Bang & OlufsenBeosound A1 (2nd Gen) - Premium Wireless Portable IP67 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker with 360 Degree Sound, Alexa Voice Assistant, Speakerphone, Up to 18 Hrs Playtime - Black Anthracite

The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay A1 2nd gen is a very well built, neat and stylish wireless speaker - as one should expect from B&O and a product priced at the higher end of this segment.Set up is exceptionally easy once you identify which App you need to use - B&O need to put a little card in the box to provide links to App stores. So far, the connection has been very stable.We use this speaker on a desk while using my desktop computer, doing hobbies or cooking as well as in the garden / summer house. I haven't tested it in the garden yet as the UK weather in spring 2024 has been poor to put it mildly.Once you get used to the controls, they are fine, but take a little getting used to as the look touch sensitive - but they aren't.Sound quality is a matter of taste, and I was concerned that some reviewers felt the bass was lacking. Placed on a desk, table or kitchen worktop, I found the bass to be more than sufficient. It may not go really deep down in frequency (function of speaker size) but the quality of the bass is surprisingly good. I've heard hifi systems costing a few thousand pounds that actually do worse on bass quality. A good test is always a double bass and how the strings vibrate after the initial note is played - this speaker is very good on that count.The sound quality is excellent and probably should be for £190ish - clean, clear and very coherent, giving a really good musical experience. Treble and midrange are really good and both male and female vocals come across very well. In a 6x4m room the volume is more than adequate and even at high volumes this little thing doesn't get harsh.One important tip - to get the best sound, turn your phone or tablet volume up to maximum and then control the volume you want on the device itself. That helps a lot and if the phone / tablet volume is set too low, the device can sound anaemic. The device seems to need a high input level to work well.We don't use it for critical listening and to be fair, if that's the use case, one should consider a full blown hifi system.A great lttle device for keeping you company while working or relaxing.

Ever since my trusty Monic Psych lost some of it's volume, I have searched for a replacement. This is not just a replacement, but in a whole other league. I'm a bit of a one-man Which? reviewer when it comes to hi-fi. Never bought a thing without a listening test. So, before buying this, I had a line-up of the top sub-£200 Bluetooth speakers as rated by many sources including Hi-Fi Magazine. Out of fairness I am not going to criticise any of the devices I tested. They were all good, depending on your music taste and requirements. Generally though, they seemed tuned for bass and treble but lacked the mid-range and warmth of 'proper' hi-fi. Great if thumpy bass is your thing, not great if you want something close to decent hi-fi.This Beosound A1 Second Gen is a minor miracle. It lacks in huge volume, even though the power rating suggests otherwise, but I get the feeling the power is taken up by driving high-quality units inside rather than for volume. It's more than loud enough for normal everyday use but don't expect to use it for a party or to wake up the neighbours.I listen to various types of rock, blues and folk. The details this speaker brings out, and the warmth of the sound, is just perfect considering the size and price. Bass is good without being boomy.. nice and tight and deep. Treble is smooth and sharp, with cymbals sounding like cymbals, not splashes onto a tin can. Vocals are honest and realistic.Genuinely, this little speaker was the only one to approach 'proper hi-fi' where you're getting close to the sound you'd get on a properly set up and matched hi-fi system. In the end there was only one choice, despite it costing more than I originally wanted to pay.As for the device itself it is strong, aesthetically pleasing and discrete. A small aspirin-shaped silver bun that only draws attention to itself by the sound it makes and no other reason. Just what I wanted!Phots attached to show what I base my demands on for quality and to show the size of the Beosound A1 2nd Gen.

I've just bought the B&O A1 (gen 2), previously I've owned a JBL charge 6, 4, JBL XXX, jbl GO, etc... but was never satisfied.I think this is the much better speaker, overall. I am generally listening inside and travelling, and to classical, occasionally everything (not pop, rap, etc).### Charge & batt.They both charge over USB-C, which IMO is now essential.Possibly the JBL has better battery, it always seemed to last forever!?### BluetoothThe JBL has better Bluetooth - for whatever reason it just connects better. The JBL compares well with my other seamless BT products: Sony XM3 headphones, and Jabra Elite earbuds -both great!The A1, on first connection, often needs a couple of tries, from a Samsung S22. Occasionally there is a brief sound interference, ~static. Once it's up, it's fine.### SoundJBL is louder, and bassier, it's more of a party, outdoors speaker! (it's rather impressive!)A1 I much prefer to hear (I favour clarity and accuracy). It's clearer, more accurate, more revealing, has tighter bass, and better sound stage.### Physical looksJBL looks like a party speaker! I never liked looking at it, I like the Scandi/Jap. aesthetic. I bought it based on the consistently excellent review, particularly from WhatHiFi. JBL should make an 'executive' version without the logo and subtler colours! I do hate logos!A1 has great design, and is much less obtrusive. It also feels higher quality, a German build quality (like a VW door!) with a harmonious, natural aesthetic.### OverallPudding proof: I listen to music much more over the A1 than I did with the JBL. The A1 feels a little like an apple product - if they would improve the BT.