2. speakers
  3. 1198369753

Beolab 5 - Four Questionable Technologies

I'm looking to buy a high-end speaker system and have become enamored by the Beolab 5 Powered Speakers by B&O.

In their literature the tout 4 technologies that set them apart.
I am not an audiophile (yet) but wonder what those with more experience think about these four ideas.

1. An Acoustic Lens technology
This means a much wider dispersion of high frequencies. Supposedly this makes sweet spot for listening is much larger. This means you can sit in different places or move around and still have optimal sound.

2. Adaptive Bass Control
This uses a microphone in each speaker to calibrate the low frequency interaction with the room. This permits a wider range of speaker placement. For example, one could be near a wall, or one could be near a corner and this would compensate.

3. Digital Signal Processing
Being all digital, each speaker is calibrated (tweaked) before leaving Denmark to match a reference speaker. This is not possible with analog systems. It assures a that all of the speakers sound the same, a sort of quality control.

4. Digital Amplification
Each of the speakers has four digital amps; one for each driver. Somehow, by being digital Class D amps they can be smaller and run cooler than other amps. That allows them to put 4 powerful amps insider the very confined space of the speaker enclosure. The high power allows peak sound levels of 115 to 120 dB.

Thoughts and comments on any of these four technologies would be appreciated.

And, if you have heard these speakers, do you think they are for real.
hdomke

Showing 5 responses by macrojack

macrojack
1,303 posts
 
Every manufacturer who uses the ICE power module buys it from B&O.
Many innovations have issued from B&O over the years. An investigation into the company will uncover a rich background of audio firsts.
Several years ago, I made a pilgrimage to the B&O mall store in the Cherry Creek Shopping Center to hear the Beolab 5. I thought it was very intriguing and lived up to their hype. I can't offer any more than that because it was too long ago and because the listening environment was positively abysmal. I do remember that the dispersion was extremely broad and seemed consistent and that you could hear the correction when the salesman reset the automatic room correction calibration.

I think that anyone who isn't especially anal about audio would think that they are exquisite. I also remember that using them with analog required some kind of forfeiture of features. You'll have to do your own research on that point however as I can't think of what the deal was in retrospect.

$8000 for a used pair seems like a very worthwhile experiment provided you can feel comfortable about your seller. I think you could probably run a MacBook straight into them with a USB adaptor.
macrojack
1,303 posts
 
I'll second Onhwy61's recommendation. Wilson doesn't have and cannot match B&O's technological resources. The fact that one company has buddied up with the reviewing community and the other one has not makes for a higher audiophile profile but not necessarily a better product.
When I heard the Beolab 5, I was very impressed and would have bought them if I had had the money at that time.
Bear in mind that many of the comments you read on here are the AMEN CHORUS from Stereophile, etc.
macrojack
1,303 posts
 
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/speakers/480/bang-olufsen-beolab-5-speaker.html
http://www.time.com/time/2003/inventions/invspeakers.html
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/speakers-subwoofers/211355-bang-olufsen-beolab-5-best-speaker-made-today.html
http://www.synthtopia.com/news/2004_01-04/BeoLab5SpeakerARevolution.html

Above are a few pieces I Googled quickly. They provide a variety of opinions that issued from sources other than the unfamiliar David Moran.
A number of comments were offered concerning speakers which, at first blush, appear to have similar pricing, but these guys fail to recognize the important fact that amplification is included in the Beolabs. All you need is a digital input. I see no reason why you could not feed them directly with a hard drive.
Incidentally, I noticed that the price has increased from $16,000 to $18,000 over the last 4 years. B&O may have increased the price but I think it more likely reflects the result of our plummeting dollar.
Merry Christmas.
macrojack
1,303 posts
 
One might draw that conclusion.
It is important to recognize that audiophile buyers are sheep who are insecure and driven by consensus opinion.

A dealer I know provided me with this definition of the audio hobby. "Audiophilia is predicated on dissatisfaction and populated by people who listen with their eyes rather than their ears".

In order for a manufacturer to succeed in this business, he must do much more than merely build a better mousetrap.

Back in the 80s I worked for a company called Listen Up who was a B&O dealer and, as such, required all of us sales people to attend Bang und Olufsen school in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. During the indoctrination proceedings, we were made aware of the many innovations and inventions B&O has made to the audio industry over the years. I don't remember any of it now but I recall that the list was very impressive.

Another matter to keep in mind is the fact that many audiophiles are not programmed to absorb big losses upon resale and therefore feel safer buying items that have received high praise by the higher profile audio review pubs. Those are more likely to sell quickly and retain the most value.

If you like the Beolab 5, there is no reason to be dissuaded from purchase.

Of course, if anyone asks me, I always recommend my favorite.
macrojack
1,303 posts
 
Shadorne - Scores of people who HAVE HEARD this speaker think it sounds great, yet, you who do not say that you have heard it, theorize that it cannot work.
Aren't you one of the people who cautions everyone never to buy a speaker without hearing it in their own system? Why in god's name would you suppose to know of a deficiency that you have not heard? What motivates you to caution against something you are guessing about?
More to discover