The Beolab 8 does something that no other B&O speaker can do unless you feel like moving Beolab 28 around your home and garden and avoid smashing into the top of door ways (it is tall).
It includes the Mozart platform so has steaming services, DLNA uPnP and internet radio via wi-fi as well as Bluetooth out of the range of a network from your portable devices. So you can set one up in any room. The kitchen, dining room, conservatory, the study, the bedroom as single or paired stereo speakers.
But when it comes to movie night bring them together for a 5.1, 7.1 surround sound system using WiSA. Speakers like the Emerge, Level, Balance, A2, A9 etc are not able to offer the low latency needed for viewing videos. Only powerlink and wireless powerlink (WiSA) can offer this. In most surround sound set ups they can't easily be split to use them elsewhere. Beolab 8 just need a mains socket to plug into, no cabling for the audio signal. Priced similar to the Beosound Balance and Beoplay A9 all having the same Mozart features but with the Beolab 8 you can use them fully with televisions and computers.
The change from Mozart to WiSA is seamless. They, like the Beolab 28 work exactly like the Emerge, Level, Balance, A5, A9 for stream services, casting from mobile phone, tablet etc over Bluetooth or wi-fi {the specifications do not include Airplay 2 or Chromecast DNLA and uPnP but it would be silly if they don’t work the same way). As soon as the WiSA transmitter is powered it pairs with the WiSA speakers and locks out the Mozart system and the controls on the top of the speakers. They are then configured for surround sound from a television with WiSA or without using a WiSA transmitter (Sound Send, Axiim Link, B&O, Platin etc). So a computer or Xbox can be used with the appropriate WiSA transmitter.
I don’t know if bring them together like this would be used in practice. I could see the small Beolab 8 being used around the house most of the time when working in the kitchen, study room and when wanting to enjoy a movie in full surround sound just bring them together. Smaller than the Beosound Balance, much lighter, slightly more expensive (£100 for each speaker) with a similar 104db (no frequency range given).
List on the B&O web site at £5398 a pair (gold, light oak) and £4398 for the basic aluminium black. That works out at £500 each for the oak fret!
September 2023 has also seem a large price increase of all the top models. by 10 (Beolab28) to 25% (Beosound Theatre) in a shift and balance of price.
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