NEW Beosound Balance Review & Features
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance, multi room wireless speaker with BIG sound, Adaptive Room Compensation, Beam Control, Airplay 2, Chromecast and Bluetooth 5.
Enjoy, like & subscribe if the feeling takes you....
All the best, John.
I like to see you in the next video ;). It can only mean something cool! As for the BS Balance, I have several questions. 1: I don’t care so much about voice control as much as I care about the sound, the design and lately about connecting several speakers. I was really hoping it would be possible to use multiroom and pair it with my BS1. Is it still possible to use Apple or Google to have the same music play on multiple speakers from B&O? Not sure I understood. 2: I am of the impression that my Beolit 15 is still my most powerful speaker at home, while my BS1 in my opinion is perhaps as capable as my now former M3. I am looking for a performance that is not quite that of the Edge but that is also more powerful than my Beolit 15. I need it to effortlessly fill at least a 50 m2 space without harshness in the sound. Am I correct that the Balance could be it? 3: Do you know what function the aluminium plate serves between the wooden bottom part and the textile/fabric top part, and how that helps with sound performance? I mean it looks like a unit hides behind the bottom part, and sound coming out of there seems to be channelled evenly in all directions thanks to the round shape of the top part through the aluminium plate. I find it intriguing how they work together exactly in this design. Overall I think this could be a speaker that could potentially become my BS1’s sibling, also in terms of design cause I love warm materials like wood and fabric.
Hi Csaba,
1. Yes you can use Chromecast and Airplay 2 for multi room on all of the other existing speakers and TV's that are supported by the B&O app.
2. Absolutely, Balance sounds amazing!
3. The bottom part from my understanding holds the bass drivers, the sound gets delivered through the holes and over the rounded bit of the top section, partly aesthetic, partly sound design.
Bang & Olufsen of Manchester Cool, thanks, John! :) I will need to give this speaker a serious consideration. Great video too, thanks for putting it together!
@@csaba5415 Glad it helped, thanks for your comment. John...
Bang & Olufsen of Manchester hello y just bought it in B&o in Aarhus, and its play and sound amazing, better than my A9 first gen. Great video.
Great video and lovely speaker.
5 years ago I wouldn't even think about getting a speakersystem like this in our living room as my main system. However, over the years my listening habits have changed, I don't longer have the time (nor interest) sitting in the "sweet spot" an 'analyse' stereo separation, 'treble sparkle' and fiddle with signal/speaker cables and boxes. The (silly and expensive) lust for upgrading 'just because' has diminished. The same with my CD collection and FLAC files on my PC/MAC. The quality of streaming is more than sufficient for my needs (and in the end I couldn't honestly hear the difference between a 320 kbps file and a FLAC/WAV file. Before, HIFI was a hobby to me. Now, I just enjoy listening to music while I eat, clean, relax or just walk around in the house. My wife is also happy to see all the boxes and cables go. I still appreciate 'good sound' though, and the technology today can certainly give you that.
Now the big question is, to go with the A9 or the Balance? :-)
Cheers from Denmark.
Great review as always John 5:26 I think I will call all my speakers Alan from now on ;-)
That's exactly what I'm calling mine!
Amazing music system from B&O. Thanks for the review John.
Thanks for the review! I’m having a little trouble figuring out where everything in the range fits in. All the new speakers seem to cost about the same amount. How about a video that tells me how to put it all together: which is best for what etc? A9, BeoSound 2, BeoSound balance. Also would love a review of what the stereo pairing (via google) sounds like.
Thanks for the video :) I am currently waiting on delivery of my new H9i Headphones, I know that isn't relative to this video but i've just found your channel and wanted to say hi :)
Hi right back at you. I'm glad you like it, you're going to love H9i, I still have mine and use them all the time. Thanks for watching.... John
Not going to lie, mate, you are much better at explaining this kinda stuff than even BeoWise sometimes! Keep up the good work! :P
This or the beosound 2? I really don't know, the design of the beosound 2 is more a B&O design but i believe the balance has a better sound.
Like I said, it's a MINI Beolab 90 :D the sound is so enormous and yet still detailed. It had no issue filling my ~50m2 living room at all with glorious sound! What colour do you prefer it in?
I like the attention to detail more in the natural oak I think...
@@BangOlufsenManchester I'll wait until you change your mind again ;)
B&O Has to do a classic line of speakers... get old David Lewis and Jacob Jensen designs and fit with modern electronics, speakers, dsp..etc...
arunashamal beolab 18??
I just hope that they will update the Beosound 2 with some of the same stuff.
The Natural Oak looks so good! My dilemma is what to go for next... BeoSound Balance or BeoSound Stage?
My advice would be if you're planning to use it for just music go for Balance. If you need TV sound and music Stage every time. John
Coool love Bang & Olufsen
Hello John from Bang Olufsen Manchester!
