Bang & Olufsen brings its design DNA to the metaverse with its first NFTs

Posted on 02/11/2022 by JC Torres

Perhaps it was thanks to Mark Zuckerberg’s and Meta’s recent event that the Metaverse and its related but dissimilar buzzword Web 3.0 came back under the spotlight. After a long stretch of near silence, companies and brands are once again showing interest in this still ambiguous market, especially when it comes to controversial non-fungible tokens or NFTs. After all, NFTs that can sell for thousands of dollars apiece are perfect for limited edition collectibles that put the brand’s stake in future virtual worlds. Granted, most people still can’t make heads or tails of all these concepts, but there’s already a good number of collectors and believers that are willing to show their support with their money and other resources. It’s for this group of fans that Bang & Olufsen had decided to take the plunge into the world of Web 3 and the metaverse with an NFT collection designed to show off its creative chops more than its audio expertise.

Designer: Bang & Olufsen

Although the technologies and details swarming around NFTs are indeed complicated, the basic idea behind its pull is understandable from a human perspective. In essence, it is related to owning a unique and singular digital artifact, similar to the idea of physical property that can’t be cloned perfectly. In a digital world where it’s trivial to copy files and images, such a kind of ownership sounds radical and revolutionary. Of course, implementation has been far from perfect, leading to the rather contentious position of NFTs, especially among artists, designers, and other creatives.

That hasn’t stopped big brands from proving they can go with the flow and the times, and Bang & Olufsen’s “DNA Collection” NFTs are in the same vein. The company best known for its exquisite audio equipment has announced an upcoming collection of 1925 NFTs, a nod to the year the company was founded. Rather than just a simple NFT drop, as these events are usually called, B&O is putting a rather unique and fun twist that tries to share the spirit of creativity with its music-loving community.

The DNA collection revolves around some of its most elegant products, including the Beogram 4000 as well as the Beoplay A9 and Beolab 90 speakers. These have been distilled down to key parts like legs, frame, front cover, and back cover, which are then combined with a custom-made range of digital product materials. During the minting process, buyers will be able to get a random selection of products and product materials that will allow them to mix and match designs for a truly unique B&O product that they’ll be able to display in their future virtual home in the metaverse.

The DNA Collection is meant to showcase Bang & Olufsen’s design heritage over the decades, which is an admittedly surprising venture for the company. While the brand is definitely praised for its design chops, it is, at its heart, an audio company, something that won’t translate so smoothly to Web 3.0. NFTs are also still a divisive topic within the design community, especially because of their environmental repercussions. In that regard, B&O promises that it has chosen a blockchain that reduces its climate impact, even if that impact can still be quite significant.

The post Bang & Olufsen brings its design DNA to the metaverse with its first NFTs first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Hi-Fi system concept elevates listening to music into a visual art form

Posted on 07/07/2022 by JC Torres

As more and more content becomes digital today, most of our consumption happens through our smartphones. We listen to music being streamed from the cloud and even force ourselves to enjoy videos with subtitles on screens not much larger than our hands. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this lifestyle, especially for people on the go, it takes away some of the elements that make those activities special on their own. For example, you will sometimes miss out on the visual and tangible aspects of owning products designed specifically to make those activities enjoyable and memorable, making listening to music almost mechanical and rote. This concept design for a beautiful Hi-Fi system tries to bring back some of that joy, and it takes inspiration from some of the best creative minds in the industry.

Designer: Hans Baerholm

Bang & Olufsen isn’t just famous for its audio expertise that now permeates many sound systems, including those in cars and phones. The marque has been known for decades for its design acumen, skillfully integrating audio systems into beautiful forms that stood the test of time and fads. The Beogram 4000 turntable and Beomaster 6000 4ch receiver, for example, carry a classic design that embodies minimalist aesthetics and principles that have become en vogue today. Unsurprisingly, these two have served as the foundations for a reimagining of that product line, aptly called the Beogram Remaster.

Rather than just a single piece of equipment, the Beogram Remaster is actually a set that completes a whole audio system designed to bring back the pleasure of listening to music that isn’t beholden to a small pocket computer. More than just distinct pieces of hardware, however, the B&O-inspired “Remaster” has a harmonious visual identity that builds upon the B&O DNA but also tweaks it a bit for more modern tastes.

