with the Beosound side by side in a clip? Relative perception is really useful I find, especially as I've got an actual Beolit to reference it to.
Nice speaker, but not sure where to place it.. prefer Beolit 20 for outside, pricewise, not taking a 1000 euro speaker to the beach.. use my explore for that, also outside you don’t want to bother the people with big volume speakers.. the multiroom option is nice, but inside my house prefer a beosound 1 / 2, or balance ..
Two of these cost less than a Balance and give you high quality stereo sound...plus you can use them in other rooms or in the garden if you wish. For me, this makes the A5 the highlight of the current B&O speaker range
I wish that b&o is reading this and creates an update to have stereo pairing within all the mozart platform speakers and that you don’t need 2 of the same speakers.
That is an interesting idea. I guess it won't give a balanced stereo sound if you link two mismatched speakers, but you can do this already via Airplay 2 if that helps?
I think the price is fair compared to the Beolit, considering the sound tech, the modularity, its capability to connect to wifi and even Beolink, as well as the more premium design (at least of the oak). It’s Mozart too. Certainly more worth it than the Emerge!
@@soundsheavenly Better than the Level is what worries me :). I think I’d still get the Level first. Had a Beolit for so long that while I quite like the dark oak A5, there are too many similarities with the Beolit. Then again, if I want performance, I’ve got that covered by another set of B&O speakers. So for me it’s still the Level. Nevertheless the A5 is a lovely addition to the range. Either way my next one will either be a Beosound 2 or a Theatre.
Great video, Steve. It's a lovely speaker. The only thing I'm not sure of is the carrying handle, which seems a bit too large. I will definitely go to the dealer and listen to it.
Personally, I prefer the sound of the A5 to the Level, although the Level is a superb speaker. I recommend getting to a B&O store to hear it for yourself, please let me know what you think once you have heard it!
Wonderful video. Thank you. Maybe a silly question. I just bought one and love it. With room compensation however, is it best to use it and then not adjust the finer details in the app? Does room compensation do that work for you? Hope that makes sense.
Thanks, glad you liked the video! Room compensation does most of the work for you, but nothing to stop you making a few tweaks to adjust the sound to your preference. I like one notch of extra treble to give the sounds a little more clarity, but that is just my personal preference.
@@soundsheavenly Copenhagen sounds objectively better than the big b&o a9, neutral tuning with extreme precision on the Vifa and extremely silky treable in comparison with boosted b&o... Actually Oslo would be more of a comparison with a5 but Oslo is still wayy more precise than beolit 20 (that's the two I compared) and can also play maby 50% louder with no funky compression
Would these be able to be part of a Surround Sound setup with a B&O TV? Could be an interesting video about how to mix’n’match a surround sound setup with a B&O TV. I guess you could mix old and new. My Horizon tv connects happily with my Pentas and the effect is awesome and surround like using them as “stereo wide”.
This isn't possible at the moment, but I understand B&O are working on making these speakers able to be surrounds for the new Beosound Theatre sound bar in the near future
No, I don't think it is better than the Balance. However, I personally prefer the sound of the A5 to the Level. Two A5s would cost less than one Balance, but I think the sound would be very similar (and in stereo!)
Thanks! I haven't heard the Sonos Move but the A5 certainly beats it in terms of specifications. Please let me know what you think once you have heard both speakers?
Glad the video was helpful. I prefer the A5 to the Level personally, but I suggest having a listen to them both in store if you can. I will try to follow up with a sound test of both speakers in a future video
I've listened to them yesterday Steve in Vancouver. They are very special indeed for such a small product. I was particularly amazed at the size of the soundscape! they sound large, spacious and wide. I'm definitely going to use 2 as a stereo pair. Do you think it is possible to listen to 2 of them in stereo connected to Beosound 9000 CD player or A turntable? would there be a way to do that without using streaming music?
These are great speakers but they don't have any kind of audio input. The only way to link a 9000 or turntable would be either by adding a Beosound Core, or a PC to act as the link. Please let me know if you have either of these options and I can help further.
Hi there Steve. I had the opportunity to see and listen to it - alone and in 2 channel aka stereo setup - yesterday in Struer. It is quite amazing - I like it and wish I had a space for it at home 😊 When concidering buying one, people should be aware, that it has some not yet released possibilities, that could be of use in the future, when you have it as a home speaker. I am sure there will be more information about this soon (John already tesed some of it in his video). So now the million dollar question for you…..how do I connect this to my excisting Beosound/system - possibly as a left and right speaker? 😉😉 We see only a USB-C port and that is for charging. Venlig hilsen MM
Hi MM, I am not allowed to talk about the future updates that are planned for this speaker at the moment, but as soon as these can be mentioned then I will cover them in detail in a future video. As this speaker doesn't have a line input (and the USB-C socket doesn't work as an audio input), the only way to connect analogue audio sources would be to link a computer to the speaker and then connect the Beosound as an audio input to the PC. I will cover this in more details in a future video.
