Bang & Olufsen intros BeoLab 9 loudspeakers

Per usual, Bang & Olufsen is out crafting home theater components that only a select few can afford, yet just about everyone can appreciate. The BeoLab 9 loudspeakers are no different, as they sport a unique conically-shaped cabinet that house the five-inch mid-range and ten-inch bass drivers, and the tweeter gets perched atop the unit ready to spread those highs "in an arc of 180 degrees." These towers also feature the firm's Acoustic Lens Technology, which supposedly "guarantees uniform sound characteristics in front of the speaker, letting the listener hear constant timbre even when moving around or sitting in different places." While we're not too confident on blasting these guys without a subwoofer somewhere in the loop, they do manage to tout the company's "Adaptive Bass Linearisation technology" to prevent distortion, and can reportedly reach down to 30Hz all by their lonesome. Of course, for the presumably lofty price these things will demand, you also get a paint job of your choice, as the towers come in red, blue, dark grey, and black. No word on when these should grace showroom floors, nor how many arms / legs you'll need to liquidate before even thinking about 'em, but the BeoLab 9 should be impressing deep-pocketed listeners real soon. Click on through for another look.

[Via Acquire]

[tekdroid @ Jan 20th 2007 12:24PM]

no, this one just abducts your wallet while giving you sub-par audio :)

[Matt @ Jan 20th 2007 2:28AM]

Hooray for time-smearing HF horns!

[TIMMAH! @ Jan 20th 2007 1:04PM]

Dr. Who's Dalek fashions for 2007?

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Jan 20th 2007 1:09PM]

Huh?..

Well, I'm not audiophile, but yet even my mediocre hi-fi sounded better than two B&O systems I have heard. (And I have heard with both jazz and classics and was unimpressed. After seeing price - more like disgusted.)

Reading into the description, I can't help but wonder what they do with sound inside - and what consequences it would have on its representation and quality. I understand - this is piece of luxury for those who can afford it and not necessarily with absolute pitch.

IOW, it boils down to old hi-end dilemma: if you have money and good ears - you would go with normal high-end, if you have money and are tone-deaf - why bother wasting money on something looking that weird (there are lots of better looking options - with small high-end shops offering any kind of customizations one might ask).

[A. Koro @ Jan 20th 2007 1:17PM]

I have heard these at dealer kick-off and sound is really good, compared to anything. And at price something half of those sweet BeoLab 5 speakers. It really is a good loudspeaker again from B&O, that can also be placed in living room without kitchen distortion. And don't confuse acoustic lens with horns, it really is something far more better.

[Rjay @ Jan 20th 2007 2:14PM]

More like FEO lab...

[CapWKidd @ Jan 20th 2007 4:25PM]

B & O, they make stereo gear that looks nice, but does not sound any where near as good as gear in the same price range .... and the price is not that high for high end audio, BTW .... there are $250k speakers out there (Martin Logan Statements) ... but most stores don't have anything on the floor that cost more than $40k usually (stores like... oh what is the name of that place in Tustin, CA?) ... Just buy some good sound for the price, like Theil's. Just my 2¢'s.

[justdave @ Jan 21st 2007 8:34PM]

Any sound engineer will tell you steer clear of B&O, unless you've got money to burn and prefer, pound for pound, really quite bad sound. Seems most people agree, but yet they still sell this crap by the bucketload. Their adverts obvious target the 'middle class/stupid' demographic. ;-)

[Gr8Sound @ Feb 10th 2007 7:09AM]

A lot of ignorant people here as usual....
B&O have in the past been at the forefront of technology I mean, how many here were impressed with HxPro when this was initially released? I bet it didn't sound so good when you discovered who atually developed it!
more HIGH end manufacturers are adopting Ice power amps now, and I am willing to bet many here haven't actually listened to Lab 5's or 9's?
Now, just because somthing is a little bit too expensive, and not to your tastes, doesn't mean to say it is rubbish!

[Alex @ Feb 28th 2007 8:17PM]

Well said, Gr8Sound.
I bet that many people are bashing B&O out of jealousy for their success and for not being able to afford their products. Jealousy is a very bad thing, my friends. I think it’s time you got over it and posted some truly objective opinions after requesting a little product demo at your local B&O store.

[cd @ Mar 20th 2007 8:59AM]

I have to agree on the trashy reviews...if you haven't visited the shop in 30 years.
However I have just listened to a pair of BL9's and BL5's today at the B&O shop.
The 9's sounded great - precise, yet warm with satisfactory base response. The base adjustment technology is evident when the volume is adjusted.
Then I heard the 5's ....and suddenly I understand the difference in category. Superb stuff if you can afford it. The 5's calibrate themselves to the room acoustics and the lenses allow a much larger sweet spot than high end conical solutions. The hollow horn effects are compensated via DSP solutions ( I queried a particularly knowledgeable rep from curiousity). Try then judge for yourself.