I believe the BL 5 are very up-to-date in their design! I first saw them in 2003, and have wanted one ever since (mostly for their design, at least then). The BL 9 will I think age much faster, as their design is more "specific" and not as futuristic as the Saturn inspired speakers.

Design update for the Beolab 5?? NO!

Besides the fact that its not B&O to restyle a product designwise, the Beolab 5 doesn't need any updates.

Even almost 7 years after the first time I saw them the design still puts a smile on my face

Show me anything that looks like it, show me anything that sounds like it, show me anything that has the features...

Stephan

Given that ordinary speakers have looked pretty much the same for 90 years, I do think that the BL5s are still fresh and new. In fact, whenever I look at mine, I'm struck by them. As I was when I saw four in The Dark Knight - no prizes for guessing what the set designer thought of the BL5s.

The only update I might want is for the speakers to accept higher than 24/96 digital input, now that these resolutions are available for download. (Whether I can hear the difference is another matter entirely, and I'm quite happy with 24/96.)

I had a friend over yesterday, who had to listen to the new, remastered Abbey Road by The Beatles from start to finish, in one sitting. He couldn't believe his ears - and had totally reevaluated The Beatles by the end of the record. BL5 power.

No doubt they're still some of the best sounding speakers around, even today.
Their design is ... different... utterly functional rather designed for good looks.

One thing that bothers me is the that they're basically big black cones...I missing some of the meticulous alu finish for which B&O is so know for (think BL8000) I saw some pictures a couple of years ago of personalized grilles which I thought were amazing, making then functional and art at the same time. But that could just be me. I love B&O for making different colors in their items available.... why just settle for sony-black all the time ?

Do they need a tech update? ...Maybe....  just like soundproof writes, they are hard to fault even right now.  
One thing I would love to see on them is a display (think penta display) and more direct digital inputs. Also tweak them to play the full sound spectrum at lower volumes and not only at volume 50+.  

But that's just my 2ct....

BTW ....  Not a big Beatles fan myself (my wife is !!) but the remastered versions are very enjoyable!

You can get them in white as well. Look a whole lot lighter that way, I know I wouldn't like to have them in black (well I guess if somebody carried a pair up to my flat, I wouldn't turn them back though 😂 )

Of course anyone is free to recloth them as they wish - I'm surprised nobody has done it already...

tournedos wrote:

Of course anyone is free to recloth them as they wish - I'm surprised nobody has done it already...

Lenny Kravitz did.

Design up to date... aesthetically speaking? Compared to what? 😕

avus17 wrote:

Do you think design of BeoLab 5 is still up to date or do they already need a design refreshment?

Ask this question again in 30 years. 😂

If it wasn't "contemporary" when it was released, how can it age!