koning wrote:

How does it work?

i live in an apartmemt building in central copenhagen. i think alot of people would be surprised if i took my speakers to the street. i do have a balcony, though. i might give it a try from there.

regarding the dirac software it looks interesting. one problem is that it will only correct the digital signal from my mac. not the analog coming from beosystem 3. I will request a trial in a few weeks and see how it works for me.

Hey there! 

I know I am kinda hijacking the thread a little but Dave do you know when you will be coming out with an upgraded version of the Lab5s? Or even a grander version? I really like what they can do but as I am an audiophile I have anxieties about their dated digital components. I think B&O should introduce upgrade schemes like what Linn did with their power supplies to great success. I believe extra cash flow and added longevity to the speaker line is always welcomed. 

Alex

wonderfulelectric wrote:

Hey there!

I know I am kinda hijacking the thread a little but Dave do you know when you will be coming out with an upgraded version of the Lab5s? Or even a grander version? I really like what they can do but as I am an audiophile I have anxieties about their dated digital components. I think B&O should introduce upgrade schemes like what Linn did with their power supplies to great success. I believe extra cash flow and added longevity to the speaker line is always welcomed.

Alex

Yes like what you said a more modern connectivity like 24bit/196khz input will be nice. Reason why I didn't go for the meridians is because of the limited processing/input bandwidth too. Well improved power supplies can do many things to the sound in fact one of the main determinance of good amplifiers lies in the power supply. I have a high end rig at home that sounded dramatically improved after simple fuse upgrades. The sound is much more engaging and intimate. It is definitely not snake oil btw. I mean the technology employed in the beolab 5s can really be taken to another level by introducing even more refined dsp in the bass and of course better drivers. Dacs today are with a doubt much better sounding than the ones from yesteryear too. The beolab 5 has been around for almost ten years after all. I think B&O can totally upgrade the current ones and give existing owners the option of upgrading too. It really isn't that hard to do. 

Wow just noticed that you are using Dirac software. How do you like it? Is it hard to set up? I don't like the fact that it is too limited to 24bit/96khz.

wonderfulelectric wrote:

Yes like what you said a more modern connectivity like 24bit/196khz input will be nice. Reason why I didn't go for the meridians is because of the limited processing/input bandwidth too. Well improved power supplies can do many things to the sound in fact one of the main determinance of good amplifiers lies in the power supply. I have a high end rig at home that sounded dramatically improved after simple fuse upgrades. The sound is much more engaging and intimate. It is definitely not snake oil btw. I mean the technology employed in the beolab 5s can really be taken to another level by introducing even more refined dsp in the bass and of course better drivers. Dacs today are with a doubt much better sounding than the ones from yesteryear too. The beolab 5 has been around for almost ten years after all. I think B&O can totally upgrade the current ones and give existing owners the option of upgrading too. It really isn't that hard to do.

wonderfulelectric wrote:

Wow just noticed that you are using Dirac software. How do you like it? Is it hard to set up? I don't like the fact that it is too limited to 24bit/96khz.

Maab wrote:

Hi-res music is not widely available. Many serious people in the know,think that the way human hearing works there should be no audible difference between 44.1 and 192 formats. I lost interest in hi res because many of the titles I have do sound even worse than cd.

We have no involvement with B&O at this time, and are "not in the loop" regarding their development plans.  We have no plans  .  .  .  

The BeoLab 5 will be ten years old next spring.  I'm very pleased that it has been both so successful and so robust and stable in its performance capability.  I'm also very interested that no one else has tried to compete with it (power, dispersion, calibration, production tolerances, overall performance).  All things considered, it remains a "world-class" museum-quality product that simply outperforms everything else in small and medium-sized rooms for anything near the price.  I feel like we got it really close to right.  

IF (and I'm not!) I were to think of upgrading the 5, I would revisit the drivers (simply to see what is now available that might be an improvement).  I would do a similar review of the convertors and DSP, not because I think anything is wrong (there isn't), but it is always wise to test our assumptions.  

Because everybody seems so hot to tweak the response during calibration, I'd consider offering a couple of generic pre-set rooms (small-dry, medium-wet, IEC, etc.), as well as some very gentle tweaking slopes (3-position?) for both high and low end so you could have more fun playing with the speakers.  

The BeoLab 5 does not need additional power.  The frequency response remains superb.  The S/PDIF and unbalanced analog inputs seem fine to me – I can't judge how connectivity is working with Master Link and current B&O products, but that's an area to be considered.  I'd love for all purchasers to be given a Sound Level Meter with purchase, just you could begin to get a little more precise control.  

That about covers it for now.  Thanks for listening.  

Best regards,

Dave Moulton, Sausalito Audio