Are you starting to get the impression that B&O are back and not messing around? The Bang & Olufsen Beolab 28 wireless speakers are their 4th major new product introduction in 2021 and we suspect they are not remotely done. We were pretty impressed with the recently announced B&O Emerge wireless loudspeakers, but the new Beolab 28 are even more interesting.
You can hang these on the wall. Imagine a pair on either side of the fireplace or dining room table. Don’t scroll down to the price as it might deflate you. Most certainly not entry-level loudspeakers.
The Bang & Olufsen Beolab 28 are an adaptive, wireless speaker that combines advanced acoustical innovations with convenient smart speaker features to create an exceptional experience right out of the box. Beolab 28 can be positioned anywhere in the home thanks to its slim design, stream anything instantly and provides immersive, powerful studio-grade sound that automatically adapts to its space, designed for longevity.
“Beolab 28 is our most advanced connected speaker to date, providing powerful sound and flexible placement options due to its slim shape and small footprint. Beolab 28 includes cutting-edge, wireless connectivity and streaming features that allow you to enjoy your music exactly the way you want.” Christoffer Poulsen, Senior Vice President and Head of Product Management at Bang & Olufsen.
Adaptive Studio-grade Sound
Bang & Olufsen’s claims listeners can physically feel the bass achieved by the built-in subwoofer based on a custom-made 6.5″ driver. The driver features a large excursion to obtain a powerful and precise bass. Bang & Olufsen’s latest generation Active Room Compensation adapts the bass response to the room, allowing the speakers to be placed anywhere.
Using three 3” full range drivers placed on the front and one on each side, and a 1” tweeter on the front for optimal treble quality, it is possible to create a uniform directivity throughout the meaningful frequency range. The full range drivers and the tweeter have exceptionally high sensitivity and were developed specifically for Beolab 28 to create a clear midrange quality even at very loud levels, as well as a precise and dynamic treble reproduction.
Thanks to Beam Width Control, Beolab 28 ensures the best listening experience for any situation. In ‘narrow mode’, music reaches the ear directly and unaltered, minimizing the interference of side wall reflections and proving the ultimate sweet spot listening. In ‘wide mode’, the beam diffuses more sound all around the loudspeakers, maintaining a natural tonal balance even when sitting or walking away from the optimal listening area in front of the speakers.
Usability
Beolab 28 redefines the notion of an all-in-one speaker where simplicity is celebrated. The integrated, down-firing subwoofer amplifies enough bass capability to fill even larger rooms without the need to add an external subwoofer. This provides the best listening experience whilst minimizing clutter to give more freedom when designing an interior space. Beolab 28 can also be wall-mounted so that it does not take up floorspace.
Set-up is easy, quick and cableless thanks to wireless connectivity, offering synchronization of speakers at 24-bits/48kHz within microseconds. Built-in music streaming allows listeners to pick up their phone and stream directly to the speakers. Users can listen to music in the living room or throughout the home via Airplay 2 or Chromecast, the B&O app and Bluetooth. The speakers will be made compatible with Beolink Multiroom in autumn 2021 through an automatic software update. Beolab 28 can also be paired with a Bang & Olufsen TV using Powerlink or Wireless Powerlink.
A simple touch user interface has been created on top of Beolab 28 which lights up when approached thanks to built in proximity sensors, visually inviting the user to interact with the product. The elegant user interface allows listeners to pause/play, skip and turn the volume up or down. The incorporation of 4 favorite buttons allows listeners to easily access their favorite radio station using the built-in Bang & Olufsen Radio or Spotify playlist. Customers can choose to operate the speakers in multiple ways, either directly via the user interface, using a Bang & Olufsen remote or directly via the Smartphone.
Design
Elegant and with a slender silhouette, Beolab 28 is a versatile speaker that can be placed anywhere in the living room, whether standing on the floor or hanging on the wall. Choose from Natural Silver, Black Anthracite or Bronze Tone aluminium, and combine with speaker covers in high quality knitted fabric or solid wood to suit any interior setting. The fabric covers are available in two tones: grey and grey mélange. The wooden covers are available in light oak, oak, smoked oak and walnut.
