Reconsidering the Beosound Emerge

[Mark]

When the Beosound Emerge was released all the YouTube reviews were very hesitant about it so I kind of written it off.

I bought the Beosound Theatre which was what I have been waiting for. I had a pair of BeoLab 17’s in my bedroom that I moved to be rear speakers for my Theatre.  I felt that the 17’s were very under-utilized in my bedroom so it was an easy decision.  That left my bedroom needing a new system, the 17’s connected to an Essence MkII was my alarm clock after all!

I had some thoughts that if the Emerge ever had a good sale, say 20 to 30% off I would really consider it. I stumbled upon Steve’s video “…and my new favourite Bang & Olufsen Beosound speaker of 2021 is?”  and his statement regarding the Emerge: “it really is diminutive, and that’s really what transformed everything”.  I started looking at my needs and wants differently.  Do I really want big statement pieces on my dresser?  The size of the Emerge was definitely appealing.

I bought a pair of Emerge’s, not on sale.  I set them up on my dresser stereo paired them and boy does it look and sound wonderful!

My typical volume level when I use the Theatre to watch TV or listen to music is 46.  I may crank it up a little more for movies.  I found that listening to music on the Emerge’s at around 46 is also perfect.

My musical tastes tend to be more pop so typically not very bass heavy.

– Lisa Miskovsky

– Perfume (electronic)

– Alan Parsons Project

– Fleetwood Mac, etc.

I am listening to Lisa Miskovsky “Eljest” right now and I couldn’t ask for a better listening experience, it just sounds so wonderful.  I’ve played all my favorite tracks that I like to test out new systems and the Emerge plays them all at my preferred listening volume perfectly.

There is one gotcha that isn’t an Emerge issue.  Occasionally when playing music, the secondary Emerge in the stereo pair will experience dropouts, but then it goes away after I listen for a while.  A friend’s stereo paired Level’s also has this issue.  I hope a future update will take care of this issue.

(I should add that this occurs when I use Airplay.)

There is a line in the Forbes review of the Beosound Emerge:

If you want something that will spark joy in your life every time you look at it or listen to it, then consider the Bang & Olufsen Emerge because it’s a beautiful speaker that sounds every bit as good as it looks.

Yes! For me it is worth every penny.  It is my new favorite Bang & Olufsen speaker for 2023!

[Hiort]

I also enjoy my Emerge that I bought immediately upon launch and is indeed tempted to buy one more to stereo pair, since I think they come really to their best in such a configuration.

[Steve at Sounds Heavenly]

Hi Mark,

Glad my review was helpful. I have been absolutely blown away by the clarity and natural tone of my stereo paired Emerges that I use for quiet music in my bedroom (these replaced Beolab 4s).

Many B&O stores don’t seem to understand how to get the best from Emerge, they are often placed on a table in the middle of a large room which doesn’t show their sound well. They really sing when placed in the corners of a small to medium room and used for music at reasonable volumes (up to 70dB) in a stereo pair.

I rate them above the Level in this situation, indeed I had the choice of using a Level but I opted for two Emerges instead.

Kind regards, Steve.

[Mark]

I haven’t quite figured out what makes the Emerge an exciting product for me.  It is very elegant looking and doesn’t really make its presence known.  When the Level’s first came out I bought a friend a stereo pair and they do sound fantastic, but I couldn’t see having a pair of Level’s in my bedroom. The Beosound Emerge is quite a remarkable speaker and I hope they do well.

I just updated them to 2.5.3 so I will have to see what that update brings any Airplay improvements for me.

[Stan]

If they had been available in the US last year, I probably would have bought a pair for my office.  I even downloaded a sound meter to verify that I typically listened within Steve’s recommendations (and I did).  However, I got tired of waiting and sprung for a pair of Balances which have really impressed me.  However, I’m pretty sure I would have been fine with the Emerge… aside from the fact that I’ve never actually heard them.  I may someday replace my Bl4s in my bedroom, but no budget for that today (after busting the budget on the Balances).

 

So I guess B&O won this round since I bought a

much more expensive system because I was impatient

[Mark]

There was a software update for the Emerge and Level today.  I was able to go over my friends house and listen to her Level pair for a good while.  I did not hear any dropouts. I am still amazed how good a stereo pair of the Levels are.  They sound fantastic!

Stan, what the Level’s provide for you is options for the future.  There may be a need in the future where the Level’s would fit the environment even better than your office, and then you can reconsider the needs of your office and see if the Emerge is a good fit. That’s what’s nice about these music systems, they can easily be relocated as the needs change.  My friend’s Level’s have changed locations 3 times, most recently because a Beosound Stage was a better fit for the room.  In the mean time the Levels are a joy to listen to!

 

[Curly]

What a great write up of the Emerge, thank you!

I wouldn’t consider Emerge until they make an oak version that is not gold. I was also gifted a handful of M5s, rendering my need for single-point speakers obsolete. But now I’m eager to listen to Emerge one day!

Thanks again!

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

It’s just a shame it looks so damn awful like a cheap wifi router. Especially with those buttons on the top.

[Mark]

I guess the design isn’t for everyone.  I’ve never had a wifi router that looks like it so I don’t make that association.

[Stan]

I definitely considered the Level, but they take up too much space.  Not their own footprint, but because I’d need to keep the area in front of them unobstructed.

[Lavie]

I have the beosound emerge in my office. A stereo pair of them. I still need to get used to hem to be honest. I adore the design, and they blend in so easily. But in terms of sound, I just don’t know, I miss a bit of clarity and power. I know it’s a little speaker and it is fine for background music, but I’m never remarkably amazed by its sound. Maybe it is because I am used to Sonos play1 speakers, the BL9 and the Theatre, all in another room. So I wonder, how would 2 beolab’s 3 perform in direct comparison (for again another room)? They have about the same frequency response, but I feel that the acoustic lens would add a lot more clarity and openness, and the passive radiators next to the woofer would add up to more depth. Anyone…experiences?

[Author]

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