B&O-Bang & Olufsen Beolab 8
The Beolab 8 pairs warm, articulate sound with unusually vivid vocals, clean treble and a focused stereo image in Narrow mode. Andrew Robinson found it especially compelling at everyday levels, while TECH REVIEWS praised its effortless comfort, robust build and quick stereo setup. Add room compensation and flexible streaming, and this compact active speaker becomes a refined, design-led hub for modern listening.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
90/100
Build Quality
92/100
Value for Money
78/100
Pros
Exceptionally articulate midrange gives vocals strong presence, detail and intelligibility, even at low to moderate listening levels.
Narrow beam mode delivers convincing stereo imaging and soundstage depth, while Wide mode adds spacious room-filling presentation.
Premium aluminium construction, intuitive app control and simple stereo pairing make for a notably polished ownership experience.
Cons
Bass is punchy at modest levels but rolls off noticeably at higher volumes; a subwoofer is advisable for genuinely deep low-end extension.
Wide dispersion improves spaciousness but reduces image focus and depth precision compared with Narrow mode.
Its premium pricing faces strong competition from less expensive active wireless speakers offering greater bass output or more nuanced sound.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 90/100
Reviewers found the Beolab 8 unusually refined and complete-sounding for a compact active speaker, combining a warm, inviting balance with excellent clarity and low-volume enjoyment. Its strongest performance comes at moderate listening levels, while ultimate bass weight and large-scale output are more limited when pushed hard.
Bass
87/100
For a speaker using a 5.25-inch woofer, reviewers were impressed by its punch, weight and bass presence at low to moderate levels. The DSP-assisted low end does roll off noticeably at higher volumes, however, and reviewers recommend a subwoofer for genuinely deep bass below roughly 35Hz.
Mid
93/100
The midrange is a clear highlight. Reviewers describe it as effortless, clean and exceptionally articulate, with vocals from artists such as Diana Krall and Beth Hart rendered with unusual presence, detail and intelligibility even at lower levels.
Treble
89/100
Treble is consistently described as clean, crisp and precise, with the tweeter sounding composed rather than aggressive. Air and ultimate extension are somewhat restrained, but that restraint helps the speaker avoid sibilance or listening fatigue.
Soundstage Imaging
90/100
In Narrow mode, reviewers heard a very convincing stereo image with good depth and focused placement. Wide mode adds welcome spaciousness and can make the room feel larger, though it trades away some image specificity and depth precision.
Dynamics
92/100
Reviewers praise the Beolab 8 as dynamically lively and capable of communicating shifts in music without needing excessive volume. It will not deliver the room-shaking macrodynamic scale of much larger speakers, and bass output becomes more constrained when played loudly.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
92/100
The Beolab 8 receives strong praise for its premium materials, workmanship and trophy-like aluminium finish. One reviewer felt the newer floor stands looked and felt less elegant and more cheaply made than earlier B&O designs, but this criticism was directed at the stand rather than the main speaker enclosure.
Value for Money
78/100
At around 7,900, the Beolab 8 is a costly lifestyle speaker system. One reviewer considers it comparatively affordable within Bang & Olufsen's own range, but another notes that alternatives such as a pair of Sonos Era 300 speakers cost a fraction as much, making the Beolab's premium difficult to justify on value alone.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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Specifications
- Recommended Room Size
- 10-60 m² 100-600 ft²
- Speaker Configuration
- Per Speaker: 1 x 0.6" tweeter 1 x 3" mid-range 1 x 5 ¼" woofer
- Amplifier
- Per Speaker: 1 x 50 W class D for tweeter 1 x 50 W class D for mid-range 1 x 200 W class D for woofer
- Frequency Range
- 28-23.000 Hz
- Maximum Sound Pressure Level (SPL) @ 1 m
- Per Pair: 104 dB (SPL)
- Bass Capability
- Per Pair: 90 dB (SPL)
- Advanced Sound Features
- Active Room Compensation Beam Width Control Adaptive Bass Linearization Thermal Protection Flexible Sweet Spot (stereo setups only)
- Customisable Sound EQ
- Presets available and fully customisable through the Bang & Olufsen App
- Designer
- Noto GmbH
- Materials
- Aluminium Fabric / Wood Polymer
- Dimensions
- Per Speaker: Table Stand: 18.9 W x 29 H x 16.5 D cm Floor Stand: 30 W x 114 H x 30 D cm Wall Bracket: 21.5 W x 27.9 H x 16.5 D cm Ceiling Bracket: 17 W x 36 H x 23.1 D cm *dimensions depend on the speaker placement & tilt angle
- Weight
- Per Speaker: 4.1 kg (without stand or bracket)
- Power Supply
- Power supply built-in Power Cable
- Bluetooth Version
- Bluetooth 5.3
- Bluetooth Codecs
- Android: SBC iOS: SBC, AAC
- Ultra-Wideband
- Yes
- Wi-Fi
- Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4 & 5 GHz) IEEE 802.11 b/g/a/n/ac/ax
- Streaming Services
- Apple AirPlay Spotify Connect Google Cast TIDAL Connect B&O Radio Deezer QPlay 2.0
- Beolink Multiroom
- Seamlessly connect multiple Bang & Olufsen speakers to expand your music experience.