Hi John. I think that i am one of the biggest B&O Fans but i expected more than a big Apple Airpod or like my Wife say a big Alexa.
I initially thought that from the pictures but in the flesh it's beautiful! The build quality and materials are stunning. John
Lovely speaker but I'm so sad to see NL/BeoLink go. And no remote too!! Not even the Essence wheely. Sad, sad.
Agree. I use BS9000 connected to ML/NL converter it worked great and so sorry to see BO gave up it!
Apple Airplay 2 and Chromecast are both very good multi room streaming systems, I like the B&O app but I get why they have made that move. I tend to use Chromecast more than anything. John
Excellent review! Where style finally meets sound at B&O! And the Beoplay A1 of course! Is this Beosound Balance the best sounding B&O wireless speaker?
You now have my attention, lab 50's well out of my price range but these? would need to see them perform in stereo and at low to mid volume John. Great review as usual buddy. Does it work with Beoremote 1?
I wonder how 5 of these would sound in a home theater setup, I see they have a line input.
Hi John, thanks for fine video as usual. Is it possible to connect them via Beolab Transmitter? Today I have my Samsung TV connected wireless to Beolab 1
I also thought the speaker was essentially a 2 parts package that can be taken apart!
When I'm at home my sound system still very much exists in the physical+radio world and I don't quite get how these new setups actually work. Is it all just bluetooth your phone to it or subscribe to something for another $20/month? I could do with something newer but I increasingly wonder whether I'm better off just getting one of the newer vintage systems, I really just need the radio while I'm working (albeit with good sound) but I enjoy having something 'fancy' for when guests are over or I fancy listening to an album and whacking it up to loud.
How does it fare against the Edge?
Superb review as always JW, cheers
When they release a black cloth with brushed aluminium one I buy one or two instantly. Until then, the look isn’t for me. Come on B&O. Black with Aluminium should always be an option.
Nice glasses. Also thanks for the viddy
I would have ordered it straight away if it supported Beolink.
Miki Sesevic yes. Sound on the core is better with beolink then Apple and crom
when will BEOPLAY H95 (OVER EAR Headphone) finally be presented? There are already FCC sketches on the Internet.
Good to know sketches for an upcoming model have already leaked. As it is only a sketch, you can bet it is early to even ask when they’ll be out - or «if». One cannot expect a B&O employee either to actively leak info like that, so I think we should all (including me) just stay calm but also excited :). The current Contrast limited edition of the H9 will still be produced until September. The 3rd gen hasn’t even been around for too long. There are also spring and autumn collections where one can expect the H9 to come in new colors, and I think it is more likely that those limited editions will arrive before an entirely new model. Although there is apparently space for an even more uncompromising model like the H95. BTW, I’d rather call them H10, not H95 or H9.5.
Csaba Rozinyak thanks for your feedback. the Beoplay H9 3Gen. has been out almost a year. if you look at the time intervals, Beoplay brings out an update almost every year ... May 2020 would be likely. the H9 can still be sold.
Alexander Yes, that makes it of course a little more interesting :). Still, I am perhaps a little careful with building my own expectations. I am not sure about competitors but personally I do not think audio equipment needs to develop so rapidly that there has to be a new release every year. At a certain point it will become difficult to buy a new pair of headphones because you know/expect that there will be an upgrade in - say - 5 months. B&O products at least should be enjoyed for longer than a year and even if I keep buying the latest, I hate to sell older models cause I still love them. But of course I understand that that’s how product lifecycle is these days.
in a lot of reviews the balance is not going very good. For example...the 4. Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge gets very good reviews. What are your thoughts about that... I have a a9. Sounds great. i am looking for something smaller because i got a smaller living room
Hi, try both out if you can and see what you prefer. I had Beosound Balance at home for a while, looks great and I really enjoyed the sound it gave. 2 in stereo with the new pairing update is brilliant.
Hard to consider this when the KEF LS50W's are slightly less, a fully wireless 2 channel system with encompassing sound.... that being said I love the B&O system in my car. Can these be paired as a two channel set-up?
Yes
Which one you suggest beosound 2 or A9
Is there option to stereo pair two speakers?
yes
@@iangrace232 and will they be after that available for Chromecast and Airplay 2 as a stereo pair?
Hello John. Nice review! Any insight about google assistant coming to beoplay M3 or M5?
I honestly don't know, and if I did know, I couldn't tell you......
Hi John, can the Balance non Alexa model be stereo paired?
Thank you!
Seems like a wonderful speaker, will be interesting to listen to it.
Although it's some extremely sad news about the Multiroom being deprecated, I currently use it daily with 10+ BeoLink products, not to mention the BeoLiving/BLGW functionality going missing. Maybe I'm an minority but I do not enjoy the Google Cast-groups and much prefer BeoLink due to it's flexibility and ease of use, hope they go back on the decision to drop it.
