Legacies can be hard to endure. When you’ve been in the audio manufacturing industry for over a century, the burden intensifies. Between decades, countless brands rise and fall, but only a few etch their names in the annals of history. Bang & Olufsen is one such brand that, despite being around for a century, has not only remained relevant in the hi-fi industry but also cemented its place as one of the leading high-end audio manufacturers worldwide. The new Beosound Premiere soundbar stands as vivid proof of the same.
Launched yesterday on November 5, this sleek aluminum soundbar delivers high-end Dolby Atmos performance and boasts a sculptural form that demands attention. Unlike B&O’s previous soundbars, where drivers were concealed behind the speaker’s body, the Beosound Premiere soundbar features a unique design that showcases its drivers, rather than hiding them behind a grille. This includes an up-firing tweeter placed directly in the center.
This is a soundbar that’s all about 3D. From 3D spatial sound, to its otherworldly 3D silhouette, to the optional 3D wood cover, which brings even more depth and dimension to the design. The wood cover is carved from one single piece of oak before being precision milled into its final form. No two wooden covers are the same – Bang & Olufsen
Powering the sound are 10 bespoke drivers. This includes four racetrack woofers and an aforementioned museum-worthy tweeter. “This allows sound to unfold around the listener from all angles and enhances clarity in dialogue and delivers deep, powerful bass,” the company informs. The soundbar also boasts ‘Wide Stage,’ a new patent-pending technology that B&O says widens the soundstage.
“Our new Wide Stage technology is effectively like adding invisible loudspeakers to your setup. Developed by our in-house experts, it uses advanced beam-forming to create the illusion of having added external speakers, making the soundstage wider and taller than it actually is,” the company points out. If this claim came from another speaker manufacturer, you could doubt for a minute, but B&O has credibility to back its claim. How it holds up in the real-world scenario, we will be able to tell better when it’s available.
From the connectivity standpoint, Beosound Premiere features a range of options, including HDMI eARC with 8K passthrough, Bluetooth 5.4, and Apple AirPlay 2. The soundbar can be integrated with other Bang & Olufsen speakers to create a multi-room audio system, and it also supports the company’s Beolink Surround technology for immersive surround sound.
In terms of aesthetics and options, the soundbar comes in three matte finishes: Natural Aluminum, Gold Tone, and Black Anthracite. B&O will release the Natural Aluminum in December, followed by the Gold Tone and Black Anthracite models in February and March, respectively. The Beosound Premiere starts at $5,800, which is certainly a premium price tag. However, Bang & Olufsen is also offering a limited-edition “Haute Edition” of the soundbar, which features a precision-milled pattern and is limited to just 25 units worldwide. This exclusive model will have a hefty price tag of $15,700.