How does Beosound A5 compare sound quality wise against Beosound 2? Is RoomSense a more advanced version of Active Room Compensation? What's the difference?
That is a good question! I haven't heard the Beosound 2 for a while, but I will try to get a big sound test put together of all B&O's current speakers very soon. The room compensation of the A5 has been improved over previous speakers, I hope to be able to make a more in depth video on this later in the year as I know this is being worked on further. Watch this space for more updates!
we really need to compare to Beloit 20.... it is similar approach design and functionalities ... I do not understand why you push to compare to BSLevel....
going to be heading to my local b&o store to compare it with level and balance. in Singapore, the price of the dark oak is the same as 2 beolit 20s which do you think between the 2 will deliver better overall quality? 2 beolits or 1 a5
Interesting question…I would take one A5 over two Beolit as the sound quality is better, but for use outdoors you may get more power from the two Beolit. Please let me know what you decide!
I'm hoping to buy a motorhome next year, it will be a second-hand one as they are very expensive. I've been doing a lot of research! Anyway I was thinking that maybe the Beosound A5 could work rather well in a motorhome. I'm wondering about room compensation in a portable speaker. Do you have to reset it every time you reposition it for best sound?
Hi, that is an interesting idea! I don't think room compensation will work in a motorhome, as the walls are very thin and sound will pass through rather than reflecting back. I wonder if Beolit 20 would be a better option for your setup? Please let me know what you decide...
Level is stereo against the mono A5 but the A5 plays louder and with deeper bass. I prefer the sound of the A5 personally, but I will try to follow up with a sound test of both speakers soon.
I haven’t tried this as a stereo pair but this may be possible by using the latest Apple TV 4K 2nd gen in the HDMI ARC socket of the tv and then Airplay to the speakers. This is the only option that would be in sync with the tv picture
Hi, when you tested the A5 is the correct way of listening with the woofer facing front? Or woofer facing rear as then the 2 full range drivers are front facing? Also how did it sound when located near wall or away from wall? Last question, the more expensive black/brown version does the vertical wood slacks compromise the sound from getting out?
I tested the speaker with the woofer facing towards me, although there is little difference in the sound at the sides or rear when the speaker is in "Omni" mode. When using the speaker near to a wall, room compensation manages the bass level very effectively, to avoid the bass becoming overpowering. I couldn't hear any change in the sound between the Nordic Weave version shown in the video and the Dark Oak wood version.
@@soundsheavenly I feel the need to sell my 2 Beolit 20’s and go for 1 A5. I’m heading to SE Asia in 2 weeks time and having an A5 could be good company!!
@@soundsheavenly I also own a Naim Muso 2nd generation which is a great streamer. With Tidal Hifi-plus streaming up to 9216 kbps. The A5 will be a great test in the same way I’m sure!
Hi Steve, thanks for interesting video. I own a soundbar Theatre with LG TV but would like to extend the setup to improve stereo/room sound experience. A pair of Beolab 28 is over my budget (3000 - 5000 Euro) and therefore I wonder whether 2 pcs A5 speakers in the rear would be a real improvement. However, I don't need a solution in shorttime and possibly B&O comes up with new products the next 6-12 months which would fit better to a Theatre than 2 pieces of A5, which seem to be more portable units, also ready to take outside, which is in no interest for me? By the way, is the A5 ready for 3D-Audio resp. Dolby Atmos, like for instance the ERA 300 from Sonos? Thanks in advance
At the moment it isn’t possible to use these speakers with the Theatre for surround sound, however I understand that this may be an option in the future once the software is updated
The full range drivers give mono sound (not mid/side stereo like on the Beolit 20) so there shouldn't be any issues with out-of-phase sounds getting cancelled out
Sorry but I have never heard the Hyperboom, but there is absolutely no background noise at all with the Beosound. Please let me know what you think once you have heard both speakers?
I agree with Hunter below, I love BnO they are without doubt a unique company. The sonics are fantastic yes the styling is beyond the scope of any other HIFI company it’s not form before functionality it’s both in tandem . I’ve seen million pound systems on line and sone of the designs are not very good considering the extreme expense. BnO products sit majestically in your home and sound Imperious too . That highly detailed yet “smooth” delivery as my partner says is so easy to engage your ears seldom tire . I’d consider buying this product if it was maybe a couple of hundred quid cheaper I have no doubt it will sound excellent for what it is and being WiFi it will be of course better than Beolit 20 but nearly a grand is a lot for what it is even though it looks superb the build quality will be exceptional as usual but nah not for me . I’d certainly buy Beolab 28 when I can afford to do so , ok they are £10.5 k but if you put it in the context of Beolab 28 v buying an amplifier , a pair of speakers , a streaming device like a high end Dac plus a subwoofer……….. plus the build quality and the longevity of the product due to updates and so forth 28 actually make economic sense compared to other high end HIFI options . This product is too close to 1 k I’m sad to say . Looks great I bet it sounds fab for what it is but I’m not convinced.