The turntable, for example, sports the same distinctive slits that radiate from the middle as the original Beogram 4000. This time, however, the plate is more subdued and blends almost seamlessly with the rest of the turntable’s surface. The tonearm is a simpler but larger rectangular block that belies its special talent. It is driven by a linear motor, allowing the turntable to be mounted vertically on a wall. In fact, almost every piece of the Beogram Remaster collection could be mounted in the same way, creating wall art that is also functional at the same time.

The receiver also hides its modern nature beneath its classic appearance. Unlike the original, it can integrate more than just radio stations and DAB. It can also receive streams and podcasts from the Internet and most likely from your phone as well. It is an all-around receiver that handles anything and everything available today, all wrapped in a design that similarly blends the past and the present.

More than just a nod to past designs, the Beogram Remaster is a call to enjoy the act of listening in its pure form. One that doesn’t involve a smartphone or at least doesn’t put the smartphone in charge. The Remaster stays faithful to the design language that brought Bang & Olufsen to fame while also delivering the amenities of modern life. It is, in essence, a testament to the timelessness of good design, whether it’s playing traditional radio music or a Spotify playlist.

The post This Hi-Fi system concept elevates listening to music into a visual art form first appeared on Yanko Design.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX tries to bring a bit of class to earbuds

Posted on 25/04/2022 by JC Torres

When the Apple AirPods first came out, they were ridiculed for looking like EarPods whose wires were simply cut off. Like any new thing that Apple does, however, that stem-shaped design became the next trend in True Wireless Stereo or TWS earbuds, to the point that similar-looking earbuds from other brands have been comically seized as counterfeit products. That’s not to say that there’s no room for refining that design, especially given how little it has changed in six years. That’s the breath of fresh air that good old B&O is bringing to the table with the Beoplay EX, turning earbuds into fashion accessories as much as they are tech gadgets.

Designer: Thomas Bentzen

There is admittedly something odd about the stem-shaped design popularized by the AirPods. In addition to its novelty, the form has an element of asymmetry that some might feel almost uncomfortable. Of course, our eyes and minds have gradually adjusted over time to see it as normal, which also makes it an opportune moment to refine the design with some luxurious embellishments.

The Beoplay EX brings Bang & Olufsen’s signature touch to the stem design, wresting the crown from Apple in order to make earbuds more attractive as fashionable pieces rather than just geeky accessories. As typical of B&O’s design language, there is a touch of glass on the touch-sensitive surface of the buds, surrounded by a brush aluminum ring to accentuate the contrasting surfaces while also offering protection for the more fragile material.

It isn’t all just looks either. Unlike the AirPods or even the AirPods Pro, the Beoplay EX’s body doesn’t go straight but bends a bit to the side as it tapers off to the end. This shape, along with a smaller earpiece that goes inside the ear canal, promises a more stable and comfortable fit that won’t wear down your ear or fall off on a run. It’s also IP57 rated, so it won’t shrink away from a slight shower, and neither should you.

Bang & Olufsen didn’t make a name for itself just by looking great, of course. After two generations of stem-less earbuds, it has more or less gotten the wireless audio performance down to a T. Despite its small size, the Beoplay EX boasts of Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation and lets you decide how much of the outside world to let it or keep out. Three mics on each bud ensure crystal clear voice calls on both ends by separating your voice from other sounds. And with 9.2mm drivers, you are guaranteed a listening experience that seems too big for earbuds of this size. In other words, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX promises all the trappings of high-quality wireless earbuds, now wrapped in premium clothing you wouldn’t be embarrassed to wear all the time.

The post Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX tries to bring a bit of class to earbuds first appeared on Yanko Design.

Bang & Olufsen’s $2,000 ‘portable’ speaker is designed to last decades

Posted on 04/02/2021 by Engadget

Bang & Olufsen’s audio gear ranges from the opulent to the functional. The company has a line of speakers that encompasses everything from soundbars and pocket-sized Bluetooth units to modular wall sculptures and expensive showpieces. Today, the...

After Math: No ‘Dune’ for you! Come back, one year!

