Bang Olufsen Beolab 5 vs Beolab 50 vs Beolab 90 Speaker Review! Which is the ultimate B&O speaker?

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Bang & Olufsen fans, your journey starts here! Steve visits Bang and Olufsen of Wilmslow to try out three of the World's best loudspeakers back to back - the iconic Beolab 5 from 2003 takes on the new Beolab 50 and the amazing 8,200 Watt Beolab 90 powerhouse! Which is the best speaker? With thanks to Nick at B&O Wilmslow for the use of his speakers and for the superb coffee!
You can contact Steve via his website at soundsheavenly.com at any time for advice on cables or connections for B&O products.
Sounds Heavenly was established in 2004 by Steve Marriott, who still manages the company on a daily basis. Sounds Heavenly quickly grew to become the UK's leading independent manufacturer of cables for Bang and Olufsen audio systems, supplying B&O dealerships, high street stores, multi-national companies, installation engineers and members of the public Worldwide.
If these videos have helped you to enjoy your B&O products, please consider buying Steve a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/soundshe... - many thanks!
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#Bang #Olufsen #Beolab90

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks for watching! Every cable you ever need for your B&O system can be seen on Steve's website here: soundsheavenly.com If these videos have helped you to enjoy your Bang and Olufsen products, please consider buying Steve a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/soundsheavenly - many thanks!

[@drewh9166]

The beolab 5 is a timeless design and it’s the speaker I will be saving for and hopefully passing down to my children

[@soundsheavenly]

Great choice, I have the same opinion of this speaker!

[@soundsheavenly]

@Wizard of OS What a great legacy to pass down to your kids!

[@amanb8]

Why they got rid of the beolab 5 is beyond me, the most iconic speaker of all time, the item people aspire to own.

[@soundsheavenly]

Yes these are great speakers, I still aspire to have a pair one day soon

[@TelemachAmanatidis]

This was definitely one of your best show! Thank you for this presentation!

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@Egofileo1]

Thanks for this awesome tour and for have shared the experience. I’ll be so glad to have the same chance to listen to these pieces of music art and modest technology applied to music. Hope to be able one day. Great job and thanks again.

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks! These really are superb speakers and well worth a visit to hear them at a B&O store if you get the chance!

[@sarafoley7523]

Hi Steve-- I just found your wonderful reviews today. Thanks for sharing your expertise and your passion for beauty and acoustic engineering with the world!

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks! ;-) Please subscribe to my channel, there are lots more videos to come very soon....

[@DarthScouse705]

Excellent review. I appreciated the knowledge and time put into this. Thank you

[@soundsheavenly]

You are welcome, glad the video was helpful!

[@Raydee27]

Beolab 5 have always been my favorite speakers, timeless design and great performance with that "whouaaa" factor

[@soundsheavenly]

Yes, I love them too! They are on my wishlist for when funds allow.....

[@Mikipedia]

Great video once again! There all different but there is a great lineage going :D

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks! Listening to the three speakers together, you can certainly hear the common theme in the way they present music....

[@242Evangelion]

Comparing the speakers to sports cars is great. I sometimes have a hard time describing the difference and specially to non- Beo fans. A great video and would love to see a video of BL9 vs BL20 vs BL5.

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks! I'm looking at filming a couple of speaker comparisons soon, Beolab 8000 vs. 18 and Beolab 9 vs. 20 (possibly also to include Beolab 5 if I can find a store with all the speakers in stock! Watch this space.....

[@Justwantahover]

High end audio has about as much to do with music as a super car has to do with transport. 😅

[@soundsheavenly]

@Justwantahover maybe, but they can both be extremely enjoyable and entertaining 😉👍🏻

[@ThinkingBetter]

Awesome review. I worked at B&O for 14 years in R&D and I always find it a bit sad that the audiophile community is told by other brands that advanced signal processing is a negative. Now we got KEF LS60 and more brands are starting to wake up, but B&O has been two decades ahead.

[@soundsheavenly]

Yes, B&O has really been an audio pioneer in many ways. Once you have heard the benefits of digital signal processing, there is no turning back!

