Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A9 4th Gen Review
The Bang & Olufsen A9 is an iconic home speaker, and it just happens I’m fresh off a business trip where I was given time to review the latest 4th Generation model. It was quite an experience that made finally made me take notice because there’s nothing else quite like it on the market. A cross between furniture, art installation, and an incredible sounding speaker, this is certainly a divisive piece of audio equipment.
Bang & Olufsen A9 4th Gen Specifications
Type of Speaker: Single Unit Floor Standing
Dimensions: 70.1 x 90.8 x 41.1 cm
Connectivity: Bluetooth (4.2), Wifi (2.4 & 5 GHz)
Input: Optical & 3.5mm Aux
Power: 450mw in-built amplifier
Remote: Yes, plus you can control it via the Beoplay Application
Voice Assistant: Yes (Google)
Other: Room adaption technology
Price $3,499 RRP on Bang and Olufsen (Price may vary on links in this review)
Build Quality & Styling
Bang & Olufsen is one of the most recognized names in Audio and, over the past 20 years, started to create some striking aesthetic pieces. The A9 is certainly a striking speaker. Nothing I have seen or tested looks quite like it, a huge disc-shaped speaker array that sits atop a tripod base. It is available in 6 colors to match the environment in which you intend to place it.
Inside the disc, the speakers are suspended in a large high-density plastic mount. I think a lot of people will mistake this for one giant speaker that sits behind the beautiful fabric grill cover, but in actuality, there are multiple units carrying out specific tasks.
At its heart is a big 8” inch driver used as the subwoofer, 2 x 3-inch drivers control the midrange, but strangely, there are also 2 x1.5 in drivers attacking the full spectrum. Finally, there are, of course, 2 x 3/4 inch tweeters to handle higher frequencies.
The whole thing stands on some beautiful tapered wooden legs that form the base to support the near 15kg weight.
That base is quite fantastic. With the cover removed, you see a huge formed plastic guard covered with a striking Fibonacci style design. Around the edge, you will find an aluminum ring which varies in color depending on the model your buy. The unit I reviewed was the “brass tone” version with a dark gray front fabric, brass-colored ring, and dark mahogany stained legs. In the room I was in, it looked both like a statement piece and, at the same time, blended into the Scandinavian interior. It’s stylish but not screaming look at me; I suspect most people wouldn’t even recognize it as a speaker.
If there were one design element I could revise, it would be the power cord. It kind of just hangs out the back of the speaker and doesn’t fit with the rest of the cohesive design. I thought it would have been a cleaner design if they could have internally routed the cable through the back leg. Or maybe they could have carved a clip in the channel to give people more versatility.
Connectivity
The Bang & Olufsen may be class-leading in its design and the speaker configuration etc. but it does lack some connectivity options. First, I notice B&O only claims google support. That’s strange because it does have Airplay 2 functionality which in theory should allow you to use it with Siri. I haven’t tested this, so am unaware of the current status. I assume it would work but unsure why they wouldn’t mention it on their website.
The second omission is that they are still being sold with Bluetooth 4.2 as opposed to the latest 5.3. Admittedly not the most important thing as most people will use this over wifi. The wifi does get both 2.4ghz and 5ghz band, so that's very good and something even high-end manufacturers haven’t bothered with until this year.
The system works with most of the main high-resolution streaming services. Tidal is supported as is Spotify, Deezer, and all the other usual suspects.
Beolink allows you to connect to other Bang & Olufsen wireless speakers for true wireless multi-room music. For this, you don’t need another Beoplay A9 but any other compatible Beoplay speaker. You can mix and match and build your home audio system around the A9 in the center of your home.
Sound Performance & Rating
Sound is subjective to the room and sound design of the area in which you are listening. When I was testing the Beoplay A9, it was down in a fairly optimal room with sound planning and few hard surfaces. Your mileage may vary on how and where you intend to listen.
The first thing you want to do before listening to music is take advantage of the active room compensation. This has recently been a feature on many B&O speakers, where the speaker can view the room and optimize its sound. Very cool.
When you get into the sound, that’s when you start to smile. It sounds absolutely brilliant. I don’t say that in comparison to my current full-size HiFi system but as a stand-alone speaker unit. Be aware that if you want to have more bang for your buck for about half the price, you will get better sound, yet it will also take up half your room. For the size, the A9 impressed with its lack of distortion, refinement, and the ability to fill a room that was 78 square meters. Even then, I thought it could be capable of filling an even bigger space.
So what did the A9 sound like? Well, richly detailed and full would be the best explanation; I had the chance to test it alongside the Devialet Phantom 108, and the Phantom does take it on sound. It’s louder and more aggressive, the bass fuller and harder hitting. The A9 was no slouch despite not going as long. The midrange was so natural, so detailed, and clear.
Similarly, the performance was a notch up from the more portable Beosound A2 because it delivers a fuller experience with more depth and nuances.
With the Devailet I never felt a sense of stereo separation, but I do get some from the A9. It sounds like it’s coming from a wider field where the Phanton attacks straight on.
The treble is very well done, perfectly blended to the midrange with just enough detail but no sibilance. I think they could have pushed it a bit more, but thankfully, there is a full system EQ in the app to let you dial things in.
Bass is hard-hitting and punchy. It’s not what I call refined because it is slightly dominant over the mids; it also doesn’t extend as deep into the sub-bass as the Phantom. Yet it works well for almost every genre, increasing impact when required on EDM and toning things back down when listening to jazz or classical.
In summary, I would say the sound is excellent for a single unit, all in one speaker, but there are better and worse out there. They will not match something like the Mangepan 0.7 or even a KEF LS50 when it comes to audiophile-grade sound, but those are full systems requiring both space and external amplification.
Pros
One of the best-looking wireless speakers on the market
Rich and grand sound
Ability to integrate with other Beoplay speakers for multi-room audio
Reliable customer service and a good warranty
Cons
While a true stereo hifi system will take up more space, it will have a more versatile sound.
The price is extremely high - You are paying not only for performance but for the B&O name.
Availability is limited in some regions.
The Bluetooth standard is outdated and should be upgraded to a 5.0+ system.
Alternatives
Audio Pro Drumfire II - One cheaper alternative to the Beosound A9 would have to be the full Drumfire II we reviewed last month. This is a hard-hitting speaker with its own subwoofer cabinet. The sound size and many of the features match up to the A9, but it does all this at a far lower price. However, the A9 is still far superior in design, and the sound tends to be much more detailed and spacious. Bass is larger on the Drumfire II, but the A9 has better resolution in the low end.
Beoplay A1 and Beoplay A2 - You can find reviews of the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A1 & A2 speakers on our homepage. We were impressed by both, and while they shouldn’t be a direct replacement for the A9, they can definitely be complimentary. The A9 wins on sound yet again as it creates a bigger, fuller, and richer listening experience. However, the A1 and A2 can easily be moved from room to room and still deliver high-performance levels, with many wireless features similar to the A9. If it were me, I would use these as bedroom or study speakers in combo with an A9 in the living room and take advantage of the Beolink integration.
Final Thoughts
The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A9 cannot be looked at as only a speaker. It cannot be evaluated only for the sound. Instead, you have a lot more going on here. Bang & Olufsen are creating home audio products for homes' modern style and uses. It lies somewhere in between a piece of furniture, an art piece, a speaker, and a sophisticated piece of technology.
It brings music into your home in an unobtrusive way and allows you to create a full home audio experience with a great user interface. Say what you will about B&O being expensive. As the A9 shows, they are very, very good at what they do.
Official website for the Beoplay A9: www.bang-olufsen.com
