Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge: an exceptional speaker

With its revolutionary circular design, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge speaker is a true acoustic work of art, capable of reconciling music lovers with beautiful objects. The B&O Beosound Edge has an output power of 600 watts with drivers on both sides that can work either simultaneously or individually, depending on your needs. This connected Bang & Olufsen speaker can receive music via AirPlay 2, Chromecast and DLNA, and can also access Spotify. Lastly, its control interface is just as singular as its design, as the volume is adjusted by simply rolling the speaker. 

The B&O Beosound Edge speaker is delivered in a large box inside of which it is securely held in place and protected. It comes with a power cable, a quick start guide, two acoustic grilles, a base and a wall mount.

The B&O Beosound Edge speaker has a revolutionary design that only this Scandinavian brand could have come up with. Since it was founded in 1925, the manufacturer has made a name for itself with innovative and luxurious speaker designs, created in collaboration with some of the world’s best designers.

For the design of the B&O Beosound Edge, the manufacturer collaborated with Michael Anastassiades, renowned for his lighting design works. The combination of these two fields has resulted in a perfectly circular and minimalist speaker. It can be stood on its edge like a coin (the inspiration for its design), or mounted on a wall like a store sign. As a result, it effectively blends in with any decor.

The minimalism that has inspired the brand for almost a century has also been incorporated into the way the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge speaker is controlled. When the latter is placed on its edge or mounted on the wall, one simply has to tilt or roll it in one direction or the other to adjust the volume. It is extremely easy and intuitive. The base allows the speaker to always roll back to its initial position, even if it is pushed quite hard.

For more precise control, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge has a touch-sensitive control interface on its upper aluminum panel. Equipped with motion sensors, it lights up when you move close to the speaker. This interface lets you change tracks and adjust the volume, even in the dark. However, it tends to attract fingerprints.

In keeping with its design, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge connected speaker uses innovative acoustic solutions. It therefore features 5 drivers, including a large 10” midbass speaker coupled with two 4” midrange drivers and two tweeters. These drivers are positioned across the two sides of the speaker to maximize the acoustic diffusion. Better still, the bass-reflex port uses exclusive Active Bass Port technology that features a honeycomb structure that moves when activated to provide even deeper and more powerful bass at high volume.

To power the various drivers, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge connected speaker is equipped with 6 amplification modules. Each driver therefore benefits from its own module, specifically designed and optimized for the frequency range to be reproduced. There are two 200-watt modules for the midbass driver and four 100-watt modules for the midrange drivers and tweeters. This system endows the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge speaker with a colossal output power of 600 watts, allowing it to be installed in any living space of up to 120m².

Despite being only 13cm thick, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge speaker manages to feature drivers on both sides. It therefore has a main side with Active Bass Port technology and a secondary face with a midrange driver and tweeter. The main side can work independently to only deliver sound to part of the room, or in tandem with the secondary side to provide 360° sound. The sound perception is then optimal, regardless of the listener’s position in the room. Thanks to this configuration, it is possible to activate only one side for more intimate listening sessions or both sides for a party, for example. This feature is easily managed from the B&O mobile app.

Primarily designed for streaming, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge can be connected to the network via WiFi or Ethernet. It is then able to access music shared over the local network (DLNA playback) and web radios using the Bang & Olufsen mobile app. When it comes to streaming services, the brand’s minimalist ethos is a disadvantage, as only Spotify Connect is supported. To enjoy other services, Apple users (iPhone, iPad, iPod and Mac) must use AirPlay 2 streaming, and Chromecast for Android and PC users. Streaming can also be done via Bluetooth, but only the SBC codec is accepted, which does not offer the same sound quality as WiFi. Consequently, it is better to use AirPlay 2 and Chromecast when possible.

In addition to streaming, the Danish manufacturer has also discreetly and elegantly integrated a number of connectors into the base of the speaker. These include a 3.5mm mini-jack line input that can also be used as a Toslink optical input. It is therefore possible to connect the source of your choosing, whether it is a CD player, an HD television or an external DAC, for example.

As if 600 watts of power weren’t enough, the B&O Beosound Edge can be paired with a second Edge to enjoy stereo sound. To do this, it relies on AirPlay 2, Beolink Multiroom or Chromecast technologies. In this configuration, the channel separation is very convincing and there is no delay between the speakers. Pairing is quick, which allows you to easily match or combine speakers. For larger homes, you can pair as many AirPlay 2, Beolink Multiroom, and Chromecast-compatible speakers and devices as you want to listen to music in every room.

