Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen review: Amazing looks and sound
Bang & Olufsen’s latest Bluetooth speaker manages to make an impact in a crowded market dominated by the likes of JBL and UE. Sure, it’s pricey, but the sound, build quality, and environmental credentials manage to make sure that the A1 Gen 3 stands out in comparison to its numerous competitors.
I’ve been playing with the A1 gen 3 for the last few weeks, and B&O’s latest waterproof Bluetooth speaker is super impressive given its compact size. Let’s take a deeper look at what one of the best Bluetooth speakers of 2025.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen review: Cheat Sheet
What is it? A great sounding and looking portable Bluetooth speaker
What does it cost? $399/£299
Who is it for? A portable speaker for the style and sound-conscious
What do we like? The way that it looks, its sound, and the renewable credentials
What don’t we like? It’s quite expensive for the size, and there’s a little bass impact missing
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen: Specs
Price: $399/£299
Colors: Natural Aluminum/Warm Granite/Honey Tone/Eucalyptus Green
Size: H x 1.8” D x 5.2″
Weight: 1.27 pounds
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1
Bluetooth range: up to 33 feet (10 m)
Custom EQ: Yes
Voice assistant: No
Multi-speaker connectivity: Yes
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen review: Price and availability
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen is not a cheap speaker, especially when you consider its size. It costs $399 in the U.S., making it more expensive than the comparable Ultimate Ears and JBL options of a similar shape and size. If you want to spend a little less, then the JBL Flip and Charge 6 speakers are perhaps more your tempo.
The speaker is made out of aluminum, making it feel super premium in the hand. It sounds much better than the aforementioned alternatives as well, and matches the competition when it comes to waterproofing and ruggedization thanks to an IP67 rating. It is a more expensive option, that much is certain, but it’s easily worth that higher price tag.
You won’t have any trouble getting hold of one either. It’s available on the B&O website, for one, but you’ll also spot it on Amazon and other retailers.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen review: Design
- Lovely, modern design language
- Very sturdy and well-built
- Great environmental credentials
B&O’s Scandinavian design language is one of my favorites in audio. The Beosound A1 3rd gen is no departure from the norm either, even if it does look awfully similar. There is little here that has changed from the previous 2 generations, but given how good those speakers look, I’m not bothered in the slightest. It’s a kind of audio puck, with an aluminum speaker grille and a soft-touch bottom.
The aluminum feels great in the hand, and makes sure you know where your large spend is going. It’s finely milled for each hole, the power LED hidden amongst them towards the ‘top’ of the device.
No matter the color you buy you’ll get a love anodized finish across the metal portion of the speaker. The lower portion is a plastic affair that’s covered with a high-quality soft touch surface. All together, it makes the speaker feel like the piece of premium audio gear that you were expecting when you put down your $400.
It’s built well, too, so you know that it will last a good long time. B&O certainly knows that the speaker itself can last. In a plus for the environment, you can send your Beosound A1 3rd gen off to B&O to get the battery replaced, along with other modular components. It’s a shame they aren’t user-replaceable, but it’s a start, given how often Bluetooth speakers become e-waste the moment the battery stops holding a charge.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen review: Connectivity and control
- Useful buttons
- Bluetooth 5.1
- No WiFi
As seems to be the norm at this point, I report that there is no Wi-Fi on board the A1 3rd gen. If you want Wi-Fi at this price or size, you’re going to have to go to one of the Sonos portable options in the form of the Move 2 or the Roam 2. The latter is much smaller, while the former is larger and more expensive — both are excellent in their own right.
I’m not too bothered about the lack of Wi-Fi in the long run, though. The speaker still sounds excellent over Bluetooth, and I’ve never found myself asking for more fidelity. Bluetooth 5.1 is plenty, and it means you get aptX Adaptive, which is always a nice bonus. It’s stable, and I’ve never had any issues with the connection dropping out over the course of my testing.
You can control the whole package with the B&O app, and it’s a helpful, flexible control option. It’s free to install and filled with an EQ, a clever visual sound manipulation system, and all the system settings you could ever need. The EQ isn’t completely necessary, but if you like to play with the sound of your gear, it’s a solid method.
