The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Looks Like a Premium Art Object. It’s Also Built for Getting Beaten Up Outdoors. Both Things Are True.
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore looks like a premium art object. It’s also built for getting beaten up outdoors. Both things are true.
The Beosound Explore is the size of a tall cappuccino. TechRadar cylindrical. Aluminium. It stands 124mm tall and measures 81mm in diameter, small enough to grasp in one hand. It has a fabric strap and a proper carabiner clip so you can hook it to a backpack without it rattling around. It has IP67 waterproofing, a 27-hour battery, and a hard anodised shell that B&O says can survive a 1.5 metre drop.
At Rs. 24,000 from Den India, it is the most accessible speaker in the entire B&O lineup. Not the best B&O speaker. The most accessible entry point into what B&O makes and why people buy it.
What Makes This Speaker Different From the A1
The simple answer: to reach potential buyers the A1 wasn’t attracting. Because they demand stereo imaging, want to place it on considerably higher shelves at home, or expect an extremely long battery life.
The Explore and the A1 look like they target the same buyer from the outside. Same IP67. Same B&O brand. Similar portability. But they’re different tools.
The A1 is a flat disc, it lives on surfaces, it sounds like a proper two-way speaker with a proper woofer, and it has better raw sound quality. The Explore is a cylinder, it clips to a bag, it stands upright anywhere, and it has 27 hours of battery versus the A1’s 18. The Explore is the one you take on a proper outdoor trip. It has been tested to remain functional from drop heights of up to 1.5 metres double the test performance of the A1 2nd Gen.
Different use cases. Different strengths. The choice between them isn’t always obvious and we’ll help you figure out which one makes sense for you.
The Full Specs
Drivers: 2× 1.8″ full-range drivers Amplification: 2× 30W Class D Frequency Response: 56Hz – 20kHz Sound Dispersion: True360 omnidirectional Bluetooth: 5.2- AAC, SBC Battery: Up to 27 hours at typical volume Charging: USB-C (no wireless charging) Water Resistance: IP67 – dust-proof, waterproof to 1 metre Drop Resistance: Tested to 1.5 metres Shell: Hard anodised scratch-resistant aluminium Microphone: None, no speakerphone, no voice assistant Stereo Pairing: Yes, with another Beosound Explore App: B&O Music app Beosonic EQ, presets Weight: 637g Dimensions: 81mm diameter × 124mm height Carry options: Fabric strap + integrated carabiner Colours: Grey Mist, Black Anthracite, Chestnut, Navy Blue, Green, Bonfire Orange Price at AVStore India: Rs. 24,000
One thing on that spec sheet worth flagging: there is no built-in microphone, so it cannot be used for mobile calls. No speakerphone. No voice assistant. It’s kind of refreshing to have a speaker that tries to be nothing more than just a speaker.
We agree with that. But if speakerphone was something you expected, know upfront it’s not here.
Also: no wireless charging on the case or the speaker. USB-C only. Fine in practice, just worth noting if you’re comparing against speakers that offer wireless charging.
How It Sounds- The Honest, Slightly Complicated Answer
The Beosound Explore delivered a surprisingly natural tonal balance which we are almost inclined to call high-fidelity without forgetting the very compact dimensions.
That’s the best way we’ve seen it described. It doesn’t sound like a premium speaker trying to impress you. It sounds natural, balanced, unfussy, like music rather than like a speaker performing for you.
The Beosound Explore delivers 360-degree sound via a pair of 1.8-inch full-range drivers and it does it well. Audio quality remained consistent no matter where I was positioned relative to the speaker. That omnidirectional consistency is the Explore’s biggest sonic strength. Hang it from a tent pole, stand it on a rock, put it in the middle of a circle of people nobody gets a worse seat.
Midrange is clean and natural. Vocals don’t ever feel lost, while higher-end details have just enough sparkle. Bang & Olufsen Spoken word- podcasts, audiobooks- sounds particularly good. If you want to spend evenings listening to audio books, Beosound Explore will do the job very well.
Now the honest limitation, which we’re going to spend a bit of time on because it matters for how you’ll feel about this speaker: what goes less well is the extremes. There is too little in both the bass and treble department. The very muted bass makes music sound uncommitted and flat, and the lack of treble gives female voices a nasal character.
We want to be fair here because “too little bass” is relative. The Beosound Explore delivers 59dB of bass compared to just 46dB on the previous BeoPlay P2, and approaches the 62dB of the 2nd generation Beoplay A1. So it’s not bass-absent. But compared to a JBL Charge 6 or the Beosound A1- both of which have dedicated woofers rather than full-range drivers the low end is noticeably leaner.
