BeoLab 17

In early November 2013 Bang & Olufsen introduced a major breakthrough in wireless sound with the launch of a new range of high-end wireless speakers in three unique designs.

The all-digital active speakers leverage the new WiSA standard for multi-channel wireless sound to provide outstanding acoustic performance. The wireless flexibility allows excellent sound to be added to any room easily.

The new wireless line-up includes BeoLab 17, a place-anywhere compact speaker with outsize sound; BeoLab 18, the latest incarnation of Bang & Olufsen’s sculpturally iconic audio columns for walls or floor; and BeoLab 19, a radically-redesigned sub-woofer which pumps out a refined bass with a visceral punch.

Lars Fredsgaard, Speaker Category Director at Bang & Olufsen described the new speakers as being at the vanguard of a new era of high-end sound. Pointing out how until now, speakers with this level of performance had to be wired, he said that their latest launch uses a robust wireless standard with enough bandwidth and channels to deliver a listening experience as intended by the artist. One can now upgrade to premium sound in three different ways without downgrading the décor.

While the WiSA standard has been integrated into the new speakers, Bang & Olufsen has also rethought practically everything about exterior design, custom-made components and dedicated digital sound engines.

All three speakers come equipped with new sound engines that include thermal protection, Adaptive Bass Linearisation and a room position switch, so they deliver crystal-clear definition whatever is played on them and wherever they are placed.

Bang & Olufsen is launching the three new speakers under its Immaculate Wireless Sound concept.

Sound that is reproduced as the artist intended it to be has long been a Bang & Olufsen hallmark. With Immaculate Wireless Sound, Bang & Olufsen brings this tradition of acoustic authenticity into the wireless age for the first time ever.

Since they run on the new WiSA standard, all that needs to be done is plug the active speakers into the mains in a room with any WiSA-compliant transmitter in order to link wirelessly to the TV, Blu-ray player or set-top box.

For example, all Bang & Olufsen Immaculate Wireless Sound speakers work seamlessly, simply and spectacularly with the WiSA-updated BeoVision 11 television. With WiSA-compliant transmitters and receivers integrated into the physical and digital design, Bang & Olufsen now delivers unparalleled acoustic performance in a wireless surround setup.

Within a wedge-shaped cabinet made from a single piece of aluminum wrapped around composite material sit a 15 cm custom midrange driver/woofer and 2cm dome tweeter, each with its own 160 W Class-D amplifier. B&O’s proprietary sound engine is reported to benefit from over 40 times the processing power of analogue circuitry, and helps the small package create some big sounds.

The BeoLab 17 is part of Bang & Olufsen’s new Immaculate Wireless Sound range

The 25 x 32 x 14 cm, 5.5 kg speaker can be placed in a floor base, on a high stand, or mounted on a wall, and can be fronted by an eye-popping “broken ice” fascia (see below image), or interchangeable black, blue or white fabric covers.

BeoLab 17 technical specifications

Dimensions / Weight: 25 x 32 x 14 cm /5.5 kg

Wireless compatibility: BeoVision 11, BeoLab Transmitter 1 & any WiSA-compliant TV or receiver

Stand options: Floor stand, wall bracket, floor base

An all-black version was introduced late October 2014.