Honesty of Materials  Craft Matters

As one of the lightest and strongest materials in the world, aluminium brings both portability and rigidity to our products - and as an efficient heat dispenser, it works perfectly with our acoustic designs. It can also be coloured uniquely. In the anodization processes, both surface treatments and colour hue, as well as saturation and lightness, can bring out different depths and add so much more than just a painted colour.

Your first touch of a Bang & Olufsen product starts with leather and it’s important it’s soft to the touch and comfortable against the skin. We also wanted a material that ages with beauty. We even differentiate our leathers based on where and how they’re used. On our headphones we use soft and flexible lambskin for the ear pads while the headband is made from structured and thick cowhide to withstand wear and tear.

We use the richness, complexity and warmth of wool on many of our products. Working together with Kvadrat, one of the most iconic brands in the world of textiles, we use textures on the covers of our products that closely match the interior design palette. Several colours are then used to achieve greater depth. Did you know that there is a small amount of light green threads in our standard black colour?

Conceptually, the use of wood in Bang&Olufsen products comes down to how we believe technology should fit into your home. The Scandinavian heritage of bringing natural wood inside the home is reflected in the use of structural elements such as legs in smoked oak, pine, walnut or maple. The woods we use are treated with natural oils so as not to cover their rich texture and structure, which always feels smooth and warm to the touch.

Natural materials, colour hues, saturation, lightness, surface treatments, textures – each of these matter. Having the right material in the right place matters. Together with sound and design, craftsmanship lies deep in our heart and soul. This is how we see it. If it looks like aluminium, it is aluminium. If it looks like leather, it’s authentic leather. If it looks like wood, it’s natural wood. We never mimic materials. We use the properties to make the products what they are – experiences. So not only do they look good, but the materials themselves are selected for functionality, quality and comfort.