[@ThinkingBetter]

@@soundsheavenly I used to be member of the B&O listening team and had to undergo hearing tests every so often to qualify. I didn’t always like the way our designers dictated constrains causing limited speaker volumes in some cases but these speakers were designed with audio performance as a key attribute still with awesome design.

[@aragabiccafe]

Very good video Steve, What a beautiful speaker, I imagine listening to an aria by the Johann Strauss Andre Rieu orchestra. the speakers are very heavy that's because of the coil and magnets, thanks.

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks, the speakers are very solidly made, to handle the incredible power

[@rulopbo]

I usually don’t comment on YT videos, but this Steve guy (have no idea who he is) is a joy to listen to... someone tell Jeremy Clarkson to hire this man...

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks ;-) I would LOVE a job on the Grand Tour if Mr. Clarkson is listening (I hear that he is a big B&O fan!)

[@frankbuse8664]

Gut gemacht🤗🖖🏽

[@soundsheavenly]

Danke!

[@bengtakemattsson2087]

Great video I would like to know what soundsystem you played from and what source you used cd, mp3 ?

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks! For the test I used Spotify playing to the speakers via a Beovision Harmony TV. The file quality is not quite perfect this way, but good enough that there are no audible faults.

[@rubenscheuer519]

Those are the reasons why I'm so fascinated by B&O. Since I got my first pair of the H6 2nd Generation five years ago, I'm a total maniac with collecting B&O headphones and speakers. Each of them are perfect for their specific purpose and each of them has its very own character. There are not many audio brands (from which I know of) which combine sound, design and craftmanship so well like B&O does. I wish B&O opens up more stores here in germany some day.

[@soundsheavenly]

Yes, B&O have made some amazing headphones and speakers. The H95 are amongst the best headphones I have ever heard at any price.

[@rubenscheuer519]

@@soundsheavenly Just curious, but is the Berluti-Design Variant for the H95 already out? I have already seen it in the App, but it doesn't seem to be available yet... at least in germany.

[@soundsheavenly]

@@rubenscheuer519 Hi, yes this was a limited edition version of the H95, I reviewed it on my channel recently. I don't know if it is still in production, but it is well worth looking for as a pre-owned purchase if you can find one!

[@saketjoshi4476]

I am here because I just listened to the BL90. Now I feel every other speaker in my house is shit lol. But yes, you have a showroom in Berlin. You have all the speakers especially 50 & 90 & you can listen to them I guess for as long as you want.

[@chrisbaker121924]

I like the car reference! That makes total sense to me... would be interesting to know what car you compare to the MS150s I’ve got... also the beolab pentas (but for me the penta I’ve always compared to a Delorean... purely athletically)

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks! I guess the MS150s would be a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow or a Jaguar XJ6 for me? Set in their own era, but the smoothest, classiest option available regardless of cost. I like the Penta/Delorean comparison (although I would put them nearer to a BMW 7 series or Bentley Flying Spur in performance - big and heavy, a solid workhorse that you can reply on to complete any task well if you can afford them and find the space......

[@chrisbaker121924]

Steve at Sounds Heavenly yes more Delorean because they’re stainless steel clad over a resin/plastic structure... but obviously a little better engineered than than a DMC. I like the older Rolls/Jag reference for the MS150s. They’re never leaving my company! I think if I were choosing between the three from your description I’d probably go for the lab 50s. Only slightly more money than 5s (well 2x as much) the 90s are just far too much money for anyone of a normal income to even entertain. Even the 50s are a stretch but... feasible at least. Plus in my eyes the 50s are the nicest looking.

[@soundsheavenly]

@@chrisbaker121924 Good call! Glad the video was useful

[@jarrodsplace]

It's amazing how the thinking has changed from Beolab 5 to Beolab 90.. Aside from the the obvious difference in power and processing etc Beolab 5 was designed to encourage side reflection with broadening the "spread" of the mids and highs where as beolab 90 does all it can to remove/cancel any dispersion from the speaker and to remove the room from the equation totally. Which is correct though??? I remember the launch of Beolab 5 in Adelaide South Australia. I was working for B&O at the time and they simply blew my mind. The morning after the launch event i went back to the venue (the Hilton ballroom) and spent some time with them. It was a red label pair and they stopped working while i was playing Michael Jackson... It wasn't loud but they just turned off.... Before that though i had never heard a system with such rock solid imagining with palpable texture and realism.. Beolab 5 is my end game if i ever get there.... (actually beolab 90 is but thats not gonna happen)....