I agree, this is a deal breaker for many people - simply adding a 3.5mm Aux input would have made this speaker so much more usable, I don't know why B&O didn't do it?
The A5 has deeper bass and more power, plus the room compensation really tightens up the sound when used indoors, it is significantly better than the Beolit (which is already a great speaker in its own right)
Good question! For use outside, the sound is likely to be similar to two Abeokuta. However, when used indoors with the room compensation, the A5 gives a much better sound quality that is a superb upgrade from the Beolits
The Beolit 20 has 2x35w rms class D The A5 has 4x70w rms class D I already have 2 Beolit 20’s in stereo, great sound especially as you can open up the soundstage! I may try and audition an A5 though
@@richardo4878 Yes, that is correct, but as B&O don't publish RMS power ratings, they are all I have - at least they are consistent between the different B&O speakers. You can half them to get an approximation of the RMS power ratings.
Brings the Beolit into the Mozart engine speaker family. Makes sense, but the pricing. Maybe there will be smaller/ larger models of this style later..
Once you hear it, you will see how much of an upgrade this is over the Beolit, not just in specification but also sound and build quality. Better to think of it as a smaller Beosound Balance for less than half the price...
In pricing B&O go Emerge (£669), A5 (£899), Level (£1199) Balance (£2399), 2 (£2699), A9 (£2899) - with the Mozart platform The two principle advantages are the battery (Level has 16 hour battery) and water/weather resistant. In terms of usage competition it more expensive than the Devialet Mania. £690 and less than the Beosound Level (£1199). Is so much choice, particularly with small (as a percentage) difference in cost meeting a demand or splitting and confusing the market?
I love my B&O and Stevo , but how can we pretend this isn’t a obvious new Beloit 20 Why is there no real comparison to that ? Why did they market it as something else
Hi, first please note that the A5 doesn't replace the Beolit 20, they sit together in the range. In terms of power, 1xA5 = 2xBeolits. In terms of materials, the A5 in in a league above the Beolit, the build quality is a big step up. The A5 also has room compensation, wi-fi, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Airplay 2, Bluetooth 5, Chromecast, B&O radio and B&O Multiroom, while the Beolit is just Bluetooth 4. The A5 is also water resistant, while the Beolit isn't. They are completely different when you compare their capabilities and purpose. Hope that helps!
A2 and A5 are VERY different speakers, there is no comparison between them. As an example, I would not compare an Aston Martin Cygnet with a Vantage if I were a car reviewer, I would look for a closer match. Please check out my latest video where I compare the A5 to other speakers with similar capabilities.
Bang & Olufsen's new Beosound A5 portable speaker is here! Steve from SoundsHeavenly.com presents a full review, including a sound test and unboxing. The speaker featured in this video was provided free of charge for review by Bang & Olufsen, however you will always hear Steve's own opinions on this channel. Please check out Wailing Badger's CZcams channel for more of their great music here: www.youtube.com/@wailingbadger7310 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!
B&O is getting too expensive.... I have a number of B&O equipment... and I love them. But it comes to the time people can not pay the price anymore. Brilliant video, Steve. Thank you
Thanks, glad you liked the video. Sorry I don’t decide the price of the speakers…
I can just about buy them comfortably
@CDPA7 they are great speakers if your budget permits 👍🏻
Hey Steve, thanks for the super informative review. This helped me pull the trigger on the dark oak version a few days ago and the A5 arrived yesterday. It’s a phenomenal speaker with fabulous sound, balance and clarity. It brings music alive just as my A6 does. Of course it’s expensive but well worth it in my view especially when you can expect to have years of pleasure from it. The versatility of being able to move it around the house, the garden and take it on holidays is compelling. Love it!
Thanks, glad my review was helpful. This is a great speaker, I am enjoying the superb sound quality and versatility
So I went to buy the Sonos Move which was half the price of the beo A5 , and the shop had no A5 in stock. After about 10 mins of playing at home I was so underwhelmed by the quality and took it back and swapped for the beo a5 (+£500😅) . It’s my first BEO product …. And all I can say is WOW …. It’s absolutely kick ass and you see why they charge what they charge . You really get what you pay for.The sound is truly amazing and totally baffles everyone that it comes out of such a small ish package … love it ! Zero regrets
Yes the A5 is an amazing speaker, well worth the money in my opinion!
