There’s a tectonic shift underway in the home entertainment segment; BeoPlay A2, Bang and Olufsen’s first ever Bluetooth Speaker, confirms this trend. We carry our lifetime’s music repository on board our smartphones and an ever expanding list of diminutive powerhouses are threatening to make large music systems irrelevant. We put the spotlight on two Bluetooth speakers that sit at different ends of the price spectrum but are both compelling propositions.
For the longest time Bang and Olufsen opted to sit out of the Bluetooth speaker game and watched aggressive players with a cool quotient, like Jawbone, make big strides. B&O’s gorgeous Beolit 12 wireless speaker hooked up with mobile devices either via Ethernet or WLAN. It might well be the emergence of aptX as the next big thing in Bluetooth audio, with claims of better audio output than the current SBC standard (Low Complexity Subband coding), that might have prompted B&O’s move. Design has always been B&O’s biggest differentiator and the A2 is another masterpiece, envisioned by celebrated industrial designer Cecilie Manz, who crafted the picnic basket-style Beolit 12.
B&O opts for a flat, skinny form factor for the A2. At 1.1kg, it’s not lightweight, but should slip into that murse or slim backpack without a fight. At its core is a single piece of extruded aluminium that is encased in a polycarbonate shell; the controls are housed on the rim. There’s a full-grain leather strap that lends to the device’s purse-like form factor and also allows you to lug it around with minimal effort. Selected holes on the speaker grill are filled – this looks particularly pleasing to the eye in the lighter coloured versions. It doesn’t end with the trademark B&O aesthetic. Housed within the grills is a 180W package, with a set of speakers on either side, a full-range driver, 0.75” tweeter and a passive bass radiator. The twin directional sound creates a big impact in large rooms; the A2 doesn’t distort notes even at high volumes and boasts truly rich bass. If the DJ doesn’t show up at that beach house party, the A2 can more than fill in.
The A2’s biggest talking point is its 24-hour battery life, truly a big deal in a category where 5-6 hours is the norm. Our tests proved that B&O’s claims are not exaggerated. There’s a small trade off though; the A2 requires a proprietary AC adapter (it’s bulky too) and does not support the standard Micro USB charger. While its perfect for the beach house party, it’s not quite ready for the beach – it’s not dust- resistant or water proof and not meant for the rough and tumble. Aside from Bluetooth connectivity, there’s also support for a 3.5mm audio input and a very thoughtful USB socket that allows you to charge your mobile device.
If you don’t mind the stiff price tag and the lack of a standard (Micro USB) charging option, the BeoPlay A2 is a great buy. Whether you need extra bite for those HD movies on your tab, or to bring the roof down with your heavy metal playlist, the A2 is up to the task.
What we liked:
Cutting edge design
Top notch acoustics
Incredible battery life
What we didn’t like:
Requires a proprietary charging cable
Not waterproof
Price: Rs 22,990
Now, imagine you’re immersed in your Coldplay playlist and the phone rings. The Logitech X300 allows you to take a short break and answer that call via the inbuilt microphone. It’s not unique to the Logitech X300, quite a few Bluetooth speakers now double up as ‘hands-free’ devices, giving your Skype calls an extra audio boost.
The X300 is positioned as a capable compact Bluetooth speaker for first-time buyers seeking a dependable alternative to generic speakers that might not go the distance. We like the X300’s funky design; there’s a palette of vibrant colours, including a badass blue. The design language is quite similar to the JBL Flip and, just like the Flip, you can position the speaker either horizontally or vertically. Although the X300 weighs just 335g it manages to cram two drivers and a passive sub woofer into the mix. The drivers are angled to give the speaker (with a 10W RMS output) a more expansive sound spectrum.
Aside from Bluetooth connectivity, there’s also a 3.5 mm socket if you’d rather wire up. The X300 claims a range of 30 feet, but struggles somewhat if there’s a wall in between. Bluetooth speakers often underperform with their battery life; the X300 doesn’t quite beat this trend. It manages to clock around five hours and is clearly not ready for those all night TV marathons with your tab. We also wish that Logitech had added a carry case to the box.
We like how the X300 does not crumble at high volumes, a point where lesser speakers end up producing jarring notes. It’s certainly not loud enough to power a party but good enough for that impromptu head banging session at your pad; and at Rs 5,995, you don’t have to break the bank.
What we liked:
Good quality sound
Funky design
Decent value for money
What we didn’t like:
Middling battery life
No carry case
Price: Rs 5,995
