Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 22 (1998)
The Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 22 came out in 1998. Despite the name, it is not a receiver or an amplifier. It is a compact active speaker system, and it shows the minimalist design and engineering Bang & Olufsen is known for.
Design Philosophy and Aesthetic
B&O built the BeoSound 22 as much as a piece of functional art as a high-fidelity audio component. David Lewis, one of B&O's best-known industrial designers, designed it in the Scandinavian minimalist style: clean lines, geometric shapes, premium materials. The cabinet is typically die-cast aluminum with a brushed finish, in silver or black anodized variants.
The speaker is compact and self-contained, about 24 cm high, 14 cm wide and 12 cm deep. The trapezoidal shape looks distinctive, and it also minimizes internal standing waves and reduces cabinet resonance. The front baffle is slightly angled to project sound toward the listener when the speaker sits on a shelf or stand.
Acoustic Engineering and Performance
Despite its modest size, the BeoSound 22 delivers a surprisingly full and balanced sound signature. Each unit is a two-way active speaker system, meaning it contains built-in amplification and separate drivers for high and mid-to-low frequencies. The system is bi-amplified, with dedicated 50-watt RMS amplifiers for each channel, totaling 100 watts of continuous power output (50W per speaker in a stereo pair). This configuration ensures dynamic headroom and precise control over the drivers.
The speaker has a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter made from textile material, positioned above a 4.5-inch midrange/woofer with a glass-fiber composite cone. The tweeter is waveguide-loaded, which widens dispersion and gives a wide, stable stereo image. The mid/woofer is designed for low distortion and fast transient response, especially in its intended nearfield listening environment.
The compact enclosure limits bass response. B&O engineers used a tuned bass-reflex port on the rear panel to help. The port is shaped and positioned to reduce turbulence and port noise, and it allows deeper bass extension than you would expect from a speaker this size.
The internal crossover is a second-order design (12 dB/octave) for both high and low frequencies. It is optimized to blend the tweeter and woofer, preserving phase coherence and minimizing audible artifacts. Because the BeoSound 22 is active, the crossover works at line level before amplification, which improves efficiency and reduces intermodulation distortion.
Connectivity and Integration
The BeoSound 22 was designed to work as part of a larger Bang & Olufsen system. It has no traditional speaker-level inputs. It accepts line-level or digital signals through proprietary connectors that interface with other B&O components such as the BeoCenter 2200, BeoVision televisions, or the BeoLink control system. That lets B&O's remote handsets, such as the BeoRemote or Beo4, control it.
Input options typically include analog stereo (RCA), coaxial digital (S/PDIF), and sometimes optical digital, depending on the production variant. The speaker has internal digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) for digital signals, so they are processed before amplification.
The speaker has adaptive room compensation. It is not as advanced as modern room correction systems. The BeoSound 22 has basic equalization settings on dip switches on the rear panel. They let users adjust tonal balance for placement - for example, reducing bass output when the speaker is near a wall or in a corner.
Positioning and Use Case
B&O marketed the BeoSound 22 mainly as a high-end compact speaker for nearfield listening, secondary rooms, or multi-room audio setups. It was often paired with B&O's larger systems as surround or zone speakers. It could also deliver stereo sound as a standalone pair.
Because it is active and has built-in amplification, the BeoSound 22 needs no external receiver or amplifier. That suits minimalist setups where space and cable clutter are concerns. The catch is proprietary connectivity. It works best inside the B&O ecosystem, and third-party audio gear needs adapters or external preamplifiers.
Legacy and Collectibility
Today, the BeoSound 22 is regarded as a classic of late-1990s high-end audio design. Newer models such as the BeoSound 35 and wireless systems like BeoSound Shape have superseded it, but collectors and design enthusiasts still seek it out.
Units in good condition, with original finishes, undamaged grilles and working electronics, can command high prices on the secondhand market, particularly as matched pairs. As with all vintage B&O gear, maintenance matters. Aging capacitors in the power supply or amplifier sections may need servicing by specialists who know B&O's proprietary circuitry.
Conclusion
The Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 22 is more than just a speaker—it is a statement of design integrity and engineering excellence. Released at the cusp of the digital audio revolution, it bridges the gap between analog warmth and digital precision. While its proprietary nature may limit its appeal to mainstream audiophiles, for those who appreciate the fusion of art and technology, the BeoSound 22 remains a compelling and enduring icon of Scandinavian audio design. Whether displayed in a modern living room or integrated into a curated vintage setup, it continues to deliver both sonic pleasure and visual delight.
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