Hello,

This is my first post here even that I am not an owner yet of any B&O products.

However, I am considering for purchase a set of Beolab 5.

What refrains me from buying the 5s is that the speakers were produced in 2003. That's 8 years ago!

Does any one know whether B&O is working on a replacement or planning an update?

Thank you

Isn't it time for a new liquid? 

Water has been around for billions of years. When will they come out with something wetter?

Welcome to BeoWorld!!

Even if there was a BeoLab 6, the BeoLab 5 would be worth having.

While the BeoLab 5 still exists, so does the BeoLab 9. Even with the 5 as the best in the world, people still buy the 9 independantly. Another example - while there is a Bugatti Veyron, people still buy Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Astons and so on. You get what I mean?

I hope the 5 isn't replaced, I hope we see another addition placed alongside the 5.

Gather your favorite CDs and Blue-Rays and have a listen!!

EDIT: Now I'm not saying the Lab 5 is average, or less than perfect - at all. It is arguably the best speaker on planet Earth. All I am trying to say is that even with a bigger more impressive speaker, the BeoLab 5 should always be considered.

B&O have always tended to keep models for some time and develop them. The 5 has not needed much developing!! I would be against the introducing of a replacement just because it was felt that a new model was needed because the old one had been around too long.

Yes and It's coming. But not for a while...

It took 18 years for B&O to upgrade BeoLab 6000 and 8000...why should they be quicker with BeoLab 5?

Don`t think so.

Will the new speaker be a cash cow? Do not think so, because of the development costs.

Will there enough people, willing to buy such a speaker between BL9 and BL5 or above BL5? Not enough for the investment of B&O.

 

Well, I thought its not an unreasonable question, and at least I should have tried.

Take the water analogy of the first poster, it seems to me highly pretentious. You really think that the Beolab 5 is the and of all and that's it?! Water is not a man-created liquid, Sir!

Soon or later, if B&O have desire or need to a new pair of speakers they'll do it. I wouldn't like to spend that amount of money to find out the morning after that B&O lunched a new speaker.

I believe in evolving technology. I do also believe that in the audio world there is lots of non sense and crap. I don't like companies that upgrade their speakers every year claiming new discoveries and that's another reason why I am considering to get the BO5, which I thought they sounded great in my first and brief audition.

For what it matter, I didnt like the sales people at B&O store because they were telling me lies. As an example I asked them when these speakers were first made and they said "2007"... There it goes my trust in them.

Anyway, I thank you for all the replies.

I don't think B&O will update the BL5 anytime soon, nor will they make a better speaker anytime soon, so I recommend you go ahead and get yourself a pair... They are excellent!

I'm about to go to the store for one more audition and I'll bring my music CDs.

Just out of curiosity... Do B&O make their own drivers or are they off the shelves type?

Thanks again.

I'm pretty happy with my BeoLab 5's.  They dont really leave me wanting much more.

 

But that being said I'm considering purchasing a set of BeoLab 9's for the system in my living room.  Since I keep reading about all these "between BeoLab 5 and BeoLab 9" rumors I'm holding out to see what (if anything) gets announced.

Perfect!

2-3 years is about the time I need, especially if I start saving now!

Drivers are not B&O made.

But that doesn't matter, as long as they do their job. 

Bayerische is right - The drivers are not made by Bang & Olufsen - But they are produced after Bang & Olufsen specs. by other companies such as Foster, Tympany and Denon/Marantz. The 15" Beolab 5 driver is produced by Foster.

 

- Dennis

Loudspeaker:

The 15" Beolab 5 driver is produced by Foster.

 

I knew I recognized that woofer from somewhere!!

Ok, auditioned the BL5 again with not so good source material. We listened to palladia tv channel and I must say I was impressed. I could not hear distortion whatsoever. It was loud and clear.

The quality of the bass was superb for such a small speaker but I thought that the punch was a little too much ...or maybe because I am not used to it. However, I do live in an apartment building with sound proof installed in the walls. Until today I never had complain even with two subwoofers (JL) in my system.

Those BL5 worry me somewhat. The floor was vibrating a lot in the store. I am afraid that those 15" woofers facing down the floor could cause the same in my apt.

I don't recall where I read it, but some people were bashing B&O for using "cheap "Vifa" drivers. But I didn't think they were reliable sources.

Hi Maab

Welcome!!!!

Your question is very reasonable, I too wouldn't be happy buying such an expensive speaker and find out B&O launching a replacement soon after. That being said B&O takes quite a while updating their range and speaker technology (unlike video) doesn't move significantly

BTW I was very very very close to buying a pair of BL 5 years ago. The only thing that stopped me was the lack of space..... Its been one of my biggest purchasing regret - years on, marriage and a child later, the BL 5 are going to have wait for quite a few more years (the kid's education fund comes first) and thats assuming I manage to get my wife to like it (she hates its look)

I live in an apartment building, and I know of another BL5 owner who does too.

I guess it depends on your neighbors... If they are over sensitive, sure they might complain. Me, I have never had a complaint, and I play them pretty loud.

 

Maab:

Tose BL5 worry me somewhat. The floor was vibrating a lot in the store.
I am afraid that those 15" woofers facing down the floor could cause the same in my apt.

@The floor was vibrating a lot in the store.
This largely depends on the construction of the floor - material, constructional details (suspension), ...

One of the biggest advantages of a real "FULL RAGE" speaker like the BLb5s is:

In a quiet environement you can listen to them at low volume levels and still having a "rich" sound,
small speakers deliver a "rich" listening experience on much at higher volume levels ...

 

Hi bayerische,

it not only depends on the neighboors, but also on wife, my wife also hates the look of Beolab 5, so I'm not allowed to buy them (without changing wife).

/Räuber

bayerische:

I live in an apartment building, and I know of another BL5 owner who does too.

I guess it depends on your neighbors... If they are over sensitive, sure they might complain. Me, I have never had a complaint, and I play them pretty loud.

Yes I have Beolab 5's and live in an apartment too. I live on the topfloor and now complaints from the neighbours below so far. But there is about 30 centimeters of concrete between us.

Raeuber:

Hi bayerische,

 

 

it not only depends on the neighboors, but also on wife, my wife also hates the look of Beolab 5, so I'm not allowed to buy them (without changing wife).

 

 

/Räuber

That's probably why I'm single.

beocool:

Raeuber:

Hi bayerische,

 

 

it not only depends on the neighboors, but also on wife, my wife also hates the look of Beolab 5, so I'm not allowed to buy them (without changing wife).

 

 

/Räuber

 

That's probably why I'm single.

Can't say my wife loves mine, but mine are white, and that always helps....

Welcome to BeoWorld!

Sure, BL5 will be replaced one day and guessing when this will happen is difficult. There are some "issues" with the BL5 that they could address, like the fact that it is not too happy with a corner placement compared to sitting approx 1m away from a wall (no corners close by). I have had them since they were introduced, and I recently moved them from their dedicated corners of the living room to a 10 meter long wall away from any corners and placed them approx 50-60 cm out on the floor. It was a religious experience to listen to my fav cd's with this new placement. Damn, they are good - best thing I ever bought from B&O.

B&O are at the early stages of development of a new top-of-the-line speaker, which is rumoured to move a lot more air than the current BL5... but having waited for the new ALT speaker to sit between the BL3 and 9 for about 2 years, well, I wouldn't sit around and wait for the "new" BL5.

My recommendation: if you were looking for a speaker in between the BL3 and 9 you could wait, but if you are looking for something like the BL5 - just go for it. Now.

Roger