Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen

Design – Danish Elegance with Purpose

Available in Warm Granite, Honey Tone, Eucalyptus Green, and Natural Aluminium, the A1 3rd Gen arrives in a minimal, plastic-free box with a fabric-sheathed USB-C cable and printed documentation.

Weighing 576g and measuring 13.3 x 4.6 x 13.3 cm, the flat, circular speaker feels reassuringly solid. The mix of brushed aluminium and velvety polymer is a pleasure to hold, while a leather strap adds portability. The metal grille is precision-drilled with over 2,000 holes, and the underside houses a non-slip polymer base with a USB-C port.

Removing the grille reveals a 0.6-inch tweeter, a microphone, and a 3¼-inch woofer, each powered by its own 30W Class-D amplifier for a total of 60W output. The IP67 rating means it’s fully dust-tight and can handle rain, splashes, or a day at the beach.

Functions & Operation

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen uses Bluetooth 5.1 with AAC and aptX Adaptive codec support. Multipoint pairing is available, as is stereo pairing with a second A1 3rd Gen. Wireless range reaches up to 20 metres in line of sight. There’s no analogue input, and hands-free calling is supported.

Physical buttons are recessed into the base—tactile, but difficult to see in low light. Pairing new devices interrupts current playback due to the older Bluetooth standard, which is less convenient than modern alternatives.

On first use, the B&O app is required, and registration is mandatory. The initial firmware update took over 10 minutes, and in one case needed to be restarted after a crash. The app itself is minimalist, offering five EQ presets and a circular tone control labelled “Relaxed”, “Bright”, “Energetic”, and “Warm”—though translations can be unintentionally odd.

Integrated streaming options include Tidal, Deezer, and local media servers. Spotify integration is essentially a redirect to the Spotify app. Internet radio browsing is straightforward, but the app lacks features like multipoint management or a sleep timer.

Sound Quality

The Beosound A1 3rd Gen delivers a warm, smooth sound with punchy bass, clear mids, and crisp highs. Vocals and instruments are presented with good transparency, and at low to medium volumes it creates a cosy, inviting atmosphere.

In larger rooms it remains composed, though it is not designed for high-volume party use. Above two-thirds volume, bass presence drops and treble can become sharp. The quoted 24-hour battery life is achievable only at moderate listening levels.

Conclusion

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen is a beautifully crafted portable speaker that sounds refined and feels luxurious. Its laid-back sonic character makes it ideal for relaxed listening, and its robust, waterproof build ensures it can travel anywhere. However, the dated Bluetooth standard and limited app experience hold it back, especially given the €349 price tag for a third-generation model.