World-renowned audio company Bang & Olufsen has launched a new Bluetooth speaker with a rugged design.
The aptly named Beosound Explorer will join a crowded Bluetooth speaker market and will compete with the likes of Marshall, UE and Bose. It’s the first to arrive with a Type 2 anodised aluminium body, has a huge battery life, and follows on from the Beosound A1 (2nd-gen).
This new type of aluminium, created at Bang & Olufsen’s Factory 5 in Denmark, offers improved scratch resistance and comes with a strap and carabiner to carry or hang it almost anywhere. The Explorer is also IP67 dust and waterproof meaning it’s fully dunkable in freshwater.
B&O says it’s the firm’s most durable speaker ever, with Christoffer Poulsen, SVP of product management saying, “We created Beosound Explore to be our toughest speaker that can withstand the outdoor elements. The exceptional sound quality for its size makes Beosound Explore the perfect companion for any adventure.”
That sound comes from dual 1.8in full-range drivers with 59dB of bass capability despite the compact size. A grill cut into the round aluminium chassis offers ‘True360 omnidirectional sound’, according to B&O.
You’ll find controls on top for playback and although there’s no microphone to use with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant as a smart speaker, there’s Bluetooth 5.2 and you can stereo pair if you get two. The Explorer can last a whopping 27 hours at ‘typical listening volume’ which is longer than many rivals.
The Beosound Explorer is in Black Anthracite and Green priced at £179/US$199/€199. It’s available in the UK, US, France, Canada and other markets.
The Grey Mist colourway will be available in Summer 2021.