[@soundsheavenly]

They are both great speakers, but very different approaches to getting "perfect sound"..... Beolab 5 is still top of my wish list!

[@jarrodsplace]

Sounds Heavenly it continues to confuse me that in a relatively short time between Beolab 5 and Beolab 90 so much changed. Out with Dave Moulton and in with Geoff Martin and everything is turned on it’s head. I winder what the 100th anniversary will have in store. I’ll bet they are working on it now.

[@soundsheavenly]

@@jarrodsplace B&O are still using a very similar approach, but it has been developed much further in the new speakers. Geoff Martin is building on the previous work that earlier B&O engineers started.

[@julesled]

What I find truly bonkers, is when weve a,small do and the music is at mid-low. You could be the guest sittting next to the speaker- not be deafened nor your manner of chattiing compromised.

[@BBnose]

I like simplicity, I like Beolab 5 better! However, people only can buy preowned Beolab 5. I hope B&O would made a new update version base on Beolab 5. Just like Beolab 18 that base on Beolab 8000.

[@soundsheavenly]

Yes, I have wanted Beolab 5 for a few years now, I have a feeling that B&O may make an updated version one day soon.... ;-)

[@beitie]

As a Roxette fan myself, curios what song you use to listen? Thanks for the video, I do hope to own a set of Beolab 5's one day.

[@soundsheavenly]

Hi, my favourite track for speaker testing has always been "Silver Blue" from the Tourism album, but many of their more acoustic songs are great to hear the differences between speakers, particularly for imaging and tonal balance. "Cinnamon Street", "So far away", "Voices", "The Voice", "Church of your Heart"....the list of great Roxette tracks goes on and on!

[@IBAndreas]

I just love this answer. My money was on "She's Got the Look".

[@supergrissi]

@@IBAndreas Na na na na na... :)

[@bricktop2603]

Three music I would like listen to on those speakers is : Dire Straits - Sultans of swing Black Sabbath - War Pigs Pink Floyd - Learning to fly One day...🤞

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks, great songs! Sultans of Swing is one of my top speaker testing tracks!

[@bricktop2603]

@@soundsheavenly I understand why.Good choice.👍 That song is amazing.

[@scottstrails9369]

Superb

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks!

[@srenbonfils5778]

Guess I know the answer but what would you choose between the BeoLab 5 used condition from 2009 or new BeoLab 20 for a living room for music and front speakers with an Eclipse or Harmony along with BeoLab 17 ?

[@soundsheavenly]

Hi, Beolab 5 every time! The other speakers are good, but not even in the same league....

[@srenbonfils5778]

@@soundsheavenly Thanks a lot for a quick reply which iI also expected :-) Should I worry about the B5's having a lot of expenses braking down due to the fact they are not new anymore? I am looking at a pair from 2009?

[@soundsheavenly]

@@srenbonfils5778 Hi, I'm not the best person to comment on this as I don't own them myself, but please have a look on the forum at www.beoworld.org and you should see a recent thread about this that will be helpful

[@rid9]

The Beolab 5 design makes me think of the original Form 2 headphones for some reason.

[@soundsheavenly]

Yes, it is interesting to see how the same design cues run through very different B&O products over the years

[@parvanadrian6215]

Hi Steve , please where is that place ? I need to listen that BL90 !

[@soundsheavenly]

Hi, this video was taken at B&O Wilmslow in Cheshire, England

[@larsandersen9134]

I love the design and sound of the BL50. But I want the rubleing bass of the BL5. How can I make the BL50 rumble like the BL5? Can they be tweeked/jailbreaked or do I need a BL19 for that?

[@soundsheavenly]

Beolab 50 will reach deeper and louder than Beolab 19 (or just about any other subwoofer for that matter). They have an option in the app that makes them match the sound profile of Beolab 5 (which had a 6dB bass boost) and that is the option to choose if you want that Beolab 5 rumble from Beolab 50!

