Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Dark Oak

I’ve been using the B&O Beosound A5 for a few weeks now, and it’s easily one of the best speakers I’ve ever owned. The sound quality is incredibly rich, detailed, and with a strong, deep bass that doesn’t overwhelm. Even at high volume, everything stays clear and balanced. It fills the room effortlessly and sounds great from any angle. The build quality is premium, as you’d expect from Bang & Olufsen. It looks stunning in person – minimalist, elegant, and solid. The handle makes it easy to move around, and I’ve used it both indoors and outside without any issues. Battery life is solid, and the wireless charging pad on top is a nice bonus. I love the picnic basket design, I got the dark oak colour. I also love that it comes with smart features like AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Bluetooth. The app is easy to use and lets you tweak the sound just the way you like it. It even has memory for different sound presets, which is a great touch. If I had to nitpick, there were a couple of times early on where the Bluetooth connection took a moment to sync, but it’s been stable since. Also, it’s definitely a premium-priced speaker, but once you hear it and see how it’s built, it feels worth it. Overall, if you’re looking for a portable speaker that sounds amazing and looks beautiful in any space, the Beosound A5 is a fantastic choice.

I've now had this for a few weeks. Fantastic upgrade over my beolit 15. Very good battery life (particularly when listening at regular volumes). Great B&O sound - particularly when listening to hi res Tidal over wifi. USB-C charging is great. When paired with an external battery - can have it cranking outside for hours and hours at high volume. Great for parties. I like the direct access to buttons to play/stop & shortcuts to radio stations. Haven't had any issues with wifi connectivity. It's been working without issue. I've been primarily using tidal connect (with the tidal integration to the B&O app - decided to give tidal a go). When I switch back to spotify connect - I can really hear the difference in sound quality (will likely be dropping spotify now). Heck- I don't even like listening to my bluetooth headphones any more - the sound quality of hi res on the A5 is so much better!

It looks lovely and sounds decent but it's software is a joke. I'm using android and it is filled with bugs. I've had the volume set to max and it wouldn't let me change it without doint a full factory reset several times. I've had the audio just not coming out at all until I've done a full factory reset. I'm honestly doing a rest once a week. And now it just won't connect to Bluetooth at all. Even a factory reset won't fix it. I've had it for a few months now so I'm hoping I can get a refund or something. It's honestly unusable bad.

It is sold as a premium/luxury product but provides a shoddy experience. 1. Major connectivity issues with airplay. Doesn’t collect half the time. My Bose soundbar performs way better at the same price. 2. Major issues switching between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Unit has to be rebooted every time. 3. Unresponsive support on the B&O app 4. App Apparently requires Internet 5. Room compensation only works on AC power. Why B&O? are you going to provide free replacement batteries in the future? 6. horrible app experience.eg: No way pause music once a favourite channel is played from the app. That being said the sound quality is awesome. Brilliant bass performance.

The sound and quality are incredible

Lovely speaker sound is the best I have heard from a portable speaker. Built quality tops. Heavy in weight and high or low volume it delivers audiophile quality listening to classical or contemporary stuff. A bit pricey but if you like great sound it’s worth the investment.

Bought the B&O level love it but now I have the B&O 5 too tier

Only Negative is sometimes I loose stereo (I have 2 of these) when switching on with network setting (better sound than via bluetooth) and can be a bit of a hassle getting it back up and running. Has improved since a few software updates though. Can't complain as quality is awesome.

Awesome product & great design. Sound is great on its own.

Was Qualität von Verarbeitung und Wiedergabe angeht, ist das Gerät absolut überzeugend. Ob es einem den Preis wert ist, muss jeder für sich entscheiden. Einbindung in die B&O App ohne Probleme, Wiedergabe über Bluetooth und WLAN ebenfalls problemlos. Die Ladefunktion für Smartphones auf der Oberseite ist ganz nett und funktioniert einwandfrei. Einen Stern Abzug gibt es für das Batterie Management. Im ausgeschalteten Zustand, also nicht im Standby Betrieb, entlädt sich der Akku. Nach spätestens 14 Tagen ist er bei Null Prozent. Es gab zwar ein Software Update, aber viel besser ist es dadurch nicht geworden. Da ich mir die Box für die Verwendung im Sommer auf der Terrasse und im Garten gekauft habe, ist es ärgerlich, ständig den Akkuzustand zu prüfen. Bei anderen B&O Geräten hatte ich dieses Problem nicht. UPDATE: Nachdem ich tatsächlich einmal die Anleitung gelesen habe, hat sich das Problem mit dem Entladen des Akkus gelöst.

