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One of the startling things about lockdown — and, let’s face it, there were a few — was the way in which television became everything. During those weirdly identical evenings at home on the sofa (was it a week? Or 6,000 years?), we worshipped the glowing screen like an altar, grateful for the chance of escapism, or relaxation, or a reassuring glimpse of Chris Whitty’s shiny head.
As the darker months draw in, who knows what fun times lie ahead, but one thing we can ready ourselves for is a television-viewing experience that is as atmospheric and absorbing as possible. Which is where Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound Theatre comes in. It’s a soundbar, yes, but not as we’ve come to know them — instead, this state-of-the-art unit from the Danish luxury electronics company brings the full cinematic experience into your home, just when you need it the most.
Years in development, the Beosound Theatre is packed with all manner of audio wizardry to turn your sitting room into a screening room (for the full effect, might we suggest closing the curtains and pouring popcorn all over the rug?). There’s the immersive Dolby Atmos audio, 12 speaker drivers, 800 watts of amplification power, and an intelligent surround-sound processor that enables it to link up with compatible Bang & Olufsen products, some up to 30 years old. The bar itself has a modular design that enables it to be updated as needed, rather than replaced (just as well, as it doesn’t come cheap).
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Theatre Soundbar
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Theatre Soundbar
As you might expect from B&O, the design is striking and elegant: the Beosound Theatre is available with wood or fabric covers, plus a range of finishes and customisable options. It is engineered to allow any TV screen to be slotted into it, with the cables neatly hidden, and there’s also an optional motorised stand, should you want those dinosaurs (or alien spaceships, or the all-seeing eye of Professor Whitty) to follow you around the room.
And even if we manage to get through the next few months without an unforeseen catastrophe of either our own or Mother Nature’s devising, we’ll still be sure to spend plenty of winter nights enjoying the fruits of the silver screen on the small one. And this time, with the Beosound Theatre soundbar in place, we’ll be fully prepared.
From £5,590; bang-olufsen.com
