Maybe because the amplifiers used for the mids and highs for the Lab5s are not as good as the 9s. It is a fact that first generation Ice modules are notorious for their grating highs ( extreme high distortion in the mids and more so for the highs) . That is why linear power supplies are employed in the Lab5s in the first place and that the power amplifiers for the mids and highs of the Lab9s are class AB I think. 

Don't rush into making a purchase decision I sense an overhaul coming soon ( RJ45 sockets are now the new standard now) . The third generation Ice amps are quite a leap from the first and I think they will soon make into the higher end models. 

I know of many who are not impressed with the Lab5s. I nearly bought them too but..... 

Are you getting them pre-owned though? Maybe it's a bargain then... Well it's all up to you.

wonderfulelectric wrote:

Maybe because the amplifiers used for the mids and highs for the Lab5s are not as good as the 9s. It is a fact that first generation Ice modules are notorious for their grating highs ( extreme high distortion in the mids and more so for the highs) . That is why linear power supplies are employed in the Lab5s in the first place I think.

What are your sources when you’re speaking from "a fact"?

Don't rush into making a purchase decision I sense an overhaul coming soon ( RJ45 sockets are now the new standard now) .

Standard for what? If you need Powerlink, then buy a RJ45 adaptor. Otherwise SP/DIF for audio is doing perfectly well.

The third generation Ice amps are quite a leap from the first and I think they will soon make into the higher end models.

Have you ever compared them side by side?

I know of many who are not impressed with the Lab5s. I nearly bought them too but.....

But you prefer to use RJ45, I know.

maclife wrote:

wonderfulelectric wrote:

Maybe because the amplifiers used for the mids and highs for the Lab5s are not as good as the 9s. It is a fact that first generation Ice modules are notorious for their grating highs ( extreme high distortion in the mids and more so for the highs) . That is why linear power supplies are employed in the Lab5s in the first place I think.

What are your sources when you’re speaking from "a fact"?

Just go to the Icepower website and it is all self explanatory. I am sure you are smart enough to understand distortion graphs. And I have listened to those high end Icepower amps powered by linear power supplies with so called "extensive" modifications and they sounded dismal. No idea what was the hype about. LIke OMG the audiophile communities were so all over it back in 2005. And why do you think that is that the Lab9s have conventional class AB amps for their mids and highs instead? And why do focal and adam monitors stopped using Iceamps for those frequency regions too?

Razlaw wrote:

The 5s have been here a few days and again, I am not impressed. I do not notice that much difference between them and the 9s. There is a difference, and the bass is tighter, if that is the right word, but different does not equal better. Whether it is my room, my ears, or my taste, I don't know.

It is like it is, so do not worry. There’s absolutely no need to buy a speaker you do not feel useful for your needs. And a BeoLab 5 costs more than twice the price of a BeoLab 9, so it absolutely should be a well considered investment.

In my experience, a BeoLab 5 should have place and a non vibrating stable floor to unfold its sound. Because it is adapting the lower frequencies to the size of the room the BeoLab 5 works in every kind of environment but in the end it just might sound like a smaller and less expensive speaker. If you do not like this approach, then you can of course first adapt it to a larger room and move it afterwards to a smaller place, but that would be not the idea behind it and just destroys the concept of an undistorted sound experience.

wonderfulelectric wrote:

Just go to the Icepower website and it is all self explanatory. I am sure you are smart enough to understand distortion graphs. And I have listened to those high end Icepower amps powered by linear power supplies with so called "extensive" modifications and they sounded dismal. No idea what was the hype about. LIke OMG the audiophile communities were so all over it back in 2005.

You’re very fast impressed by any kind of marketing vocabulary. But it is as simple as that: As B&O are the company behind ICEpower they most certainly have the best position to evaluate the use of their proper equipment. And as long as your listening experience is no more than "I have listened to those high end Icepower amps powered by linear power supplies" without any more details then there is just no value behind your remarks.

And why do you think that is that the Lab9s have conventional class AB amps for their mids and highs instead?

Because they are cheaper.

And why do focal and adam monitors stopped using Iceamps for those frequency regions too?

Most probably for being not compared to the BeoLab 5.

maclife wrote:

 

 

In my experience, a BeoLab 5 should have place and a non vibrating stable floor to unfold its sound. Because it is adapting the lower frequencies to the size of the room the BeoLab 5 works in every kind of environment but in the end it just might sound like a smaller and less expensive speaker. If you do not like this approach, then you can of course first adapt it to a larger room and move it afterwards to a smaller place, but that would be not the idea behind it and just destroys the concept of an undistorted sound experience.

 

I think you are right. It is my room. Something about the size, shape, wood floor with carpet on it, and perhaps that the speakers are too close to the wall. I have read that they may do better away from a wall?  

Razlaw wrote:

wood floor with carpet on it,

I remember this point in your previous demo. A suggestion ; get 2 concrete pavers (no idea what that translates to in American ) they are used for patios and streets and measure (in ye old imperial ) 24 inches x 24inches and 2 inches thick and try them under the speakers- nothing ventured....

maclife wrote:

wonderfulelectric wrote:

Just go to the Icepower website and it is all self explanatory. I am sure you are smart enough to understand distortion graphs. And I have listened to those high end Icepower amps powered by linear power supplies with so called "extensive" modifications and they sounded dismal. No idea what was the hype about. LIke OMG the audiophile communities were so all over it back in 2005.

You’re very fast impressed by any kind of marketing vocabulary. But it is as simple as that: As B&O are the company behind ICEpower they most certainly have the best position to evaluate the use of their proper equipment. And as long as your listening experience is no more than "I have listened to those high end Icepower amps powered by linear power supplies" without any more details then there is just no value behind your remarks.

And why do you think that is that the Lab9s have conventional class AB amps for their mids and highs instead?

Because they are cheaper.

And why do focal and adam monitors stopped using Iceamps for those frequency regions too?

Most probably for being not compared to the BeoLab 5.

Conventional Class AB amps are cheaper? Are you high? You know how much is a 1000W icepower third generation monoblock selling aftermarket nowadays? Below or around a thousand! And how much does a class AB amp sell for that kind of power? At least 5 times that and and I mean the cheapest ones.  Haven't you been following beophile or beoworld at all? Icepower is meant as a power and cost saving. 

And 250W two channel third gen Ice amplifiers are selling for only $700. Hello... 

Do you just dish out responses without research? 

Razlaw wrote:

I think you are right. It is my room. Something about the size, shape, wood floor with carpet on it, and perhaps that the speakers are too close to the wall. I have read that they may do better away from a wall?

Mr Moulton might give you the best details there. But yes, it sounds reasonable that the BeoLab 5 should not be placed too close to any wall as the lower bass driver is directed to the floor. And of course the floor itself should vibrate as little as possible because otherwise it just would serve as a giant bass driver with horrible distortions. And there you already have the biggest problem. If you’re not placing the BeoLab 5 on a ground floor without any cave below or above a structural reinforcement then you automatically have a distortion problem leading to a reduced bass reproduction. Unfortunately, stable speaker places a meter away from walls in a relatively large room rarely exist in a real world environment, so many BeoLab 5 are not fully unfolding their capacities, very often leading to the misunderstanding that they do not sound like they should for such a high priced speaker. The BeoLab 5 are very often compared to speakers without any adaptation to the room they’re standing in and even more rarely to speakers from other brands as B&O dealers often sell nothing else. Half of the discussions at this place are based on this unfortunate situation. How many people not using a BeoLab 5 are actually adapting their speakers to their listening environment and can there ever be a non frustrating experience considering the traditional acoustically non adapted listening approach?