Bang & Olufsen – B&O – Amplifier 1

Overview

Amplifier 1 was announced at CES in Las Vegas on 8 January 2013 as part of the BeoLab 15/16 system — a built-in sound solution comprising two-way active speakers (BeoLab 15), an active subwoofer (BeoLab 16), and a rack-ready amplifier (Amplifier 1), all designed by Anders Hermansen for in-wall or in-ceiling placement.

The system it powers

• BeoLab 15 is a closed-cabinet, two-way active speaker with a 20 mm tweeter and a 75 mm midrange, featuring a motorised tilt function that can direct sound up to 45° from the flush position
• The BeoLab 16 subwoofer measures 35 cm in diameter with just under 10 cm of installation depth, using four 10 cm woofers mounted in facing pairs
• Adaptive Bass Linearisation keeps the deep bass controlled and crisp all the way down to 45 Hz

Price and launch

BeoLab 15, BeoLab 16, and Amplifier 1 became available from January 2013 priced at $4,595 US (excluding fitting), and in Europe the complete set (2 satellites, 1 subwoofer, and the amplifier) was priced at €3,500.

The product is discontinued today but can be found second-hand — for example, the Amplifier 1 is sold on its own via eBay and similar sites. B&O’s official user guide (“Beolab 15, 16 & Amplifier 1 Multilanguage”) is still available through their support pages.

Would you like help with anything specific — such as connections, servicing, or evaluating a used unit?