When it comes to design, the brand new A1 is slimmer and lighter than its predecessor with a redesigned grille sample up high. B&O moved the on-board controls near the leather-based strap and relabeled them for higher readability. The corporate additionally repositioned the LED indicator up high so you’ll be able to see it from extra angles. Theres additionally a brand new three-microphone array to higher choose up your voice, which B&O says makes the A1 extra appropriate to be used as a speakerphone.
The primary A1 sounded nice for its dimension, however B&O says it improved the sound high quality for the 2nd-gen mannequin. To additional improve the 360-degree audio, the corporate opted for a brand new 3.5-inch woofer, 0.75-inch dome tweeter and a pair of 30-watt amplifiers with DSP filtering. The brand new A1 additionally helps aptX to additional increase its audio chops.
B&O elevated the battery life to 18 hours at typical quantity, which the corporate says is round 70dB. Thats up from 4 hours on the first-gen unit. When you lower to average quantity, or round 55dB, you must have the ability to eke out as much as 48 hours of playtime. Thats up from 24 hours on the earlier model. In case youre questioning, the corporate says that three-hour window the speaker continues to be listening so that you can summon Alexa gainedt drain the battery prematurely. All of that listening time can be good once you take the A1 outdoors, which you are able to do so worry-free because the 2nd-gen mannequin is IP67 rated in opposition to water and mud. B&O says the brand new A1 can stand up to water as much as one meter (three ft) deep for 30 minutes, and it gainedt be harmed by publicity to sand or dust.
The 2nd-gen Beosound A1 is offered now in black and gray coloration choices from B&O and choose retailers. Surprisingly, the corporate managed to pack in all of these upgrades with out growing the worth, which stays $250 (£200/250 ).