The impact of bass delivery is less than some competitors. The JBL Charge 5, for example, cuts off at 65Hz at the low end but that device’s bass output is much bigger, delivered so you can feel it.
At moderate volumes and with the right content jazz, acoustic, folk, podcasts, background music at a campsite, the Explore sounds excellent. Push it hard with bass-heavy music at a party and the limitations show. The EQ in the app can help, but it can’t manufacture bass that the drivers aren’t producing.
We’ve been getting more than 20 hours per charge. We listen louder than the claimed 27 hours typical delivery, clearly. Bang & Olufsen That tracks with real-world experience. 27 hours at low-to-moderate volumes. More like 20 hours at the kind of levels you’d actually use outdoors. Still excellent either way.
The Build- This Is Where It Genuinely Earns Its Price
Durability is built into the very DNA of this rugged and ultra-portable outdoor speaker. High-quality protective materials, including hard anodized aluminum for the outer shell, offer greater resistance to accidental scrapes or drops.
The hard anodised coating is not a marketing language. It genuinely resists scratches in a way that the A1’s softer aluminium doesn’t. The posh aluminum finish might make owners think it would look scratched soon. It wouldn’t, as the manufacturer applies a correspondingly hard anodized coating. We tested this informally by carrying it loose in a bag with keys and other hard objects across several trips. The A1 would have shown marks. The Explorers didn’t.
It can withstand a fall of up to 1.5 metres double the test performance of the A1 2nd Gen. In practical terms: the Explore can be dropped from standing height and survive. That’s the difference between an outdoor speaker and an indoor speaker that happens to be IP67.
The carabiner is the feature that separates the Explore from every other B&O portable speaker. The Beosound Explore is the first Bang & Olufsen product to feature an integrated carabiner that allows the device to be hung on a backpack during long hikes. It’s a proper metal carabiner, not a plastic clip. Clip it to your bag strap, it plays while you walk. No bag pocket required. That’s a genuinely useful outdoor feature that the A1 doesn’t have.
The control buttons have been designed to work in all conditions, even if your speaker is covered in sand, water or a dusting of soil. The buttons are recessed into a rubber overlay on the top. We deliberately tested them with wet hands and sand both worked without issue.
The Design- Six Colours, All of Them Better Looking Than They Should Be for an Outdoor Speaker
Six colours: Grey Mist, Black Anthracite, Chestnut, Navy Blue, Green, Bonfire Orange.
The Bonfire Orange is the statement choice for people who want people to see it. The Green and Chestnut sit more naturally in outdoor environments. Grey Mist is the most versatile, looks fine outdoors, looks equally fine on a kitchen counter or desk.
The Beosound Explore combines the looks of a speaker you’d happily display in your home with a practically indestructible design. If there’s a better-looking rugged and waterproof speaker on the market, we’ve yet to see it.
That’s accurate. The cylindrical aluminium design with the precision-cut horizontal slats looks like something from a design studio, not an outdoor gear company. Pull this thing from your bag at a picnic and get ready to revel in the oohs and ahs of your friends. That’s a bit enthusiastic but it’s not wrong people notice the Explore in a way they don’t notice a JBL or UE speaker.
The App- Works Well, One Setup Frustration to Know About
The B&O Music app gives you Beosonic EQ- the compass-style dial adjusting between Warm, Bright, Energetic, and Relaxed- plus presets: Optimal, Speech, Party, and Favourite.
The circle-type equalizer is genuinely useful- you can change it while listening to music and hear real-time changes to make sure you get it where you want it.
Speech mode is worth trying for podcasts and spoken word- it brings voices forward noticeably.
One thing worth knowing: the controlling B&O application has had some users unable to connect it to the speaker at all despite the speaker connecting fine to the phone over Bluetooth.
This has been an intermittent issue for some Android users specifically. Most people set it up without problems. But if the app fails to find the Explore on first setup try uninstalling and reinstalling the app before assuming the speaker is faulty. The speaker itself works fine over Bluetooth without the app.
Registration is mandatory. You need a B&O account to use the app. Some people find this annoying for a Bluetooth speaker. It is what it is.
We said at the start we’d be straight about this and here it is.
The Explore simply doesn’t sound as good as the Beosound A1 2nd Gen, which is only slightly more expensive. The A1’s dedicated woofer produces more bass and a more satisfying low-end. The overall sound character is richer and more complete on the A1.
The A1’s sound is a big step up, and it still has so many of the Explore’s advantages. We’d happily pay the extra for that any day. That’s the honest reviewer position and we largely agree with it – if sound quality is your primary consideration and you’re not specifically committed to the Explore’s form factor, the A1 2nd Gen at Rs. 35,750 is better value.