It’s surprising how this small package delivers such a punch. Clear sound with punchy bass.

3/5 stars because: Sound quality deserves 5 stars. Sound is even better than the incredible Beolit 20 speakers, although not by as much as the premium price suggests. However, stereo pairing is a disaster, regardless of the connection type, so the stereo mode doesn’t even deserve one star. The main speaker’s sound is OK, but the paired “slave” speaker sounds distorted every couple of seconds (in average). I bought a pair of these, and because of this buggy sound, they’re not worth it at all!

I’ve owned quite a few premium speakers over the years, including the Bang & Olufsen Beolit 20 and Devialet Mania, Beosound Level, and I can confidently say the Beosound A5 is one of my favorite portable speakers I’ve ever owned. Before purchasing it, I was honestly worried it would sound too similar to the Beolit 20. After all, they’re both portable speakers from Bang & Olufsen. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The A5 is a substantial step forward in build quality, industrial design, software, and most importantly, sound quality. The first thing you notice is just how beautifully it’s made. The combination of real aluminum, genuine wood, and premium materials makes it feel more like a piece of Scandinavian furniture than a Bluetooth speaker. It’s the type of product people notice immediately, and I constantly get compliments whenever friends see it. One of the biggest reasons I justified the purchase is Bang & Olufsen’s Cradle to Cradle Certified design philosophy. Unlike many modern electronics that are essentially disposable, the A5 was designed to be serviceable and upgradeable for years to come. I tend to buy expensive things once and take care of them, so knowing this speaker was built with longevity in mind made the premium price much easier to accept. It feels like something I’ll still own and enjoy a decade from now. Sound Quality The sound is simply superb. What impressed me most wasn’t just how powerful it gets, but how refined everything sounds. The bass is deep, controlled, and incredibly satisfying without overwhelming the rest of the music. The midrange is exceptionally clear, vocals sound natural, and the treble has a smooth refinement that never becomes harsh or fatiguing. Compared to my Devialet Mania, I’d actually give the edge to the A5 for overall clarity. The midrange and treble are noticeably cleaner and more detailed. The Mania may have just a touch more bass slam, but it’s surprisingly close. Overall, I find the A5 to be the more balanced and enjoyable speaker to listen to across all genres. Another thing I really appreciate is how customizable the sound is. You’re not stuck with a factory tuning. The Bang & Olufsen app lets you adjust different sound profiles, so you can tailor the presentation to your own preferences rather than relying on a basic bass/treble slider. The speaker also performs an automatic room compensation/calibration, using built-in microphones to analyze its surroundings and optimize playback based on where it’s placed. It’s a subtle feature, but it helps the speaker sound consistently excellent whether it’s sitting on a shelf, a countertop, or outside on the patio. Features The feature set is exactly what I’d expect from a premium modern speaker. It includes: • AirPlay 2 • Spotify Connect • Bluetooth • Multiroom compatibility with other Bang & Olufsen speakers • Built-in streaming capabilities • Excellent companion app with intuitive controls and EQ adjustments One feature I particularly like is the ability to swap out the handles and front grilles, allowing you to customize the speaker over time if your style changes. It’s a small touch that reinforces the idea that this product was designed to last rather than be replaced. Portability Let’s be realistic. This isn’t the speaker you’re tossing into your suitcase for vacation. It’s fairly heavy, and honestly I think that’s part of why it sounds so good. The weight contributes to the premium feel and acoustic performance. That said, it’s incredibly easy to move around the house. I regularly carry it from room to room, onto the patio, out by the pool, or into the garden. It’s portable in the sense that it goes wherever you do around your home, not necessarily as a travel speaker. If you plan on transporting it often, I’d highly recommend investing in a carrying case. With its aluminum, wood, and premium finishes, it’s worth protecting. Final Thoughts Yes, it’s expensive. Objectively, it’s a luxury purchase. But after living with it, I don’t regret it for a second. The combination of beautiful craftsmanship, thoughtful sustainability, upgradeability, outstanding software, and genuinely exceptional sound makes it feel less like another Bluetooth speaker and more like a piece of audio furniture you’ll enjoy for years. For me, this isn’t something I’ll replace in two or three years. It’s something I plan on keeping for a very long time. If you’re deciding between the Beolit 20, Devialet Mania, and the Beosound A5, I’d choose the A5 every single time. It delivers a level of refinement, versatility, and longevity that’s difficult to find in a portable speaker. I absolutely love it.