Yes ... they are really that good !!!

Before i bought my pair, i checked many reference system against it (Naim, Linn, Dynaudio, Thiel Audio)... and went for BL5.

Why?

1. Surprise: The price! When you try to reach a similar level, you spend almost double the cost of a BL5, because you need to buy quite expensive electronics (amps) + cables.

2. Peace of mind. You don't have to bother with pairing of speakers and amps ... finding the right cables ... choosing the right source (CD, Streamer etc.) ... the DAC and the DSP processing inside the BL5 do the job ... and i find it quite forgiving regarding low-res music, very much unlike many of the high-end systems ... with these you could throw away half of your music-collection, because it sounded just groce.

3. Exactly the opposite of this: "When pushed hard, B&O speakers become thin and edgy, which is basically down to insufficient amplification for the job" ... That is complete BS!!! In real live you tend to hear music very loud with the BL5, because they perform so effortless.

4. The design. It is a sculpture ... a piece of art ... a statement! And i love it.

For me the BL5 is one of the best products B&O ever made ... and best value for the money in their product range.

Regards

I agree when i heard them in a demo room they were fab 

Rookie wrote:

For me the BL5 is one of the best products B&O ever made ... and best value for the money in their product range.

Having owned the BL5s, 2 x BL9s and BL3s, I'd say that the BL3s are the best speakers B&O have made. The compact design belies the sound you get from them. Better still, they improve with age. I once read they take two years to mature and they were right, they do. I also have received more positive comments about the BL3s than any other B&O speaker. Most likely as people are surprised by the sound you get from such as a small size.

That doesn't mean the BL5s aren't good. They're great. However, you need to make sure you use them in the right sized room, right surroundings etc.

This post presents an interesting set of premises.  To review the background of the BL5 a little bit, I suggest the following paper, which I presented to the Acoustcal Society of America in 2003, at the time of the introduction of the BL5:

http://www.moultonlabs.com/more/new_loudspeaker_design/

It's worth considering.  

I'v always considered the BL5 the best value among B&O products simply because it accomplishes so much with its resources (which are also way beyond what most loudspeakers have available).  The growth in cost from 2003 to 2011 just about keeps pace with inflation.  

The BL3 is a remarkable product that accomplishes a great deal with a very small footprint.  However, it cannot approach the BL5 in performance (I use both, daily, in my studio).  

Anyway, keeping in mind that I am biased as one of the proud parents of the BL5, I think it really is remarkably good and that we raised the bar with it by quite a bit.  

Thanks for listening!

"When pushed hard, B&O speakers become thin and edgy, which is basically down to insufficient amplification for the job"

This is simply not the fact!

Its just the standard bla bla bla... I sometimes push my 5s almost to the maximum and I am always pleased how they handle this without any change in reproduction of the music.

If these beasts wouldn't have that 61KG weight per speaker I would always go for ANY challenge with any of the named speakers and I would bet the 5's would simply blow 'em out of the window..

Listen for yourself and judge for yourself!

Stephan

Dave Moulton wrote:

The BL3 is a remarkable product that accomplishes a great deal with a very small footprint.  However, it cannot approach the BL5 in performance (I use both, daily, in my studio).  

I definitely wasn't implying that the BL3s compete against the BL5s :)

Simply that, for their size and their cost, the BL3s represent superb value for money and they surprise more people than the BL9s and the BL5s. Yes the BL5s are superb and, of course, superior to the BL3s, but people see them and their size and aren't surprised that they sound so good. They don't expect the BL3's to be as good as they perform.

moxxey wrote:

I definitely wasn't implying that the BL3s compete against the BL5s :)

Simply that, for their size and their cost, the BL3s represent superb value for money and they surprise more people than the BL9s and the BL5s. Yes the BL5s are superb and, of course, superior to the BL3s, but people see them and their size and aren't surprised that they sound so good. They don't expect the BL3's to be as good as they perform.

I have Beolab 3's as well as Beolab 5's and I agree with you about the Beolab 3's. Some people who have heard my Beolab 3's thinks they are lacking in bass. But for the size, they are amazing.

About the Beolab 5's: Even some people I know who are not B&O minded have to admit they sound awesome.

Because of the size and design they have a big visual impact, especially if they are placed in a room that is not that big. Size of course is relative. I would say the speakers are small if you look at the sound they produce and the technology packed inside them. But compared to my furniture for instance, they are quite massive. For me that is a big downside to the Beolab 5's and I've been thinking about selling them quite often. 

The Beolab 5's are very good value for money. Like Rookie I think you need to spend more money if you decide to use other manufacturers and want similar results.

ALT gave me better results than my previous high end seperate systems.

Not heard BL5 but going on experience of BL9 they might just be the best availabe.

The BL5's are amazing for the money.

YES, they STILL are amazing for the money. (18.500 euro)