ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
olvisab:If I got the money I would probably by them with pleasure.
And therein lies the problem!
Most hifi bods willing to blow this much on a pair of speakers are historically against anything B&O and so to convince them to buy £20K+ speakers with pop-up acoustic lens etc. will be an uphill battle. It would be a crying shame, given their alleged performance, if the majority of owners ended up being clients of OK magazine.
Ban boring signatures!
it would be easier if every beolab 5 owners were ready to sell their speaker for buying the beolab 50.
the beolab 5 are so iconic and are still excellent speakers.
I am personnally glad to see there is now in the bang olufsen portfolio something I can desire and would improve significantly my set up (without having my wife on my back)
4 beolab 5, beolab 9, beolab 10, beolab 5000, beolab 8000 mk2, beolab 6002, beolab 3500, beovision 7 55 mk2, 2 beovision 11 46 mk4, beotime, beosound ouverture, beosound essence, beoplay A8, beomaster 900 RG de luxe and the collection continues...
Millemissen: So, when does your NDA end?
So, when does your NDA end?
This is a very decent point - if dealers are showing to customers (who are taking photos), the NDA must be up soon!
I sincerely hope that the dealers are studying these videos as much as we are.
Setting these up - especially concerning the Room Compensation function - will be crucial for demoing the BL50's in a shop environment.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
I tried to look at the videos too, they no longer available.
The person responsible has now been beaten to death with a rolled herring.... still in the jar.
Great video though. I reckon Geoff should at least get a 'BeoGrammy'.
Lee
9 LEE: The person responsible has now been beaten to death with a rolled herring.... still in the jar. Great video though. I reckon Geoff should at least get a 'BeoGrammy'. Lee
Now, make them chop down the largest tree in the forest....with a herring! Ni!
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
Thats true.
B&O should be active in the "High End HiFi Review Compartment", giving recognized HiFi media the possibility to do in depth tests. The B&O sales places are too few and far between. Positive reviews by trusted journalists generate sales.
I bought my Beolab 5s because of recommandations of people I trusted. Trawling the net brought next to nothing - with a few noticable exeptions (like Peter Aczel) . I still have the feeling that B&O let the BL5 down, neglecting the (relativly) huge HiFi marked. That Geoff Martin havnt got a piece on his blog dedicated to the BL5 says it all.
Chris Townsend:http://forum.recordere.dk/topic4389&OB=DESC.html
Don't know what to make of them at all. Completely indifferent. Part of me thinks they look like a design circa 1984, the other part quite likes them. Not really sure I'd need BL50s in my living room though. Slight overkill!
Is that a BV12-65 they are using in the video - strange choice to use a discontinued TV. The speakers make the 65" TV look small.
moxxey:Is that a BV12-65 they are using in the video - strange choice to use a discontinued TV. The speakers make the 65" TV look small.
I thought the same thing... those speakers are ginormous! They do have a dimunituve presence than the BL90s, of course, but still, even if they're 1/2 the size of the BL90s, they're huge. I'd love to see a photo, or scale drawings of the higher end BL offerings: BL20, BL5, BL50, BL90 in one shot.
Here's an image I found on the internet of a 12-65 with a pair of BL5's for a size comparison.
Sal: Here's an image I found on the internet of a 12-65 with a pair of BL5's for a size comparison .
moxxey: Is that a BV12-65 they are using in the video - strange choice to use a discontinued TV.
.
Present: BL90, Core, BL6000, CD7000, Beogram 7000, Essence Remote.
Past: BL1, BL2, BL8000, BS9000, BL5, BC2, BS5, BV5, BV4-50, Beosystem 3, BL3, DVD1, Beoremote 4, Moment.
In real life the BL50 are big, but they blend very much into the surroundings - unlike the BL5, that always have stood out....kind of wanting to be noticed.
You could say, that they are a bit dull - however the moving lenses gives them the magic touch, that many B&O product have.
I am pretty sure that a lot of people will like this 'understatement' - others will prefer the way that the BL5 draws attention to itself.
As for the sound - they are pretty amazing, period!
As any good loudspeaker, they reveal the quality of the recording, you listen to. A well recorded drum track (real drums, nothing synthisized) simply made me feel like the drummer was playing in front of me. Something that I haven't experienced in the same way from the BL5's.
Yes - as I wrote in a previous thread - some dealers have these already displayed in the store/ready for listening ;-) --- well aware, that they aren't officially launched yet ;-(
seethroughyou: moxxey: Is that a BV12-65 they are using in the video - strange choice to use a discontinued TV. Just goes to show that even B&O don't think it worth the expense of upgrading their TVs as often as some us do...
Is that a BV12-65 they are using in the video - strange choice to use a discontinued TV.
Just goes to show that even B&O don't think it worth the expense of upgrading their TVs as often as some us do...
No, it is because of the fact, that the same Audio Engine is working in every BV based on the BSys4 platform.
There is no need for any upgrade of the picture/display side, when connecting the new speakers.