- Beolink Surround
- Connect your speakers to a Beosound soundbar or Beovision to enjoy a true surround sound experience. *Beosound Premiere and Beosound/Beovision Theatre only.
- Wireless Connections
- Wireless Power Link / WiSA (up to 24 bit / 48 kHz) Digital Power Link (up to 24 bit / 48 kHz)
- Physical Connections
- Per Speaker: 2 x Ethernet (for Internet and Digital Power Link) 1 x Power Link (RJ45) 1 x Line-in via USB-C 1 x Power
- Remote Control
- Bang & Olufsen App Beoremote One BT Beoremote Halo
- On-Device Controls
- Yes
Manufacturer's Description — B&O-Bang & Olufsen
Compact and powerful as a standalone, stereo, or surround sound speaker. With adaptive room compensation, beam width control and room mapping, these are small speakers with big sound. Choose between table, floor, wall, or ceiling mounting to suit your style and needs.
Effortlessly connect your Bang & Olufsen speakers to any TV withBeoconnect Core
Beolab 8 is the embodiment of versatility. Exquisite looks and replaceable parts give you form and function for any point in your life.
Flexible placement, powerful sound
Beolab 8 stands wherever you need it to: walls, floors, ceilings, tables. And it soars with powerful, detailed high-def sound. This is a speaker of all trades, without any trade-offs.
We’ve crafted three new speakers. The twist? They’re all the same speaker.
A surround sound powerhouse
Cinema? Beolab 8 slots seamlessly into your current set up as a rear surround powerhouse.
A stirring stereo experience
Left meets right: two Beolab 8s deliver a more stunning soundstage. They’ll work in concert to fill the room.
A standalone masterpiece
Hear it perform in harmony. Have it fly solo. Either way, the sound soars.
Groundbreaking, room-shaking sound
Enjoy all the power and pedigree of a Beolab speaker, anywhere in your home. A three-driver set up delivers detail and depth. The bass hits you with an intensity you wouldn’t expect from a speaker the size of a sheet of paper. And it doesn’t just have surprising brawn. It’s got the brains to match.
Your room. Mapped.
Every room is unique. That’s why Beolab 8 carefully maps its environment with a dedicated microphone – to deliver crystal clear quality and musical fidelity no matter the size or setup of your space. A neodymium motor drives the sound home. So you can enjoy a soundscape adapted to your surroundings and your immersion.
Always hits the spot
Beolab 8 does more than adapt to your room. It adapts to you. Using ultra-wideband technology, it directs the acoustic sweetspot to wherever you are. As long as your phone is on you, the sound is too. No need to readjust your speaker, or your room.
Narrow. Wide. You decide.
Beolab 8’s beam width control lets you switch seamlessly between two listening experiences. Narrow down with precision audio channelled directly to you. Or go wide and diffuse sound throughout your space. Which mode is it in? The LEDs on the front will enlighten you.
Seamless Streaming
With our Mozart Platform at its heart, Beolab 8 can connect easily through WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. And it can stream just about anything. The platforms you love now. And the ones you’ll love in the future. It has the power to process and play them all.
Connect to legacy systems
Legacy set up? Beolab 8 has Powerlink and Wireless Powerlink built in. So you can connect to TVs and sound systems going back more than 30 years – with reliability, and fidelity. But Beolab 8 doesn’t just play with the classics. Its Mozart Platform helps orchestrate them like never before. Link up. Press play. Bathe the moment in music.
Iconic Aluminium Design, Built in Factory 5
Beolab 8 is an all-out effort in effortless design. On top, an intuitive glass interface reacts to your fingertips. At the base, it nestles into a single piece of flowing aluminium – shaped in our fabled Factory 5.
