Flagship listening rethought, Bang & Olufsen’s Beolab 28 takes center stage

Edited by ad hoc news Flagship & Bestseller Desk. Reviewed before publication on 06/15/2026 at 11:35 AM ET. Details in the imprint.

With its slim silhouette, motorized acoustic curtains and wireless connectivity, the Bang & Olufsen Beolab 28 is one of the Danish audio maker’s most visible flagship speakers, positioned as a statement piece for design-led living rooms and premium home theaters. The column-style loudspeaker combines built-in streaming, adaptive room calibration and beam width control in a floor-standing format that can sit close to a wall, which is unusual for speakers aiming at this level of performance. Bang & Olufsen pitches the Beolab 28 as a system that can stand on its own in stereo or anchor a wider surround setup with compatible Beolab models, while staying visually closer to furniture than to classic hi-fi boxes. According to the official product information, each Beolab 28 integrates a down-firing 6.5-inch woofer in the base and a trio of drivers higher up the column, all individually amplified with a total system power of 625 W per speaker, underscoring its role at the upper end of the brand’s home audio range. Bang & Olufsen’s product page lists the Beolab 28 with WiSA, Chromecast built-in, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth 5.0 alongside Power Link and optical inputs.

Beolab 28: flagship floor-stander with smart streaming and adaptive sound

Technically, the Beolab 28 straddles traditional hi-fi and modern streaming speaker categories by combining individually amplified drivers with lossless wireless multiroom features. Each column stacks three full-range drivers and a tweeter in a vertical array, backed by digital signal processing that allows the system to narrow or widen its sound beam depending on listening mode, which can help contain reflections in challenging rooms or open up the stereo image for a group on a sofa. Bang & Olufsen’s specs indicate 225 W amplification for the woofer and 100 W each for the midrange and tweeter sections per speaker, with the DSP handling crossover and protection, so users do not need separate amplifiers or AV receivers for a basic two-channel setup. The company also includes an automatic room compensation routine that measures the listening space via an integrated microphone and adjusts low-frequency output accordingly, which is relevant for wall-adjacent placement where many conventional speakers can sound boomy.

From a usability standpoint, the Beolab 28 integrates directly into common streaming ecosystems so that it can act both as a television companion and as a standalone music system. The speaker supports Chromecast built-in and Apple AirPlay 2 for app-based streaming from smartphones and tablets, and it can be added as a B&O multiroom device to synchronize playback with Beosound soundbars or wireless speakers in other rooms, which is central to Bang & Olufsen’s whole-home audio strategy. On the hardware side, connection options include WiSA wireless speaker technology for low-latency links to compatible televisions and sound systems, Power Link inputs for legacy Bang & Olufsen installations, and an optical digital input for direct connection to external sources such as media players. Integration with the Bang & Olufsen app allows users to adjust listening modes, beam width settings and basic tone controls, and to group the speakers with other devices on the same network without an external hub.

Visually, the Beolab 28 is designed to match modern interiors more than classic hi-fi racks, with customizable materials and the distinctive motorized acoustic curtains that slide open and closed when the speaker turns on or adjusts beam width. The cylindrical main body can be ordered in finishes such as natural, black anthracite or bronze-tone aluminum, with fabric or wooden lamellas in different colors, allowing the speaker to blend into minimalist, Scandinavian or more traditional decor. The footprint of the speaker is relatively compact compared with conventional floor-standers, and Bang & Olufsen emphasizes that it can be positioned very close to a wall thanks to the integrated room compensation and controlled bass dispersion, which is particularly relevant for city apartments where deeper cabinets are hard to accommodate. A touch interface on the top of the column handles basic playback and volume commands, and the system can also be controlled via Beoremote One, the Bang & Olufsen app, or compatible TV remotes when used in a home cinema setup.

Price-wise, the Beolab 28 clearly targets affluent buyers; in the US market, Bang & Olufsen lists configurations starting in the mid-four-figure range per pair, depending on material and finish selections, positioning the model above the brand’s Beosound all-in-one speakers and below its most exotic custom-install solutions. The company presents the Beolab 28 as suitable both for dedicated stereo listening rooms and as the main front pair in a surround system for premium televisions, especially its own Beovision sets, where the speakers can connect wirelessly and take over left and right channel duties. Reviews from specialist audio and design outlets generally describe the sound character as refined and detailed, with a focus on clarity and spatial imaging rather than maximum raw output, aligning with the brand’s heritage in tuned, living-room-friendly sound rather than studio-monitor neutrality. In that context, the model appears designed not to compete on spec-sheet value against mainstream hi-fi brands, but to appeal to customers who want a combined audio and furniture piece with tight integration into Bang & Olufsen’s ecosystem. A review by What Hi-Fi highlights the Beolab 28’s adaptable sound dispersion, strong midrange clarity and striking industrial design while noting that the price places it firmly in the luxury segment.

Strategically, the Beolab 28 underpins Bang & Olufsen’s focus on high-margin, design-driven flagship products that can anchor multiroom systems and drive attachment sales of soundbars, TVs and control accessories. The company has consistently emphasized its plan to concentrate on luxury audio and iconic design pieces rather than chasing volume at the mass-market end of the spectrum, and the Beolab 28 fits that narrative by offering a visually distinctive, technically sophisticated speaker that often features in brand showrooms and marketing imagery. For investors, the model represents the kind of high-ticket item that can support revenue and brand positioning, even if sales volumes remain relatively modest compared with portable speakers or headphones. Shares of Bang & Olufsen A/S (DK0010218429) are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen, where the company is traded in Danish kroner as a Danish consumer electronics and design stock; current pricing and trading data are available via the exchange’s official market overview pages. Nasdaq Copenhagen’s listing data confirm Bang & Olufsen A/S as a traded issuer under ISIN DK0010218429 on the Danish market.

This article was a.i.-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without warranty; prices and availability may change at short notice. Not investment advice and not a buy or sell recommendation. Trading involves risk up to and including the total loss of invested capital.