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Kal's Beolab review is out!

Werner

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The measurement grid is confined to a small area around the listening position. If you have done such things yourself you would know that this does not entirely get rid of room effects.

Kal wrote that the speakers were 18" from the side walls. Nothing will rid you of that.
 

dallasjustice

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They aren't meant to be quasi anechoic. I've done these types of measurements many times. JA uses them because they are a good indicator of sound quality. The room may affect the result but you have no data showing the rooms are the factor responsible for the entire measurement difference.



The measurement grid is confined to a small area around the listening position. If you have done such things yourself you would know that this does not entirely get rid of room effects.

Kal wrote that the speakers were 18" from the side walls. Nothing will rid you of that.
 
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dallasjustice

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Anechoic directivity looks nice in the manual. But there's more to good sound quality than that. The listening room sound quality is the most important factor. So listening environment measurements are also helpful. This is why Harman uses an algorithm to predict listening room performance from anechoic measurements. And then validates its with double blind listening tests.
 
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They have sounded spectacular in the four rooms I have heard them in until now, bass in particular is extraordinary.
Keith
 

Kal Rubinson

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Let me say this again: The FR of the Beolab is intentionally shaped to conform to a target curve which dictates a progressive roll-off based on Toole's (and others') research about listening to playback in the far field. The FR of the ML is not equalized. Thus, you cannot compare them for flatness and it has nothing to do with the rooms in which they are used and measured.

Also, again, if I had the MLs in my room, I would be applying a similar correction target for listening purposes.
 

dallasjustice

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Kal,
You are confusing two different things. You are talking about target curves. That's not what JA is talking about when he says the MLs measure better than the beolabs.

All speakers have a target curve. As you know, that target can be easily adjusted using digital filters. JA is referring to the deviation from the target. The MLs are +-2db from what appears to be a flat target. The beolabs deviate more from its target. I agree that the beolabs target shape should sound better. And the MLs will sound bright with that flat target. But that's not the point for this measurement.
Let me say this again: The FR of the Beolab is intentionally shaped to conform to a target curve which dictates a progressive roll-off based on Toole's (and others') research about listening to playback in the far field. The FR of the ML is not equalized. Thus, you cannot compare them for flatness and it has nothing to do with the rooms in which they are used and measured.

Also, again, if I had the MLs in my room, I would be applying a similar correction target for listening purposes.
 
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Speakers have a frequency response , speakers in rooms have a target curve.
Keith
 

Kal Rubinson

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JA is referring to the deviation from the target.
1. The Beolabs have been equalised to an undefined target curve at the factory and, separately, room correction for my room has been applied (shown in Figs. 1,2).
2. With the MLs, he is measuring the performance of the speaker in the room.
3. Since neither JA nor I know the exact target curve, how can he (or anyone) compare it to what he measures?
 
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Just got me a 'zinio' on line subscription to Stereophile ridiculously inexpensive ,I advise everyone to subscribe, Kalman really enjoyed the Beolab review, my wife didn't like the Omani mode at all she found it disorientating , narrow beam for me , I may have to get a pair or wait for Bruno to design a larger brother for his Kii THREE.
Keith
 

Kal Rubinson

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Just got me a 'zinio' on line subscription to Stereophile ridiculously inexpensive ,I advise everyone to subscribe, Kalman really enjoyed the Beolab review, my wife didn't like the Omani mode at all she found it disorientating , narrow beam for me , I may have to get a pair or wait for Bruno to design a larger brother for his Kii THREE.
Keith
Mebbe she'd prefer the Armani mode? BTW, no one likes the omni mode until after the 3rd drink.
 
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There won't be either Omani or Armani for some considerable time if I buy a pair of 90's.
Keith
 

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Sal1950

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watchnerd

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Hey, that sounds just like the Bose 901's. LOL

I thought exactly the same thing.

901_reinst_2.jpg


vs

1454669948916



Bose 901 goes for about ~$500 on eBay.

Combine it with a miniDSP + Nord nCore amps + pair of JL Audio Fathom ($7,000 each) for a total cost of ~$17,000. You'll be able to spray the room with sound and have serious thump for 'party mode'.

Save $63,000.
 

RayDunzl

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I thought the Beolab 90 price was like $80,000?

Now only $84,990 as listed in the article.

However, I was referring to the Martin Logan ESL 15A listed at only $24,995.
 

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Purité Audio

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The Beolabs and Kii THREES make everything else irrelevant , it must concern the traditional manufacturers who are left box stuffing.
I don't suppose they would release a speaker like the Kiis even if they had the skills to make it, it would make the rest of their range completely redundant.
Keith
 

Sal1950

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The Beolabs and Kii THREES make everything else irrelevant
Keith,
Do you have any idea how many times I've heard that over my last 50 years in Hi Fi?
PLEASE, don't be silly.
 
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