Millemissen:In real life the BL50 are big...As for the sound - they are pretty amazing, period! As any good loudspeaker, they reveal the quality of the recording, you listen to. A well recorded drum track (real drums, nothing synthisized) simply made me feel like the drummer was playing in front of me. Something that I haven't experienced in the same way from the BL5's....
CB: Shall we understand that you already saw/heard them "in flesh" MM ?
Shall we understand that you already saw/heard them "in flesh" MM ?
Yes, indeed!
moxxey:Don't know what to make of them at all. Completely indifferent. Part of me thinks they look like a design circa 1984, the other part quite likes them. Not really sure I'd need BL50s in my living room though. Slight overkill! Is that a BV12-65 they are using in the video - strange choice to use a discontinued TV. The speakers make the 65" TV look small.
I think their wow factor must be sheer performance, I can't believe anyone is going to rave about the design, yes the lens moves but really, after all this time, after they have moved in cars for several years (and I know it widens and narrows, but other than showing off to visitors how really useful is this in a day to day existence)? Other than that the styling is pretty awful.
Barry Santini:Do not agree at all with the negatives on the design. They are beautiful!
They are beautiful!
Would they be as beautiful if they were $200?
Puncher: I think their wow factor must be sheer performance, I can't believe anyone is going to rave about the design, yes the lens moves but really, after all this time, after they have moved in cars for several years (and I know it widens and narrows, but other than showing off to visitors how really useful is this in a day to day existence)? Other than that the styling is pretty awful.
I tend to agree with you, and since there are no dealers within maybe a thousand miles of me I'm not likely to see them in person to see if I have a different opinion. One thing that has characterized the new B&O speaker designs to me is either somewhat or definitely improved or at least different audio performance coupled with significantly lower aesthetics. I can't think of a single speaker now that I like the looks of as well or better than its predecessor, sadly.
Jeff: I can't think of a single speaker now that I like the looks of as well or better than its predecessor, sadly.
I can't think of a single speaker now that I like the looks of as well or better than its predecessor, sadly.
Same.
I was going to refrain from getting into this until their official unveiling however, seeing as it is a done deal with official video and so on - well it is real.
Pretty much as I would have thought of the 'new' b&o, uninspired design coupled with being very costly. Seems they've let too much of the audio engineering and not much though into the design and overall product portfolio. Does b&o have a real music system? Nope just the Moment.
As an aside, its biggest selling point I guess over the BL5 is the improved ARC. However still I don't understand why for me as attempting to correct for standing waves and reflections using notice filters and negative phase is a futile effort. Move out of 'position' and all that effort didn't actually solve the original issue. Acoustics are best solved directly with acoustic treatment. Wall reflections at higher freq are not possible to 'solve' using any method at the source. Better to spend 1k$ on acoustic panels than 25k$ on speakers.
Anyway I always liked b&o because they didn't offer the usual big boxes, now it seems they are! It is quite the achievement to create a speaker that has striking design along with decent performance. Granted something like BL8000 are real compromise in terms of performance though, that didn't stop them from popularity due probably to the design. BL5 was a true masterpiece in that they managed to cram four drivers (and a 15" woofer at that) all in a minimum of enclosure - that didn't look like everyone else.
Zero interest sorry.
davidr wrote:
Exactly. BL50 is no doubt a far more advanced active speaker than the BL5, but if you cant get HighEnd quality sound from the the BL5s you should have a look at 1) source 2) your listening room 3) your ears.
As for the looks to each his own. Id take BL5 anytime.
I think I have a problem with the mix of black fabric with the wood. I would have preferred to have the wooden lamellas to each sides.
davidr: Anyway I always liked b&o because they didn't offer the usual big boxes, now it seems they are! It is quite the achievement to create a speaker that has striking design along with decent performance. Granted something like BL8000 are real compromise in terms of performance though, that didn't stop them from popularity due probably to the design. BL5 was a true masterpiece in that they managed to cram four drivers (and a 15" woofer at that) all in a minimum of enclosure - that didn't look like everyone else. Zero interest sorry.
I think that eventual "striking design" opportunities was hampered by the fact that the way they wanted this speaker to work (like the BL90). The number of speakers and the way they had to angle in relation to each other was fixed I guess.
However, I have seen them in the flesh and they look very luxurious with the aluminium trims. The wood lamellas add a nice touch in my mind, and "soften" the appearance. But they are really big boys compared to BL5s.
Livingroom: BL3, BL11, BV11-46 Kitchen: Beosound 1 GVA, Beocom 2 Bathroom: M3 Homeoffice: M3, Beocom 2 Library: Beosound Emerge, Beocom 6000 Bedroom: M5, Essence remote Travel: Beoplay E8 2.0, Beoplay EQ, Beoplay Earset
I think they are quite nice, definitely different to anything else out there plus I'm sure they sound impressive which is quite important!! I think they will do very well. Thumbs up from me!
davidr: As an aside, its biggest selling point I guess over the BL5 is the improved ARC. However still I don't understand why for me as attempting to correct for standing waves and reflections using notice filters and negative phase is a futile effort. Move out of 'position' and all that effort didn't actually solve the original issue. Acoustics are best solved directly with acoustic treatment. Wall reflections at higher freq are not possible to 'solve' using any method at the source. Better to spend 1k$ on acoustic panels than 25k$ on speakers.
