Stick this in the middle of the room - and what
Bang & Olufsen is once again embarrassing all other speakers in existence. This time it’s the Beosound Edge, just announced at IFA in Berlin, a statement, circular wireless speaker that was designed by Michael Anastassiades.
Sure, it costs £2,900 but just look at it. The aluminium frame has a touch interface built into it which, thanks to proximity sensors, lights up with controls when you are nearby. One-upping the Beoplay A9 which you stroke the top of to adjust the volume, you actually roll the Beosound Edge gently from side to side to pump up the tunes. What can go wrong?
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You can place the speaker on the floor as a statement piece or you can also mount it on the wall to make your guests feel somewhat uncomfortable as they try to work out whether it’s going to come crashing down at any moment.
The Beosound Edge supports Apple AirPlay 2, has Chromecast built-in and there’s Bluetooth too for good measure. No built-in Google Assistant controls here, like the new versions of the Beosound 1 and 2, though which is slightly disappointing.
Still, you can control it via an Alexa device, like an Echo, or a Google Assistant device like those less extravagant Beosounds plus there’s the usual app controls.
Sound wise, we’re to expect “room-filling, 360 degree sound”. There’s a 10-inch bass driver plus 4-inch mid-range and 3/4-inch tweeters on both sides. The Edge also features B&O’s new Active Bass Port tech which kicks in at higher volumes for “more energised bass”.
The Beosound Edge will be available from mid-November.
