B&O Beolab 20 Speaker Review

[audiofooled]

I wonder if this speaker could be a good example of limitations of DSP and EQ? Clearly some things cannot be fixed.

 

[Bjorn]

I wonder if this speaker could be a good example of limitations of DSP and EQ? Clearly some things cannot be fixed.

The ragged response is likely primarily the result of cabinet diffraction. That's an area you cannot EQ effectively, as it would simply get worse at other angles. Not sure what you mean by limation of DSP. A passive speaker without DSP is far more limited than an active with DSP.

 

[HarmonicTHD]

I wonder if this speaker could be a good example of limitations of DSP and EQ? Clearly some things cannot be fixed.

Why would you say that? Just because of this one example?
Others eg Neumann KH150 clearly showed what is possible.

 

[audiofooled]

Why would you say that? Just because of this one example?
Others eg Neumann KH150 clearly showed what is possible.

I meant nothing against DSP or EQ. It's just that it cannot fix everything.

 

[Rja4000]

Always suspected they were more an "audiophile-y" company than a serious audio fidelity one.

Well, they have had highs and downs.
They've been producing some very interesting hardware in the past. Innovative and performant.
Sometimes.

I remember some tangential arm turntable.
Or, more recently, the ICE Power amp modules.

 

[amirm]

Would those small resonances and jagged line be audible?

They are if a note hits them. I think that is the reason its performance is so variable, sounding good on some tracks but not others.

 

[solderdude]

Is that a dome tweeter in a small waveguide or just some injection molding thingy ?

Perhaps listening up close could unravel this mystery (to me) ?

 

[Marc v E]

The US price is 50% (!) higher than in the EU. 10.000 here https://www.audio-tv-rivierenland.nl/product/beolab-20/

Mind you, when they first came out it was around 8500 iirc

 

[amirm]

Is that a dome tweeter in a small waveguide or just some injection molding thingy ?

Definitely not a tweeter/driver. It is a 3-way design.

 

[Marc v E]

Is that a dome tweeter in a small waveguide or just some injection molding thingy ?

View attachment 272713

Perhaps listening up close could unravel this mystery (to me) ?

Injection molding.

The tweeter is on top.

 

[respice finem]

Is that a dome tweeter in a small waveguide or just some injection molding thingy ?

View attachment 272713

Perhaps listening up close could unravel this mystery (to me) ?

Perhaps, the navel of the above mentioned E.T.?

 

[caught gesture]

Form over function.

 

[respice finem]

Form over function.

And price over... pretty much everything IMHO

 

[radix]

Yeh, I meant to note that as well.

B&O went wireless some time ago. I would think most customers never look in that access panel as they simply plug it in and use the B&O wireless system.

 

[Marc v E]

I'm quite surprised by the result. Not so much the frequency response, but more the resonances. B&O have an anechoic chamber and the measuring equipment. Why didn't they resolve the issues with the resonances?

 

[Sokel]

Or, more recently, the ICE Power amp modules.

I think Ice Power is no more part of B&O,they are a different separate company for some time now.
You can tell by their new (Edge) design.

 

[Marc v E]

It's interesting to see the narrowing in the highs. The idea with the lense is to maintain wide directivity in the treble, but we can see this doesn't work that well.

If we look at the horizontal polars B&O have published themselves of the much more expensive Beolab 90 which also uses such a lense, we see the same trait.

Horizontal polar in wide mode:
View attachment 272709

And Beolab 90 in narrow mode:
View attachment 272710

I'm probably not the only one thinking about E.T. head here!
View attachment 272711

The Beolab 90 uses a tweeter array. The Beolab 20 uses an acoustic lens.

 

[Mart68]

Disappointing. Thought they would be better. I'm fan of the brand and use the MC120.2 on my TV system. https://www.beoworld.org/prod_details.asp?pid=645

Wanted to vote 'not terrible' but can't in all conscience.

 

[Sokel]

Disappointing. Thought they would be better. I'm fan of the brand and use the MC120.2 on my TV system. https://www.beoworld.org/prod_details.asp?pid=645

Wanted to vote 'not terrible' but can't in all conscience.

This 800Hz resonance spoils everything big time,it's not only strange,it looks if like something is broken.
Disappointing indeed.

(the odd me would have them with the cloth removed,I like them more this way)


Thanks Amir!

 

[Mart68]

This 800Hz resonance spoils everything big time,it's not only strange,it looks if like something is broken.
Disappointing indeed.

That and the terrible directivity. I don't take the price into account when I vote but that's a further issue.