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Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) is a speaker that packs a critical punch for its measurement. Usually priced at $299.99, it’s all the way down to $139.99 on Woot for the following 13 days or till inventory runs out—and you probably have Amazon Prime, transport is free. Non-Prime members must pay $6, however both method, it’s solely out there to the contiguous U.S. (no transport to Alaska, Hawaii, or PO bins).
PCMag gave this Bluetooth speaker an Editor’s Selection award when it launched in 2020, and it’s nonetheless a robust contender at present.
At simply 1.2 kilos, the Beosound A1 will not be precisely gentle for its measurement, although it comes with a leather-based lanyard for simple carrying. With an IP67 ranking that may deal with mud, sand, and submersion, it is able to accompany you on outside adventures. Setup is dealt with by the Bang & Olufsen app, which additionally permits its built-in Alexa—although you’ll must hyperlink accounts first. It is Bluetooth 5.1-compatible with assist for AAC and AptX Adaptive codecs, although it doesn’t have LDAC assist for high-res listening. The battery lifetime of the Beosound A1 is rated at 18 hours, however that’ll rely in your quantity settings.
This little speaker will get loud, pushed by a 3.5-inch woofer and a 0.4-inch tweeter, each powered by devoted 30-watt Class D amps. The result’s a deep bass (sufficient to shake a desk however with out the speaker itself transferring round) that stays full even at reasonable to excessive volumes. It’s a bass-heavy tuning, which is smart given its measurement—although at max quantity, the DSP kicks in to forestall distortion, scaling down the sound barely, notes the PCMag overview. Its frequency vary of 55Hz-20kHz means you’ll get stable lows and clear highs, however don’t anticipate a superbly balanced studio monitor sound. The app’s EQ adjustment isn’t probably the most intuitive, utilizing a round chart as an alternative of sliders, however it gives some management over tuning.
Should you’re on the lookout for one thing newer with the most recent Bluetooth tech (and one which’s a little bit extra budget-friendly), the Beats Tablet is at present $99.99 (down from $149.95) and is perhaps value contemplating as an alternative.