I'm still working on finding optimal positioning for my 140's which has raised a question. The speakers in my pair are not mirror images of each other which means that positioning can never be symmetrical. As in if placed vertically with both tweeters inside, one pair woofers will be at the top and the other woofers at the bottom, for instance.

So, are y'all's 140's the same or mirror imaged? I'm wondering if I've got an unmatched pair, or if what I have (both the same) is how they came from the factory.

At least my smaller RLs (60.2 and 6000) are identical with each other, i.e non mirrored both technically and cosmetically (straps + the logo). Same with the Pentas, midranges on the left and the tweeters on the right.

I would expect the 140s be this way as well - if yours have the type sticker left, they should both have the same serial number.

tournedos wrote:

At least my smaller RLs (60.2 and 6000) are identical with each other, i.e non mirrored both technically and cosmetically (straps + the logo). Same with the Pentas, midranges on the left and the tweeters on the right.

I would expect the 140s be this way as well - if yours have the type sticker left, they should both have the same serial number.

One reply to this question from a forum shows that guy's pair of RL-140's to be non-mirrored as well. Seems to be de-rigeur for B&O during this time, at least.

S/N's for my 140's are different by over a hundred.

Now then, not a week after I got the Peerless tweeters fitted, an OEM RL-140 tweeter came up on e-bay. My bid was successful, took just over a week for it get to me. As I mentioned earlier the speakers sounded quite good w/the Peerless tweets, so I was in no particular hurry to get the OEM SEAS tweeters installed.

Got to it a couple of days ago. Put one in and compared between the Peerless and SEAS equipped speakers by selecting monoaural at the preamp and rolling back and forth between them. The SEAS equipped speaker sounded noticeably better. The Peerless tweeter performed very favorably except in one very important area, the SEAS tweeter seems to have capability lower into the freq. range (at least according to my ears anyway). This filled a "hole" in the lower treble/upper midrange that the crosssover design called for the tweeter to fill. These RL-140's are getting better and better. They're very close to becoming keepers, if a recap does as much good for them as I've heard many times said they will be staying at my house. They are fast, well balanced, decently efficient and very cool looking. With them my system has become mercilessly revealing of poorly recorded material (cd's my primary source) but gets the most out of well recorded material. Sometimes this is almost a disadvantage as much of my favorite music (R&R from the mid to late 60's) is not stellar regarding regarding recording quality and benefits from a system that's a little smoother and more forgiving.

well done Stephen, they are super speakers when they are in tip top condition

they should really be identical mirrors of each other, so you need to know which one to copy, so they end up both right -  do you have the proper stands to sit them on as well ??

I had a pair of RL140's from new and they were identical.

I can't recall the serial numbers but would not be surprised if they went through manufacturing on a batch basis and they then took any two to make a pair. They were certainly boxed separately.

I always rated them very highly, even defending them against the Penta sheep. Especially so when driven by a QUAD 405 amplifier, as B&O did not have an amp to do them justice at the time.

joeyboygolf wrote:

I had a pair of RL140's from new and they were identical.

I can't recall the serial numbers but would not be surprised if they went through manufacturing on a batch basis and they then took any two to make a pair. They were certainly boxed separately.

I always rated them very highly, even defending them against the Penta sheep. Especially so when driven by a QUAD 405 amplifier, as B&O did not have an amp to do them justice at the time.

I'm calling that question answered, RL-140's were not mfg.d in mirrored pairs. 

Agreed, no surprise at all, especially as they were all identical.

Penta's have flocks, eh? Can't comment further as these RL-140s are my one and only experience w/B&O equipment.

Now for some additional RL-140 observations. The fella I got the tweeter from agreed to my request to send me the enclosure he had pulled the drivers and crossover from for sale on e-bay. It arrived with the grill cloth missing which was cool as the primary reason for obtaining the enclosure was to develop a method to replace said grill cloth and maintain the "Bang & Olufsen" logo on front. Turns out one woofer and the mid were still in it. I can certainly see why the mid was there, are those things epoxied in or what? So this is my first look at the front of the baffle and I noticed two interesting things.

1. The tweeter opening expands into a very nicely contoured horn that looks like a small trumpet. Try that with a piece of plywood or MDF.

2. The mid has its own enclosure, which seems to be a common practice when cone type drivers are used. When I was first assessing my 140's for repair needs, I pulled the back from the mid enclosure to check the surround. Turned out to be rubber that was in good condition (thankfully). I noticed two sets of 4 holes (approx. 5/8" dia.) each on either side of the driver, but couldn't see through them. "Why bother with the holes just to block them off?" thinks I. Turns out the holes, one set slightly below center, the other set slightly above, are covered by a thin piece of coarse felt. A vented enclosure for the mid. I may be showing my newbness here, but I've never seen or heard of such.

This B&O stuff is really quite interesting. I may have to get some more.

joeyboygolf - What is pictured in your avatar? An excellently obvious example of the mirror image, for sure.

My avatar is a pair of Beolab 5000  powered speakers from 1989/1991. Sometimes available on eBay but very rarely in mint condition.

[quote user="joeybo

joeyboygolf wrote:

I always rated them very highly, even defending them against the Penta sheep. Especially so when driven by a QUAD 405 amplifier, as B&O did not have an amp to do them justice at the time.

Check it out, you're part of this guy's sales pitch.

RL-140 Recap pic.s and notes.

Industrial strength hot glue gun is your friend for this kind of project. I've really appreciated this kind of help from others in the past, so here's my chance to pitch in.