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Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance Speaker with GVA
01 / 08
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance Speaker with GVA
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Product Description
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound GVA Balance Speaker is a truly beautiful specimen—just begging to be put on a pedestal right in the center of your listening setup. Designed in a cylindrical pillar shape sitting on a beautifully wood-tone base, the Balance will serve as a both visual and sonic focal point in any space Read More
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RayF
22218
Jun 22, 2024
Well, they're cute and the price here is better than Amazon's (though I'm not completely satisfied we're comparing identical versions), but I'd to say one would have be daft to purchase this speaker (with the intent to listen to music on one speaker) at this price. Frankly, the idea of one-speaker music listening is daft to begin with, but at this price, crazy and unnecessary too.
No matter what they pack into the box (cylinder in this case), you're just not getting what the musician and producer created for you. In truth, you may as well be standing in the parking lot of your neighborhood, high-end strip mall listening to the sludge they pump out through the "indoor/outdoor" speakers they hang on the sign that helps you remember what section your parked in--it's basically the same experience.
I realize of course, there is an entire generation who've never listened to a proper stereo hifi set up, and worse, have grown up listening to music that in no possible stretch of imagination would warrant listing on a proper stereo hifi set up, but that's no reason to have them spending big money on an overpriced Alexa device! To those in that category, I say buy an Echo Studio (preferably a refurb unit) and spend the dough you saved on more tattoos and piercings. The latter two suggestions won't improve your listening experience, but they do help the rest of us see you coming.
As for those who do know what a stereo system is, and who listen to music appropriate to those systems, and who therefore might consider purchasing TWO of these units (intending to enjoy two-channel stereo music), I say keep looking! There are plenty of active and passive speaker systems in the $2,800 range--with more coming all the time. Why lock yourself into B&O's fashion item of the month echo system? How long will they be supported? What happens when B&O moves to the next big thing--will you be left holding another bag of E-waste?
On the other hand, it's also possible you have money to burn and $2,800 is about the same as you'd spend on dinner and drinks with your favorite someone? Well, in that case, I'd say buy a set (a pair) for the bedroom, master bath and your Yoga workout room. They'll sound good enough for the interim and when you move on to something else, you can pass them down to the kids, or the doorman in your building. Kind of win-win in that scenario, no?
RayF
22218
Jul 18, 2024
Good to see you’re up and vertical as well! All’s going reasonably well for me—although living in Las Vegas as I do, I could stand some cooler weather! As for change? Lots of changes—we’re both older, and hopefully wiser. The former is unavoidable and the latter isn’t guaranteed by any stretch of the imagination. On a personal note, I’m heading up to SD next week for the Sturgis Rally. I go for business but bring my bike along pleasure (helps with the whole Balanced Life thing). As always—don’t buy anything here ;- )
RayF
22218
Jul 18, 2024
These days a lot of people tend to lump Bluetooth and Streaming together, and in some cases, confuse them as one! I don’t imagine you’re in either camp, but is Streaming a factor in your future setup, or are planning to rely on BT for existing source material?
addfrae
0
Jun 14, 2024
This beauty arrived. I am not the greatest fan of the B&O app, but the music is amazing. I did not listen before the sound correction, however, I am very happy with the clarity of the vocals and instruments. The first song I listened to was Il Dolce Suono. I followed this up with Florence and the Machine, and the Cortez the Killer, DMB with Warren Hays.
(mod edit: removed affiliate links)
(Edited by moderator Jyri_Drop)
ricerocket
14
May 30, 2024
Does the latest offering as of May 30th, 2024, have GVA at all? The page does not list GVA but wanted to make sure.
Dann2718
0
Mar 27, 2024
I’m not sure I agree with this review. I only bought 1 speaker and have it in the middle of a great room. Classic jazz and EDM sound good, but rock sounds like it was played on a cheap potable Bluetooth speaker. I wonder if addin a 2nd speaker in stereo would help, but even at drop that’s a $1400 test
Ciggavelli
5
Oct 14, 2023
I recently got these speakers for review. They are awesome! I have the Mu-So 2 as well, and I prefer these. The dynamics and bass are just so much better than the Mu-So 2. I liked them so much that I will be purchasing a 2nd pair. I wrote a little review:
Let me start off by saying this: I decided to purchase a 2nd set of B&O speakers. That should speak to how much I like them. I was a daily user of my Naim Mu-So 2 and the Beosound speakers have replaced them in my daily listening. They don’t do everything perfectly, but they are damn impressive, especially at the Drop discounted price of around $1400. This is around the same price as the Naim Mu-so 2 which I think is its biggest competitor.
