Side by side comparison BS1 GVA, A6, M3, M5

11 replies
Hiort
Offline
Hiort
Gold
Posted March 24, 2021 at 09:58 GMT
#2153597

Entertained my self (fighting Corona boredome 🙂) with a sound test.

 

I did that some time ago but since it’s been suggested by some that sound has improved with the latest fw upgrade I had another go at it.

 

 

This is the lineup:

 

 

 

All set to free standing.

 

 

I flipped between Deezer HiFi tunes (playlist “Top test hifi tracks” by Miguel Crespo) using the B&O app and the multiroom screen, moving volume sliders up and down.

 

 

Reflections:

 

Beosound 1 GVA has clearly improved midrange in my ears. Sounded more “canny” before.

 

M3 is a really capable speaker. I actually rate it higher than A6.

 

A6 has a more harsh sound, but has the advantage of a wider soundstage.

 

M5 really shined! Much more controlled bass than before. Soundstage is spread wider and it becomes really evident when you flip between BS1 and M5 that the BS1 have a much more narrow soundstage (as the M3).

 

 

Look forward to upcoming Beosound Emerge that I plan to replace the A6 with.

 

 

 

Anyway, a fun exercise 😎

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Sweden

My B&O Icons:

Beovision-11.png Beovision-11.png
Beosound-Emerge.png Beosound-Emerge.png
Beoremote-One.png Beoremote-One.png
Beoplay-M5.png Beoplay-M5.png
Beoplay-M3.png Beoplay-M3.png
Beoplay-Earset.png Beoplay-Earset.png
Beoplay-Beosound1.png Beoplay-Beosound1.png
Beoplay-A1.png Beoplay-A1.png
Hiort
Offline
Hiort
Gold
Posted March 24, 2021 at 10:05 GMT
#2153598
Can add that my preferred setting for M5 is “corner” and the below soundsetting:

Location: Sweden

My B&O Icons:

Beovision-11.png Beovision-11.png
Beosound-Emerge.png Beosound-Emerge.png
Beoremote-One.png Beoremote-One.png
Beoplay-M5.png Beoplay-M5.png
Beoplay-M3.png Beoplay-M3.png
Beoplay-Earset.png Beoplay-Earset.png
Beoplay-Beosound1.png Beoplay-Beosound1.png
Beoplay-A1.png Beoplay-A1.png
MA
Offline
matteventu
Bronze
Posted March 24, 2021 at 14:34 GMT
#2153599

Thanks for the comparison :)

 

What do you think about bass, comparing M5 and BS1 ?

Hiort
Offline
Hiort
Gold
Posted March 24, 2021 at 16:08 GMT
#2153600
matteventu wrote:

Thanks for the comparison :)

What do you think about bass, comparing M5 and BS1 ?

Thanks 🙂

M5 is more bass capable I would say, but can be a bit overwhelming dependent on placement and setting.

BS1 still have nice bass though.

Location: Sweden

My B&O Icons:

Beovision-11.png Beovision-11.png
Beosound-Emerge.png Beosound-Emerge.png
Beoremote-One.png Beoremote-One.png
Beoplay-M5.png Beoplay-M5.png
Beoplay-M3.png Beoplay-M3.png
Beoplay-Earset.png Beoplay-Earset.png
Beoplay-Beosound1.png Beoplay-Beosound1.png
Beoplay-A1.png Beoplay-A1.png
ST
Offline
Stan
Bronze
Posted March 24, 2021 at 16:12 GMT
#2153601

I'm surprised you find the BS1 has a more narrow soundstage than the M5 given the BS1's acoustic lens and down firing woofer.  It seems counter-intuitive that an acoustic lens speaker could sound narrow, but I guess you find the M5's 3 tweeters + 1 midrange deliver a wider soundstage than the full-range lens. 

In any event, I'm glad to hear that the M5 is finally living up to it's potential.

Hiort
Offline
Hiort
Gold
Posted March 24, 2021 at 18:17 GMT
#2153602
Stan wrote:

I'm surprised you find the BS1 has a more narrow soundstage than the M5 given the BS1's acoustic lens and down firing woofer. It seems counter-intuitive that an acoustic lens speaker could sound narrow, but I guess you find the M5's 3 tweeters + 1 midrange deliver a wider soundstage than the full-range lens.

In any event, I'm glad to hear that the M5 is finally living up to it's potential.

When I write “narrow” I mean that sound comes more from one point on BS 1 and that M5 (with many speakers around the body) spread the sound better so soundstage appear wider.

Hard to explain since English is not my mother tongue.🙂

Location: Sweden

My B&O Icons:

Beovision-11.png Beovision-11.png
Beosound-Emerge.png Beosound-Emerge.png
Beoremote-One.png Beoremote-One.png
Beoplay-M5.png Beoplay-M5.png
Beoplay-M3.png Beoplay-M3.png
Beoplay-Earset.png Beoplay-Earset.png
Beoplay-Beosound1.png Beoplay-Beosound1.png
Beoplay-A1.png Beoplay-A1.png
B(
Offline
benoit (archived2)
Bronze
Posted March 24, 2021 at 18:38 GMT
#2153603

Hiort wrote:
Look forward to upcoming Beosound Emerge that I plan to replace the A9 with.

It seems that you have infos about this Emerge 👍 I thought it would be something close to the M5 but this looks quite interesting if it could come close to the A9 in a more compact shape. Do you think it will be positioned above the Level in the range? How long will we have to wait to discover it?

MA
Offline
matteventu
Bronze
Posted March 24, 2021 at 19:32 GMT
#2153604

Stan wrote:

I'm surprised you find the BS1 has a more narrow soundstage than the M5 given the BS1's acoustic lens and down firing woofer.  It seems counter-intuitive that an acoustic lens speaker could sound narrow, but I guess you find the M5's 3 tweeters + 1 midrange deliver a wider soundstage than the full-range lens. 

In any event, I'm glad to hear that the M5 is finally living up to it's potential.

BTW the M5 also has a downfiring (so technically 360°) woofer 🙂

ST
Offline
Stan
Bronze
Posted March 25, 2021 at 01:04 GMT
#2153605

I knew the M5 had a down firing woofer, but so does the BS1. I was highlighting the differences.

Hiort
Offline
Hiort
Gold
Posted March 25, 2021 at 05:38 GMT
#2153606

benoit wrote:

 

It seems that you have infos about this Emerge I thought it would be something close to the M5 but this looks quite interesting if it could come close to the A9 in a more compact shape. Do you think it will be positioned above the Level in the range? How long will we have to wait to discover it?

 

 

My bad. I should have written A6. Emerge will be more in line with M5 as I understand it.

I have changed in my original post.

Location: Sweden

My B&O Icons:

Beovision-11.png Beovision-11.png
Beosound-Emerge.png Beosound-Emerge.png
Beoremote-One.png Beoremote-One.png
Beoplay-M5.png Beoplay-M5.png
Beoplay-M3.png Beoplay-M3.png
Beoplay-Earset.png Beoplay-Earset.png
Beoplay-Beosound1.png Beoplay-Beosound1.png
Beoplay-A1.png Beoplay-A1.png
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