Beoplay A9 Mk.4 - experience?

So I see there is a new A9 and as I am looking to maybe acquire an A9 it has me wondering which version to go for (I was about to pull the trigger on the Mk.3, but now...).

As I understand the Mk.3 and Mk.4 share a lot only there are some change to the electronics, where especially the 4 supposedly using a microphone to adapt to the room it is installed in has my interest. I imagine it comes with a microphone in the box, so that one can easily redo the calibration when needed (My car stereo has that and there it takes a few minutes, as it runs through every speaker in the car - easily done).

Please if anyone can describe how the room adaptation worked out?

And a comparison with the previous generations of A9 would also be very welcome.

Also and this isn't really an audio quality thing. If possible please confirm that the Google listening thing can be disabled.

I have an A9 MKII with AirPlay 2. The audio quality is excellent - better than my BL8000 + BL 2 combo.

Hey... there’s a review here on YouTube from the Manchester store... explains the differences and Google Assistant options well.

https://youtu.be/VQVzFqwRokI

I have a Mk2 and it's excellent, so i can only imagine the power bump and extra rear speaker in the Mk3 and 4 is only going to make a good thing even greater. 

 

peterafox:

Hey... there’s a review here on YouTube from the Manchester store... explains the differences and Google Assistant options well.

 

https://youtu.be/VQVzFqwRokI

Nice.Thank you.

That review pretty much brought the answers, not sure how I missed finding that video.

Just to also have the answers here in this thread:

• The room calibration is done by the A9 playing a test sound and measuring the result, no sight of an external microphone so it must be using a microphone on the A9 unit itself. Having the room calibration feature does away with the room placement selector found the previous versions of the A9 and going by the review there is an improvement in audio quality.
• The google assistant can be turned off. When done so it is indicated by four red LED's that can be seen through the fabric that covers the front of the A9, if not disabled those four LED are instead white - not sure if the white ones are on all the time or not but apparently they are when red.

https://youtu.be/Xo4ne9ED30A

MM