BEO.ZONE

BeoLab 18

BeoLab Loudspeaker

Production: 11/2013 - present

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.

The striking lamella-fronted BeoLab 18 speaker from B&O

This distinctive floor-standing speaker column is home to an acoustic lens tweeter at the top that’s claimed to throw out sounds in a 180 degree even spread, and two 10cm custom-made bass drivers. A 160 W Class-D amplifier powers both bass drivers, and there’s another for the tweeter. The anodised aluminum bass reflex cabinet stands on an inverted aluminum cone that tapers down to a cast iron base, and is fronted by 21 plates made of black composite or solid oak (shown in image below).

A set of two speakers is priced at $6,590 US for the black lamella-fronted version (floor base or wall bracket included), but the oak fronts will cost you an extra $1,390 US per set.

BeoLab 18 technical specifications

Dimensions / Weight: 132.4 x 15.5 x 11.5 cm / 8.5 kg

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

Placement options: Floor stand, wall bracket

More Bang & Olufsen Items

The brand names Bang & Olufsen, B&O, trade mark and many of the product names and details together with on-site photographs are the property and copyright of Bang & Olufsen. The information on this website is provided only as a guide to Bang & Olufsen collectors and enthusiasts of the marque.

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