Cover Beosound A9, one of Bang & Olufsen’s most iconic speakers
Beosound A9, one of Bang & Olufsen’s most iconic speakers
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Bang & Olufsen’s commitment to building artisanal speakers with longevity continues at their reopened flagship store in Shangri-La Plaza
For the past 99 years, Bang & Olufsen has delivered unparalleled acoustic experiences through their wide range of audio and video devices. With the reopening of their Philippine flagship store in Shangri-La Plaza Mall, they showcase their finest offerings, including state-of-the-art home theatre systems and artisanal home audio setups. Guests may also explore the fascinating selection of portable speakers and headphones that deliver sound quality in style.
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Key to the Bang & Olufsen brand is its commitment to longevity. Their unparalleled attention to detail ensures that each piece easily adapts to future innovations without compromise. Bang & Olufsen's speakers also enhance any home with their architectural forms, elevating each space with their distinctive aesthetic appeal. To further understand the brand's integration of luxury loudspeakers in home design, Tatler sat down with Soren Kokholm, head of Bang & Olufsen in Southeast Asia, and Ferdie Ong, owner of Living Innovations.
Explore the Bang & Olufsen flagship store at Shangri-La Plaza Mall
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What are your backgrounds, and how did they lead you to the Bang & Olufsen brand?
Soren Kokholm (SK): Denmark has a different type of educational system, so I started working for Bang & Olufsen as a teenager. I became an apprentice while studying. I’ve been with Bang & Olufsen for 31 years–it’s my first and only job. But it’s more than that: it’s a passion for me. I’m excited every day to wake up. It doesn’t feel like a job, I get to do something I’m fond of.
Ferdie Ong (FO): My background is in engineering, and I focused more on furniture. Bang & Olufsen was under a different supplier, but the supplier reached out to me after a few years. They thought I might be a better fit for such a technical brand. As an engineer, I wanted to take on the challenge.
How has the partnership between Living Innovations and Bang & Olufsen been so far?
Ferdie: What got my attention about Bang & Olufsen is that it’s experiential: when you use their products, you get goosebumps. This may be the one piece of furniture that elicits that kind of reaction from you, when you’re immersed in the listening experience.
Soren: For us, it’s not just a job: it’s a lifestyle and a passion. We have been able to work together for a long time because we understand that we are selling more than just a product. When people walk into the room, they can immediately recognise the speaker as Bang & Olufsen. We’re working together to create a community built around this shared interest.
Above Beolab 8: Compact and powerful speaker delivering advanced acoustics and versatile connectivity
Beolab 8: Compact and powerful speaker delivering advanced acoustics and versatile connectivity
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Nowadays, people value sustainable materials when purchasing items like sound systems and speakers. How does Bang & Olufsen fit into that discussion?
Soren: I don’t agree with how the term ‘sustainability’ is being thrown around. Every item we produce and buy has an impact, a footprint. It’s difficult to make electronics sustainable. Instead, at Bang & Olufsen, we focus on longevity in our designs and materials.
We’ve taken things one step further, as each of our products is “Cradle to Cradle” certified. When the products need to be taken apart, every piece can be recycled. With electronics, that is not the case: mobile phones have batteries and glass that are difficult to dismantle and recycle. But with Bang & Olufsen products, we have replaceable components like the battery-operated stereo system.
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Above Beosound Balance: Elegant speaker with omnidirectional sound and tactile materials
Beosound Balance: Elegant speaker with omnidirectional sound and tactile materials
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How does Bang & Olufsen respond to the rapid technological changes and the demand for product innovation?
Soren: Fundamentally, the designs for speakers and stereo systems haven’t changed for decades. We have buttons for play and pause, volume up and volume down. What has changed is our access to WiFi, Bluetooth, and streaming platforms. But everything else is still functional, so why should we throw the product out?
At Bang & Olufsen, we’ve developed the Mozart, which has a small engine behind the speaker’s cover. In ten years, Wifi may advance far beyond what it looks like now, or the iPhone 27 will have a new Bluetooth system. Instead of throwing the entire speaker away, you can open the speaker up, take the Mozart platform out, and put a new engine inside. It’s similar to a Swiss watch: you buy it once, repair it and keep maintaining it instead. With luxury products like loudspeakers, you’re not chasing the newest iteration. You are buying a truly classic piece of art in the form of furniture.
Above Beosound Theatre: Sleek soundbar with Dolby Atmos and customizable features for a future-proof audio experience
Above Beosound Level: Portable WiFi speaker designed to follow you with power and connectivity
Beosound Theatre: Sleek soundbar with Dolby Atmos and customizable features for a future-proof audio experience
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How do you tailor Bang & Olufsen products to fit people’s homes, especially when their tastes change over time?
Soren: The most important thing is to know the size of the room. Traditional audio systems have amplifiers and thick cables seven feet from the wall. But in most people’s homes, that’s not always practical. For people who want to incorporate Bang & Olufsen products in their homes, the speakers blend in seamlessly with the rest of the furniture.
Because we prioritise aesthetics, we have different materials, designs, and colours to choose from. Some speakers pair aluminium with oak, or black material with walnut. There are infinite ways to present the speakers to fit the homeowner’s preferences and style.
In the Filipino market, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to the speaker that best fits one’s home and lifestyle. Some clients need speakers to fit into a study, while others have more expansive rooms. It’s similar to buying shoes–the pair we wear at a gala differs from the pair we wear for a marathon.
Above Beosound A5: Powerful portable speaker with long battery life, wireless charging, and versatile connectivity
Beosound A5: Powerful portable speaker with long battery life, wireless charging, and versatile connectivity
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Music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music make good-quality music more accessible than ever, while audio systems and speakers can still be intimidating for some people. How have Filipinos responded to Bang & Olufsen products, which balance aesthetics and function?
Ferdie: Bang & Olufsen products are very flexible–whether it’s Apple Music, Spotify, or even turntables, they can easily be integrated with our products. We try to simplify everything as much as possible. At the touch of a button, you can press play and load a preset, or even set an alarm in the morning.
What Bang & Olufsen does well is simplify the complex concept of audio systems. While some of our clients have been audiophiles for decades, there’s a new generation of people who want their speakers to blend in with the architecture of the space. We create systems that look like art installations on the wall to meet those needs.
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About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