Posted on 11/10/2020 by Engadget RSS Feed

2020 is the year of “this is why we can’t have anything nice.” It’s given us COVID-19 and creeping fascism while taking Eddie Van Halen and the first reboot I’d been looking forward to since the all-female Ghostbusters film came out. Luckily, this we...

B&O is bringing back a turntable from the ’70s and it costs $11,000

Posted on 09/10/2020 by Engadget RSS Feed

Bang & Olufsen is giving a new life to one of its classic turntables: the Beogram 4000 series. It has tracked down and restored 95 units of the device, which it created in the early '70s. If you're interested, you'll be able to get your hands on...

Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay E8 Sport are pricey wireless earbuds for workouts

Posted on 18/06/2020 by Engadget RSS Feed

While Bang & Olufsen had the E8 Motion for more active lifestyles, the company didn’t offer a set of true wireless earbuds designed to fully withstand sweaty workouts. Today, B&O announced the E8 Sport: a pair of earbuds based on the third-ge...

Bang & Olufsen adds Alexa to its Beosound A1 Bluetooth speaker

Posted on 14/05/2020 by Engadget RSS Feed

Back in 2016, Bang & Olufsen announced its first compact Bluetooth speaker. The Beoplay A1 is a small disc-shaped device with big sound and 24-hour battery life. Like all B&O gear, it also came with a premium price to go with those premium ma...

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 true wireless earbuds review

Posted on 10/03/2020 by Engadget RSS Feed

If it ain't broke, make small tweaks to improve it anyway. That's not quite how the old saying goes, but that's the approach Bang & Olufsen took with its third-generation E8 true wireless earbuds ($350). The best aspects of last year's E8 2.0 ar...

Newly released LAYER x Bang & Olufsen speaker is a smart design for serious audiophiles!

Posted on 05/03/2020 by Neha Mistry

I love the sound of a deep voice belting out the blues to help me unwind at the end of a day. However, for me, trouble with traditional speaker designs is that they either aim to conquer the sound design or they focus on the aesthetic of the speaker. To balance them both, to use the form of the speaker’s body to uplift your home while delivering rich, soul-warming sounds that touch the core of your being, that is what the latest collaboration between Benjamin Hubert’s LAYER Design and Bang & Olufsen brings to us!

Named the Beosound Balance, this powerful compact speaker encompasses luxury in every bit of its design. This can be seen especially in the choice of materials used by the designers – natural oak wood base complemented by a subtle metallic finish and a knitted fabric wrapping the speaker that ties it all together… this speaker comes with a truly serious sound (that is what we hear!). Hidden in its homely aesthetics, the speaker packs a digital punch with a hidden touch interface to manually control the speaker settings. The interface lights up when approached, inviting the user to come and interact with the speaker. Whereas the touch-sensitive top plate uses a swipe gesture to control volume and change other player settings. Adding to the home-assistant aesthetics, the speaker’s light dims out when the user moves away from it. And here is the tweak that shows off Bang & Olufsen’s sound skills, this dimming happens owing to an internal microphone that hears you and also, during the speaker’s initial setup analyzes the room and creates a set of ‘filters’ that will compensate for the walls and other sound-reflecting surfaces in your space, ensuring the speaker’s personalized output gives you the best experience in your surroundings.

Designer: Benjamin Hubert of LAYER Design with Bang & Olufsen

The Design Details

In terms of the design, the speaker separates into two parts: the cylindrical wooden base that houses a large subwoofer that faces upwards.

This distinction allows the sound filtered through the metal disc to be reflected by the rounded base of the top section. To complement the same, the upper section of the speaker houses a downward-facing bass driver, three mid-range speakers, and two tweeters, giving you a total of seven drivers to pack a powerhouse sound performance.

Smart Speaker Capabilities

With Google Chromecast, Apple Airplay, Spotify Connect, and Amazon Alexa voice control, this minimal design is equipped for the modern era.

Even better, the Beosound connects with your existing B&O products to create a surround sound or multi-room setup.

Designed for audiophiles who want an all-in-one speaker

Designed for serious audiophiles who want uncompromised sound quality encased in a design worthy of showing off in their home, this speaker comes at a whopping price of $2250 to be available in two variations – Natural Oak and Black Oak.