I have done just this 2 x MK1 A1s with an aux coming out of my monitor and split into two aux cables into the A1s.  Both A1s are also usb connected into a hub sitting below my monitor so they get power.

The reason I have them connected into my BenQ monitor is this way I can switch monitor sources i.e. HDMI 1 - Work laptop to HDMI 2 - PC to HDMI 3 - iPad Pro and the sound matches the source without needing to touch the A1s.

The sound is so good, surprisingly so, it shamed the Vita Audio R4 I had on the bookcase behind me, so that is now boxed up the loft and I have the A1s with room filling sound.

Hi Stan, I agree the Balance would be more like cranking things up «a bit» :). I have a stereo pair and I too have gone for other than standard options in terms of colour. But I recall having tried two A1 Mark Is in stereo in the past and I was also impressed. You cannot really go wrong with that and they are definitely less costly. When reading your post I kept thinking about a stereo pair of Beosound Emerge. To me it sounded like they would suit your use case. I do like its sound which I find pleasant and at lower volumes it would be a very nice option. Now, I do realize there might be few that would even consider getting two and then stereo pairing the Emerge that costs about a third of the price of the Balance and you don’t really get a third of the sound. You also mentioned you didn’t like the standard options of the Balance, which the Emerge seems to have followed. I am not holding my breathe for a Smoked Oak or Walnut version of it even I’d prefer that. If we’re lucky, we’d get one of these for the Level, which is excellent as a stereo set, I hear. But with an in-the-middle price tag between the Emerge and the Balance. I do find the Emerge an attractive option but of course its concept is more premium than that of the A1. As I understand the more you’d spend on speakers the more upgrading your home would cost, but perhaps a second A1 wouldn’t even be noticed, neither financially nor physically :).

Stan, I love this.

I have an A1 mk2 and think it's great. I feel like "more is better" so if you are only comfortable spending on two A1s versus, say, two Levels, then fantastic. I think stereo sound really adds to the immersive feeling of the music. What a great idea.

I suppose I don't have much more to say here. I don't have much helpful to offer here than to say--what a cool idea. And you know, you could just get them off Amazon and test them and easily return them if you don't like it.

@Csaba.

I briefly considered 2 Levels primarily.  There's one with a small chip in the panel on OfferUp for a very low price - like $500.  I trialed the Level when it first came out, and I thought it was quite nice.  However, I didn't buy it then for the same reason I'm not really thinking about it now which is because it takes up too much room (and I was also skeptical about when it would actually support NL).  For me, the cones (BS1, BS2) work much better than the wide and skinny Level for my furniture.  If I had a need for a portable solution, I might re-consider (especially, with a cosmetically pre-damaged one I wouldn't need to be so careful - then again, is the damage only cosmetic?).

Unfortunately, the Emerge isn't available in the US, and it's not clear when it will be.  As you guessed, I'm also not a big fan of its looks (black one looks like a router and I'm not a big fan of the gold/oak combination).  It would probably work pretty well for my purposes.

I ordered an A1 mk2 today to compare against my mk1.  I will take advantage of Amazon's 30 day return policy if necessary.

I was all set to try the mk1 approach first since I already have one, but my mk1 turns off after 15 minutes when running from the line-in while not plugged in.  It didn't always work this way, but it must be an "improvement" that was added during a software update.  Anyway, I'm not really planning to keep them plugged in all the time, and having 2 plugged in + audio cable is starting to get messy.  As it is, I have a USB power supply that I charge my phone with, then charge the A1s when necessary.

The other think I like about the A1 approach is if something better comes along in the next couple years (non-ugly Emerge, smoked oak Balance), I don't have a lot invested.  The 2nd hand market for B&O products in the US is not good... selling for a 50% discount doesn't hurt nearly as much when you're only $400 into it.  Or I'll decided the stereo isn't all that (which is how I convinced myself to buy the BS2)...

You could also consider Beoplay P6 in stereo pair, an even stronger and fuller sound compared to A1 stereo paired.  

No P6s to be found in the US.  Also, they would be double the price of the A1s, and, at that price, I'm getting closer to the cost of my BL4000 option.  I'm also not a fan of how they look.  The A1s not exactly pretty, but they are quite unobtrusive.  I can't say that about the P6.

@Stan, I’ve been quite slow to respond, very busy times here, I apologize! Indeed, I actually wanted to point out that it might be difficult to get hold of the Emerge. I forgot to include that point. My intention was to say that you could ask a dealer if they happened to have a pair. But then again, the price vs. performance, and the colour options… I was told the production of the Emerge was put on hold so they could prioritize meeting demands for the Level and Beolab 28 and that it would return in either March or May, in any case during the spring. It sounds like you’ve taken into account a number of pros and cons, and I think the A1 would do temporarily if you can live with the downsides for a while. I also prefer a shape like that of the BS1/2 and the Balance for placement reasons - among others. In fact, while I prefer the looks of the Balance, I could imagine getting a Beosound 2 not only for its gorgeous sound but also due to it working better as a floor-standing speaker compared to the Balance that does indeed require either a sideboard, a commode, a sidetable or a pedestal. Meaning additional cost if you have most spots taken :). As for the Level, in general I do not think it takes so much net space but you might need to account for the space between it and any other equipment you might want to use it with, such as stood horizontally next to a turntable. Especially if you have a stereo pair. It does become wide. In your case, on the one hand you know better what space limitations you’re dealing with, on the other hand the Level is also a different ball game compared to the A1. I was also considering to mention the M3, whose sound and performance I used to like for its size. (Used to = I have sold it.) However, I am not sure if B&O has made it stereo-capable. Unless an update has enabled that, I think it is not possible. Strange, considering you could pair two A1s.