For its 90th anniversary back in 2015, Bang & Olufsen decided to release their most ambitious speaker ever, the Beolab 90. Some eight years of R&D gave them a cutting-edge (and expensive) model with new features like digital signal processing to actively control directivity and “Beam Control” which let users fine-tune the speaker’s radiation pattern to the room and the proximity of the listener.
Ten years later and it’s now the big 1-0-0 for Bang & Olufsen, but instead of a “Beolab 100” release, we’re getting a remarkable new edition of the Beolab 90.
Born from the Atelier
The Titan Edition comes from B&O’s Atelier program, where their master artisans collaborate on ultra-limited custom versions of the brand’s most celebrated products. Think of it as the bespoke division for people who already thought the standard $211,800 Beolab 90 pair wasn’t exclusive enough. Previous Atelier projects include the Beosound 2 Gradient Collection and the Beosound Premiere soundbar, but this one is the first of five special editions planned for the centenary celebration.
Where the original Beolab 90 featured acoustic veils covering its drivers, the Titan Edition goes the opposite direction. It’s stripped down to reveal the raw structural essence underneath, exposing all 18 hand-made drivers and the precision-milled aluminum surfaces that typically stay hidden.
Volcanic Rock and 12-Hour Machining
The 143-pound aluminum cabinet gets hand-sandblasted with crushed volcanic rock particles, creating a raw yet refined texture. While that might sound aggressive, the polished base panels counterbalance it, creating an optical illusion where these massive speakers appear to levitate off the floor.
Every detail here required obsessive precision. The face mask on top was machined from a single aluminum block over 12 hours. Those grooves surrounding each driver were milled to radiate like sonic ripples, making soundwaves actually visible. Even the fasteners received commemorative engravings to mark the jubilee, and discreet inscriptions around the drivers pay tribute to the acoustic innovations that made the original Beolab 90 a technological landmark.
The aluminum rings encircling each woofer feature contrasting matte and polished finishes, and the top lid was machined to evoke a lighthouse glow. There are even light-passing aperture holes in the front knots that offer a cool effect when illuminated.
The Tech Behind the Beauty
Strip away all the anniversary flourishes and you still have the same acoustic powerhouse that pushed boundaries in 2015. Those 18 drivers deliver 8,200 watts of total amplification, with advanced DSP and beam-forming technology that can switch from pinpoint imagine for solo listening to a full 360-degree soundfield when you’ve got company over.
The innovations that debuted with the Beolab 90, like room compensation and adaptive beam control, have since trickled down into Bang & Olufsen’s entire lineup, from the Beolab 50 and 28 speakers to the Beosound Theatre soundbar. Even their Beoplay H100 headphones and Beo Grace earphones draw from the acoustic philosophy established by this luxury speaker.
Spec Sheet
Model: Beolab 90 Titan Edition
Drivers: 18 hand-made drivers (7x 30mm tweeters, 7x 8.6cm midrange, 3x 21cm side/rear woofers, 1x 26cm front woofer)
Amplification: 8,200W total
Cabinet: 143lbs hand-sandblasted aluminum with volcanic rock particles
Technology: DSP processing, beam-forming control, room compensation, 360-degree soundfield
Special Features: Precision-milled face mask (12 hours per unit), commemorative engravings, polished base panels
Limited Edition?: Yes, unspecified
Pricing & Availability
Bang & Olufsen hasn’t disclosed pricing yet, though it’s safe to assume these will cost substantially more than the already-eye-watering $211,800 for a standard Beolab 90 pair. Production numbers are described as “exceptionally limited,” so if you’re in the market, you’ll want to reach out to Bang & Olufsen’s Atelier service directly. Four more special editions are coming in the months ahead, each offering a distinct interpretation of the Beolab 90.
Recap
Bang & Olufsen Beolab 90 Titan Edition Speaker
For Bang & Olufsen’s 100th anniversary, they’re releasing the Beolab 90 Titan Edition, a stripped-down version of their $200k speaker that ditches the acoustic veils to expose the raw aluminum and 18 drivers underneath.
