Bang & Olufsen's Beolab 8 is a versatile, compact and scalable wireless speaker that can be used solo, doubled-up as a stereo pair, or linked with other B&O offerings from as far back as 1984 to create an immersive home theatre system, so says the Danish firm. Furthermore, we're assured that the Beolab 8 can ” deliver depth with an intense bass for its size.”

Within the one-piece aluminium body and behind either wooden lamellas or a fabric front, the Beolab 8 sports a three-driver set-up consisting of a 16mm tweeter, a 3-inch midrange, each powered by their own 50W class D amp, and a 5.25-inch woofer pushed along by a 200W class D unit. In table stand guise, the new compact speaker measures  29 x 18.9 x 16.5cm (HxWxD) but also offers a floor stand and wall bracket as further options.

Meanwhile, the glass interface on top of the speaker “creates a perfect curve that guides the user's finger along the surface effortlessly”, according to the style-conscious Danes.

Additionally, it appears that Beolab 8 has smarts as well as looks. Firstly, beam width control lets you switch between listening profiles for a narrower listen or a more expansive and diffused sound, depending on whether you're in the room alone or sharing the experience. Also, “room compensation” promises to optimise the soundscape based on a given space's acoustic character. Finally, wide-band tech can have the Beolab 8 direct the sweet spot to wherever the phone is sitting that's running the official B&O app.

Regarding apps, the Beolab 8 uses the brand's Mozart platform as its central operating system and can connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 5.3. Powerlink, meanwhile, facilitates wireless and wired connectivity.

Bang & Olufsen is keen to underline its eco credentials with the Beolab 8 capable of continuous customisation options and easy upgradability over time, alongside long-term serviceability as well as a replaceable streaming module to ensure that Beolab 8 can adapt to the latest technology standards. The speaker is designed using Cradle-to-Cradle principles – a philosophy allowing products to be proactively designed for a circular future. This is something we saw previously in the Beosound A9 and Beosound 2.

Bang & Olufsen's Beolab 8 is available now in various customisable colourways, including silver & natural aluminium, gold-tone or black anthracite that can be matched with speaker covers in oak, light oak, dark oak or classic fabric. Prices start from US$2,749.

Visit Bang & Olufsen for more information