Bang & Olufsen Beosound A9From real comments

Verdict distilled from 20 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment56%
PROS 56%
CONS 44%

Rank based on 20 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a statement piece of design that draws attention in a living room
  • You have a mid-to-large room where the speaker's power and spaciousness can shine
  • You want a speaker system you can keep and love for years, even expanding to multiple units

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You're uncomfortable with a built-in microphone and its visible LED indicator
  • Your room is very small (under ~17 sqm) and you're unsure the A9 will suit it
  • You plan to listen frequently at high volumes, since some report distortion past 60-70%

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Sonos One
Excellent sound quality
Sonos One
Excellent sound quality
2Budget
Amazon Echo (1st Gen)
Decent sound with tweakingDurable long-term reliabilityLoved twist volume controlDevice shows wear over timeLimited third-party speaker controlSetup difficulties
Amazon Echo (1st Gen)
Decent sound with tweaking
Durable long-term reliability
Loved twist volume control
Device shows wear over time
Limited third-party speaker control
Setup difficulties
3Premium
Sonos Era 300
Excellent Atmos surround performanceSeamless Sonos ecosystem and ease of useStrong stereo pair sound qualityDisabled front driver in surround modeHigh priceInconsistent or disjointed sound for some listeners
Sonos Era 300
Excellent Atmos surround performance
Seamless Sonos ecosystem and ease of use
Strong stereo pair sound quality
Disabled front driver in surround mode
High price
Inconsistent or disjointed sound for some listeners
4
Denon Home 250
Impressive sound for its sizeProximity-sensing touch controlsStrong wireless stereo pairing experienceAudio-video lag when watching video
Denon Home 250
Impressive sound for its size
Proximity-sensing touch controls
Strong wireless stereo pairing experience
Audio-video lag when watching video
You are here
5Premium
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A9
Iconic, eye-catching designLong-term listening satisfactionExpandable multi-room setupUncertain fit for small roomsGoogle Assistant privacy concernsLimited flexibility on early models
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A9
Iconic, eye-catching design
Long-term listening satisfaction
Expandable multi-room setup
Uncertain fit for small rooms
Google Assistant privacy concerns
Limited flexibility on early models
6Mid
Amazon Echo (2nd Gen)
Rich, Room-Filling SoundSharper Far-Field MicrophonesUseful Smart Home & Calling IntegrationConnectivity Dropouts & Setup FailuresNo Bluetooth Multi-Room SyncEarly Units Had a Sound-Quality Bug
Amazon Echo (2nd Gen)
Rich, Room-Filling Sound
Sharper Far-Field Microphones
Useful Smart Home & Calling Integration
Connectivity Dropouts & Setup Failures
No Bluetooth Multi-Room Sync
Early Units Had a Sound-Quality Bug
Best value
7Premium
Apple HomePod
Great home theater/TV speaker setupExcellent sound qualityStrong value when discountedHigh retail priceWeak Siri assistantHardware reliability issues
Apple HomePod
Great home theater/TV speaker setup
Excellent sound quality
Strong value when discounted
High retail price
Weak Siri assistant
Hardware reliability issues
8Mid
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Improved Sound QualitySmart Home IntegrationTemperature Sensor FeatureLack of 3.5mm Audio JackSetup Connectivity IssuesInconsistent Voice Recognition
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Improved Sound Quality
Smart Home Integration
Temperature Sensor Feature
Lack of 3.5mm Audio Jack
Setup Connectivity Issues
Inconsistent Voice Recognition
9Mid
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Improved sound qualityNew spherical designGood value/pricing on dealsZigbee/smart device connectivity problemsDesign/accessory complaintsQuestionable upgrade value
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Improved sound quality
New spherical design
Good value/pricing on deals
Zigbee/smart device connectivity problems
Design/accessory complaints
Questionable upgrade value
10Mid
Sonos Play:3
Strong sound qualityReliable multi-room integrationGreat resale value and bargainsDifficult setup and factory resetMono confusion in single-unit modeSupport and reliability concerns
Sonos Play:3
Strong sound quality
Reliable multi-room integration
Great resale value and bargains
Difficult setup and factory reset
Mono confusion in single-unit mode
Support and reliability concerns

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The A9's design is its most talked-about strength. Commenters repeatedly call the A9 iconic and among B&O's best-looking speakers, with several saying seeing it in person is impressive and that the black finish looks especially nice. One person called it their 'dream speaker' of all B&O products, and long-term owners say they still admire its looks years after buying it.

Sound quality earns strong loyalty from long-term owners. Users who've owned the A9 across multiple generations describe well-balanced, room-filling sound they don't tire of, with newer generations bringing more power, spaciousness, and clarity than older MK1/MK2 units. One person upgraded from Sonos and said active music listening was 'back on the menu.' However, one user noted distortion when pushing volume past 60-70%, especially in the low end.

Practical concerns center on room size, privacy, and setup. Several prospective buyers asked whether the A9 would suit smaller rooms (16-25 sqm), suggesting uncertainty about fit outside larger living rooms. The built-in Google Assistant microphone and its red LED when muted bothered multiple owners enough that some skipped that option entirely. One reviewer felt two A9s stereo-paired looked visually odd, preferring standalone use, while others successfully run multiple units via a Beosound Premiere.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?