Launched today by Bang & Olufsen is a complete 'Immaculate Wireless Sound' range, designed to deliver everything from stereo to full 7.1-channel surround sound without cables connecting the speakers.

Using the new WiSA (Wireless Speaker and Sound Association) standard, the speakers can be used with the company’s BeoVision 11 television, now available with a wireless update, or with  WiSA-compliant products due to be launched by a wide range of other manufacturers.

The Bang & Olufsen development allows wireless and wired speakers to be combined, with no latency, up to a total of 20 channels in a TV system based around the BeoVision 11: two speakers in the TV, eight WiSA wireless channels and 10 more via the company’s wired PowerLink system.

WiSA allows those eight channels to be transmitted at up to 24-bit resolution and native sampling rates with no compression, using frequencies in the 5.2-5.8GHz band and intelligent channel-selection.

As well as the Wireless PowerLink system built into BeoVision 11 TVs in recent production, and set to be activated via a software upgrade, the company is also promising transmitter solutions to add on to existing systems, and what it describes as ‘matchbox -sized add-ons’ for its current active speakers to give wireless capability.

BeoLab 18
However, the most striking aspect of the new release is going to be the arrival of the £3990/pr BeoLab 18 speakers, the evolution of the company’s classic BeoLab 8000 ‘organ pipe’ column design: the new model uses the company’s acoustic lens tweeter assembly, and has a unique array with 21 lamella ‘vanes’ in front of the two main drivers. These come in black or white as standard, or in solid oak at a £790 premium.

As with the original BeoLab 8000, the speakers are available with either bases or wall-brackets, but inside they are all-new: two custom-made 10cm mid/bass drivers are used, along with two 160W Class D amplifiers. A digital sound engine tunes the response of the drive units to take account of the lamella design, as well as delivering Adaptive Bass Linearisation and room position control.

In common with all the new speakers, the BeoLab 18s offer wired connections - now with standard RCA phono inputs - along with the wireless capability.

BeoLab 17
The smaller speaker in the range is the compact BeoLab 17, in a triangular cabinet made from a single piece of extruded aluminium and using a 15cm mid/bass driver and a 19mm tweeter, two 160W amps and a custom-tuned version of that digital sound engine. The sealed cabinet has a volume of just 2.8 litres, and the speaker can be used on a dedicated floor base or stand, put directly on the floor monitor-style, wall-mounted or – if you want to be obstinately conventional – used on shelves.

A bass equaliser allows a choice of free-standing, wall or corner positions, and like all the new speakers the BeoLab 17 offers a choice of wired or wireless connection.

Available with either black or white end-caps on the enclosure, and with a choice of white, black or blue fabric front panels, or a distinctive ‘broken ice’ look, the speakers sell for £2590/pr.

BeoLab 19
Completing the range is the BeoLab 19, a wireless active subwoofer with a dodecahedronal – 12-sided – enclosure, B&O Speaker Category Director Lars Fredsgaard saying that ‘Whether you’re a film fan, a Wagner aficionado or into heavy metal, richly cultivated bass adds a visceral dimension that you sense with more than your ears.’

The BeoLab 19 uses two custom-made 20cm drivers, each with a 160W Class D amplifier, placed back to back in separate enclosures. As in all the new speakers, there’s thermal protection and Adaptive Bass Linearisation, and the design – by Jakob Wagner of David Lewis Designers, who was also responsible for the Beolab 17 and 18 – uses anodised aluminium rings around the drivers, with a choice of matt black, white or grey for the main housing.

Selling for £2195, the BeoLab 19 will be available in November, along with the BeoLab 17 and 18, in Bang & Olufsen stores worldwide.

European and US pricing is €2695/$3395 for the BeoLab 19, €4790/$6590 per pair for the BeoLab 18, and €2990/$3990 a pair for the BeoLab 17.

For more background on the new speakers, and how Bang & Olufsen designs and makes its products, click here for an extended feature.

Written by Andrew Everard