Portable Bluetooth speakers are handy for listening to music on the go, but freeing yourself from the hassle of wires doesn't mean much if you're always fretting over battery life. Bang & Olufsen's BeoPlay A2 may have you covered in this regard, as it promises 24 hours of continuous playback from a single charge – which the firm reckons is unmatched for a speaker of its size and type.
The BeoPlay A2 is Bang & Olufsen's first portable Bluetooth speaker, and from the images released to the press, appears to sport a nice finish and a design that's a little more interesting than some of the competition. It features an aluminum base flanked by polymer speaker grilles, and a short leather strap for carrying. The BeoPlay A2 is available in grey, green, and black, measures 4.4 x 14.2 x 25.6 cm (1.7 x 5.6 x 10 inches) and weighs 1.1 kg (2.42 lb).
More important than looks of course, is how it sounds. On that note, the BeoPlay A2 features two 3-inch full range drivers, two 3-inch passive bass radiators and two 3/4-inch tweeters – all of which is driven by a 180-Watt amplifier that delivers an effective frequency range of 55Hz to 24kHz.
According to Bang & Olufsen, its Adaptive Power Management technology monitors and anticipates incoming audio, and delivers the required amount of power – and only that amount – to the unit, to improve battery life. In addition, the company cites the integrated True360 tech as capable of filling the room with sound, wherever you're sat.
Charging time for the integrated Li-ion battery is rated at three hours, and connectivity comes in the form of Bluetooth 4.0, a line-in for MP3 or similar device, a USB port for charging your device, and a DC input for charging. There's remote support via the Bluetooth connection, too.
The BeoPlay A2 is available now, and will set you back US$399. Those wishing for something a little cheaper may also want to check out our review of the Minx Go – which offers comparable staying power and impressive sound quality for less than half the price.
Product Page: BeoPlay A2