On the side of the speaker, you’ll find the buttons. To aid with waterproofing, they’re all rubberized options built into the soft-touch surface, and they’re all nice and clicky. I really like the way that they feel under the finger, and you’ll have no issue changing the volume, playing and pausing your music or initiating the Bluetooth pairing.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen review: Sound quality
- Excellent detail and mid-range
- Sounds larger than its size
- Perhaps lacking a little bass
As you might expect from something smaller like the Beosound A1 3rd gen, there’s perhaps a little bass impact that’s left by the wayside. That’s not completely unexpected, and it never once put a major dampener on the way that the speaker sounded to my ears. Because overall, the A1 3rd gen is an exemplary performer by almost every sonic metric.
The mids are incredibly well-rounded, with some great vocals and guitars to show what they can do. The highs are effervescent and detailed, making for a very pleasing listen indeed. The bass is energetic and fun. Considering the competition and their need to make as much low-end as possible, usually at the expense of the rest of the ensemble, it makes for a refreshing change.
The speaker can get surprisingly loud for it’s size, and I uncommonly found very little distortion or any unwanted loss of weight as I increased the volumes to its upper echelons. It’s not going to be enough to power a house party, but it’ll more than fill a living room with good sound, or a college dorm room.
I didn’t find the sound changed too much depending on how I paced the speaker either, so you can hang it from the wall or place it on a cabinet without concern that you won’t get the same excellent sound.
Earthrise’s But What If We’re Wrong builds with impressive dynamism, each element adding to the overall volume of the track. But each element remains well defined, never becoming inaudible as more instruments join the soundscape. The distorted guitars are thick and well placed, and the drums are expertly timed. The upper register is where the speaker sings, bringing excellent detail to cymbals, harp strings, and acoustic guitar plucks. The piano is weighty — for something this size, it’s a remarkable performance that’s sure to wow even the most eager Bluetooth speaker sceptic.
Ozzy’s classic Mama I’m Coming Home hits the heartstrings more now than it ever did, and the Beosound A1 3rd does the Prince of Darkness perfect justice. The country-style slide guitar sounds great, with plenty of bend and body. The bass guitar is defined, and as the song gets heavier, it remains easy to find. The guitar solo soars beyond the limits of the speaker — and Ozzy’s voice rings out with clarity.
Luude’s drum & bass version of Down Under brings the bass, and while it’s not enough to shake the windows, there’s still plenty to add some body to proceedings. It’s engaging and energetic, making sure that you want to get up and dance. The vocal samples are well separated amongst the sub-bass din, and the drums are tight and controlled.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen review: Battery life
There’s not much to say about battery life — there’s 24 hours on tap according to B&O, which is slightly more than the likes of the UE Boom 4. The A1 is also a whole lot more expensive than that speaker, so you’d hope there were bonuses beyond the build quality and sound profile. Still, that’s more than the similarly priced Bose option and about the same as the Sonos Move 2.
Take it away from the specs sheet, and things remain positive. I used the speaker from fully charged for about 10 hours, and the battery dropped to about 60% — so those battery life figures from B&O would seem to ring true.
You charge the A1 3rd gen through its USB-C port, which as an extra bonus, can also be used to listen to music wired with the speaker. That’s a big bonus, and something I’m seeing on fewer and fewer options. Charging takes around 3 hours, which is on the long side, but you can use it while charging.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen review: Verdict
The Beosound A1 Gen 3 is a very good speaker, held back by only a couple of minor points. It is quite expensive, and there are similarly sized speakers for less should you not want to pony up the dollars for the B&O option. That’s understandable — and if you’re on a budget the UE Boom 4 and MegaBoom 4 are probably more up your alley.
But, for those who take the financial plunge, the Beosound A1 3rd gen is about as delicious and unctuous as you might hope. Just like that brownie you’ve been trying to justify when you went out for lunch, it’s as rich and luxurious as the price suggests. If it were my money, I’d buy the A1.
Source link
