High end audio brand Bang & Olufsen has announced a slightly more affordable AirPlay wireless speaker. The Beolit 12 is the first product in its recently announced Beoplay range of audio products that mere mortals may be able to afford.
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Reminiscent of an old Apple Mac G5, the imposing aluminium Beolit 12 houses a pair of 2in tweeters and a 4in woofer. The Apple styling is far from coincidental, as the Beolit 12 is AirPlay-compatible, meaning iTunes music can be played wirelessly from a Mac, iPhone, iPod or iPad.
The speaker can be either mains or battery-powered. Expect to be able to enjoy your audio favourites for up to eight hours before you need to recharge the Beolit (half then when using the battery-draining Wi-Fi needed for AirPlay). We also assume its battery won’t last quite so long if you insist on having the volume up to the max: its has a 120 Watt Class D powered amplifier.
Ethernet and USB ports are also included as alternative means of porting audio to the Beolit box. Products in the B&O Beoplay range will be sold through Bang & Olufsen stores and select Apple Stores.
The Beolit 12 is already on preorder at some UK audio specialists and looks set to cost £599. Several colour options will be offered, while a leather carry strap makes it easy to transport. The Beolit name was originally used by Bang & Olufsen for its portable transistor radios in the 1960s. For more details see www.beoplay.com.
