B&O wants its new Beosound level to outlast its connected speaker

Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound Level is the latest battery-powered speaker from the Danish brand. It supports voice controls via Google Assistant, Bluetooth, and you can also stream via AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Spotify Connect standards. B&O says the Beosound Level uses a modular construction that it claims will make it usable in the distant future. It is a welcome feature, considering the high starting price of $ 1,499 (£ 1,099) for the speaker.

While many mid-century stereos and amplifiers can still be used today, the average lifespan of modern integrated audio systems is much shorter. If your music system contains a computer, it is inevitable that it will become out of date. B&O’s hope is that the modular design it is using for the Beosound level will help the company keep it supported for longer, and facilitate repair when components fail.

At the heart of this modularity is the Beosound Level streaming module, which houses the speaker digital signal processing (DSP) chip, wireless connectivity technology and antenna array. He is the first B&O speaker to use it, but the company says it will not be the last; it will be standardized on its future line of home speakers. B&O says there is enough processing space in the hardware that comes with Beosound Level for it to be able to handle updates in the immediate future. But when the hardware reaches its limit, the company plans to offer an update service for users who are prepared to send their device to the company so that the streaming module can be replaced.

The Beosound Level battery is also modular and, unlike the streaming module, can be replaced by the user. However, its shape will not be standardized on the B&O speaker line, so replacing it will require a battery made specifically for the Beosound Level. Battery life is rated at up to 16 hours with volumes at moderate levels, dropping to four hours at maximum volume.

Other features include a built-in accelerometer that allows the Beosound Level to adjust its sound depending on whether it is vertical, horizontal or hanging on the wall. (A wall mount is available separately for $ 119, or £ 89.) Internally, the speaker has five drivers: two 4-inch woofers, a 2-inch full-range driver and two 0.8-inch tweeters .

Charging is done via a USB-C port on the speaker itself or by connecting a small magnetic plug (which is powered by USB). The speaker has an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, touch controls and is available in wood or fabric finishes.

We’ve seen companies try to adopt modular approaches with their devices before, but success has been difficult so far. Modular smartphones never really took off, and Alienware’s promises about a future-proof modular laptop crumbled after just a year. Bang & Olufsen told me that it hopes to support the Beosound Level for years after it finally stops producing the speaker, so it may take some time before we see if it is able to achieve its goal.

The Beosound level is available starting today.