Updated on 10 August 2023
With its 280 watts, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 speaker is the Danish manufacturer’s most powerful portable/residential model. In keeping with B&O’s other speakers, the B&O A5 combines a meticulous design with superior audio performance. With its IP65 rating, it’s equally at home on the terrace or in the garden, thanks to its rechargeable battery and waterproof design.
This model, available in a raffia finish for €999 or a dark oak finish for €1,099, provides both a WiFi and Bluetooth connection. It supports the AirPlay 2 and Chromecast protocols, as well as the Beolink ecosystem, allowing it to be added to an existing multi-room system. The B&O Beosound A5 connected speaker is easy to control thanks to its touch-sensitive interface and the Bang & Olufsen mobile app. Is the audio performance of B&O’s latest creation on par with its unique design?
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5: packaging & accessories
The B&O A5 speaker comes in a large box inside which it is securely carefully held in place and protected. It comes with a USB-C to USB-C power cable, a mains adapter and a quick start guide.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5: presentation
Design
has partially built its reputation on its ability to offer high-performance speakers with sophisticated, innovative designs. To achieve this, the Danish brand works with world-renowned designers to create equipment with attractive silhouettes. The B&O Beosound A5 is one of them. This new portable speaker, the result of a collaboration with the Italian-Danish studio GamFratesi, blends Scandinavian minimalism with Italian elegance.
Available in two finishes, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 stands out with its unique silhouette. Its design is inspired by the successful Beolit series, in particular the portable speaker. The black aluminum and dark oak version we tested evokes the colors of northern European forests. The other model, in gray aluminum, is adorned with a natural woven fiber cover and oak handle that bring to mind Scandinavian summers at the beach.
Beyond its polished appearance, one of the great strengths of the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 Bluetooth speaker lies in its acoustic design. It features a 5.2” woofer, combined with a 1” tweeter and two rear-firing 2” midbass drivers. These four drivers are powered by the same number of Class D amplifiers, for a total output of 280 watts.
Thanks to this unique design, the Beosound A5 Bluetooth speaker ensures 360° sound diffusion. The position of the different drivers maximizes sound dispersion and ensures clear perception, regardless of the listener’s position in relation to the speaker. That said, the reproduction is more precise from the side equipped with the tweeter. Note that it is possible to select a “Front” mode in the B&O app to enjoy a narrower listening area that is more focused around the front of the speaker. The default setting for the B&O A5 is the “Omni” mode, which provides 360° sound.
As a result, the B&O Beosound A5 speaker manages to produce a powerful and balanced sound, even in rooms measuring up to 50m² or outdoors, on the patio. To optimize its musical performance, it features several DSP modes to adapt the sound signature with five different presets. In addition, an equalizer allows you to personalize the sound according to your preferences.
Bang & Olufsen is committed to preserving the environment. The Danish manufacturer creates equipment with modular designs in order to extend their lifespan. The Beosound A model is no exception. B&O has already announced it will provide other interchangeable front panels in new materials and different colors.
WiFi & Bluetooth
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 portable speaker relies entirely on its wireless compatibility. The USB-C port situated on the back of the device is solely used for charging. The Beosound A5 is equipped with a Bluetooth 5.2 receiver in order to play files stored on a smartphone, a table or a laptop. It also allows you to stream playlists from your favorite streaming service. The new B&O wireless speaker can also be added to the local network thanks to its WiFi 6 connectivity, and it supports the AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Beolink Multiroom technologies so that you can add it to a group of multi-room speakers or devices.
It is possible to access Spotify and Tiday directly from their official apps thanks to the Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect protocols. Four buttons to the right of the control interface provide quick access to your favorite web radios. Note that these are only accessible when the speaker is connected to the local network. To change these favorites, simply go to the control application and configure your preferences.
Controls
While it doesn’t come with a remote control, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 provides several control solutions. The first is the touch-sensitive interface in the top panel. The latter features all the basic controls to fully enjoy the portable speaker’s performance: volume control, play/pause button, Bluetooth pairing and on/off. As previously mentioned, four buttons provide direct access to favorite web radios.
For remote control, the B&O A5 connected speaker is compatible with the B&O control app. The latter provides access to features such as the five DSP modes (Optimal, Party, Speech, Night and Lounge) and the equalizer. Lastly, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 portable speaker is also compatible with the optional BeoRemote One BT and BeoRemote Halo remote controls.
Stereo pairing
If one Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 Bluetooth speaker isn’t powerful enough for you on its own, you can combine it with a second speaker to enjoy twice the volume. The Mozart platform makes it possible to wirelessly connect two Bang & Olufsen speakers: either two Beosound A5 speakers, or a Beosound A5 and another Mozart-compatible speaker from the manufacturer. This stereo pairing is designed for users looking to listen to music in rooms larger than 50m², or who want higher volume for a party. The stereo system also allows you to benefit from a richer and more detailed sound thanks to the wider soundstage it generates.
12-hour battery life
Although it seems like a residential speaker with its high-end materials, weigh and size, the Beosound A5 benefits from the same features as a portable speaker. It is equipped with a rechargeable battery that ensures up to 12 hours of autonomy. It is therefore possible to enjoy your favorite music for an entire day without have to plug the speaker into the mains. Moreover, the speaker is equipped with an inductive wireless charging base for smartphones on its upper panel. The latter lets you recharge the smartphone paired via Bluetooth outside and continue listening to your music.
IP65
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 speaker is certified IP65. It can resist dust and water splashes, allowing it to be used in a bathroom. It can also be taken outside, onto the patio or by the pool, for example. However, while water won’t affect the speaker’s internal components, it could damage the outer finish.
Because it is a portable model, the Beosound A5 is easy to transport thanks to a solid hinged handle. However, its weight of 3.7 kilos remains a hindrance to its portability. Unless carried in a backpack or in the car, this is not a model you’d want to take to the beach, but rather out onto the patio or from one room of the house to another. Thanks to the Beosound A5’s modular design, the battery is removable and replaceable should its autonomy wane after several years of use.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5: key specifications
- Total power: 280 watts
- 1 x 5.2” woofer
- 2 x 2” midbass drivers
- 1 x 1” tweeter
- IP65 certification
- 360° sound
- Bluetooth 5.2 and WiFi 6
- Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC
- AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Beolink compatibility
- Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect
- Stereo pairing via Mozart
- 12-hour battery life
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 285 x 187.4 x 130mm
- Weight: 3.7kg
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5: configuration
While the B&O Beosound A5 connected speaker can be used via Bluetooth, a WiFi connection is essential for initial set-up. This is done via the Bang & Olufsen mobile app, which guides you through the process with the help of a tutorial. You’re prompted to connect the speaker to your home network. From then on, the Beosound A5 is ready for use.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5: listening impressions
The Danish manufacturer’s most powerful portable model, the Beosound A5 immediately made its presence felt in the lows. The bass was impressive, given the speaker’s size. There was plenty of power in this frequency range, which spread out generously throughout the room. Bass was dynamic and punchy, while maintaining tonal balance.
The Beosound A5 Bluetooth speaker’s other strength is its 360° sound diffusion. In a living room of around 30m², it expressed itself with clarity and managed to effectively diffuse music throughout the space. To put it to the test, we placed the speaker in different areas of the room. The reproduction was always balanced. The bass was deep and strong, and the highs precise. However, the bass level increased significantly when the speaker was placed in a corner or a few centimeters away from a wall. While this may please bassheads, those who want a more balanced listening experience will have to adjust the equalizer.
The various DSP modes available on the Bang & Olufsen control app also allow you to fine-tune the settings to suit your tastes. When listening to a podcast or a radio program with several speakers involved in a debate, the “Speech” mode proved to be quite effective. It emphasized the mids, making the voices perfectly clear and distinct despite audience applause, for example.
In apartments, the “Night” mode comes in very handy when listening to music at night. It reduces the dynamic range, allowing you to enjoy all the richness of your music without having to turn up the volume, and consequently running the risk of disturbing your neighbors. In contrast, the “Party” mode boosts the already generous bass response of the B&O Beosound A5 Bluetooth speaker. It’s ideal for creating a festive atmosphere at a party with family or friends.
The B&O Beosound A5 wireless speaker certainly has the wow factor. When we used the new Scandinavian speaker during a party with friends, it caught everybody’s attention. During our different listening sessions, the Beosound A5 proved to be dynamic, pleasant and energetic. Instruments were properly placed without encroaching on the vocals. Its power reserve enabled it to provide an acoustic ambience for a get-together with a small group of people, both during a blind test and for background music.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5: compared to…
: available for €1,399, the Beosound Level model has a larger format. As a wireless residential speaker, it is equipped with five drivers and delivers powerful, generous lows. While both speakers benefit from a modular design, the Level has the Cradle to Cradle certification, which guarantees limited impact on the environment. Moreover, it has a longer autonomy, with a battery that lasts 16 hours. Unlike its larger counterpart, the Beosound A5 delivers 360° sound. Water and dust resistance is also higher for the B&O A5 with an IP65 certification IP54. Finally, the Danish manufacturer’s new Bluetooth speaker boasts 280 watts of power, compared with 105 watts for the Beosound Level.
Devialet Mania 95 dB: sold for €790, the French speaker also provides 360° sound. In this regard, the Scandinavian model provides better balance. Despite its smaller (and lighter) format, the Mania 95 dB manages to compete in the highs and lows. Its automatic calibration system is also a big advantage, as it is a very convenient feature for a portable model. However, the Beosound A5 has a slight advantage when it comes to bass reproduction. The Bang & Olufsen model also comes out on top regarding autonomy, which provides 12 hours of playback compared to the French model’s 10 hours.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5: who is it for?
The Bang & Olufsen Bluetooth speaker will appeal to those looking for a wireless speaker that’s both beautiful and musical. With its distinctive design, it combines acoustic performance with stylish looks. Thanks to its portable features (12-hour autonomy, IP 65), it’s perfect for playing music on a patio.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5: conclusion
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 wireless speaker impresses with its timeless design. The elegant dark oak finish inevitably attracts attention. As for audio performance, B&O’s latest creation delivers generous lows, which reinforces the overall balance without detracting from the richness of the sound. The control app and its multiple DSPs offer a wide range of customization options, so you can adjust the speaker’s sound signature to suit your tastes and your music. With its 12-hour battery life and IP65 certification, it’s the perfect companion on the patio or poolside for entertaining outdoors, all the more so thanks to its 360° sound diffusion. Last but not least, its modular design with replaceable components also makes it a durable piece of equipment, designed to last and accompany the user for many years.
We liked
- The 360° sound diffusion
- The powerful bass
- The unique design
We would have liked
- For it to have been lighter
