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(Pocket-lint) - Bang & Olufsen is not lone renowned arsenic a prestige shaper of large-scale audio products, it besides happens to marque our favourite portable talker ever: the Beosound A1 2nd Gen.
So erstwhile the Danish institution announced its latest portable for 2021, the Beosound Explore, we were excited to spot what caller goodness this tin-can-shaped Bluetooth talker could bring to the party.
Design & Features
- Dimensions: 81mm diameter x 124mm tallness / Weight: 637g
- Finishes: Grey Mist, Black Anthracite, Green
- IP67 certified dust- and water-resistant
- Type II anodised aluminium design
- Bang & Olufsen app
- USB-C charging
It truly is astir the aforesaid size arsenic a tin tin you'd find successful the cupboard, which makes carting the Beosound Explore astir a portion of cake. It's casual to grab, chuck into a bag, oregon clip onto thing utilizing the included carabiner noosed done the imperishable worldly loop that's astir the 'back' of the speaker.
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In keeping with this being an outdoorsy merchandise - it's IP67 rated, meaning it's dust, sand, and water-resistant - the colourways are grey, achromatic oregon green; the benignant of 'earthy' finishes that springiness the aluminium operation a much earthy aesthetic.
In summation to a cross-arranged conception of buttons up apical - comprised of play/pause, measurement up, measurement down, Bluetooth pair, on/off - there's besides a Bang & Olufsen app disposable to marque further adjustments, specified arsenic equalisation (EQ).
Pairing is elemental enough, with the Bluetooth 5.2 strategy rapidly uncovering big devices without trouble. There's besides Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and Made for iPhone (MFi) for speedy connectivity connected each fig of devices.
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There's an exposed USB-C larboard for charging, which is semi-hidden by the worldly loop astatine times, fixed the mode it hangs to the rear of the design. Although 'rear' is hard to specify: it's lone truly the Bang & Olufsen logo connected the beforehand that defines the frontal point, arsenic the cylindrical plan sounds azygous passim its afloat rotation.
Sound Quality
- Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity
- 2x 30W Class D amplifiers
- 2x 1.8-inch full-range drivers
- Frequency response: 56Hz-22.7kHz
- 2400mAh artillery - up to 27 hours per charge
That's 1 of the things Bang & Olufsen hasn't been rather truthful bully astatine implicit time: delivering 360-degree dependable from a portable product, similar truthful galore of its competitors, truthful that feels similar a ample portion of the Explore's crushed for being. Its output is astir identical whichever mode it's turned, which is ideal.
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However, contempt this expanse of output, the existent dependable prime isn't arsenic expansive arsenic we had hoped for. The Explore sounds good, don't get america wrong, it's conscionable that the almost-the-same-price Beosound A1 2nd Gen sounds truthful overmuch amended and bassier - if you tin forego the existent 360-degree situation output.
Bang & Olufsen claims the Explore hits 56Hz astatine its lowest extremity output. Whether oregon not that's factual, the interaction of that transportation is little than immoderate competitors. The JBL Charge 5, for example, cuts disconnected astatine 65Hz astatine the low-end - but that device's bass output is overmuch bigger, delivered truthful you tin consciousness it that overmuch more.
Not that it's each astir bass: the Beosound Explore tin grip the afloat scope successful a nicely balanced way, truthful vocals don't ever consciousness lost, for example, portion higher-end titters person conscionable capable sparkle.
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Another diagnostic this tin-can-like talker delivers beardown is the artillery life. We've been getting much than 20 hours per complaint - we perceive louder than the claimed 27 hours emblematic delivery, clearly! - which is amended than the Beosound A1 2nd Gen for sure, if longevity is much important to you.
Verdict
The Beosound Explore is Bang & Olufsen's reply to its lack successful the 360-degree portable talker marketplace - due to the fact that it delivers a nicely balanced and genuinely all-round dependable from each grade of its cylindrical design. The artillery beingness is large too.
However, contempt answering that question - which truthful galore competitors person been delivering for years present - the Explore doesn't deed the aforesaid sonic heights arsenic Bang & Olufsen's ain Beosound A1 2nd Gen, truthful if you tin forego the 360-degree output past that talker is simply a acold amended choice.
Also consider
Beosound A1 2nd Gen
This is 1 unbeatable portable Bluetooth talker successful our view: you'll get bigger sound, bigger bass, and a much appealing plan overall.
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Writing by Mike Lowe. Originally published connected 20 October 2021.
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