Iconic is an often-overused term, but if anyone deserves the accolade, it’s luxury Danish audio brand Bang & Olufsen. The company has created a new communications headset aimed at the growing number of hybrid workers. The new Beocom Portal has the brand’s famous signature sound and the features that any modern wireless and noise-canceling headset should provide.

The Beocom Portal has been designed to cater to the needs of professionals who want high-quality audio and stunning Scandi design, plus the features and technology that make working from home and office more productive. The launch of Beocom Portal is a significant step in Bang & Olufsen’s efforts to grow its business-to-business portfolio, something the company says is an important strategic focus.

The Beocom name was first used in 1982 when Bang & Olufsen entered the fixed-line telephone business with a range of super-stylish phones. Bang & Olufsen ended phone production in 1998 before the mobile phone boom, but now the company has resurrected the name to give life to a whole new product line.

Bang & Olufsen has been making audio products for almost a century and has already entered the enterprise market by forming strategic partnerships and collaborating with industry-leading partners. With the Beocom Portal, Bang & Olufsen has worked to secure certification from Zoom. The seal of approval guarantees clear and seamless audio quality when using the leading video conferencing software.

“In this new era of hybrid working, we are seeing an increasing awareness around design and sound among our customers, especially the younger audience,” says Jeff Fox, Strategic Alliances Marketing Lead at Zoom. “They use Zoom on different devices in all kinds of everyday situations and they expect the devices to be high-quality and functional, and look great whether they are doing sport, traveling, relaxing, or working at home or from the office.”

Key features of the Beocom Portal include the highly prized Zoom certification and compatibility with the most popular communication platforms. Bang & Olufsen has also included a wireless dongle with the headset that’s pre-paired for improved connectivity compared to most built-in Bluetooth, resulting in interruption-free calls.

Bang & Olufsen’s acoustic engineers have developed the driver units used in the Beocom Portal headset to produce the brand’s signature sound. Meanwhile, an array of beamforming microphones isolates and amplifies the user’s voice while canceling out any background noise. Touch controls provide quick access to essential features such as mute and ANC/own voice adjustment.

The Portal headset has been designed by Jacob Wenger for day-long comfort, thanks to its lightweight construction and memory foam ear cushions. Built-in jaw support improves acoustic performance as well as wearing comfort. The inner headband is made from a high-quality textile chosen for its durability and breathability. The headband is also crafted with a unique offset padding to relieve pressure and avoid extended wearing fatigue.

The headset market is getting increasingly crowded, mainly due to the boom in Zoom because of the pandemic. More of us are working between home and office in a hybrid way. A high-quality headset is essential for those of us who spend many hours participating in video meetings.

When we’re not chatting online, many enjoy listening to music while working. This change in working practices is driving the demand for high-performance headsets. The new Bang & Olufsen Beocom Portal may put some people off because of its relatively high price. Still, for many others, the lure of the cool Scandi design, Bang & Olufsen signature sound and extended wearing possibilities will be worth the outlay.

Pricing & Availability: The Bang & Olufsen Beocom Portal is available in Bang & Olufsen stores and online and costs $549 / £459 / €549.

More info: www.bang-olufsen.com

Tech Specs:

• Frequency range: 20 – 22,000Hz.
• ANC: Adaptive ANC with Transparency Mode plus Dolby Atmos.
• Drivers: Electro-dynamic driver w/ Neodymium magnets.
• Drive diameter: 40mm.
• Driver sensitivity: 95dB @ 1kHz / 1mW
• EQ: Presets and custom settings via Bang & Olufsen App.
• Designer: Jakob Wagner
• Fit: Circumaural.
• Dimensions (WxHxD): 167.3 x 178.7 x 92.6mm.