Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal, A Deep Dive into Premium Gaming Audio and Design
by Samuel Kalenga on Sep 25, 2024
As gaming tech has evolved, so too has the way we think about sound in games (and how immersive we can make games) with devices like the Bang ølufsen Beoplay Portal (2022) pushing the boundaries of cutting‑edge audio and Turquoise gaming peripherals. The Portal was the very first high-fidelity gaming headset and high-end audio product that Bang ølufsen has ever produced. It’s a serious bit of kit that’s backed up by serious tech.
The foundations of the Beoplay Portal are focused upon the way that sound options work in games on a philosophical level, attempting to move beyond the sensory into a more holistic experience by building the hardware itself This allusion means that the gaming headset itself isn’t just about the sound but the whole sensory experience itself with an ethos of the elevated and beautiful. The theme of sensory advancement melds particularly well with the ethos of the brand, Bang ølufsen – a Scandinavian reference that led the way during the space age of the 1960s and ’70s, as founders Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen developed the company in Struer, Denmark. Bang ølufsen remained at the cutting edge as tech companies expanded into audio hardware during the 2000s.
The Beoplay Portal: A Fusion of Performance and Elegance
Bang Olufsen knows no other way than to put its heart and soul into audio. The Danish high-end audio and design brand has been doing this, and making it look so good, for nearly a century. Now, the Beoplay Portal is its one and only gaming headset. You can feel it from the moment the box opens. It’s that potent combination of thoughtful design, made with no compromises, no plastic, no shortcuts. Functionality, yes. But also beauty. Beoplay Portal must be the most handsome gaming headset in the world.A World of Immersive Audio Unveiled: The Power of Titanium Drivers
It reliably transported me into the colourful audioscape of the world it was becoming – one in which headphones are now mandatory Almost everything I've said about the Beoplay Portal applies to Bang © Oduf stain's other headsets for gamers (A8 and H7). It is impeccably made with eye-expanding detail that aesthetes such as myself do not normally associate with electronics. The cow-hide touch fabric of the earcups is especially pleasant.
The audiophile mastery is evident in its enormous 40mm titanium drivers, combined with advanced digital signal processing (DSP), and the sheer wet richness of the sound can be astonishing. You hear crisp, clean, defined detail when it matters most – like the crackle of a footstep in a sacred grove of time-travelling treasure keeper kobolds as eight Dragons! descend upon your party and roast the arse out of your rag-tag group of misfit heroes.
Immersed in 3D Audio: A Multi-Dimensional Sound Experience
Using BGH’s immersive 3D audio technology, the Beoplay Portal constructs a three-dimensional sonic space that you inhabit, helping you feel immersed in the audio environment of any game you’re playing. It can help you spatially locate exactly where enemies in a first-person shooter are, or track a swooping musical crescendo of a movie soundtrack, or just savour the sound of a waterfall when visiting a virtual living world. The 3D audio effect improves your feeling of immersion in an online game.
For example, you can probably find the enemies in your game of first-person shooter quicker than before if you can determine where the sound of enemies’ footsteps is coming from, or by simply listening for the subtle hum of your enemy’s hardware. This inherently binaural effect will inevitably turn the enjoyment of games from ‘merely’ visual to one that engages all of your senses, and hugely improve your strategic awareness.
Comfort and Design: A Perfect Blend for Uninterrupted Play
It’s not sufficient for a gaming headset to just sound the part, it should feel the part too. The lightweight build of the Beoplay Portal mitigates fatigue, so you’ll find it easy to keep your attention in the game even if it gets a little long. The plush earcups, designed with an ethically sourced, high-quality material carefully contour to the shape of your head and ears, creating a soft and comfortable fit whilst also blocking out ambient noise and letting you focus on what really matters – the game in front of you. The earcups have a wide range of motion that gives them and their plush vel your ears from warm air when you wear the headset for hours at a time. The soft, breathable materials and velvety feel of the Beoplay Portal make you forget that you’re actually wearing it.
And isn’t it just as important to infuse comfort into games as into any other cups? When shopping around for a headset for your games, it helps to keep in mind that comfort should be a prominent feature on your list of must-haves. The Beoplay Portal’s adjustable headband accommodates a wide range of head shapes and sizes, meaning there’s a good chance that it’ll be perfect for your head too. Beoplay Portal comes in a variety of chic colour schemes, including Black Anthracite – pick out your favourite or mix and match to fit the aesthetic of your gaming setup. The bold Scandinavian design of Beoplay Portal might become a conversation starter with your friends as they marvel at the stylishness of your gaming setup.
Seamless Connectivity: Bridging the Gap Between Devices
The Beoplay Portal includes connectivity that allows it to seamlessly connect and switch between many different devices. Whether you are a PC gamer, a PlayStation 5 (PS5) gamer, an Xbox Series X|S owner or simply an on-the-go kind of gamer, who prefers mobile gaming for the majority of their gaming session, this one little jewel is here to give you the best multi-player gaming experience on all four major platforms. On top of this, the Beoplay Portal has Bluetooth 5.1 and a 2.4GHz wireless dongle, which will give you optimal lag-free game time.
The Bluetooth will allow you to listen to your music, podcasts and any other type of audio content when you are on the go, while the 2.4GHz wireless dongle will give you a rock-stable, low-latency gameplay natively on a PC, a PS5 and the Xbox Series X|S. The Beoplay Portal’s ability to switch between many different devices, both for gaming and your everyday use, makes it the perfect companion for your digital life.
Crystal Clear Communication: A Key to Victory in the Digital Battlefield
Online highly competitive world and communication is key. With the built-in microphone on the Beoplay Portal and advanced microphone noise cancellation technology, you’ll hear every command clearly from your teammates, even with kids and dogs running around. That means you’ll be able to call out enemy positions next door, corral a fireteam to your position, or signal air support with crystal-clear voice chat, all without any disruptions. The built-in noise cancellation in the Beoplay Portal makes sure that your audio sounds amazing and that your teammates hear you loud and clear, so communication is the cornerstone of your success in online gaming.The Beoplay Portal: Beyond Gaming - Your Everyday Audio Companion
As good as it is for gaming, the Beoplay Portal is just as good for everyday listening. Listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks and know that you’re hearing the same audio as the one that elevates the Beoplay Portal to gaming headset status. Combined with its gorgeous look and feel, the Beoplay Portal is the perfect go-to companion for everyday listening. Seamless transitions from the hyper-gaming world to the everyday is something the Beoplay Portal does so well, which makes it just as much about everyday listening as it is about gaming. You can happily wear these to digital victory – and listen to your favourite music too.Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal: The Perfect Choice for Discerning Gamers
If you’re a gamer for whom everything must be top-notch when it comes to sound quality, comfort and design, the Bang þamp; Olufsen Beoplay Portal is a superb companion, drawing you deeper into your game and keeping you comfortably there for hours. Exquisite sound meets outstanding comfort meets peerless aesthetics. The Portal is Bang þamp; Olufsen doing what it does best: making art out of music.