Built to last, designed to evolve
Beolab 8 doesn’t just have the ability to upgrade its looks. Its modular build lets you replace crucial bits of tech – all the way down to its Mozart Platform. So as the world changes, it can still be ready to play. And connect. And stream. With craft and materials designed to last, it could be a decade before you have to update Beolab 8. But as soon as you need a change, it can evolve – with the sound of your space, and the look of your home.
Compose your own
Your speaker speaks volumes about who you are. Want smoked oak on the covers? Or a vibrant colour fabric? Our digital Composer lets you visualise every angle and switch colours in a beat. With each option carefully selected by master crafters and artists.
Beolab 8 is Cradle to Cradle Certified® Full Scope: Bronze (v4.0)
The Cradle to Cradle Certified® program is the world-leading global standard for designing products that are safe, circular, and responsibly made.
The design of Beolab 8 is engineered with circular materials to endure for years. It is made to move and adapt over time through software upgrades, making sure it evolves with you. Its modular design endorses changes to its visual appearance through customization and enables easy maintenance, service and repair. It is intentionally created for a life after its first- by design.
List of Certified Products versions
*Cradle to Cradle Certified® is a registered trademark of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.
Included in the box
Beolab 8
Power cable
Quick start guide
Wishbone (tool for connecting the speaker to the stand)
Back covers (L+R)
Recommended Room Size
10-60 m² 100-600 ft²
Speaker Configuration
Per Speaker: 1 x 0.6" tweeter 1 x 3" mid-range 1 x 5 ¼" woofer
Amplifier
Per Speaker: 1 x 50 W class D for tweeter 1 x 50 W class D for mid-range 1 x 200 W class D for woofer
Frequency Range
28-23.000 Hz
Maximum Sound Pressure Level (SPL) @ 1 m
Per Pair: 104 dB (SPL)
Bass Capability
Per Pair: 90 dB (SPL)
Advanced Sound Features
Active Room Compensation Beam Width Control Adaptive Bass Linearization Thermal Protection Flexible Sweet Spot (stereo setups only)
Customisable Sound EQ
Presets available and fully customisable through the Bang & Olufsen App
Designer
Noto GmbH
Materials
Aluminium Fabric / Wood Polymer
Dimensions
Per Speaker: Table Stand: 18.9 W x 29 H x 16.5 D cm Floor Stand: 30 W x 114 H x 30 D cm Wall Bracket: 21.5 W x 27.9 H x 16.5 D cm Ceiling Bracket: 17 W x 36 H x 23.1 D cm *dimensions depend on the speaker placement & tilt angle
Weight
Per Speaker: 4.1 kg (without stand or bracket)
Power Supply
Power supply built-in Power Cable
Bluetooth Version
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth Codecs
Android: SBC iOS: SBC, AAC
Ultra-Wideband
Yes
Wi-Fi
Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4 & 5 GHz) IEEE 802.11 b/g/a/n/ac/ax
Streaming Services
Apple AirPlay Spotify Connect Google Cast TIDAL Connect B&O Radio Deezer QPlay 2.0
Beolink Multiroom
Seamlessly connect multiple Bang & Olufsen speakers to expand your music experience.
Beolink Surround
Connect your speakers to a Beosound soundbar or Beovision to enjoy a true surround sound experience. *Beosound Premiere and Beosound/Beovision Theatre only.
Wireless Connections
Wireless Power Link / WiSA (up to 24 bit / 48 kHz) Digital Power Link (up to 24 bit / 48 kHz)
Physical Connections
Per Speaker: 2 x Ethernet (for Internet and Digital Power Link) 1 x Power Link (RJ45) 1 x Line-in via USB-C 1 x Power
Remote Control
Bang & Olufsen App Beoremote One BT Beoremote Halo
On-Device Controls
Yes
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Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for B&O-Bang & Olufsen Beolab 8
- Acoustic Sound Design — online and in-store — Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (website)
- Alex Audio Video — in-store — Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria (website)
- Alpha Stereo — in-store — Plattsburgh, New York, United States (website)
- American Sound — in-store — Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Audio Breakthroughs — in-store — Manhasset, New York, United States (website)
- Audio Renaissance — United States (website)
- Audio Sanctuary — in-store — London, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Systems — in-store — Austin, Texas, United States (website)
- Audio Video Invasion Inc — in-store — Plainview, New York, United States (website)
- Audiocompagniet — online and in-store — Odense C, Denmark (website)
and 45 more verified dealers