Setting up the B&O speaker was very easy. You just open up the B&O app, input your wifi, update the speakers and then quickly add them in the Google Home app. I wish I didn’t have to use 2 apps to set the speakers up, but it’s not really a big deal at all. The B&O app has some very helpful features, including automatic room correction and “on the fly” eq-ing.
The room correction appears to work really well in my room, and everything sounds nice and correct. The speakers can get very loud and easily fill up my bedroom. I’m using 2 in stereo sound, and the first thing I noticed about the Beosound speaker sound was how much more bass it has than my Mu-So 2. Now, the bass can get a little muddy at times, but I think that is to be expected with speakers in this price range. I actually thought there was a little too much bass with the original settings, so I used the app to make for a “brighter” sound. The on the fly EQ adjustments are super impressive. You can very quickly and easily adjust brightness, warmth, energy, etc. You just move around a circle on the app.
The other thing I noticed quickly about the Beosound, compared to the Mu-So 2, is that the sound is brighter. I actually like brighter sound signatures, so this was a welcome addition. The highs are clear and mix well with the music I like to listen to in my room. The added bass, compared to the Mu-So 2 brings more body to the sound. Listening to the latest Swans album sounds amazing out of the B&O speakers.
I’m more of a bass and treble-head, so I don’t focus in on mids as much. That said, the mids on these speakers is good. Guitars and voices sound great.
The imaging/soundstage could be a bit better, as the Beosound doesn’t have pinpoint imagining or anything like that. My Mu-so 2 also doesn’t have great imaging or a soundstage either. When you are dealing with just one speaker, or two speakers placed closely together, you’re just not going to get a good soundstage or pinpoint imagining. I think you need to invest in some more traditional 2 channel setups to achieve that. I don’t think that is necessarily a bad thing about the B&O speakers. These speakers are not meant to emulate a full 2 channel setup. They are basically quick and easy smart speakers. With that in mind, the B&O speakers fit the bill. They easily play albums, can fill up an entire room well, and they have great sound quality.
Another important part of speakers for me, is that they have to pass the sleep/dream test. I like to fall asleep to music and dream with music playing in the background. These speakers definitely pass that test. I’m able to have amazing dreams based upon my musical choices with these speakers.
The B&O speakers are also Roon and Tidal ready. I love using Roon, so it’s great that this feature is present. If it wasn’t, we’d have some problems! It also supports Spotify and the like, so if your bases are all covered with this smart speaker.
Now, on to some quick ratings/evaluations
Bass: 7/10. The bass is impactful and full. Sometimes it can get a bit muddy, but it’s not a big issue. The speakers extend low and fill out the body of music well
Treble: 8/10. The highs are really great with the B&Os. The brighter sound really brings out the details well
Mids: 8/10. The mids are great with these speakers. Guitars and vocals sound rich and full
Soundstage/Imagining: 7/10. The soundstage and imagining isn’t great with smart speakers like this, but it is to be expected
Ease of Use: 9/10. Setting up the speakers is a breeze and the main B&O app is easy to use with useful features. You can quickly change settings and nothing is confusing at all.
Loudness: 10/10 With small smart speakers one has to worry about whether they will fill up your whole room with sound or not. These speakers do not have the problem at all. They can get very loud and still sound good. They can definitely fill a room with sound and not sound “small” or inadequate
Overall: 8.5/10. Would I recommend buying these speakers if you are in the market for a small, convenient, smart speaker? Most definitely. I would choose the BeoSound over my Mu-So 2 in a heartbeat, and that is what I have done in my house. These are great little speakers and well worth the Drop asking price. The fact that I decided to buy a 2nd pair should speak volumes to just how much I like these speakers.
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