Wife bought the Beoplay HX last year as a request for Xmas and I’m building a extension at the moment and the wife wanted speakers in the ceiling but I was dead against it so I’ve just purchased the oak A5, thanks for the review by far the best out there and I’m now officially a B&O fanatical, thanks again 👌
Thanks, really glad to hear my videos have been helpful, welcome to the B&O fan club! ;-)
As ever, thanks for a very informative and enjoyable video Steve. Maybe the look of the new A5 is a little too ‘picnic basket’ for me, but I haven’t experienced it in store yet so I’m sure my initial thoughts will change once I do. Thanks
Thanks, glad you liked the video. Please let me know what you think once you have heard the speaker!
Thank you for sharing, Steve! Your passion in Bang-Olufsen is unrivalled.
Thank you!
I have the Beolit 20 and considering to get this new one.
Can’t wait to listen this A5.
Thanks for the video!
Thanks, glad the video was helpful! Yes, the A5 is well worth a listen
Hi Steve, I enjoyed your video! I bought an A5 from Bicester Village B&O store back in February and have been immensely impressed with the sound quality and power...so much so that I've just bought another (immaculate apparently) on ebay for a considerable saving. Very much looking forward to stereo-pairing them. They ARE expensive, but the quality is clear, and it's hugely added to my pleasure in listening to music. Thanks again for the great review!
Thanks, glad to hear that the review was helpful. These are great speakers!
Steve, I love the way the A5 beosonic pinch/pull feature changes the ambiance!
I’ve only just discovered it after owning the A5 since launch. It’s quite amazing how it changes the sound to like a studio sound then to an larger openness sound!
Yes, it is a great feature! I love the sound of this speaker!
@@soundsheavenly I now keep thinking what if I had 2 A5’s plus wouldn’t it be great if there was a custom made loudspeaker stand for the A5 and shaped the same oval way! Umm, 🤔
@@richardo4878 What a great idea!
Your video by the way as usual is awesome and you are presenting the material with so much passion that I need to get fight myself not jumping in B&O store to by Oak Model ;)
even if I do not have really usage of it !
Thank you 👍
I’m listening to a pair of these right now. I sold a pair of B&W 805 D3, powered with PS Audio gear, a while back due to marriage and family growth. I had been looking for a “replacement” music system that didn’t require so much permanent space and that allowed me to easily move my listening location around the house and outdoors. I had just bought a Beosound Level a few weeks ago but returned it because I didn’t like the unstable design or the power puck. I ordered the first A5 on April 27 direct from B&O. The second one arrived yesterday from Amazon. I’ve been trying to finish this comment for over an hour but the music keeps distracting me! These A5’s sound sublime.
Awesome, glad to hear that you like them 👍🏻 these are great speakers!
I waited for a while for this 😊
Thank you!
Thank you Steve for a very good overview video as always, and one of the first on the web. I can’t wait for your Beloit 20 vs A5 sound test! Literally, I’m going to B&O Harrogate for a listen as you suggest. I’ve already migrated from the A1 second gen to the Beloit 20 (all great in their own right) and I think this is the next step up for me!
Thanks, glad you liked the video. Yes, these are great speakers, I still love the A1 and the Beolit but the A5 raises the bar even further. Please let me know what you think once you have heard it! Beolit vs A5 review to follow very soon...
MY god what a speaker!! Just arrived today.. It's amazing. Yes mega ££ but unbelievable. Looking forward to your sound optimisation video. It's that good isn't it?
more specially the 360 sound, bass and separation.. I thought my son was playing piano earlier. and LOUD.. Wow. Yes I'm excited 😍
Yes it really is good! Detailed sound video to come soon 👍🏻
Hallo
Great video, I just Board the Beosound A5, its best sound ever.
The best greetings.
Michael from Denmark
Thanks Michael, I agree this is a great speaker and it is my current favourite in the B&O range
Thanks Steve
Glad you liked it!
So how would you say this compares to Level? I want something portable so I will be using those on bluetooth only and I’m just needing an upgrade to my Beolit 20
I consider this to be a big upgrade compared with the Level, or the Beolit. The sound is superb, the best I have heard from a speaker of this size
I just bought the oak one with a voucher for 10% off from the bang and Olufsen site. It’s on the way. I have a stereo pair of 20s in a bedroom and they are great still. Seems like an absolute bargain. Thanks as always Steve.
Yes, this is a great speaker - I also love the 20s but this A5 is one of my current favourites!
Thanks for this breakdown! I'm really tempted by this. By any chance could you compare the sound of the Beolit with the Beosound side by side in a clip? Relative perception is really useful I find, especially as I've got an actual Beolit to reference it to.
Sure! I will follow up with a Beolit 20/A5/Level sound test in a future video 👍🏻
Nice speaker, but not sure where to place it.. prefer Beolit 20 for outside, pricewise, not taking a 1000 euro speaker to the beach.. use my explore for that, also outside you don’t want to bother the people with big volume speakers.. the multiroom option is nice, but inside my house prefer a beosound 1 / 2, or balance ..
