Bang Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 Review

Bang Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 Review

TRUE SCORE

75%

#

27

/

152

Where does this product score?

Critics were pleased with the compact design of the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 speaker. They liked that this made it portable and that it could withstand harsh handling. However, they didn’t appreciate its low battery life and missing WiFi connectivity.

Product Awards

GR Certified

Consumer Favorite

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

89

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

90

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

75%

Any product with a True Score above 90 is a Cosmic Wonder

Expert Score Breakdown_

  • Rtings
    F

    Cat Trust Score

    70
    The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 2nd Gen has incredible… read more
  • PC Mag
    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    80
    The outdoor-friendly Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) speaker… read more
  • Android Police
    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    85
    If you can afford it, yes. Is the A1 the… read more
  • ?

    Cat Trust Score

    NR
    “No bottom line found for this product” read more

Customer Score Breakdown_

Product Snapshot

Expert Rankings

Overview_

First released in mid-2020, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 is a top-end Bluetooth speaker available in five color streams. The speaker has an IP67 rating, so it is waterproof and dust-tight. It comes with a carrying strap that allows users to attach it to a bag and listen to music when outdoors, and weighing just 1.1 pounds, it is much more portable than some of the best speakers on the market. The speaker’s battery lasts about 4.6 hours, and since it also has its companion app, users will be able to customize its EQ presets or even pair two A1 Gen 2 speakers for a stereo output. This is a feature that is also quite common among the highest-rated Bluetooth speakers in the industry. It can also take up voice commands after being integrated with the Alexa app, but it doesn’t work with Siri. If this sounds like a deal breaker that you wouldn’t want to deal with, then check out our Apple HomePod review.

Best For

Best Home Theater TV
Best PS5 TV
  • Best Home Theater TV

  • Best PS5 TV

Consensus_

Reason to Buy

  • Compact and lightweight
  • Sturdy build quality
  • Works with voice assistants
  • Allows for EQ presets
  • Supports multi-device pairing

Reason to Avoid

  • Short battery life
  • No WiFi connectivity
  • Low bass response

Key Specs_

Frequency Low12 hz

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Product Comparison_

True Score

75%
NR
NR
NR

Ranking

#

27

/

152

#

/

#

/

#

/

Market Context

First released in mid-2020, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 is a top-end Bluetooth speaker available in five color streams. The speaker has…

First released in mid-2020, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 is a top-end Bluetooth speaker available in five color streams. The speaker has an IP67 rating, so it is waterproof and dust-tight. It comes with a carrying strap that allows users to attach it to a bag and listen to music when outdoors, and weighing just 1.1 pounds, it is much more portable than some of the best speakers on the market. The speaker’s battery lasts about 4.6 hours, and since it also has its companion app, users will be able to customize its EQ presets or even pair two A1 Gen 2 speakers for a stereo output. This is a feature that is also quite common among the highest-rated Bluetooth speakers in the industry. It can also take up voice commands after being integrated with the Alexa app, but it doesn’t work with Siri. If this sounds like a deal breaker that you wouldn’t want to deal with, then check out our Apple HomePod review.

There are many differences between the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 and the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore that may make customers swing…

There are many differences between the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 and the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore that may make customers swing either way. The former has a longer 9-hour battery life compared to the latter’s 4.6-hour playback time, but the latter has support for both voice assistant and speakerphone functionality, while the former does not. Go ahead and learn more about the latter in our Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore review.

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2’s sound output can be customized through EQ presets while that of the Bose SoundLink Revolve II cannot,…

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2’s sound output can be customized through EQ presets while that of the Bose SoundLink Revolve II cannot, but the Revolve II has a longer 9.5-hour battery life than the Gen 2’s 4.6-hour playback time. The Revolve II also supports Google Assistant and Siri, while the Gen 2 only works with Alexa.

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 supports speakerphone functionality while the Sonos Roam does not, but the Sonos Roam supports WiFi connectivity while…

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 supports speakerphone functionality while the Sonos Roam does not, but the Sonos Roam supports WiFi connectivity while the Beosound Gen 2 does not. The Gen 2 also supports multi-device pairing, while the Sonos Roam does not.

Frequency Low

12 hz

See Deal

Dig Deeper

All Stores_

Updated Nov 3, 2023 3:01 PM
  • Save $79
    $299.00
    $220.09

    Availability

    In Stock

    Free Shipping

    Yes

Price History_

Score Card

E

Expert Score

89

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

90

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

75%

Any product with a True Score above 90 is a Cosmic Wonder

Expert Score Breakdown_

  • Rtings
    F

    Trust Score

    F

    Cat Trust Score

    70
    The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 2nd Gen has incredible voice assistant support. It comes… read more
  • PC Mag
    ?

    Trust Score

    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    80
    The outdoor-friendly Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) speaker offers a strong mix of… read more
  • Android Police
    ?

    Trust Score

    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    85
    If you can afford it, yes. Is the A1 the most economical way to spend… read more
  • ?

    Trust Score

    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    NR
    “No bottom line found for this product” read more

Customer Score Breakdown_

Most Promising Positive Review

Most Promising Positive Review