[@larsandersen9134]

@@soundsheavenly Thanks. What app is it you're referring to?

[@soundsheavenly]

@@larsandersen9134 That is the B&O app, free to download on iOS and Android stores.

[@larsandersen9134]

@@soundsheavenly Thanks for the answer yet again. I can’t find that +6dB "rumble-option" in the app for the Beolab 50. Do you think you could take screen shot of it in your app, so I can find it? I can send an email to your business email address and you can show me that way? My head is about to pop off because I can’t figure it out :)

[@soundsheavenly]

I haven’t got Beolab 50 set up at the moment but I think you may need to get your B&O dealer to set this up for you when they install the speakers, I don’t think it is in the app

[@Justwantahover]

The B&W Nautilus speakers cost about 100 grand, but you get more for your $ with B&O! The Nautilus need an amp for the start. 😅

[@soundsheavenly]

Yes, the Nautilus is a great speaker for vocals but rather limited in bass output. Very expensive once amplifiers are added, whereas the Beolab speakers have their amps built in and give incredible bass

[@julesled]

I used to eschew DSP until I heard the BeoLab 90. They sent them over to audition and they never left our Sala.

[@soundsheavenly]

Yes, the DSP on these speakers is AMAZING! Glad you also like them!

[@julesled]

@@soundsheavenly

[@julesled]

When I was first introduced to The Beo90, there it was nothing next to it except my 20yr old BEO5disc player. Oh so do we play a disc? My Exec. Asst who later explained how tedious the setup was replied; ' thats why I asked for your phone sir. Your music app is on, play anything. I looked for Nils Lofgren. Hit keith and it was on wide I wasnt even in the correct place ie my space on my couch. The first 30 seconds pass I hear what Im hearing look at my iphone look at the speakers look at my phone, where do I sign. Im not happy w beosound core. Whats the better solution?

[@soundsheavenly]

Hi, I agree, these are amazing speakers! Please can you let me know what you don’t like about the Core? I can then advise on an alternate streamer

[@julesled]

@@soundsheavenly Ive a Beosound 9000 and when the local B&O tech connected this to my then system which was the Beosound Core. I now have connectivity issues. Ie phone access. Is there any of the newer products that are more seamless in connecting. Its possible that my remote which came with the 9000, needs to be retired. The best compliment Ive recieved on the 90 is- " is that a new sculpture youve acquired? No even better- take the iphone on omni- a compromised setting in a compromised room ie a living room- and play schubert and watch my guest get doe eyed & slackjawed. I love that there isnt any visible kit of audioaffliction splayed hither and dither. Just these beautiful speakers filling the room even at low levels. Its amazing you could be next to it and not have the music bother you. I sat at every spot of our large sofa sectional and distance to listener did not create any issues. Thats what all the fuss in them taking sound readings for like 2-3hrs. Im now looking for the best wireless media player to unleash the speaker. We carry the P6 whenever we travel. And it works. Thank you for your time and advise.

[@thetapeshack2595]

Love the enthusiasm and of course that was a joke about getting the credit card out as you need to be a millionaire to afford the high end speakers: Beolab 90 £69000, Beolab 50 £30000. I'll keep my out on Gumtree.

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks! Whilst I can't afford these speakers new, I am also checking pre-owned prices regularly, as they are my dream purchase and I always hope that one day they will be within reach...

[@mihnea297]

I own a pair of Beolab 5s and also a pair of Beolab 1s. Of course we all would love to have the 90s, but unfortunately the size and the price make them impossible to own for a normal person and the true audiophiles. The only people I know who have the 90s bought them for "show". These are the nouveaux riches who have no idea what those speakers can do. I've seen them (and also incidentally a B&O salesperson in New York) play Spotify through Bluetooth into those speakers (!). I rest my case.

[@soundsheavenly]

Most most music lovers, Beolab 5 are still all the speakers you will ever want or need, they are incredible! Plus you can also use them for live music with a guitar or synthesiser, which you can’t do with Beolab 50 or 90 😉

[@percussionologist]

Interesting, in what way are the Beolab 5s more amenable for live music hookup/connection? ​@@soundsheavenly

[@soundsheavenly]

@percussionologist Of these three speakers, