Thank you for being so generous with your time and knowledge, Geoff. It’s such a cool thing to have you on the forum!

Thank you for answering my question.

Curly wrote:

Thank you for being so generous with your time and knowledge, Geoff. It’s such a cool thing to have you on the forum!

Thank you for answering my question.

Currently: BeoLab 17, BeoLab 18, BeoSound Core, Beosound Level, Beosound A1 2nd Gen, BeoPlay S8 Connection Hub, Essence Remote

Previously: BeoSound 1 non-GVA

I listened to both once at a visit of my dealer.

To me the Beolab 20 is much better.

I think it has to do with the fact that it is an closed 3 way system so that the bass is much more controlled.

The mid range is more detailed.

More depth in the complex 

For tv sound the Beolab 28 is fine but for music the Beolab 20 beats the 28 by far.

Off course this is just a matter of opinoin

My beosound 2 has a 6in woofer just like the 28.  So i suppose at low volumes they will sound similar- that ok  I like the sound very much.

My conclusion on having lab 20 and having 28 on trial is that the 20s were are far better speaker, more detailed, more cabinet volume, bigger drivers- to me it was no contest.

Just to clarify one small point--the BeoSound 2 has the "old gen" 5.25" driver while the BL28 has the "new gen", ultra-long-throw 6.5" driver. Just like the BL18 has the "old gen" 4" drivers while the Stage has the "new gen", ULT 4" drivers.

I haven't heard either Stage of BL28 but there is probably a significant difference in comparing those drivers to the previous gen--from what everyone says about the sound performance of the new products.

Sorry - but I have to break in again with a couple of points...

Beolab "X" and Beolab "Y" are different loudspeakers that sound different at different listening levels for many reasons.

If you like one more than the other (or the other more than the one), it can be for many individual aspects, or some interaction between those things. Jumping to conclusions about specifics of hardware (e.g. woofer diameters, or 2-way vs 3-way, or wires made of unobtanium, or power amplifier specs, or anything else) makes for an busy discussion, but is probably incorrect, since it leaves out more important things like room placement, setup, the particular song that you listened to, and what kind of mood you were in when you did the comparison - and the interaction of all of those things and more.

It would be like comparing two bottles of wine, and jumping to the conclusion that you prefer one more than the other because it's shiraz instead of merlot, or Italian instead of French, or served at 17º instead of 18º, or in a specific shape of glass instead of another specific shape of glass - and not realising that it's because of all of those things, and/or possibly something else instead / as well.

A second important note:
There was a really good listening test done (and independently repeated by other researchers) where the subjects (professionals and neophytes) were asked to rate various aspects of two different competing sound systems, including their preference (I know this, because I was one of the subjects). After analysis, it was proven that the answers had an over 99% correlation with the brand name on the systems - and that this swamped all other differences. (Both systems were identical in all controllable aspects other than the brand name - and the brands were randomised from subject to subject.)

In other words, if you know what you're listening to, you can't even trust your own opinion. This is why we hide things behind curtains when we're evaluating them - if one of my colleagues wants to have my opinion about a loudspeaker or any audio device, the main rule is that I CANNOT know anything about that device, because my eyes tell my ears what they hear.

Finally:
Don't confuse "I like this more than I like that" with "this is better than that". For example, it would be silly to say "my cup of coffee is much better than my wife's cup of coffee; she doesn't put nearly enough sugar in it." Just because I think my coffee's better doesn't mean that it is better for anyone other than me.

This is why I don't trust online reviews of anything - especially from random "customers" (translation: bots).

Cheers
-geoff

I am luthier making mainly lutes but also guitars and violins, and what Geoff has written is pretty much the same for musical instruments and players responses. I have had customers who are convinced the instrument is better after playing it for just ten minutes, no doubt their ability to play it has improved in ten minutes, but who knows whether the instrument has improved in that time (I don't think so), it may be I put just the right number of sugars in their coffee ! However, the experience the player is having is the most important thing actually, so I try to respond to that the best I can. A violin maker - Joseph Curtin has done extensive blind fold tests with top players and audiences in concert halls comparing Stradivari violins with modern violins next to each other and often the new instrument is preferred though it is sometimes the Strad.

Even though I am aware of all this I am still very capable of being fooled. I love my Beolab 9's but I keep thinking about the 28's, I will go listen to them sometime and go with how I experience them personally !

Thanks for that excellent explanation, Geoff. I think that's one of the reasons I like B&O equipment - all the products work well, and have a distinctive look while doing it, within their design limits. It seems to be part of the design DNA for some time because I feel confident in my purchases as long as my expectations are reasonable for my use case. I have not been disappointed, and I try to ensure I don't try to overdrive anything beyond it's limits. I am just as satisfied with my C75 speakers in my bathroom as my Beloab Pentas, and my P2. They all sound great in their expected usage environment.   

So the choice of Beolab 20 or Beolab 28 can be based on the intended use and the design, trust in the design, and listen in the showroom to verify, then make the purchase that suits your desires. Thanks for your part in all that.