Two of these cost less than a Balance and give you high quality stereo sound...plus you can use them in other rooms or in the garden if you wish. For me, this makes the A5 the highlight of the current B&O speaker range
@@soundsheavenly I can see why this would make the A5 the most versatile and best first B&O speaker if you’ve never owned one.
Looks great Steve. I’ll get a couple for Qatar and stereo pair them.
They are superb speakers, I'm looking forward to demonstrating them in a stereo pair in a future video
Thank you very much for sharing this information, really it's tempting... regards from Ukraine 🇺🇦🇮🇳
Yes, this is a very good speaker, best regards from England
I wish that b&o is reading this and creates an update to have stereo pairing within all the mozart platform speakers and that you don’t need 2 of the same speakers.
That is an interesting idea. I guess it won't give a balanced stereo sound if you link two mismatched speakers, but you can do this already via Airplay 2 if that helps?
@@soundsheavenly I think you are right! Thanks for your reply :)
Nice video as always Steve. A bit pricey but looks really nice. Will be great to see and hear in the flesh.
Thanks! Yes, it is well worth listening to in person, then the quality and price will be easier to understand within the B&O range
I think the price is fair compared to the Beolit, considering the sound tech, the modularity, its capability to connect to wifi and even Beolink, as well as the more premium design (at least of the oak). It’s Mozart too. Certainly more worth it than the Emerge!
@@csaba5415 Yes, this has a lot of technology and the sound quality is even better than Emerge and Level in my personal view
@@soundsheavenly Better than the Level is what worries me :). I think I’d still get the Level first. Had a Beolit for so long that while I quite like the dark oak A5, there are too many similarities with the Beolit. Then again, if I want performance, I’ve got that covered by another set of B&O speakers. So for me it’s still the Level. Nevertheless the A5 is a lovely addition to the range. Either way my next one will either be a Beosound 2 or a Theatre.
@@csaba5415 These are all good speakers, the B&O range is very impressive at the moment
Great video, Steve. It's a lovely speaker. The only thing I'm not sure of is the carrying handle, which seems a bit too large. I will definitely go to the dealer and listen to it.
Thanks, yes this is a great speaker. The handle can be removed if you don't like it - I wonder if a leather strap could be possibly used instead?
That's a great idea, Steve. Maybe this size of handle makes it more comfortable to carry around.
@@freerkderuiter8822 Yes, it is much heavier than the Beolit 20, so the solid handle does make it much easier to carry
Hi Steve, in your opinion, how does the sound compare to the Level? Thanks
Personally, I prefer the sound of the A5 to the Level, although the Level is a superb speaker. I recommend getting to a B&O store to hear it for yourself, please let me know what you think once you have heard it!
Great review Steve. Sounds impressive for its size. Maybe time to upgrade from the Echo!
Yes, it really is impressive, well worth a listen!
Wonderful video. Thank you. Maybe a silly question. I just bought one and love it. With room compensation however, is it best to use it and then not adjust the finer details in the app?
Does room compensation do that work for you? Hope that makes sense.
Thanks, glad you liked the video! Room compensation does most of the work for you, but nothing to stop you making a few tweaks to adjust the sound to your preference. I like one notch of extra treble to give the sounds a little more clarity, but that is just my personal preference.
Please do a video comparison between A5 vs Beolit20. Thank you
Certainly, this is coming to my channel soon! 👍🏻
Dear Steve, please compare them : A5 vs Level
Thanks, I will do this very soon!
Timeless.
Thanks
Could this Beosound be used as a small subwoofer with Beosound Theatre?
Hi, no this is not possible
Thank you Steve for your insights!@@soundsheavenly
Vifa Copenhagen 2.0: "Hold my beer 🍺"
Hmmm, interesting comparison. I haven't heard the Vifa Copenhagen speaker, but I certainly prefer the styling of the B&O A5, they are very different
@@soundsheavenly Copenhagen sounds objectively better than the big b&o a9, neutral tuning with extreme precision on the Vifa and extremely silky treable in comparison with boosted b&o... Actually Oslo would be more of a comparison with a5 but Oslo is still wayy more precise than beolit 20 (that's the two I compared) and can also play maby 50% louder with no funky compression
@@lukabosnjak3829 Sounds Interesting, I don't think they are available in UK though so I won't be able to hear one 😞
Would these be able to be part of a Surround Sound setup with a B&O TV? Could be an interesting video about how to mix’n’match a surround sound setup with a B&O TV. I guess you could mix old and new. My Horizon tv connects happily with my Pentas and the effect is awesome and surround like using them as “stereo wide”.
