S45-2 speakers sound better than they should - pure serendipity in my view. The  S75 rather wrecks it by having a loose bass and slightly sharper top end but some of us like that at times! The later twin grille S45 is not similar at all - the S55 is the speaker to compare instead, and this too is a super small speaker.

Unfortunately, the only way to judge speakers is to listen and compare and few of us will get the opportunity to do that now. Make friends with Martin is probably the best way! 🙂

Peter wrote:

S45-2 speakers sound better than they should - pure serendipity in my view. The  S75 rather wrecks it by having a loose bass and slightly sharper top end but some of us like that at times! The later twin grille S45 is not similar at all - the S55 is the speaker to compare instead, and this too is a super small speaker.

Unfortunately, the only way to judge speakers is to listen and compare and few of us will get the opportunity to do that now. Make friends with Martin is probably the best way! 🙂

 

Last I heard from Martin he was hiding under his bed from SWMBO and the men in the white coats

After Peter’s open INVITATION for speaker comparison at Martin’s house, I think him well advised to stay hiding under the bed for at least another week. 😠

As to speakers, evaluation is almost completely a matter of the listener’s taste.

I am a BIG FAN of the S45.2 speakers because of their accuracy and am amazed that “that sound” comes out of such a small box.

Wade, since speakers are such a subjective choice, I have NO doubt that many people would find these later S45’s pleasant to listen to, however it is less costly to produce a two-way speaker than a three-way, as in the first of this series, and this newer S45 had no DIN connector.

Concluding with Peter’s comments about the S75’s “rather wrecks it by having a loose bass and slightly sharper top end but some of us like that at times!” I agree the S45.2 is more accurate and wonderful to listen to, but I also thoroughly enjoy the “loose” bass of the S75 and more crisp treble….. however I do not like one better than the other: I like them both!

Jeff

The only time I have ever had problem with loose bass on the S75's is when listening to digital files via iTunes or iPod. The way I solved most of that is by clicking on the EQ and setting it to bass reducer.

Really helps smooth things out.

Changing from a beogram using an mmc cartridge to my Dual TT using a standard iron can color the sound. More bass heavy out of the Dual.

The speaker set I could never figure out was the S80.2. The sound was only average for most sets but plugged into a Beocenter 7700 or BM 3300 it was magic. Or perhaps my imagination was running away with me.

But it has been stated before on these forums that some speakers and amp combos work better with each.

Ricardo wrote:

The only time I have ever had problem with loose bass on the S75's is when listening to digital files via iTunes or iPod. The way I solved most of that is by clicking on the EQ and setting it to bass reducer.

Really helps smooth things out.

Changing from a beogram using an mmc cartridge to my Dual TT using a standard iron can color the sound. More bass heavy out of the Dual.

The speaker set I could never figure out was the S80.2. The sound was only average for most sets but plugged into a Beocenter 7700 or BM 3300 it was magic. Or perhaps my imagination was running away with me.

But it has been stated before on these forums that some speakers and amp combos work better with each.

S80.2 is a completely lifeless speaker with anything I have plugged it into, including a BM7000 and 9500. I did NOT get to try it out with my BM8000 before I sold it so perhaps that would have been more enlightening. As it is, I gave them to my friend who I bought my JBL XPL-140s back from (the JBL XPL series is probably the best completely unknown speaker line I have ever heard) so he could have "something" to listen to. He hates them but lives with them for now. They actually came with the BC9500 I bought as a package, and I have no idea how the prior owner endured that sound.

Piaf, I think this is a very healthy discussion and I am finding all the points valid. One other thing I might add is that the mids are much more apparent in the original 6302 than the 6427s. I'm sure most on here would expect that given the two vs. three components. 

On a side note, I am finding that this thread is helping me re-evaluate what I notice about both my 6302 and 6427 speakers.

Ricardo,

I have never heard the S80.2 speakers, but if they are anything like my S120.2 speakers I understand your point. The S120.2’s are simply unforgivably God-awful. That said I paired them with my second set of S75 speakers and they add a bit of zest to the upper end, where they are, in my estimation, too crisp, but in combination with the S75’s the foursome some quite nice.

Jeff

Wade,

I am glad that you are enjoying this discussion, as am I.

I was gifted with my first pair of S45 speakers for use with my Beomaster 2400 and I didn’t like them: bland, noisy, (made crunching sounds), etc.

Then when I was gifted with a BeoCenter 9000 it came with a pair of S75’s and a pair of S45’s, the latter shorted out the BeoCenter due to two bad speakers. I went back to the original pair and found two donors for the bad speakers and I couldn’t believe the sound.

The S45’s deliver a sound that is more realistic than the S75’s and I admire them for that. As mentions previously, I have seen comments that the S45’s lack bass, but I have not found that to be the case.

The S75’s however are more “fun” to listen to. I definitely would NOT say that one is “better” than the other, just different.

Jeff  

One speaker set no one has mentioned are the Redlines. Redline 60's were my first B&O speaker set used with a BM3000 (80's version) BG3000 and CDX. I liked the arrangement. Very versitile in how they can be placed. I know the girls at the dance studio sure  like the set I gave them.

While I cant comment on the 140's and would never bother with the 35's I have had a set of the 60's and still have  set of 60.2.

In fact, right now, i am listening to the Don Ho classic "Tiny Bubbles" ( don't ask why ) on my Beocenter 9000 driving my 60.2's.

Not my favorite set but not a bad set either,  For looks they compliment the BC 9000 quite well, IMO the later 60.2 with the tuned bass port was an improvement in sound balance over the original 60 with the foamed ABR plating.

I have used them on and off pairing them with different setups and have never been really disappointed just that I have always found another speaker that I thought maybe sounded or matched the sets look or surroundings a little better.

They even work reasonably well with an old Beomaster 4000 or 2000 they just don't match the look of the vintage sets.

Piaf wrote:

The S120.2’s are simply unforgivably God-awful.

You're tempting me into trying to find a pair to listen to.  There's probably a mod or three you could do to it to make them at least listenable (with little effort or expense).

By the way, went to Beocentral to look for a photo and/or description of the S120.2 and there isn't a page for this speaker.  The S120 page states the S120 model was replaced by the MC120.2.