The Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) combines a rugged, portable enclosure with a premium, restrained aesthetic. It delivers balanced sound with strong vocal intelligibility, aided by a detailed midrange and controlled highs. The bass adds warmth without overpowering the mix. The companion app enables targeted tonal tweaks and repeatable profiles, while Alexa adds smart features and convenient control. Real-world battery life reaches about 18 hours under moderate use. For those seeking deeper customization, more detail awaits beyond this overview.
Design and Build
The Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) presents a robust, portable enclosure built around a tough aluminum dome that combines durability with a sleek aesthetic. The design conveys a compact, functional silhouette suitable for travel and daily use, with tactile controls and a restrained color palette that supports a premium perception. From a packaging aesthetics perspective, the presentation emphasizes minimal extraneous elements, delivering concise branding and protective subforms.
A design critique notes the durable finish, edge-to-edge construction, and restrained detailing as strengths, while recognizing potential improvement in grip ergonomics. Overall, the build communicates resilience without compromising portability or visual refinement.
Sound Quality and Tuning
Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) delivers a balanced, confident sound signature with a clear emphasis on vocal intelligibility and detailed midrange. In practical terms, the speaker presents a linear midband with controlled presence, avoiding harsh highs while maintaining perceptual loudness.
Bass responds with warmth and depth without overwhelming the vocal spectrum, enabling credible playback across genres. Sound tuning via the Bang & Olufsen app allows targeted adjustments, though the default profile remains well-judged for everyday listening. App customization supports scene presets and parameter fine-tuning, enabling quick, repeatable tonal shifts.
Battery Life and Smart Features
Battery life forms a practical counterpoint to the prior discussion of sound quality, detailing endurance and real-world usage. The Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) offers up to 18 hours under moderate volume, extending with lower levels and conservative tuning options. This endurance aligns with its portable, design durable chassis, reinforcing overall usability for travel and poolside scenes. Smart features include built-in Alexa and app integration, enabling quick control and access to tuning profiles without compromising noise levels or battery drain. Despite robust sound quality, some edge-case usage may reduce runtime. Overall, battery life and smart features support sustained, versatile listening experiences without sacrificing performance.
Conclusion
The Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) demonstrates a compelling blend of premium build, durable design, and refined audio performance. Its 2×140-watt output delivers robust, room-filling sound, while the Bang & Olufsen app enables meaningful tuning adjustments. With up to 18 hours of battery life and integrated Alexa, it suits mobile use and smart-home tasks. Overall, the device offers balanced acoustics, practical portability, and thoughtful features, though niche listeners may seek even broader EQ versatility.
