AUGUST 2020 T3 67B&O Beosound Balance
It also runs active room
compensation, so wherever you put it,
it will monitor and tweak its own
sound, compensating for the materials
and locations of objects nearby.
So how does it sound? In the
default Optimal mode, what’s
immediately clear is that it’s a
naturally bright and fairly neutral
sound, with upper-mids and trebles
standing out from the rest of the
soundscape especially clearly.
For music focused on the mid-
range and up, it’s the best speaker
we’ve heard at this kind of size.
Strings, horns and vocals elevate
themselves so clearly out of the mix,
but still stay natural rather than
turning harsh to get them there.
However, the bass is surprisingly
low-impact, especially for something
with two woofers. It’s absolutely
there, and it’s rich and slick, but it’s
just not very deep. Even after playing
with the bass adjustments, we were
ready to say that it was just a factor
of the speaker...
...But then we noticed the
‘Loudness’ switch.
It was hidden away in a ‘Sound
settings’ section, where few people
will ever look. And the change was
immediate. It still can’t punch quite
as low as the HomePod but it finally
produced bass that gave you a
reaction in your diaphragm, and this
is while still keeping that mid and
treble just as lifted and clear.Dapper device
On top of the unit is a slightly concave
panel that includes some touch
controls, and these light up
automatically when you approach,
which is always a nice feature.
When you trigger Google
Assistant, four lights come up within
the row that normally shows volume,
which is a neat way of including
Google’s little branding touch. It also
has Chromecast streaming built in,
which isn’t a guarantee for all
third-party Google Assistant devices,
so it’s good to see it here.
There’s Apple AirPlay 2 support
too, which has long been standard for
B&O’s Wi-Fi speakers. You can also
play to it over Bluetooth 5.0, or plug in
via good ol’ line-in.
All things considered, the B&O
Beosound Balance is the best-
sounding and -looking smart speakerso far, though it’s also the largest, and
the most expensive by a long way.
We like how customisable the
sound is, even if it’s a bit confusing
initially, and it can be so natural,
detailed and open that it really lifts
your tracks beyond what a smaller
speaker can manage. However, it’s
not really a revelation for sound
quality, and at this price, that’s kind
of what you’re hoping for.
If you want the best sounding
single-unit smart speaker, and can
afford it, get the Balance – no
question, it’s a fantastic speaker. But
other speakers can give you 90% of
the sound quality for 20% of the cost,
so do consider strongly what the best
value option for you is.WE’RE IMPRESSED Supremely
detailed and balanced audio; high-
end design; great connectivity.
WE’D IMPROVE Really
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with settings to get sound right.
THE LAST WORD The Beosound
Balance sounds wonderful, once
you’ve got it to your taste, and
looks great too. But its lead over
much cheaper smart speakers is
small, so it’s not something every
music fan needs to aspire to.VERDICT
The lamp-like
design makes it
look like a natural
thing to see on a
sideboardSONOS ONE
Want great sound, value
for money, Alexa control
and access to a fab multi-
speaker system? This is the
ahem One to go for. And
you can nab a stereo pair
and Sonos sub for less cash
than the Balance.
£199, sonos.com
NAIM MU-SO QB 2
While lacking voice
control, this is a
seriously smart and
beautiful sounding
speaker, offering many
streaming options and
compatibility with Apple
and Google systems.
£749, naimaudio.comTHE ALTERNATIVES
Discover more top smart
speakers at: bit.ly/t3smtspk