seethroughyou wrote:

Are you holding out for the newer B&O speakers?

Why is the industry so reluctant to embrace active technology and room EQ?

.

1: Yes - definitely!

2: Probably because most people don't care/it is too complicated with mics and so on...

The 'mainstream' companies wouldn't get back, what they would have to invest for a descent solution.

On the other hand - Sonos is an example of a company, that boosts to have implemented some room compensation with their latest software updates.

Whether this is done more for marketing purposes than for 'improving sound' purposes, I don't know.

Interesting subject, indeed!

MM

I just purchased the BeoLab 17's and a second BeoLab 14 for my home theater so I won't be in the market to upgrade anytime soon. But, I am perfectly happy with my systems and wonder how much room correction would improve it and add to my enjoyment.  * If I could afford the new speakers. *

I wondered also about how much a second BeoLab 14 would add to BeoLab 14 system.  I am impressed by it as I am listening to a wall of music which is much fuller, and I am completely enveloped by sound watching movies. If I had never had heard this system as 10.2 I would probably be just as happy with one BeoLab 14 as I am with 2. It's probably for the best if I don't hear speakers with room-EQ!

The BeoLab 90 is form following function. It needed to be that big and I suppose as a result that expensive.  I wonder how well it would scale down.  Could they make a BeoLab 17 replacement with a room EQ feature?  That is probably still a ways off, and how much would it cost?  I'm guessing that the next speaker with some of the features of the BeoLab 90 will be in the BeoLab 5 price range.

Unless B&O have something utterly remarkable up its collective sleeve, I foresee the trickle down speaker offspring of the BL90 to still be well out of the price range of mere mortals. Call me a pessimist, but I think the most inexpensive BL90 child will be 50% to 100% more expensive than the BL5 -- just the minimum number of drivers necessary alone to provide the noise cancellation / addition properties for the adequate and precise directivity of sound may tip the price point up. 

Then again, I may have no idea what I'm talking about. LOL

I am not sure that a future 'B&O bid on room compensation' will be 'speakers-only'.

As I see it, it will rather be a cooperation of speakers and the audioengine.

MM

Millemissen wrote:

2: Probably because [...] it is too complicated with mics and so on...

With mics... and gymnic 😂

Want a good laugh ? --> Imagine yourself doing dancing this (extract from the Sonos room correction review made by DigitalTrends) :

"In practice, this analysis and tuning is actually kind of hilarious. When you embark on the Trueplay process, the app first asks you flip your phone or tablet around so that the mic (which is at the bottom of these devices) can have unfettered access to room sound. It then measures the ambient room noise to see if it’s quiet enough to proceed with the next step. If it is, the Sonos speakers in your room will start to emit a loud, psychedelic repetitive sound pattern that vaguely evokes vintage sound effects from Doctor Who.

Here’s the funny part: While the speakers pump out this sound, you must walk slowly yet efficiently around the room while you wave your iDevice up and down. You must do this for 30-45 seconds so that the app can get a feel for how sound bounces off the various surfaces in the room. The app encourages you to spend the most time near the area that you will be doing most of your listening from (say a couch or dining room table). Even though this is a really clever use of the built-in mic–take note makers of home theater receivers!!–you feel somewhat shaman-esque as you perform this device-waving ritual again and again in each room. If someone were to spy you through a window, you’d look like you were trying to scare away evil spirits, or perhaps purge the room of a really bad fart."

Read more: 

seethroughyou wrote:

 

Why is the industry so reluctant to embrace active technology and room EQ?

Regarding active technology, my guess is that it is too unusual for equipment manufacturers not to mention the audio-buying public.  However, I have noticed a lot of full-range speakers with built-in powered subwoofers.  Maybe that is how speakers can progress to fully active speakers.

I see that Klipsch is now selling active ("wireless") speakers.  There have been a few reviewed in Sound & Vision in the last few years.  Maybe the desire for wireless speakers will also spur interest in active speakers.

Regarding room EQ, I don't think it is that unusual.  Almost every preamp and receiver I've seen reviewed in Sound & Vision magazine has built-in room correction for a surround-sound setup.  I think the key is that this is done by the preamp and receivers, and not the speakers.  This is one of many reasons I like having a preamp that everything plugs into and that also serves as the "controller" for the AV system.

D