Will you be able to pair it into stereo mode?
Keep up the good work John and let the videos keep flowing!
I know what you mean and I agree, but Google and Apple are far bigger companies I suppose and implement multi room very well already. You can pair in stereo with Google Chromecast, video coming very soon... John
Bang & Olufsen of Manchester but Beolink multiroom works allready?? their whole mindset with one “remote" (both with normal and app) is ruined now ...
I totally agree about Multiroom Beolink. I can't believe it won't be supported anymore. So sad.
Why the two Ethernet ports John? Can this act as a switch?
Yes.
Hi, Could you please show me how to set up stereo pair (or 5.1) which watching Netflix movie ? I have bought 2 Beosound Balance and used "Chromecast" to set up Stereo Pair while listening TH-cam music .
th-cam.com/video/UDtMIuSFw6E/w-d-xo.html
There you go until better pairing is updated this should get you going. John.
Hi Can you pleas tell about paring and making stereo whit google home app, sorry the bad english I from Denmark
Video coming very soon....John
can someone tell me the name of the song playing from 2:34 onwards? It has such a catchy melody. I cannot get it out of my head.
Hello John.
Does the Beosound Balance sound better than the Beosound 2 ?
Hi Miguel, I prefer the sound of Balance to Besound 2. The room compensation works really well. John
Very nice John. How do you compare balance to A9 mk4? Sound-wise.
A9 Mk4 is still the sound champion! Although it doesn't have Beam Control like the Balance it does have Adaptive Room Compensation and sounds fantastic. A9 Mk4 is the next model up in the range to Beosound Balance. John
@@BangOlufsenManchester Much appreciated! Now I'm so relieved.
For a first piece of B&O kit, would you recommend the Balance or the Stage? Granted, they are designed for different purposes, but I’m searching for a unicorn-hybrid of a speaker for music and television.
If there is a TV involved then Beosound Stage without a doubt. That will give you awesome sound for TV, movies and games plus double as a very competent music system. That's all I have in my lounge and I love it. John
@@BangOlufsenManchester Thank you for your reply! Now, which color goes best on a walnut console.....!
Thank God because I hate Google. I don’t want that in my home 🏠 but I love ❤️ the look of balance 👍👍
Hey John, do you know where to purchase BeoLab 50’s calibration microphone? I asked my local dealer but they won’t sell it to me
Why ever not? Your dealer can order them from Bang & Olufsen for you. John
So, I guess when firing one side, it becomes mono
Looks & feels aspirational, as any b&o product. And at $2250, unfortunately, it reverts to the odd pricing strategy
Hello from Vladivostok shop RillingHeads
Any date release for Gen2?
No, I doubt there will be gen 2 as Beosound Balance already runs on the latest Mozart platform just like Beosound Emerge, Level, Theatre and Beolab 28.
Hi John, you cute. And where can I get this geometry cover on the beoplay A9 in this video? Cheers.
Ha, thanks! You can get the A9 covers at www.skiniplay.com
You are still adorable mate!!
Oak 👍
What about the price?
Best regards
Bettel Luc $2500 US
£1750 UK
I switched off after the creepy "oh yeah"
Very nice. Speaker isn't to bad either.
Don’t do a demonstration with disco crazy 😝 music. 👎👎
Fair point, copyright free music on Deezer is not the best!
@@BangOlufsenManchester can you find music with vocal and instrumental?!
Next time I'll do that!
A bit out of my price range :(
this new product looks too normal for B&O
What a tasteless test track they've played there..
About to run and get one before I realised it had the Google spy microphone listening to everything you ever say in it .
I can't tell you how disappointing it is to see B&O become the errand boy for these spy masters. Bring on 1984 if you want but not for me.
Absolutely gutted wanted this so much.
It comes in two versions, with or without Google Assistant. Just get the none assistant version.
@@BangOlufsenManchester
It didn't say that in the any of the details I saw thank you.
Found the none Google "assisted" version but I have a question. Can you use it without it being connected to WiFi or the internet at all ?
I noticed it says B&O will occasionally download data about your personal usage to help development and that this can be turned off.
But I don't want it connected at all.
It still has contains an obtrusive microphone even without the Google/Amazon spy.. sorry assistance.
I just want it for the a stand alone fanatic speaker that it is. Just like the good old days of B&O.
$2500??? Yea ok
Compared to a homepod or even a mini they're laughably over priced and I have to say pretty ugly too
Not a fan of the design.
Good design should polarise opinion.
🤬stop moving
For a guy who works with speakers, he really has no clue as to what to play as demo music
Fair point it's not the best track but I'm not demonstrating the sound as such, I'm trying to give an idea of what Beam Control does.
The best music to demonstrate a speaker is the customer's favourite music.....copyright free music from Deezer is not anyone's favourite music!