It doesnt do anything that any number of more affordable alternatives can do.
Thats for the natural aluminium chassis with grey melange grille and table-stand though.
Its worth noting that the Beolab 8 has very little price-comparable competition, even at its most affordable.
Your options for getting audio content on board, for instance, are numerous.
There are wired and wireless options available, naturally.
Theres DLNA compatibility too, so any content on a local server is available too.
Controlling the Beolab 8 can be done in a couple of (well-implemented, reliable) ways.
The glass top-plate is home to some illuminated capacitive touch controls theyre woken by a proximity sensor.
It remains one of the more useful and better-looking examples of its and it covers every eventuality.
Theres no voice control available here, though.
But there are some aspects of design I feel able to discuss without fear of contradiction.
For instance, theres no arguing with the impeccable nature of the way this speaker is built and finished.
There are also options where stands are concerned.
Have you experimented with wide and narrow beam width?
Well then, youre good to go.
A 24bit/96kHz FLAC file of Los CampesinosYou!
It summons impressive low-frequency presence, for example.
Its thing turns out to be communicating in a pretty direct and eloquent style.
Value score: 3.5 / 5
Should I buy the Bang & Olufsen Beolab 8?
You enjoy laid-back musicThe Bang & Olufsen isnt especially tolerant of music that doesnt share its party on!
attitude - which might be problematic.
Its got the design credentials, though, and is a very agreeable listen indeed.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed in December 2023
