ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Bang & Olufsen America, the North American provider of high end home theaters and custom multi room music systems, announces the arrival of its newest loudspeaker -- BeoLab 9. The product is now available in all North American Bang & Olufsen showroom locations and will be showcased in a series of in-store Bang & Olufsen events held in North America, beginning Tuesday, April 24, 2007 in Chicago, the following Thursday, April 26 in New York, Tuesday, May 1 in Toronto, and Thursday, May 3 in Los Angeles. Additionally, the event series will showcase the speaker's profound ability to deliver a sound performance that is representative of listening to the original music source in its true, live form -- as Bang & Olufsen will feature a live performance by Danish musician and award winning Jazz vocalist Benni Chawes, and his loudspeaker of choice for both at home listening, as well as professional sound delivery.

BeoLab 9 brings cutting-edge technology and unique design to the Bang & Olufsen loudspeaker portfolio, as it is an extension to the award-winning BeoLab 5 product line. BeoLab 9 utilizes the same patented Acoustic Lens Technology, which sits on top of the speaker and disperses the treble at a 180 degree arc. This guarantees equal sound distribution throughout the room, allowing the listener an even sound experience regardless of seating location. Additionally, the lens eliminates reflections from the floor and ceiling that distort the sound, resulting in a more natural listening experience.

BeoLab 9 offers serious bass performance as well as the latest in ICEpower amplification and active technology. It serves as a three-way active loudspeaker with the bass and mid-range units placed in their own dedicated pressure chambers. The bass comes through a generously dimensioned 10-inch unit that rests in an 18-litre enclosure. The mid-range frequencies are handled by a 5-inch unit in a 4-litre enclosure, and a 3/4-inch treble unit. Each unit is powered by its own amplifier -- a 500-watt ICEpower amplifier for the bass, and two 100 watt analogue hybrid amplifiers for the mid-range and treble.

"Bang & Olufsen has long since been a purveyor of creating revolutionary loudspeakers of the highest quality to ensure the ideal listening experience in any room setup," said Kim Gravesen, President of Bang & Olufsen America. "We have very high sales expectations for BeoLab 9 and believe it will resonate well with existing Bang & Olufsen customers as well as new customers who are seeking superior sonic performance at a lower price point than our BeoLab 5 award winning loudspeaker. Furthermore, we believe its modular applications and multi-purpose functionality will foster continued consumer excitement towards our comprehensive loudspeaker portfolio."

Most loudspeakers' performance relies strongly on the physical arrangement of the room. BeoLab 9, however, can efficiently adapt to its placement through a manual position switch that allows one to place the speaker in a corner or close to the wall without compromising the sound. The result is seamless integration into any room setup according to one's personal preference. Innovative technologies provide BeoLab 9 with adequate power at all times and also protects its circuits, permitting them to run smoothly and safely even at peak sound pressure levels. A dedicated thermal protection circuit is also applied to all units to protect the electronics from damage and overheating. The Bang & Olufsen-patented Adaptive Bass Linearization technology ensures excellent bass performance without the risk of distorting sound quality or damaging the units. The result is pure, clean sound that represents music in its true, natural form.

Modern, differentiated design

BeoLab 9 offers a compact cabinet, organic visual identity, and multiple color options, giving it a distinct appearance which also reflects its original technology. The acoustic lens at the top is cast in zinc with a matte, chromium-plated surface, giving it a robust metallic look unlike any other loudspeaker on the market. The bass and midrange units are covered by a fabric frame available in red, blue, dark grey, and black, allowing BeoLab 9 to blend in or stand out in any home decor.

Universal application

Designed to audibly complement other Acoustic Lens sound performers in the Bang & Olufsen loudspeaker range, BeoLab 9 can be used in a surround sound home theater setup, both front and rear channel applications, or as a fully capable stereo speaker in a music system. It functions perfectly as a link room loudspeaker and connects easily to non-Bang & Olufsen equipment as well.

BeoLab 9 provides optimal flexibility and presents groundbreaking technologies that result in the ultimate listening experience. Its sound performance far exceeds its modest proportions. BeoLab 9 has now arrived in all Bang & Olufsen showrooms for Spring 2007. (MSRP $9900 USD per pair)

Technical specifications Designer David Lewis Dimensions (H x W x D) 30.2 x 15.6 x 11.7 in Weight 38.75 lbs. Output power 700 watts Frequency area 30-20,000 Hz Acoustical principle Closed box Treble unit 3/4-inch speaker unit based on the Acoustic Lens Mid-range 5-inch speaker unit Bass 10-inch bass unit Connections 2 x Power Link (incl. line) Mains (global 100-240 V AC) Position switch Left/right position switch Placement Floor placement *Acoustic Lens Technology is licensed from Sausalito Audio Works LLC. About Bang & Olufsen a/s

Founded in 1925 in Struer, Denmark, Bang & Olufsen a/s is world renowned for its distinctive range of quality consumer electronic products that represent our vision: Courage to constantly question the ordinary in search of surprising, long-lasting experiences. The Bang & Olufsen Group manufactures a unique range of televisions, music systems, loudspeakers, telephones, medical, and multimedia products. With more than 2,400 employees and products sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, Bang & Olufsen turnover for the 2005/2006 financial year was DKK 4,225 million (USD 745.4 million). Further information about Bang & Olufsen a/s is available from http://www.bang-olufsen.com/

About Bang & Olufsen America, Inc.

Headquartered in the Greater Chicago area, Bang & Olufsen America, Inc. is a fully owned subsidiary of Bang & Olufsen a/s of Struer Denmark. It was founded in 1972 and provides support and development for 50 retail showrooms in the continental US, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Canada.

CONTACT: Monica Gartner, +1-847-590-4920, Cell, +1-847-736-7937,
mcy@bang-olufsen.dk, or Leena Hamdi, +1-847-590-4925, +1-773-343-8190,
lhi@bang-olufsen.dk

Web site: http://www.bang-olufsen.com