Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsAudiophile Sound Quality at an Audiophile Pricepoint -- Completely Worth It!
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2023
The B&O Beosound A5 exceeded my high expectations for an aesthetically beautiful product that could deliver full bodied, nuanced sound in a portable fashion whether indoors or outdoors. It is unquestionably a luxury audiophile quality product targeted at the unusual niche customers seeking exceptional sound quality from a portable, wireless, bluetooth, weather reisistant device that can move effortlessly from room to room, or to the patio or a picnic in the great outdoors. That is what I was hoping for, and that is what I got. I'm a member of two audiophile listening groups and really don't tolerate poor sound quality in any environment, even on the patio for so-called casual listening. I really only want to hear top quality sound or, second best, perfect silence. I felt this unit would deliver a good casual listening experience for entertaining audiophile friends on my patio on summer evenings. However, I didn't really expect that it in would deliver a critical listening experience to my patio or to virtually every room with so little compromise from the quality of my primary, far more elaborate, stereo system. Amazing volume, too. This unit is better than most high quality bookshelf speakers on the market with surprising bass and great separation of voices along the full spectrum of any genre of music. The B&O app also includes an equalizer for fine tuning sound to the user's preference, but I just selected optimal and feel I'm getting optimal. I hesitated before laying out $1,000 for this somewhat gimmicky looking picnic basket styled speaker, but now find it tastefully elegant in person and wonder if I should buy a second for a full stereo experience that could easily serve as a primary stereo system for most critical listeners. It aesthetically pleasing finish is like a piece of nice furniture that you don't want to knock around, but in a refined envronment with respectful treatment, it's perfect. This product is very, very good. And even the app is reasonably organized allowing me to stream from Tidal and Qobuz very quickly after an easy setup, and with striking fidelity. I'm sold on it and will probably buy a second one to add the stereo dimension as soon as I can massage the budget enough to pay for it.