soundproof: wonderfulelectric: Hello Soundproof. I too am using a Mac, in fact I have been using Macs for close to ten yrs. You see I use to believe that with a good D/A processor than an okay digital input should suffice. However, ever since I replaced Logitech's Squeezebox with the Olive, I experienced a tremendous leap in sound quality throughout

soundproof: wonderfulelectric: You should at least get a decent music server like the Olives/ Transporter or a quality transport at least. If I am not wrong, the time when Beolab5s were introduced, the idea of linking directly to a noisy digital output signal such as that of a computer's isn't factored. So you are not really squeezing good performance

Alex: The BeoLab 5 will accept 96 kHz/24 bit signals. Yes there is a high frequency limit on ICE Power amps, but it's far higher than the human ear can effectively reach (way above 20 kHz). I doubt the amps in ATC's offerings will be able to reach that high. Yes the ATCs are good, and the SCM7s I had a few years ago were fantastic, but even

Hello John. Didn't know you will be using the Lab 5s for high resolution formats. If so, I suggest you wait for the Lab 5s to receive an upgrade cos I don't think they will be best suited for the application in its current form. Icepower amps have a limited high frequency bandwidth and tends to sound urgent at the top and plus all that D/A,

Yeah... I was taking about the diamond tweeter version. Three different drivers made with very different materials and with very different sound characteristics, you wouldn't be able to blend them well even if you tried. So in a sense all you hear is good treble, distinct midrange oh and good bass, which really wouldn't be the case if you are

Beoboiinoz: soundproof: The skirt is a thick, fibre-resin plastic that is shaped to avoid standing waves, and which absorbs resonances very well. The design is solid - you can trundle BL5s along in the same way you would a beer keg, rolling them by the larger disk. The disks are also solid - the visual impression is of a drum-kit high-hat, until you

Hello Dave I am glad that you decided to join this thread. I have a few questions for you. Will the Beolab 5s receive any upgrades soon, especially in the digital processing area because it has been 5 yrs since its launch and digital processing has really marched forward. I am thinking of getting them for my new apartment so..... Also why does the Lab5

Why compare the Lab5s with the B&W 800s? Shouldn't we go for something more aspirational like an actively powered Goldmund Epilogue or a full flagged B&W Nautilus? The last time I read about the Lab5s was that the treble and mid drivers are from Vifa.

But then you can use an EQ to flatten out the frequency response of a loudspeaker no? I mean the Beolab 5s won't be as flat without its built-in EQ. Some find B&W speakers very enjoyable because of its non neutral mid-band response - it somehow makes voices stand out more. Or the heightened sense of detail through B&O speakers a delight

Oh BTW. I will like to add that the quality of the cable of the XLRs are way less intrusive than that of the RCAs. Meaning you can get away with very cheap cables and yet still achieve great sound.