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.
£239.40 with 8 percent savings
RRP: £259.00 
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This item: Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) - Premium Wireless Portable IP67 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker with 360 Degree Sound, Alexa Voice Assistant, Speakerphone, Up to 18 Hrs Playtime - Anthracite/Oxygen
£239.40
Get it 23 – 26 Apr
In stock
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£19.99
Get it as soon as Saturday, Apr 19
In stock
Total price: $00
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From the brand
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Home Audio
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Portable Speakers
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Longevity Products
From the manufacturer
Compact portable speaker
Small speaker, huge sound
Take Bang & Olufsen Signature Sound with you, thanks to Beosound A1's superior audio performance. With a peak power of 2x140 watts as well as an aptXTM adaptive codec to improve sound performance, this small speaker punches well above its weight.
Three omni-directional microphones ensure Beosound A1 delivers clarity on speaker calls too. Stay connected or relax to the bass-rich sound of your favourite tunes.
- Big sound, compact design
- Rugged, waterproof speaker
- Long-lasting battery
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Responsive voice control
Amazon Alexa Built-In
Use Amazon Alexa or voice commands to control your experience.
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Long-lasting battery
Impressive daily playtime
Convenient, fast charging and a powerful battery for continuous play.
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Durable materials
Outdoor ready speaker
Brushed aluminium and double-moulded polymer for an attractive finish.
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Lightweight, heavy beats
Big bass-rich sounds
Even the heaviest of beats can come with you.
Beosound A1 2nd Gen
Product Comparison
13.3 x 4.6 x 13.3 cm | Dimensions | 11.3 x 11 x 5.1 cm |
558 g | Weight | 631 g |
Up to 18 hours | Battery life | Up to 27 hours |
IP67 | Dust and waterproof | IP67 |
| | Speakerphone | |
| | Voice Assistant |
13.3 x 4.6 x 13.3 cm | Dimensions | 23 x 18.9 x 13.5 cm |
558 g | Weight | 2.7 kg |
Up to 18 hours | Battery life | Up to 8 hours |
IP67 | Dust and waterproof | No |
| | Speakerphone | |
| | Voice Assistant |
13.3 x 4.6 x 13.3 cm | Dimensions | 34.3 x 23.1 x 5.6 cm |
558 g | Weight | 3.3 kg |
Up to 18 hours | Battery life | Up to 16 hours |
IP67 | Dust and waterproof | IP54 |
| | Speakerphone | |
| | Voice Assistant |
13.3 x 4.6 x 13.3 cm | Dimensions | 28.5 x 18.7 x 13 cm |
558 g | Weight | 3.7 kg |
Up to 18 hours | Battery life | Up to 12 hours |
IP67 | Dust and waterproof | IP65 |
| | Speakerphone | |
| | Voice Assistant |
Compare with similar items
This item  Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) - Premium Wireless Portable IP67 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker with 360 Degree Sound, Alexa Voice Assistant, Speakerphone, Up to 18 Hrs Playtime - Anthracite/Oxygen | Recommendations  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | -8% £239.40 RRP: £259.00 | -24% £196.69 RRP: £259.00 | £219.00 | £19.99 | -34% £21.00 RRP: £31.99 | £61.99 |
| Delivery | Get it 23 – 26 Apr | Get it 25 – 29 Apr | Get it as soon as Saturday, Apr 19 | Get it as soon as Saturday, Apr 19 | Get it as soon as Saturday, Apr 19 | Get it as soon as Saturday, Apr 19 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold by | sotel-electronics (incl. VAT & Duties) | Amazon EU | Amazon | YBY_EUGO | AnkerDirect UK | TSMART |
| speaker size | 13.3 centimeters | 13.3 centimeters | 5 inches | — | 1 inches | 19.8 centimeters |
| power source | Battery Powered | Battery Powered | Battery Powered | Battery Powered | Battery Powered | Battery Powered |
| connectivity tech | USB | Bluetooth | USB | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| speaker type | Bluetooth | Portable Speaker | Bluetooth | Wireless, Bluetooth | Portable Speaker | Outdoor |
| mounting type | Tabletop | Tabletop | Tabletop | tabletop | Tabletop | Tabletop |
| weight | 0.56 kilograms | 558 grams | 1.4 pounds | 0.35 pounds | 380 grams | 580 grams |
| control method | application | application | touch | application | application | application |
| model name | Beosound A1 2nd Gen | Beosound A1 2nd Gen | Beosound Explore | UK-TK-0385 | A3102 | XSound Plus 2 |
| surround channels | 2.0, 5.1 | 2.0, 5.1 | 2 | 2 | 4.2 | 2 |
| battery average life | 18 hours | 18 hours | 27 hours | — | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| woofer diameter | — | 5.24 inches | 1.8 inches | — | — | 48 millimeters |
The best for Audiophiles at this price
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.
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2024Colour Name: Grey MistVerified Purchase
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.
The best for Audiophiles at this price
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2024
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.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
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JOSE-FRANCISCO GATO VIUDAReviewed in Spain on 20 December 2024
CALIDAD BANG & OLUFSEN
Colour Name: Black AnthraciteVerified Purchase - Tushar BansalReviewed in India on 3 January 2025
Excellent!!
Colour Name: Gold ToneVerified Purchase - Paula LawasReviewed in Australia on 9 July 2024
Best speaker ever
Colour Name: Gold ToneVerified Purchase -
maestroReviewed in Poland on 31 August 2024
Świetny produkt
Colour Name: Anthracite OxygenVerified Purchase -
PaoloReviewed in Italy on 16 July 2023
Semplicemente incredibile
Colour Name: Gold ToneVerified Purchase
