In the traditional lexicon of high-fidelity audio, form usually follows function. A speaker looks like a speaker because the physics of sound waves dictates rectangular cabinets, forward-firing drivers, and massive footprints. The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance challenges this orthodoxy. It asks a radical question: Can an object perform like a high-end audio component while looking like a piece of minimalist furniture?
To answer “yes” required more than just a designer’s eye; it required a fundamental rethinking of electro-acoustic engineering. The Balance is not merely a speaker; it is an exercise in “Acoustic Camouflage”, utilizing advanced beamforming algorithms and material science to hide a powerful soundfield within a slender, sculptural silhouette.
The Physics of the “Anti-Box”: Opposing Force Woofers
The most striking visual element of the Balance is its base: a cylinder of solid FSC-certified oak. In traditional design, wood is often a veneer over MDF. Here, the wood serves a structural and acoustic purpose.
Housed within this wooden pedestal are two 5.25-inch woofers.
* The Configuration: Instead of firing forward, they are mounted vertically, firing in opposition (one up, one down) in a configuration reminiscent of isobaric loading.
* The Physics: This opposing arrangement cancels out mechanical vibrations. Even at high volumes, the speaker doesn’t “walk” across the table or rattle the fine china. The result is Clean Bass—low frequencies that are felt in the chest but don’t muddy the midrange, emerging seemingly from nowhere.
Beamforming: The Inheritance of Beolab 90
Above the wooden base sits a fabric-wrapped cylinder containing the mid and high-frequency drivers. This is where the magic of Beamforming happens—a technology trickle-down from B&O’s $80,000 flagship, the Beolab 90.
The Balance houses four full-range drivers and one tweeter in a specific array. By manipulating the Phase and Time Delay of the signal sent to each driver, the internal DSP (Digital Signal Processor) can shape the sound wave.
1. Omni Mode: The drivers fire in a way that distributes sound 360 degrees evenly. Ideal for parties or background listening, filling the room with a uniform “cloud” of sound.
2. Directed Mode: The DSP adjusts the phase to cancel out sound waves emitting to the sides and rear, focusing a “beam” of sound directly at the listener. This creates a traditional “Sweet Spot” with precise imaging and phantom center, mimicking a pair of stereo speakers.
This capability allows the Balance to change its acoustic character on demand, shifting from an ambient background device to a critical listening instrument with the touch of a button.
Active Room Compensation: The Feedback Loop
Placing a powerful speaker against a wall or in a corner usually results in “boomy” bass—a phenomenon caused by Boundary Gain (low-frequency waves reflecting and reinforcing each other).
The Beosound Balance incorporates Active Room Compensation (ARC).
* The Process: During setup, the speaker emits a sweep of tones. An internal microphone array listens to the room’s response.
* The Calculation: It detects resonant modes (frequencies that ring too long) and boundary reflections.
* The Correction: The DSP creates a custom Equalization (EQ) filter to notch out these booming frequencies.
This means the speaker fights the physics of the room. You can place it on a bookshelf, in a corner, or on a pedestal, and the bass will remain tight and controlled. It effectively “erases” the acoustic penalty of poor placement.
Material Science: The Fibonacci Pattern
Even the grill is an exercise in math. The aluminum plate covering the tweeter features a hole pattern based on the Fibonacci Sequence.
* Why it matters: A uniform grid of holes can create diffraction patterns, coloring the sound. The organic, non-repeating nature of the Fibonacci spiral ensures maximum Acoustic Transparency. It allows high frequencies to pass through without being scattered or absorbed, ensuring the treble remains airy and detailed, despite the metal barrier.
The Verdict: Sculpture with a Voice
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance is a polarizing device. Audiophile purists may scoff at the heavy reliance on DSP, and the price tag is undeniably steep. However, to judge it solely on price-per-watt is to miss the point.
It is a triumph of Integration Engineering. It solves the domestic conflict between “Good Sound” and “Good Design.” By using beamforming to direct sound and room compensation to fix bass, it allows high-fidelity audio to exist in spaces where traditional black boxes are unwelcome. It doesn’t just play music; it decorates the silence.
