I popped into the store again today to pick up some parts that I had ordered at the weekend and the Beolab 90's have had a software update over the past couple of days.

Along with a few  other changes, wide beam mode is now available and it was interesting to compare this with the sound in the narrow beam mode. In wide mode there is a definite reduction in the depth of the stereo image - making it more difficult to pinpoint the positions of each instrument / performer whilst sitting in the sweet spot, but unlike in narrow mode, there is virtually no change to the audio when you move away from the sweet spot and start wandering around the room (much like we are used to with the lab 5's and other speakers with acoustic lenses).

There is no doubt that narrow beam mode gives superior results, and wide mode is a little more of a compromise, but not by as much as I might have expected.

As Geoff would say, this is the cost of having friends 🙂

The only problem I can foresee is that it might make you keen to encourage your friends to go home so you can switch back to narrow mode, but  they might be more reluctant to leave given the Lab 90's really are exceptional even in wide beam mode...

Martin.

I had a chance today in London to listen to a pair of 90s for few mins (in narrow mode).

As someone else said before: stage presence these speakers are able to create is unlike anything else I have ever heard. Just incredible.

They are clearly completely out of my range but the whole product team and Geoff Martin can be very proud next few days in LV presenting it to wider audience and members of the press.

I spent an hour listening to the Beolab 90 at a dealer showroom here in Stockholm, the other day.

They where not calibrated to the room yet, and did not have the "Enhanced Power Mood" that is an upgrade that will come later.

The source was a high end DAC feed from an OPPO Bluray, having a TIDAL client. The DAC had an analogue connection to the BL90.

I´m not really experienced in listening to real high end speakers, so I have no real reference, so I can only convey what I experienced (with my limited english).

I can just add to what everyone else have said: The BL90s are some awesome speakers. I was listening on various types of music, including classical cello pieces, jazz with a lot of voice and acoustic guitars. Everything was delivered with so much details, it was incredible. The bass was tight and dry. The speakers had a great "attack"and the dynamics was fantastic. After a short while I had forgotten about the speakers and was listening to the music. 

E.g. this track was fantastic to listen to:  TIDAL - Brian Bromberg: My Bass

riverstyx wrote:

As Geoff would say, this is the cost of having friends 🙂

The only problem I can foresee is that it might make you keen to encourage your friends to go home so you can switch back to narrow mode, but  they might be more reluctant to leave given the Lab 90's really are exceptional even in wide beam mode...

 

Friends are highly overrated.

Cheers

-g

Geoff Martin wrote:

riverstyx wrote:

As Geoff would say, this is the cost of having friends 🙂

The only problem I can foresee is that it might make you keen to encourage your friends to go home so you can switch back to narrow mode, but  they might be more reluctant to leave given the Lab 90's really are exceptional even in wide beam mode...

 

Friends are highly overrated.

Cheers

-g

Should not be a problem - just let them/him/her sit on your lap 🙂

MM

I can't wait to hear a pair in person here on the west coast of the US, but here's a

Just resurrected this thread to say WOW! Went into another dealer today to look at the Avant model, they didn't have it, but they did have BL90s which I have never heard. OMG! Well done B&O. I would not pay £60k for a pair of speakers, but if I did, these would be them. The soundstage was so impressive and when people say that it sounds as if the band/singer is in front of you they are not kidding. I have never in my life experienced sound like this and every single detail of every single instrument in the composition could be heard with the clearest of clarity. Surely this sound cannot be improved? If it can, how? I really hope these speakers are a success for B&O and that the audiophile community give them the accolade and praise they deserve. I honestly cannot imagine how one could improve this kind of sound. Just wow! :)