AudiogoN
Search Buy Sell Learn MyPage
 Learn > Forums > Speakers > 1198369753  Start New Thread | Log In | Bookmark This
  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  (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

12-22-07
  Responses (1-62 of 62)
Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

12-23-07   There was a review on this speaker a couple years ago - i fo ...   Kthomas

12-23-07   yes, one particulary rave review was in the audio critic: a ...   Hdomke

12-23-07   Hdomke, there are two pairs on ebay right now, for considera ...   Deliberate1

12-23-07   I always thought of b&o as bose for those with an additional ...   Zenblaster

12-23-07   I haven't heard the b&o beolab 5 yet, but seriously doubt th ...   Audiokinesis

12-23-07   zenblaster, funny that you should mention the wilsons. this ...   Hdomke

12-23-07   Duke, what other speakers do you thing would have these char ...   Hdomke

12-23-07   When you go with a system like b&o you are pretty much locke ...   Steuspeed

12-23-07   B&o is not an audiophile directed product. it's a high end ...   Onhwy61

12-23-07   With regards to #4 i believe the digital ice amps are found ...   Audioinsane

12-23-07   Hi hdomke, my post above focused on what i believe is an un ...   Audiokinesis

12-23-07   Steuspeed, i suspect once i get a really great system that i ...   Hdomke

12-23-07   Every manufacturer who uses the ice power module buys it fro ...   Macrojack

12-24-07   Just be aware that omnidirectionals work best pulled way out ...   Shadorne

12-24-07   Onhwy61 i'm interested by that comment. are you saying that ...   Hdomke

12-24-07   20+ years is a long time - so choose wisely. if you want a ...   Shadorne

12-24-07   Hdomke, people have their own definitions, but imho an audi ...   Martykl

12-24-07   Shadorn, i agree that it looks odd, but i'm okay with that. ...   Hdomke

12-24-07   Hdomke, i've been reading and posting these forums for a num ...   Onhwy61

12-24-07: Macrojack
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  (Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)


12-25-07   The sensible sound, of all magazines, highly recommended the ...   Chrisla

12-25-07   Chris, thanks for the tip on the sensible sound review. you ...   Hdomke

12-25-07   Http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/speakers/480/bang-olufsen-b ...   Macrojack

12-25-07   Macrojack, thanks for the links you provided. in general, th ...   Hdomke

12-25-07   One might draw that conclusion. it is important to recogniz ...   Macrojack

12-29-07   You should also take a look at the beolab 9. it's abou half ...   Roofus

12-30-07   From this plot it sure looks as if the direct sound from t ...   Shadorne

12-30-07   Shadorne - scores of people who have heard this speaker thin ...   Macrojack

12-30-07   macrojack - i am curious and cautious because 1) this is ...   Shadorne

12-30-07   Shardone, if you would be willing to audition these speakers ...   Hdomke

12-30-07   Shadorne, regarding your 1st and 3rd points, -the beolab 5 ...   Oxia

12-30-07   oxia, thanks for the info, i would add mbl to that list. i ...   Shadorne

12-30-07   Hdomke, there is a store locally - i will see if if they ha ...   Shadorne

12-30-07   Shadrone, interesting speculation, but you need to listen to ...   Onhwy61

01-02-08   I listened to the beolab 5 today. it was in the local b&o st ...   Shadorne

01-03-08   Shadorne, excellent post! do you now understand why i refer ...   Onhwy61

01-03-08   Shardone, thanks much for your very thoughtful observations! ...   Hdomke

01-04-08   My wife and i headed into la for dinner last night and she w ...   Martykl

01-04-08   henry what i mean by flanging is exactly that. in the case ...   Shadorne

01-04-08   Marty and shardone, thanks for the ongoing discussion! it he ...   Hdomke

01-05-08   Design has much merit and is well thought out. my problem wi ...   Johnk

01-05-08   Hdomke, to get a sense of soundstage go to a nearby high en ...   Martykl

01-05-08   yes exactly. i wonder if that flaw is the price one pays ...   Shadorne

01-05-08   marty, i agree with you. it was immediately identifiable. i ...   Shadorne

01-05-08   Shadorne, i just have a question for you regarding your aud ...   Oxia

01-05-08   Hdomke, one of the issues that comes up in high end audio is ...   Onhwy61

01-05-08   i agree wiith this suggestion. i am partial to active speak ...   Shadorne

01-05-08   about 3 feet - so enough not to ruin the image. if you ...   Shadorne

01-05-08   Shadorne, right *after* i had submitted my question to you ...   Oxia

01-05-08   Shadorne about the b&w 800d speakers you wrote: “yes do buy ...   Hdomke

01-05-08   Marty, “this speaker would require an in-home demo and a lar ...   Hdomke

01-05-08   Johnk, " will advancements in dig amps and dsp make it ...   Hdomke

01-05-08   Onhwy61, “the beolab narrows your choices down to a single d ...   Hdomke

01-05-08   Oxia “to place an omni speaker three feet from a corner wher ...   Hdomke

01-05-08   Hdomke, you are correct about the 180-degree radiation patt ...   Oxia

01-06-08   Hdomke, to clarify my statement about beolab 5 imaging- i u ...   Martykl

01-06-08   not all conventional box speakers have narrow dispersion ( ...   Shadorne

01-06-08   "not all conventional box speakers have narrow dispersi ...   Oxia

01-06-08   Oxia, i agree. i do not like omnidirectional or dipoles or ...   Shadorne

01-29-08   I just noticed i was asked questions on your post. 1. i qu ...   Chrisla

02-02-08   Well, i have picked my speakers, and they are not the beolab ...   Hdomke

02-18-08   Shadhorn, you state: this is actually not the case with ge ...   Csommovigo


  Post your response
Subject


Your response

No html, but you may use markup tags


Username
Members only

Password