The design of Beolab 28 consists of a column speaker with a round curvature in the lower end, followed by a conical shape that contains the woofer. The speaker is held together by a backbone which hides cable wires and gives the impression that the speaker is floating on air.
Known for its mechanical movements, Beolab 28 incorporates curtains that magically open when the speaker is switched on or move when the sound beam is adjusted, indicating whether the speaker is in narrow or wide mode. This stages the listening experience and creates an engaging ritual for the user.
Craftsmanship
Beolab 28 is designed for longevity and created in Bang & Olufsen’s legendary Factory 5 in Struer, Denmark. The anodized, aluminium cylinder is formed using a spinning technique whilst dually being pressed into shape. To reach the conical shape of the foot, the aluminium component is carefully formed using expanding and reducing techniques to secure an unusual and surprising shape. The wooden covers are made at Bjerrum Nielsen, a supplier Bang & Olufsen has worked with since 1949 due to their shared values in prioritizing craftmanship and every piece is inspected by eye to ensure the best quality.
Bang & Olufsen’s commitment to longevity also applies to technology where the speaker includes Bang & Olufsen’s new replaceable connectivity module. This has been frontloaded with enough processing power and connectivity technology to receive new performance updates and features for years to come. If the connectivity and streaming technology ever becomes outdated, the module can be replaced with the latest technology updates, future proofing the speaker for generations to come.
Beolab 28 is inspired by the iconic column shape used on Beolab Penta, Beolab 6000 and Beolab 8000 which are still being serviced by Bang & Olufsen today, showcasing the company’s commitment to timeless design and unrivalled sound.
Pricing & Availability
Beolab 28 Fabric version:
- RRP 14,750 USD
- RRP 10,750 EUR
- RRP 9,750 GBP
- RRP 18,500 CAD
- RRP 80,000 DKK
Beolab 28 Wooden version from:
- RRP 16,500 USD
- RRP 12,000 EUR
- RRP 10,750 GBP
- RRP 20,500 CAD
- RRP 90,000 DKK
2023 Update: Pricing has increased to $16,250 to $20,000 per pair USD depending on the finish at bang-olufsen.com.
Specifications
Product dimensions L x H x D
- 25.3 x 137 x 25.3 cm floor stand version
- 21.2 x 140 x 25.3 cm wall bracket version
Weight: 18.6 kg. per speaker
Speaker drivers (per speaker)
- 1 x 6.5” woofer drivers
- 3 x 3” full range drivers
- 1 x 1” tweeter
Power Amplifiers
- Non-clipped peak power (625W) per speaker unit
- 1 × Class D at 225 W for woofer
- 3 × Class D at 100 W for full range
- 1 × Class D at 100 W for tweeter
Frequency Range: 27 -23000Hz
Sound Pressure Level @1m
- Maximum sound pressure level 110dB (pair)
- Maximum bass capability 95dB (pair)
Streaming Services
- AirPlay 2
- Chromecast
- Bluetooth
- Spotify Connect
Integrated Music Services: Bang & Olufsen Radio
Remote Control
- Beoremote Halo
- Beoremote One BT
- Bang & Olufsen App
Wireless Networks
- Dual band WLAN 2.4 & 5 GHz
- IEEE 802.11 b/g/a/n/ac
- Bluetooth 5.0
Connections
- 2 x Ethernet 10/100 Mbit
- 1 x Line-in/ Optical combi-jack with sensing
- 1 x Powerlink (RJ45 –2 channels)
- 1 x USB-C (for future use)
- 1 x USB-A (for service)
- 1 x microphone off
- 1 x connection for woofer
Multiroom
Multiroom technologies from Apple Airplay 2 and Chromecast built-in are integrated and ready for you to create a connected speaker set up with Beolab 28. Beolink Multiroom will be made available via upcoming software update
Features
- Active Room Compensation
- Proximity Sensors
- Listening modes
- Wireless Powerlink (24 bit / 48 kHz)
- WiSA (24 bit / 48 kHz)
Continue reading more stories about the latest Bang & Olufsen products.
