The partnership will see Denmark's Bang & Olufsen custom tuning select HP devices for optimal audio quality. Those HP devices will include desktop and notebook computers, tablets, and even HP audio accessories.
That custom tuning will be applied to both built-in speakers and headphone jacks, and includes user-selectable equalization presets and manual sound tuning. The circuit board-side of the equation will carry on the audio quality obsession:
"In all HP devices that carry the Bang & Olufsen or B&O PLAY brand, a dedicated audio island isolates the sensitive audio circuits from other signals on the motherboard. The headphone jack limits the amount of metal parts to reduce ground noise to help further perfect the audio experience on HP devices."
Years ago, HP had partnered with Beats Audio, putting Dr. Dre's bass-heavy audio enhancements into HP laptops, desktops, and their webOS tablets (but not smartphones, which were reserved for HTC). Since Beats has since been acquired by Apple, HP needed a new partner — thus, Bang & Olufsen, with their crisper and more balanced sound.
The Bang & Olufsen brand will appear first on HP's Spectre, Omen, and Envy Pcs, while the B&O Play brand (Bang & Olufsen's more affordable line of audio products) will show up on HP's Pavilion PCs and tablets (HP's more affordable line of computers) and HP audio accessories.
Source: HP (pdf)
