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Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Review

Kenn Muguna Avatar
Updated Jan 25, 2024 6:27 PM

True Score

75
75
9

Experts

86
0

Consumers

Product Awards

GR Certified

Expert Rankings

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore had reviewers pleased with its excellent build quality and compact size. They liked that it had a long-lasting battery and produced a wide soundstage, but they didn’t appreciate its mediocre bass levels and its lack of support for voice assistants or WiFi connectivity.

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Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

Overview

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore is a top-tier wireless Bluetooth speaker that was first announced mid-2021. Similar to the top speakers designed for outdoor use, the Beosound Explore has great build quality and is both waterproof and dust resistant. Its battery also lasts long since it offers up to nine hours of playtime. Its Bluetooth capabilities are not that far off from what some of the best Bluetooth speakers have to offer since it can be paired with up to two devices at once, and it has a Bluetooth range of up to 334.6 ft. The speaker will take only 3.9 hours to charge, and its charging port is connected via a USB-C port. For a speaker that doesn’t need to be connected to a port to charge. Weighing only 1.3 pounds, the speaker is also very portable, but if you’d also like to consider other portable options, check out our Bose SoundLink Flex review.

Consensus

our Verdict

Product testers lauded the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore for its sturdy build quality and impressive portability. Specialists from Expert Reviews liked that the speaker was small enough to hold with one hand and was dust-tight and waterproof. During their tests, its battery lasted 27 hours after playing audio at moderate volumes, while testers from Tech Radar also liked that they could adjust its EQ settings through its app. Other experts were also impressed with its soundstage performance, and found it alright for watching movies and playing music. They also lauded its multi-device Bluetooth connectivity and were pleased with its long 334.6 ft range.

However, testers weren’t entirely satisfied with its bass levels. If this is a deal breaker, you might like our Bose Portable Smart speaker review and our Bang & Olufsen Beolit 20 review since they both have a good bass response. The Beosound Explore also doesn’t support WiFi connectivity, or voice assistants like the Bose 300 does (which we’ve covered in our Bose Home Speaker 300 review).

ReasonS to Buy

  • Great build quality and durability
  • Long-lasting battery
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Long Bluetooth range
  • Multi-device Bluetooth connectivity

Reason to Avoid

  • Mediocre bass response
  • No support for WiFi or voice assistants
  • No speakerphone functionality

Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Specs

Battery LifeBattery Life27 hrs
Built In MicrophoneBuilt In MicrophoneYes
Charge TimeCharge Time2 hrs
SizeSize8.1 cm (d) x 12.4 cm (h)
Smart AppSmart AppYes
Speaker PairingSpeaker PairingYes
Water ResistantWater ResistantYes
WattageWattage2 × 30W
Wireless RangeWireless Rangen/a

All Specs

Test Results

Battery Life (Hours)9
Volume Output (dB)84.8
Low End Roll Off (Hz)142.544
High End Roll Off (Hz)1,784.241

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    Product Comparison

    Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Review

    True Score

    75
    84
    83
    80

    Ranking

    #

    93

    /

    109

    #

    9

    /

    109

    #

    18

    /

    109

    #

    52

    /

    109

    Market Context

    The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore is a top-tier wireless Bluetooth speaker that was first announced mid-2021. Similar to the top speakers designed for outdoor…

    The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore is a top-tier wireless Bluetooth speaker that was first announced mid-2021. Similar to the top speakers designed for outdoor use, the Beosound Explore has great build quality and is both waterproof and dust resistant. Its battery also lasts long since it offers up to nine hours of playtime. Its Bluetooth capabilities are not that far off from what some of the best Bluetooth speakers have to offer since it can be paired with up to two devices at once, and it has a Bluetooth range of up to 334.6 ft. The speaker will take only 3.9 hours to charge, and its charging port is connected via a USB-C port. For a speaker that doesn’t need to be connected to a port to charge. Weighing only 1.3 pounds, the speaker is also very portable, but if you’d also like to consider other portable options, check out our Bose SoundLink Flex review.

    The difference in size is not the only thing that sets the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore apart from the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1…

    The difference in size is not the only thing that sets the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore apart from the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2. Upon further inspection, keen buyers might notice that the Beosound Explore has a stereo output while the Beosound A1 does not. The former also has a longer 9-hour battery life than the latter’s 4.6 hours. Take a look at our Bang & Olufsen A1 Gen 2 review for more highlights on what else it can do.

    The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore has an equalizer while the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II does not, but the Beosound Explore is capable of a…

    The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore has an equalizer while the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II does not, but the Beosound Explore is capable of a stereo output while the Revolve+ II is not.

    The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore has a longer 9-hour battery life compared to the Sonos Roam, whose battery only lasts up to 5.1 hours….

    The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore has a longer 9-hour battery life compared to the Sonos Roam, whose battery only lasts up to 5.1 hours. Still, the Sonos Roam supports WiFi connectivity and voice assistant functionality, while the Beosound Explore does not.

    Battery Life

    27 hrs

    18 hrs

    17 hrs

    10 hrs

    Built In Microphone

    Yes

    Yes

    Yes

    Yes

    Charge Time

    2 hrs

    2 hrs

    4 hrs

    2 hrs

    Size

    8.1 cm (d) x 12.4 cm (h)

    13.3 cm (w) x 4.5 cm (h) x 13.3 cm (d) (Weight: 558 g)

    Smart App

    Yes

    Yes

    Amazon Alexa app, Bose Connect, Google Assistant, Yes

    Amazon Alexa app, Google Assistant, Sonos app

    Speaker Pairing

    Yes

    n/a

    Yes

    Yes

    Water Resistant

    Yes

    Yes

    Yes

    Yes

    Wattage

    2 × 30W

    105W

    8W

    10W

    Dig Deeper

    Bang Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 Review →

    Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II Review →

    Sonos Roam Review →

    All Stores

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    • Save $101
      $249.00
      $147.95

      Availability

      In Stock

      Free Shipping

      Yes

    Score Card

    E

    Expert Score

    75

    *.75

    We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

    C

    Customer Score

    86

    *.25

    We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

    True Score

    75

    Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews

    Expert Scores

    • Rtings
      100.6

      Category Trust Rating

      69
      “No bottom line found for this product” Read More

      By:

      Andy White
    • PC Mag
      43.6

      Category Trust Rating

      80
      The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore looks great, is rugged and waterproof but doesn’t deliver… Read More

      By:

      Mike Lowe
    • Which?
      55.2

      Category Trust Rating

      NR
      B&O Beosound Explore Looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker that can withstand the a bit… Read More

      By:

      Unknown
    • Pocket Lint
      52.7

      Category Trust Rating

      80
      The Beosound Explore is a stylish and durable speaker for accompanying you wherever you go,… Read More

      By:

      Matthew Bolton
    • Expert Reviews UK
      19.7

      Category Trust Rating

      80
      The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore is part of the Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers test… Read More

      By:

      Nick Rego
    • Consumer Reports
      15.6

      Category Trust Rating

      NR
      Bang & Olufsen Explore is a cool-looking, compact, great-sounding portable speaker—and is dazzling in the… Read More

      By:

      Unknown

    Customer Scores