This isn't possible at the moment, but I understand B&O are working on making these speakers able to be surrounds for the new Beosound Theatre sound bar in the near future
So are you saying it’s better than the balance - obviously in your opinion - for clarity Steve?
No, I don't think it is better than the Balance. However, I personally prefer the sound of the A5 to the Level. Two A5s would cost less than one Balance, but I think the sound would be very similar (and in stereo!)
Great review! Sound wise how would compare this to the Sonos Move?
Thanks! I haven't heard the Sonos Move but the A5 certainly beats it in terms of specifications. Please let me know what you think once you have heard both speakers?
Thanks for this review. How would you compare this to Beosound Level in terms of sound quality?
Glad the video was helpful. I prefer the A5 to the Level personally, but I suggest having a listen to them both in store if you can. I will try to follow up with a sound test of both speakers in a future video
I've listened to them yesterday Steve in Vancouver. They are very special indeed for such a small product. I was particularly amazed at the size of the soundscape! they sound large, spacious and wide. I'm definitely going to use 2 as a stereo pair. Do you think it is possible to listen to 2 of them in stereo connected to Beosound 9000 CD player or A turntable? would there be a way to do that without using streaming music?
These are great speakers but they don't have any kind of audio input. The only way to link a 9000 or turntable would be either by adding a Beosound Core, or a PC to act as the link. Please let me know if you have either of these options and I can help further.
Hi there Steve. I had the opportunity to see and listen to it - alone and in 2 channel aka stereo setup - yesterday in Struer.
It is quite amazing - I like it and wish I had a space for it at home 😊
When concidering buying one, people should be aware, that it has some not yet released possibilities, that could be of use in the future, when you have it as a home speaker.
I am sure there will be more information about this soon (John already tesed some of it in his video).
So now the million dollar question for you…..how do I connect this to my excisting Beosound/system - possibly as a left and right speaker? 😉😉
We see only a USB-C port and that is for charging.
Venlig hilsen MM
Hi MM, I am not allowed to talk about the future updates that are planned for this speaker at the moment, but as soon as these can be mentioned then I will cover them in detail in a future video. As this speaker doesn't have a line input (and the USB-C socket doesn't work as an audio input), the only way to connect analogue audio sources would be to link a computer to the speaker and then connect the Beosound as an audio input to the PC. I will cover this in more details in a future video.
How does Beosound A5 compare sound quality wise against Beosound 2?
Is RoomSense a more advanced version of Active Room Compensation? What's the difference?
That is a good question! I haven't heard the Beosound 2 for a while, but I will try to get a big sound test put together of all B&O's current speakers very soon. The room compensation of the A5 has been improved over previous speakers, I hope to be able to make a more in depth video on this later in the year as I know this is being worked on further. Watch this space for more updates!
we really need to compare to Beloit 20.... it is similar approach design and functionalities ... I do not understand why you push to compare to BSLevel....
It may look like a Beolit, but the sound, build quality and specifications make it closer to the Balance than the Beolit
going to be heading to my local b&o store to compare it with level and balance. in Singapore, the price of the dark oak is the same as 2 beolit 20s which do you think between the 2 will deliver better overall quality? 2 beolits or 1 a5
Interesting question…I would take one A5 over two Beolit as the sound quality is better, but for use outdoors you may get more power from the two Beolit. Please let me know what you decide!
I'm hoping to buy a motorhome next year, it will be a second-hand one as they are very expensive. I've been doing a lot of research! Anyway I was thinking that maybe the Beosound A5 could work rather well in a motorhome. I'm wondering about room compensation in a portable speaker. Do you have to reset it every time you reposition it for best sound?
Hi, that is an interesting idea! I don't think room compensation will work in a motorhome, as the walls are very thin and sound will pass through rather than reflecting back. I wonder if Beolit 20 would be a better option for your setup? Please let me know what you decide...
@@soundsheavenly Okay thank you for your thought on this.
Hi Steve, how does it compare to a Level? :) thx.
Level is stereo against the mono A5 but the A5 plays louder and with deeper bass. I prefer the sound of the A5 personally, but I will try to follow up with a sound test of both speakers soon.
How do you remove the cover from the oak version? Thank you
The cover simply prises off, for all versions it is secured by plastic fittings underneath and it is a push fit.
Any chance a gold and light oak version being released?
Good suggestion! I will mention this to B&O - I am sure there will be more colours available before very long
@@soundsheavenly Between the 2 Levels, 2 Emerges, Beolab 18s, and Theatre I may as well keep things consistent!
Hello. How does Beosound A5 compare to the Devialet Mania?
Thank you in advance.
Hello, I am sorry but I haven't heard the Devialet Mania. Please let me know what you think when you have heard both speakers?
Could they be coupled as a stereo pair to a TV? What is the delay?
