MonoNeon Just Gave Bang & Olufsen’s A9 Speaker a Technicolor Makeover

First it was David Lynch, now it’s MonoNeon: Bang & Olufsen has enlisted another world-renowned artist to reimagine Beosound A9.

For the unacquainted, MonoNeon is a Grammy Award-winning bassist known for his avant-garde playing style and decidedly vibrant wardrobe. The new limited-edition speaker is a reflection of his unique approach to music and art. It also pays homage to his signature looks that incorporate patchwork, embroidery, and a very vivid palette.

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“Whenever I see a painting, I can interpret it musically,” MonoNeon said in a statement. “For some people it may be just a picture, but I look at it thinking: ‘I can play that.’ I wanted the speaker to be able to play without playing. Bringing me inspiration and telling me a story just by looking at it.”

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A9 Speaker Cover MonoNeon
The colorful speaker cover is emblazoned with MonoNeon’s name.

MonoNeon wanted the speaker to represent chords on canvas. The A9, which already resembles a canvas on an easel, has been covered in a trippy floral pattern that feels somewhat retro-futuristic and emblazoned with MonoNeon’s name. The bold composition showcases a kaleidoscopic mix of aqua, baby pink, purple orange, and yellow hues. (It is far more playful than Lynch’s design, which features reproductions of his “Paris Suite” series of lithographs.)

Aesthetics are not the speaker’s only selling point, of course. At once versatile and powerful, the A9 is equipped with no less than seven custom-built drivers and two tweeters that deliver its full 33 Hz to 25 kHz frequency range. B&O says the speaker delivers clear vocals, crisp instrumentation, deep bass, and enough volume to fill any room.

Compatible with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the device can stream music from the internet using services like Spotify or sync up with other speakers. It can also be conveniently controlled via the Bang & Olufsen app or the intuitive touch controls.

The limited-edition MonoNeon cover will retail for about $570 (£450), while the Beosound A9 will set you back an additional $3,999. (Just think you are getting a speaker and a work of art.) To commemorate the launch, Bang & Olufsen is hosting an event at its Madison Avenue boutique in New York on 17th January. MonoNeon will be performing, naturally.

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