Apparently a simple proposition to expand options to aggregate Bang & Olufsen's past and present products, Beoconnect Core is an intriguing development from the Danish brand. With this new streaming and connectivity hub, users owning multiple generations of Bang & Olufsen products but also new customers that want to connect their shiny new Bang & Olufsen speakers to a modern TV in the living room - while having all the options to stream via Bluetooth from mobile devices and create a multiroom installation with AirPlay 2-compatible products - will be all covered by the options offered in the Beoconnect Core.
Of course, technology nomenclatures and specifications are something irrelevant for the typical Bang & Olufsen audience that only cares that things work all the time as intended - and that their investments last. Users can even seamlessly stream music from their favorite app to Bang & Olufsen speakers dating back more than 30 years, or connect their Bang & Olufsen turntable to modern Bang & Olufsen speakers.
And this is because the Beoconnect Core combines all the wired and wireless options that Bang & Olufsen has supported in the past, with all the latest wireless technologies. For a quick reference list of what is in the specifications, we can find Bluetooth 5.3 (no mention of LE Audio yet) and support for the latest LC3plus high resolution codec, licensed by Fraunhofer IIS. In fact, Bang & Olufsen is using this codec as the default technology to stream to paired stereo configurations of Bang & Olufsen speakers. And of course it continues to support Beolink Multiroom, Bang & Olufsen's own multiroom solution which used Wi-Fi, as well as AirPlay, whenever speakers from other manufacturers are connected. Chromecast is also supported with very limited possibilities due to the requirement to use Google's own app for control and the impossibility to use the Bang & Olufsen app.
Regarding Wi-Fi, the new Beoconnect Core streaming hub supports updated dual band 2.4/5GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/a/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) technology, and the hub supports Apple AirPlay, TIDAL Connect, and Spotify Connect direct streaming (no need for external device except for control, allowing the full lossless streaming quality from Apple Music and TIDAL). The hub supports up to 24-bit/192kHz sources and streams wireless up to 24-bit/48kHz. The Bluetooth 5.3 radio includes only support for AAC when used with iOS devices, and limited to the default SBC codec when used with Android devices.
On the wireless technologies, there is no mention of WiSA, which is a technology that Bang & Olufsen has been using for its wireless speakers for quite some time. More intriguing is the inclusion of Ultra-Wideband (UWB), which we suspect is only being used for connecting two wireless speakers as stereo pairs (easily supporting a lossless hi res signal encoded in LC3plus), at least for now. This is a similar approach as Sonus faber did for its Duetto wireless speaker system.
On the physical connections, the Beoconnect Core includes USB-C (which can be used for Digital Performance Output with the recent Beolab 50 and 90 loudspeakers); HDMI eARC (for TV-integration), Gigabit Ethernet, RJ45 Cat7 COMM cable (for Beosound Shape amplifier), one Powerlink (wired Stereo connection) and one Line-In auxiliary input. Remote control of the hub is done always though the Bang & Olufsen App, where configurations for the all system takes place, although the Beoremote One BT and Beoremote Halo controllers are also supported.
"Our aim is to build product icons that can last a lifetime, and Beoconnect Core is an important addition to our product offering, that enables us to deliver on this longevity promise. Beoconnect Core connects our past with our future and comes with our replaceable Mozart streaming module that can easily be upgraded to the newest technology," says Michael Henriksson, Vice President of Product Marketing at Bang & Olufsen. "This means that the products that our customers love can be used for years to come and continue to provide memorable moments."
"Devised with Cradle-to-Cradle principles in mind, Beoconnect Core's design embodies Bang & Olufsen's commitment to extending the lifetime of its products. It does so through easy upgradability, long term serviceability, as well as the replaceable Mozart streaming module to ensure that it can continue to carry Bang & Olufsen's products into the future with the latest technology," the company adds.
The Beoconnect Core is as compact as all this connectivity options and built-in technologies require. It comes in a gently curved, pearl blasted aluminum chassis, made to absorb heat and with a non-conductive cover to ensure full antenna transparency. This also allows the Beoconnect Core to be installed into the Beosound Shape (hexagonal speakers that look like a decorative wall element or acoustic panels), using an additional bracket that can be docked into a Beosound Shape tile.
The Beoconnect Core is priced at €1,099 EUR or $1,150 USD and is now available online and in selected stores.
www.bang-olufsen.com