Before installing the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge speaker, it is important to think carefully about its placement. Do you want to keep it on the floor on its base or mount it on the wall, like a luxurious store sign? If so, the Danish manufacturer includes a wall mount with the four necessary screws. This wall installation is done quickly and basic DIY skills are sufficient. For a plasterboard wall, metal (Molly) or plastic (MZK) plugs are required. 

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge speaker is then easily configured using the B&O app for iOS and Android. The latter automatically detects the speaker and prompts you to enter the password for the WiFi network. The rest of the procedure is done from the Google Home application. From there, you can select your favorite music service, rename the speaker and indicate in which room it is located. Note that this first configuration in Google Home is necessary, even if you want to use the speaker via Bluetooth. 

You can then return to the Bang & Olufsen app to control and customize the speaker. It is then possible to modify the sound signature, to obtain a warmer, more transparent sound, or to emphasize the bass or vocals, for example.

With both sides active, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge delivered a fairly wide soundstage and managed to fill the entire room effectively, whether the speaker was wall-mounted or floor-standing. The Active Bass Port technology provided a remarkable bass response at high volume. The bass was powerful, striking and punchy. The reproduction became physical and we could feel every impact. At higher volumes, this technology was inactive and the bass was a little more timid, but still impressive for such slim speakers. They managed to give the sound substance and texture.

What better way to test this Bang & Olufsen speaker, whose design is inspired by a British penny, than with Pink Floyd’s Money. We enjoyed a great sound imbued with energy and vitality, while ensuring an undeniable sense of rhythm. The tonal coherence was also preserved, with nice balance and a good perception of the different frequency ranges. The stereo effect that characterizes this track was more subtle than it is with a traditional hi-fi system with two separate speakers, but this didn’t hinder the perception of the various effects and arrangements. By pairing two Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge speakers, the sound became more spacious, with more distinctly divided channels.

The directional control of the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge was very efficient and managed to shape the sound distribution in the room quite effectively. For a more intimate listening session, the main side (with Active Bass Port technology) can distribute sound throughout only part of the room, while maintaining a well-balanced and energetic listening experience. The music was still audible on the other side of the speaker, but the volume was lower and the bass much less pronounced. When 360° sound was activated, the main side still led the way, especially in the lows, but the second side still benefited from an appealing balance, transparent midrange and a nice clarity in the highs. The dispersion was ample and the music seemed to follow us in the room.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A9 4th Gen: another luxurious piece from the Danish manufacturer, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A9 4th Gen speaker also features a striking circular design, uncommon in the hi-fi industry. It is equipped with 7 drivers and can deliver up to 950 watts of power. The sound signature is quite similar, but the bass is less physical and punchy than with the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge and its Active Bass Port technology. The Beoplay’s sound distribution is also a little narrower. 

Cabasse The Pearl Akoya Blanc (pair): old for €3,180, this pair of active speakers provide a more effective reproduction of stereo effects. Its acoustic design features a 6.7” tri-coaxial driver and a total output power of 1050 watts per speaker. The distribution is much narrower than that of the B&O Beosound Edge with its drivers on both sides. However, they offer more details at the crossover point (optimal listening area or sweet spot of the Cabasse The Pearl Akoya). Lastly, these Cabasse speakers have the advantage of being natively compatible with more online music services (Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer, Spotify, etc.), featuring voice control and being compatible with Hi-Res files, including DSD. 

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge speaker is designed for those who enjoy great product design and luxurious objects. It is ideal for listeners who wish to enjoy a speaker that is powerful, easy to use, and whose sound distribution throughout the room is adjustable to suit their needs. Its single 3.5mm mini-jack/Toslink input and Bluetooth/WiFi connectivity means it’s mostly designed for AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Bluetooth streaming, as well as DLNA playback. However, if you have more than one source, the speaker may prove frustrating.

With the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge, the Danish manufacturer once again demonstrates its ability to seek out the best designers in all fields to shatter the conventions of hi-fi like no other brand is able to do. A boldness that pays off with the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Edge, whose design revolutionizes not only the speaker’s shape, but also the way it is used. Its simple volume control is fun, intuitive and very well thought out. The speaker’s controlled directivity is also innovative and perfect for enjoying greater flexibility. Finally, the Active Bass Port technology will satisfy fans of physical and powerful bass, as soon as the volume is turned up. However, it is a shame that the speaker only supports a limited number of online music services via the dedicated app, which means that it has to be mainly used with AirPlay 2 or Chromecast.

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