I haven’t tried this as a stereo pair but this may be possible by using the latest Apple TV 4K 2nd gen in the HDMI ARC socket of the tv and then Airplay to the speakers. This is the only option that would be in sync with the tv picture
Hi, when you tested the A5 is the correct way of listening with the woofer facing front? Or woofer facing rear as then the 2 full range drivers are front facing?
Also how did it sound when located near wall or away from wall?
Last question, the more expensive black/brown version does the vertical wood slacks compromise the sound from getting out?
I tested the speaker with the woofer facing towards me, although there is little difference in the sound at the sides or rear when the speaker is in "Omni" mode. When using the speaker near to a wall, room compensation manages the bass level very effectively, to avoid the bass becoming overpowering. I couldn't hear any change in the sound between the Nordic Weave version shown in the video and the Dark Oak wood version.
@@soundsheavenly I feel the need to sell my 2 Beolit 20’s and go for 1 A5. I’m heading to SE Asia in 2 weeks time and having an A5 could be good company!!
It is certainly well worth a listen! Please let me know what you decide once you have heard the A5!
@@soundsheavenly I also own a Naim Muso 2nd generation which is a great streamer. With Tidal Hifi-plus streaming up to 9216 kbps. The A5 will be a great test in the same way I’m sure!
Hi Steve, thanks for interesting video. I own a soundbar Theatre with LG TV but would like to extend the setup to improve stereo/room sound experience. A pair of Beolab 28 is over my budget (3000 - 5000 Euro) and therefore I wonder whether 2 pcs A5 speakers in the rear would be a real improvement. However, I don't need a solution in shorttime and possibly B&O comes up with new products the next 6-12 months which would fit better to a Theatre than 2 pieces of A5, which seem to be more portable units, also ready to take outside, which is in no interest for me? By the way, is the A5 ready for 3D-Audio resp. Dolby Atmos, like for instance the ERA 300 from Sonos? Thanks in advance
At the moment it isn’t possible to use these speakers with the Theatre for surround sound, however I understand that this may be an option in the future once the software is updated
@@soundsheavenly Thanks, Steve
Are the two full range drivers stereo or is it downmixed like the M5?
I have a song where a portion is out-of-phase for effect so downmixing would cancel it out...
The full range drivers give mono sound (not mid/side stereo like on the Beolit 20) so there shouldn't be any issues with out-of-phase sounds getting cancelled out
@@soundsheavenly Thanks Steve! I would buy it either way but this feels like a bonus!
I wanna see this vs Diavlet Mania
That would be interesting…I will see what I can do! I don’t think Devialet has any stores in my area though
How does this sound compared to the UE HyperBoom? Is there any hiss or background noise/wine?
Sorry but I have never heard the Hyperboom, but there is absolutely no background noise at all with the Beosound. Please let me know what you think once you have heard both speakers?
@@soundsheavenly ok will do. i’m hearing the watts of the A5 is 280. Do you happen to know the RMS?
Hi, sorry I don’t know the RMS power of the A5, my guess is that the quoted figures are the peak power output
Hi
Can it continue to work at low battery levels if I put it on a charger?
Yes, please use a USB-C charger for best results
@@soundsheavenly thank you
I agree with Hunter below, I love BnO they are without doubt a unique company. The sonics are fantastic yes the styling is beyond the scope of any other HIFI company it’s not form before functionality it’s both in tandem . I’ve seen million pound systems on line and sone of the designs are not very good considering the extreme expense. BnO products sit majestically in your home and sound Imperious too . That highly detailed yet “smooth” delivery as my partner says is so easy to engage your ears seldom tire .
I’d consider buying this product if it was maybe a couple of hundred quid cheaper I have no doubt it will sound excellent for what it is and being WiFi it will be of course better than Beolit 20 but nearly a grand is a lot for what it is even though it looks superb the build quality will be exceptional as usual but nah not for me . I’d certainly buy Beolab 28 when I can afford to do so , ok they are £10.5 k but if you put it in the context of Beolab 28 v buying an amplifier , a pair of speakers , a streaming device like a high end Dac plus a subwoofer……….. plus the build quality and the longevity of the product due to updates and so forth 28 actually make economic sense compared to other high end HIFI options .
This product is too close to 1 k I’m sad to say . Looks great I bet it sounds fab for what it is but I’m not convinced.
I agree the price appears to be high, but it is well worth a listen as the sound quality is closer to Beosound Balance (at £2,500) than to the Beolit.
@@soundsheavenly when I’m in Newcastle next Steve I have a listen 🎧👍👍
How does the sound compare to Bang & Olufsen Beolit 20 ?
The A5 room compensation gives a massive advantage over the Beolit for sound quality, I will try to cover this in a future video
@@soundsheavenly thanks for such a fast reply. You got a new subscriber!!!!!! Yes please do a comparison for us! Thanks.
