Audio brand Bang & Olufsen (B&O) has unveiled the new Beosound Emerge, a wireless speaker that is developed in collaboration with British designer Benjamin Hubert’s LAYER agency. Unique to the device is its design, which the brand said is inspired by the compact form factor of a book.
The Beosound Emerge sports a slim silhouette, featuring oak wood side panels that wrap around its body ala a book cover. Situated in front is its speaker grill, and keeping the entire device standing in place is a cylindrical base. On top of the new wireless speaker is the user interface, which features touch-sensitive buttons for audio playback control. B&O noted that you can adjust the speaker’s volume by making a circular gesture around the control panel. While its size and form factor does resemble a book in most cases, there’s no denying that the Emerge also has a slight semblance to a particular video game console or even a Wi-Fi router.
Audio-wise, the brand claims that the Emerge is capable of delivering a “full-range sound experience”, despite its form factor. Featured onboard the wireless speaker is a 37mm midrange driver that is mounted at an angle to accommodate its slim design. Audio produced by the driver is emitted from the front, alongside the 14mm soft dome tweeter. Meanwhile, a 100m side-firing woofer allows sound to be “guided” to the back of the device, which allows it to calibrate its output accordingly based on the size and layout of the room.
For a more immersive experience, you can wirelessly pair the device to another Beosound Emerge or to other compatible B&O speakers for stereo or surround sound. It also supports connectivity with Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Google Assistant. Additionally, the brand noted that the new device will also receive support for its Beolink multiroom connectivity in late 2021. Other than that, it also comes with a built-in radio function, as well as a microphone for voice commands.
B&O says that the new wireless speakers will be future proof, thanks to its onboard replaceable connectivity module. The brand explained that the module is packed with “enough processing power and connectivity technology to receive new performance updates and features for years to come.” Should the connectivity and streaming technology ever become outdated, the module can be replaced with a newer version that comes with the latest technology upgrades.
The Beosound Emerge is offered in two colour options, which are priced differently from one another. Specifically, the Black Anthracite version retails at USD699 (~RM2,880), while the Gold Tone colour comes with a heftier price tag at US$899 (~RM3,707). Bang & Olufsen’s new book-inspired wireless speakers is now available in Europe starting today, and is slated to launch globally in Autumn 2021.
(Source: Bang & Olufsen [Official website])
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