Beolab 50

Bang & Olufsen

Design for magical moments

Bang & Olufsen wanted to create the successor of two icons. We helped building bridges between heritage and the future, whilst filling a gap within the product portfolio.

Bang & Olufsen’s flagship-speaker, the BeoLab 90, marks the latter end of the company’s product portfolio. Thanks to its remarkable success the iconic and more affordable BeoLab 5 has been in the product portfolio for more than ten years. This led to varying stakeholder expectations.

Client | Bang & Olufsen
Sector | Audio
Year | 2017

Managing different stakeholder expectations

Customers seek the BeoLab 90 experience at a lower price point and Bang & Olufsen wanted a product to replace the BeoLab 5 with the same amount of success.

Credits: bang-olufsen.com

Product design supporting brand values

BeoLab 50 is a direct replacement for the BeoLab 5, but just as compact and easy to use as its predecessor. It offers Active Room Compensation and “wide” and “sweet spot” modes to offer a flexible acoustic experience. 

Flowing aluminium contours and a body which tapers to a minimal footprint further reduces the volume and gives the speaker an elegantly light appearance.

Credits: bang-olufsen.com

Smart material solutions for an iconic design.

Credits: bang-olufsen.com

The magic moment

The most important element of the Bang & Olufsen identity, the “magic moment”, occurs when the speaker is turned on. When it is turned on, it shows its performative character. The acoustic lens raises itself smoothly out of the main body and the sides move into the chosen position.

 

In addition to magic, each Bang & Olufsen customer expects above all high-quality materials and superior workmanship. Hydroformed parts at the top and bottom of the speaker, combined with three extrusion profiles show a remarkably efficient use of aluminium.

Credits: bang-olufsen.com

Enhancing the portfolio diversity

Oak slats, which optically close the back side when viewed from a normal angle while offering enough transparency for the backward-directed subwoofers, emphasize the interior character of the speaker and serve as an important connection to the rest of the Bang & Olufsen product portfolio.

Credits: bang-olufsen.com
Join our Newsletter

Become a
Noto Insider

Design insights, information on our latest projects, interesting content on various topics.

Check your (spam) email inbox
to confirm your registration.