Thanks for subscribing! I’m working on the video in the coming days 👍
steve ur scaring me holding it like that with the covers off 😬
Sorry! I wanted to show how easy it is to remove and replace the covers
Better and powerful sound like Beolit?
Yes, much more power than the Beolit 20 and better sound as well. Would you like a sound test against the Beolit in a future video?
Yes of course! All the best
@@soundsheavenly please include beosound level also if possible
@@jumbocrunchh Good idea, I will try to do that!
@@soundsheavenly thank you.
No 3.5. Is a no no. Dealbreaker. I have a Beolit 15 and use it with my keyboard 🎹 No aux input and I was making offfers on eBay 😅😅
I agree, this is a deal breaker for many people - simply adding a 3.5mm Aux input would have made this speaker so much more usable, I don't know why B&O didn't do it?
Sound wise what is the difference between t a5 and the beolit 17
The A5 has deeper bass and more power, plus the room compensation really tightens up the sound when used indoors, it is significantly better than the Beolit (which is already a great speaker in its own right)
@@soundsheavenly price of the a5
@@arijit8381 All mentioned in the video, £899 GBP in Nordic Weave or £999 GBP for Dark Oak in UK
Sir I am using t beolit 17 and 20 in stereo. Will a single a5 be an upgrade from the beolit in stereo?
Good question! For use outside, the sound is likely to be similar to two Abeokuta. However, when used indoors with the room compensation, the A5 gives a much better sound quality that is a superb upgrade from the Beolits
Two beolit's in stereo or 1 a5. Which will give a overall better sound quality
Maybe the two Beolits will be louder, but the sound quality of one A5 will be better. I will try to cover this in a future video
The Beolit 20 has 2x35w rms class D
The A5 has 4x70w rms class D
I already have 2 Beolit 20’s in stereo, great sound especially as you can open up the soundstage! I may try and audition an A5 though
Those power ratings are all non clipped peak not rms!!
@@richardo4878 Yes, that is correct, but as B&O don't publish RMS power ratings, they are all I have - at least they are consistent between the different B&O speakers. You can half them to get an approximation of the RMS power ratings.
@@richardo4878 The Beolit is a superb speaker, but A5 is a significant improvement (especially when used on wi-fi with the room compensation set up).
Brings the Beolit into the Mozart engine speaker family. Makes sense, but the pricing. Maybe there will be smaller/ larger models of this style later..
Once you hear it, you will see how much of an upgrade this is over the Beolit, not just in specification but also sound and build quality. Better to think of it as a smaller Beosound Balance for less than half the price...
In pricing B&O go Emerge (£669), A5 (£899), Level (£1199) Balance (£2399), 2 (£2699), A9 (£2899) - with the Mozart platform
The two principle advantages are the battery (Level has 16 hour battery) and water/weather resistant.
In terms of usage competition it more expensive than the Devialet Mania. £690 and less than the Beosound Level (£1199).
Is so much choice, particularly with small (as a percentage) difference in cost meeting a demand or splitting and confusing the market?
There are different use cases for each speaker, I think the A5 has a valid place in the B&O range and it gives great sound quality
Yaaay for no more GVA :D
B&O speakers are so much better without it 👍
sound is mono and not stereo ... shame .... I love B&O but sometimes I really do not undsterdand their new products !
Two A5 will give you stereo sound for less money than a single Beosound Balance…
I love my B&O and Stevo , but how can we pretend this isn’t a obvious new Beloit 20
Why is there no real comparison to that ?
Why did they market it as something else
Hi, first please note that the A5 doesn't replace the Beolit 20, they sit together in the range. In terms of power, 1xA5 = 2xBeolits. In terms of materials, the A5 in in a league above the Beolit, the build quality is a big step up. The A5 also has room compensation, wi-fi, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Airplay 2, Bluetooth 5, Chromecast, B&O radio and B&O Multiroom, while the Beolit is just Bluetooth 4. The A5 is also water resistant, while the Beolit isn't. They are completely different when you compare their capabilities and purpose. Hope that helps!
portable portable.... it is quick to say so ;)
Yes, this speaker has been travelling around with me for several weeks, it is certainly portable and easy to use in lots of different places
£899/990 for a portable speaker!! Really?
Not just a portable speaker - this is a high quality home speaker that can also be moved outside or taken on holiday when required.
thank you steve may you explain about a2 and this item can you cOMPARE
A2 and A5 are VERY different speakers, there is no comparison between them. As an example, I would not compare an Aston Martin Cygnet with a Vantage if I were a car reviewer, I would look for a closer match. Please check out my latest video where I compare the A5 to other speakers with similar capabilities.
Hi, May I know that A5 can use USB-C to connect to PC as audio output? Can it be charged while connected to a PC?
Hi, yes you can use a USB-C cable to play your pc to the A5 and this will charge the battery at the same time