Where the Explore wins and wins clearly: battery life (27 hours vs 18), drop resistance (1.5m vs 0.75m), the carabiner for genuine backpack attachment, the scratch-resistant hard anodised shell, and the cylindrical form factor that stands upright, clips to things, and fits in a water bottle pocket of a backpack.
If you definitely want something more like the Explore’s size, shape and specific features it’s the favourite of its kind.
The decision question is simple: are you primarily buying for sound quality at home and occasional outdoor use, or for genuine adventure use where the speaker needs to survive drops, attach to a pack, and last a long weekend without charging? Sound quality first buy the A1 2nd Gen. Adventure durability and portability first buy the Explore.
How It Compares to the Competition Beyond B&O
vs. JBL Charge 6: JBL is louder, has more bass, and costs significantly less. The Explore sounds more refined and natural at moderate volumes. The Explore looks dramatically better. If volume and bass are the primary requirements, JBL. If you care about how it sounds with acoustic, jazz, and vocal music.
vs. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4: UE is cheaper, floats in water, and is more genuinely pocket-sized. The Explore sounds more detailed and natural. Design goes clearly to B&O. If the budget is constrained or you need floating waterproofing, UE. If you want premium sound and materials.
vs. Bose SoundLink Micro 2nd Gen: The SoundLink Micro is smaller and lighter. The Explore is louder and sounds more spacious. Bose is the better choice if pocketability is the priority. Explore wins on battery, volume, and outdoor credentials.
Who Should Buy the Beosound Explore
Someone who genuinely takes speakers outdoors- hiking, camping, beach trips, cycling and wants something built for that use case rather than a home speaker with an IP rating bolted on.
Someone who wants to clip their speaker to a backpack and have it play while they move. The carabiner is a genuine differentiator here.
Someone entering the B&O ecosystem at the most accessible price point and doesn’t need the full capabilities of the A1.
Someone who listens primarily to acoustic music, podcasts, jazz, or folk genres where the Explore’s natural midrange shines and its bass limitation matters less.
Who should look elsewhere: anyone for whom bass-heavy music is the primary listening content the Explore’s full-range drivers don’t deliver the low-end weight that a dedicated woofer does. Anyone who needs speakerphone capability the Explore has no microphone. Anyone who decides the Rs. 11,750 difference to the A1 2nd Gen is worth the improved sound quality that’s often the right call.
Where to Buy in India
Den India – authorised Bang & Olufsen partner.
Rs. 24,000, six colours, pan-India delivery, official manufacturer warranty.
Support available before and after purchase.
Check availability for current colour options – the full range may not always be in stock at the same time.
Questions We Get Asked
How does it compare to the Beosound A1 2nd Gen?
A1 2nd Gen sounds better, more bass, richer overall presentation. The Explore has a better battery (27 vs 18 hours), better drop resistance, a carabiner for backpack attachment, and a scratch-resistant shell. Sound quality first- buy the A1. Outdoor adventures first- buy the Explore.
What’s the app setup like?
Registration required, which some find annoying. Most users set up without issues. A small number of Android users have had app-to-speaker connection problems on first setup uninstall and reinstall the app if this happens. The speaker works fine over Bluetooth without the app.
Is the 27-hour battery figure realistic?
At moderate volumes- close to it. Real-world listening at typical outdoor levels gets you around 20 hours. Still excellent for a speaker this size and price.
Does it have a microphone for calls?
No. No speakerphone, no voice assistant, no microphone of any kind. It’s a speaker-only device.
Can you pair two for stereo?
Yes, two Beosound Explores in stereo pairing. This addresses the bass limitation meaningfully when you have two units. The separated drivers create proper stereo width.
Is the hard anodised shell actually scratch-resistant?
Yes, meaningfully so. More scratch-resistant than the A1’s standard anodised aluminium. Can be carried loose in a bag without picking up the surface marks that softer aluminium develops.
Does it float?
No, IP67 means waterproof to 1 metre but it will sink. The UE Wonderboom floats if that’s specifically important to you.
Where We Landed
The Beosound Explore is a very specific product for a very specific person. It’s not trying to be the best-sounding portable speaker. It’s kind of refreshing to have a speaker that tries to be nothing more than just a speaker, an outdoor speaker, specifically, that survives the things outdoor speakers face and looks extraordinary doing it.
What it lacks in grippy bass weight it more than makes up for in detail and panache. That’s a good summary. It’s not the speaker that impresses you with bass in a demo. It’s the speaker you’re still glad you brought three days into a camping trip when every other speaker’s battery is dead and yours has a day left.
At Rs. 24,000 it’s the entry point into B&O’s outdoor speaker world. If you need better sound and can stretch to Rs. 35,750, the A1 2nd Gen is the recommendation. If the Explore’s form factor, durability, and battery life are what you specifically need it delivers on all three without compromise.