A Century in Sound With Bang & Olufsen’s New Collection
A hundred years is a rare milestone, especially in consumer tech. Oftentimes, trends in this area age fast and form factors fade quicker than our old playlists. Yet Bang & Olufsen arrives at its centennial celebration with something few brands can claim. Its language of sound and design has resisted time, aging beautifully into greater refinement.
To mark the moment, the Danish maison unveils the Centennial Collection. At the heart of it are three core pieces dressed in a rich palette of Century Red, Chestnut Brown, and Century Blue, each threaded with brushed aluminum and inscribed with the founders’ motto, “A never failing will to create only the best.” So how do the trio stack up? Consider this the cue for a closer listen to each piece.
Getting Personal With the Beoplay H100
Headlining the Centennial Collection is the Beoplay H100 Century Brown, an everyday luxury headset that feels specifically conceived for Manila’s rhythms: those late-night edits, early flights, the slow crawl of EDSA at dusk. We love how it cultivates an environment rather than simply playing music. Beneath the sculptural exterior, titanium drivers tuned to Dolby Atmos standards deliver a spacious, breathy soundstage with room to breathe.
Voices float midair, cymbals shimmer, and bass lands with a quick, articulate punch that anchors the track without muddying detail. While many noise-canceling headphones compress dynamics, the H100 stays generous and open across genres.
Wrapped in deep Century Red leather with Chestnut Brown trims and hints of Century Blue, it feels more like a design object than a gadget, something you’d place beside a Montblanc and a crystal paperweight. Functional, absolutely. But stylish enough to look purposeful even when the music stops.
The Beosound A5 Weave
If the H100 is personal, the Beosound A5 Century Weave is communal. It’s built for kitchens, balconies, lanais, and the spaces where people simply linger and lounge. Fire up a playlist and what begins as background quickly becomes a full-bodied presence. Dual drivers deliver a rich midrange that gives guitars a woody texture and pianos a clear, ringing tone, while vocals retain air and intimacy.
The bass reaches deeper than expected for its size, warm and rounded without overpowering conversation. Portable yet statement-making, the A5 offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, wireless charging, and battery life long enough to last from brunch into sundown.
Its paper raffia weave in beige and Chestnut Brown softens the brushed aluminium frame, while the Century Red leather handle adds just the right touch of color. On weekends it sets the mood; on slow evenings it holds the room like a subtle, steady heartbeat.
Architectural Depth of the Beosound A9
Finally, there is the Beosound A9 Century Blue Edition, the sculptural centerpiece of the Centennial lineup and a speaker that practically demands a room worthy of its voice. Often described as audio that behaves like art, the 5th generation A9 arrives dressed in Kvadrat’s Centennial Cadence fabric, a deep interplay of Century Blue and Chestnut Brown stretched across a circular frame that recalls, let’s say, mid-century furniture.
Beneath its textile surface sit seven drivers that animate space with cinematic presence. The low-end is cavernous yet controlled, powerful enough to carry an orchestral swell without distortion, while mids remain full and textured. Strings shimmer, guitars bloom, and subtle field recordings feel startlingly real.
Highs are airy and extended, giving cymbals and percussive details a clean, un-fatiguing sheen. Stereo imaging is wide and convincing, turning the room into an acoustic stage. Finished with three solid aluminum legs crafted in Factory 5 in Struer, this edition is more than a speaker. Simply put, it is the piece you design a room around.
A century of craft distilled into three pieces that speak fluently to contemporary homes and discerning ears. Bang & Olufsen’s Centennial Collection is only interested in continuity.
Available now in limited numbers at Bang & Olufsen Shangri-La Plaza and Bang & Olufsen Rockwell. More information here.