The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore: Premium Design and Sound for Outdoor Adventures, But at a Price
Danish audio powerhouse Bang & Olufsen is synonymous with sleek design and impeccable craftsmanship, and the Beosound Explore embodies these values while venturing into the world of portable wireless speakers. At a price of ₹20,000 in India, the Beosound Explore is one of the more affordable offerings from the brand, but it still carries a significant premium over similar products from brands like Xiaomi, Sony, and JBL. This review delves into whether the Beosound Explore justifies its price tag, analyzing its design, features, and performance to determine if it truly delivers the premium experience Bang & Olufsen is known for.
Built for the Open Air: A Fusion of Style and Durability
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore radiates an air of sophistication despite its compact size. It’s significantly smaller than competitors such as the UE Boom 3 and JBL Xtreme 2, yet it feels substantial in hand thanks to its generous use of metal. The anodized aluminum frame adds a touch of luxury and durability, while the rubberized base provides a secure grip and some degree of impact resistance.
The Beosound Explore doesn’t shy away from the elements, boasting an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. This means it can handle splashes, dust storms, and even short periods of submersion in shallow water. The inclusion of a waterproof fabric strap and a carabiner further enhance portability and ensure you can take this speaker on any adventure.
The controls, located on the top of the speaker, are well-placed and intuitive. Five soft-touch buttons provide control over power, volume, playback, and Bluetooth pairing. The playback button allows you to play and pause music with a single press, while double and triple presses control track skipping.
Connectivity and Features: A Focus on Seamless Music Streaming
The Beosound Explore offers multi-point connectivity, allowing you to connect up to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Furthermore, stereo pairing is supported for those who want to create a two-speaker setup. The speaker utilizes Bluetooth 5.2 for stable and efficient connectivity, supporting the SBC Bluetooth codec.
While the Beosound Explore embraces modern connectivity features, it lacks a built-in microphone, making it unsuitable for hands-free calling or voice assistant integration. The absence of voice assistant support might be a drawback for users accustomed to seamlessly controlling their smart devices with voice commands.
Sound Performance: A Warm and Wide Soundstage
While the specifications suggest a powerful speaker, the Beosound Explore doesn’t quite reach the same volume levels as the UE Boom 3. However, the sound quality is commendable, with well-balanced tuning and an impressive soundstage for its size.
The Beosound Explore features two 1.8-inch drivers and two 30W Class D full-range amplifiers for a rich and immersive audio experience. The frequency response range of 56-22,700Hz ensures that both bass frequencies and treble notes are represented accurately.
The Bang & Olufsen app, available on iOS and Android, provides control over playback, volume, and sound personalization. The app allows for customization of the sound profile to tailor the audio experience to your preferences. Testing with various genres revealed that the speaker’s natural tendency towards a warmer sound signature could lead to a slightly muddy or muffled sound, especially with more delicate vocals. However, the ability to adjust the equaliser through the app provides a significant level of control, allowing you to fine-tune the sound to your liking.
Battery Life: Meeting Expectations, but Short of Claims
Bang & Olufsen promises a 27-hour battery life at normal volume levels. However, in real-world usage, the battery life fell short of this claim. With moderate volume levels, the Beosound Explore consistently delivered around 11 hours of listening time, a respectable performance but significantly less than advertised. Recharging the speaker took approximately two hours with a 10W charger.
Verdict: A Premium Experience Comes with a Premium Price Tag
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore is a meticulously crafted speaker designed for outdoor adventures, boasting a sophisticated design, rugged construction, and IP67 water and dust resistance. The sound quality is enjoyable, with a well-balanced tuning and a wide soundstage, although the speaker’s natural warmth might not suit all musical tastes.
Whether the Beosound Explore is worth the ₹20,000 price tag is subjective. While the sound quality is decent and the design is undeniably appealing, the lack of hands-free calling and the shorter-than-advertised battery life might leave some buyers feeling disappointed. If you prioritize a rugged, stylish speaker with a portable form factor and premium sound quality, the Beosound Explore might be a worthwhile investment. However, if you’re looking for the most value for your money, there are more affordable options available with comparable features and performance.
