IFA 2022 Review
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Soundbars lead the charge at rebooted tech show
It may not have been running at full capacity, but the legendary Berlin expo still put on a great show after its pandemic hiatus, reports Steve May.
I
FA returned to its traditional in-person format this year, and it was clear most attendees were delighted to see it back. Visitors wandered between halls, a spring in their step and a smile on their faces, as they tried once again to make sense of Messe Berlin’s infamous layout.
Exhibitors reportedly took up more than 80 per
cent of available floor space at the Messe Berlin this year. Yet in truth, the show wasn’t firing on all cylinders. Stand building on the media day seemed even more chaotic than usual, and there were notable absentees, including Sony, Hisense and JBL Harman.
In addition, multiple brands decided to run their own events in Berlin, but just outside of the IFA bubble. However, any fears that this year’s show would be iffy, proved unfounded.
When it came to consumer electronics, TVs took a back seat to soundbars for 2022. The biggest noise came from Bang & Olufsen, one of the aforementioned outliers. At a pop-up dubbed the Sound Bar, a short walk from Checkpoint Charlie, it unveiled the Beosound Theatre (right).
Its most ambitious soundbar to date, this formidable TV audio upgrade effectively redefines the high-end all-in-one. Of course, with prices starting at £6,000, it won’t be for everyone, but the B&O faithful that invest will certainly feel they’re getting their money’s worth. The brand told ERT that the Beosound Theatre is designed to last. It should comfortably see off several TV upgrades, and thanks to a modular construction that allows physical design to be upgraded or replaced as required, it’ll be able to keep pace with any technical changes in the future.
The Beosound Theatre is designed to fully integrate with a partnering screen. It ships with a bespoke mounting plate that positions the screen centrally, effectively making the bar look half the size it actually is.
Bang & Olufsen has a long-standing relationship with LG, but interestingly the theatre can be used with any brand of flatscreen. Aluminium wings are used to cleverly square off the design;
if a
customer moves to a larger screen, these wings can be swapped out for a wider pair, thereby retaining visual symmetry.
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