^^ This ^^
Chris Townsend: The sweetest thing would be for the audiophile to swallow their prejudices, and admit they are brilliant, which I'm sure they are
The sweetest thing would be for the audiophile to swallow their prejudices, and admit they are brilliant, which I'm sure they are
Not that they are all 'audiophiles' there, but the 'news' has already made its way to the Steve Hoffmann forum
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/bang-olufsen-beolab-50.687893/
Of course the video is now locked there too.
Apart from the fact that the poster confuses 'Beam With Control' with 'Beam Direction Control' I see this as a sign that not only 'insiders' are aware of the skills of B&O.
benoit: I think I have a problem with the mix of black fabric with the wood. I would have preferred to have the wooden lamellas to each sides.
What if you could get the fabric in another/or more colour/s - for all three sides.
Or different woods - maybe on all three sides.
The bold ones amongst the owners might even combine different woods and or different fabrics on that speaker (not that I would!)
But how about having fabric at the rear sides and wood on the front ;-)
We'll see what (maybe) comes!
You certainly don't need one!!
As in a Lab 2....🙂
You certainly won't need a Lab 2, unless it's to hold the door open or something...
Remember I said, right from the start, this isn't a speaker you'd expect - but in the flesh it's elegant, beautifully put together, and sounds incredible.
I think B&O are realising that females have a bigger input into speaker purchases than previously thought, too. I've lost count of the amount of sales I've made of BL5's - only to have the purchase scuppered by "I'm not having THOSE in my lounge!!"
Make something which isn't too in-your-face, something that will look stylish yet clearly "B&O" in any surrounding and you're onto a winner!
You must listen to them, though.. even if you don't like how they look.
9 LEE: You certainly won't need a Lab 2, unless it's to hold the door open or something... Remember I said, right from the start, this isn't a speaker you'd expect - but in the flesh it's elegant, beautifully put together, and sounds incredible. I think B&O are realising that females have a bigger input into speaker purchases than previously thought, too. I've lost count of the amount of sales I've made of BL5's - only to have the purchase scuppered by "I'm not having THOSE in my lounge!!" Make something which isn't too in-your-face, something that will look stylish yet clearly "B&O" in any surrounding and you're onto a winner! You must listen to them, though.. even if you don't like how they look. Lee
If you don't like the way they look why did you marry her?
I think the form is rather nice.
I would also hazard a guess from the videos that there appear to be approx. 4800w per unit of ICE by my estimate on the BL90 configuration.
Guess would be;
3 x 212mm Scan-Speak Woofer/SubWoof (1 fwd, 2 to side/rear),
5 x 86mm Mid-Range (3 Fwd, 2 to side/rear) and a
1 x 30mm Tweet (ALT).
Powerful stuff and probably exceptionally well-tuned.
The ARC is very subtle on the 90’s and the best way I can describe it is that rapid switching from Omni (no Omni I think in the BL50), to wide to narrow is a progressive increase in “clarity” of the musical tones as well as the spacial definition. I am sure that the BL50 does this similarly and despite what people may say, adding sound deadening panels to the room is not what B&O is about. If you want to do that, buy a £250 monkey-coffin and pretend it’s the same.
We will soon find out but ahead of the release I would say that B&O have:-
Released a more WAF-centric speaker over the 90’s.
Significant well-tuned power amplification and DSP (2500w/ch on BL5 with my estimate of 4800w/ch on the 50’s)
An innovative solution to improve speaker to listener sound quality with a finely crafted cabinet in well presented listening situation without the need to go all “audiofile” on the panels, cables and amps.
Bit of a concern on the serviceability of the fret, side panels and particularly rear panels. The fasteners on the BL90 floor panels is not the best, but the wooden triangles look infinitely stiffer than that of the BL50.
I’ve always had a concern about the volume of sales of a £15k BL5. Not sure what a £25k BL50 will do to the bottom line. Told there is virtually no margin on a BL90 so they aint going to replace BeoPlay as a source of most revenue.
Good luck I say – and that’s without really seeing the released product.
I agree with 9Lee
If the speakers are in common areas and if a woman says that she does not like them, there is 99% chance for deal to go wrong.
It's the same with cars!
Forgive my questions .. Why do you need 4500W power .. why .. hallo? If I compare BL3 and BL4000 the difference in watts is x times. and sound at BL3 isn't any better. If I compare BL 8000 and BL 8002 the difference is minimal. Personally, I find it unbearable to use so many amplifiers, and complicated electronics. Maybe they want to stand out and justify a high price.
Not to be mistaken .. I'm BEOfil!
Mr 10Percent: and despite what people may say, adding sound deadening panels to the room is not what B&O is about. If you want to do that, buy a £250 monkey-coffin and pretend it’s the same.
I never said that.