Bang & Olufsen: Iconic quality since 1925!

A global leader in sustainable energy solutions!

Photographs: Bang & Olufsen FB Page

Text: Mariano Anthony Davies

Bang & Olufsen started by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen) has created iconic audio and home entertainment products to the highest standards of sound, craft and design since 1925 and continues to do so.

In 1925, working out of a Danish farmhouse, Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen reinvented the radio, developing The Eliminator, the first mass-produced radio that could be plugged into the wall without the need for a battery. A century later, that entrepreneurial spirit of innovation lives on in everything they do. It’s what drives them to change how we all hear, see and feel the world.

From the beginning, they did not just predict but also shaped home design trends. A century of firsts includes reinventing the turntable and introducing touch-sensitive controls that defined the look of an era. They pioneered the creation of universal remote controls and connected home speaker setups. Their latest speaker technology leads the electronics industry in longevity and upgradeability.

" From the beginning, they did not just predict but also shaped home design trends A century of firsts includes reinventing the turntable and introducing touch-sensitive controls that defined the look of an era."

B&O product history

As a career consultant and having experienced my own struggles searching for work in those early days, it’s that understanding and knowledge that enables me to help other professional job seekers. I get to use my 20+ years in communications to help professionals communicate their skills and can do the job.

Hyperbo 5 RG Steel was designed by Bang & Olufsen in 1934. This very early piece of “sound-as-furniture” was ahead of its time and a true example of design history. It was inspired by the Bauhaus movement and founder Peter Bang’s Marcel Breuer desk chair, and only very few were produced.

In 1939, the Beolit 39 was the first in a series of radios from Bang & Olufsen and introduced the new way of wording the products starting with Beo. The innovative, organically shaped bakelite radio took its inspiration from a Buick dashboard. In honour of this true icon, its name also served as inspiration when Bang & Olufsen launched its “On-the-go” category back in 2012 with Beolit 12.

By 1959, Beovision Capri 17-inch TV in elegant teak wood on fixed legs was one in a series of televisions, which looked to the Danish modern furniture movement in expression, material and form. The long legs, rounded corners and slightly tilted grey screen in front of the picture tube was a major step towards a more minimalist appearance.

Then in 1972, the Beogram 4000 was designed by Jacob Jensen - a cutting-edge technological landmark. The record player was distinguished by an innovative use of a tonearm that moved tangentially, rather than diagonally, and thereby reproduced the sound the way it had been recorded. The unique suspension absorbed the horizontal movements from the surroundings, making Beogram 4000 more "dance proof" than any other record players on the market. The Beogram 400 was celebrated in the MoMa design collection for its stylish combination between the teak wood and aluminium surface along with its innovative vision in function. This was followed in 1976 by the Beomaster 1900 - another Jacob Jensen design. This radio receiver and amplifier broke ground as it challenged the industry with its touch-sensitive opening and closing, easily accessible primary functions versus hidden secondary functions. It is part of the MoMa permanent collection and won the ID Award in 1976.

Eight years later, Jacob Jensen designed the Beovox CX 100. These classic passive loudspeakers are among the most successful in Bang & Olufsen’s history and were in production until late 2003. The clean design with the aluminium cabinet and black fabric is timeless and retro all at once.

One year later in 1985, the Beovision MX2000 was designed by David Lewis - a completely different kind of TV. Visually the television was remarkable because of its contrast screen and technically it introduced stereo sound, automatic channel search and a state-of-the-art remote control. With its lean-back design on the floor or table, it took a more casual take on TV design.

Within twelve months, it was followed by the Beocenter 9000, which was designed by Jacob Jensen. This cassette recorder, CD player and radio was a further development of the Beomaster 1900 by the same designer. Avantgarde not only in its mirroring aluminium and glass surface, but in its easy touch fields of the glass panels and the hidden functions only visible when the CD or cassette tape was changed.

These iconic inventions were followed by even more classic products:

● 1998: The Beocom cordless telephone.

● 2000: The Beosound 3200 Ouverture.

● 2012: The Beoplay A9 multiroom speaker.

● 2015-2016: The Beoplay A1 and A2 speakers.

B&O continues to produce a wide range of innovative and robust quality products.