Denmark's master audiologists create the world's first self-adjusting speakers.

Photograph by Luis Bruno; Styled by Sara Wacksman Photograph by Luis Bruno; Styled by Sara Wacksman

Bang & Olufsen's Beolab 5 speakers may look like end tables from Wonderland, but they have more going for them than trippy design (they'd better, for $16,000 a pair). Gently touch one of them on top and a miniature microphone extends from its base. Then the 15-inch woofer-powered by the 2,500-watt internal amplifier-starts whomp-whomping like a baritone light saber. The microphone records the sound after it bounces off your walls and couch, and adjusts the output of specific bass frequencies to compensate for the shape of your room and the speaker's location. The result: They sounded crisp even
in our cluttered, 200-square-foot office. And no, they will not attack you in your sleep.

0 Comments


138 years of Popular Science at your fingertips.

Innovation Challenges



Popular Science+ For iPad

Each issue has been completely reimagined for your iPad. See our amazing new vision for magazines that goes far beyond the printed page



Download Our App

Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone or Android phone with full articles, images and offline viewing



Follow Us On Twitter

Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed


February 2012: The Future of Fun

Science is reinventing play, from extreme sports to gamification to ridiculous roller coasters to the playgrounds of tomorrow, and this issue is chock full of fun. Also, on a less fun note: Did global warming destroy my hometown?


circ-top-header.gif
circ-cover.gif
bmxmag-ps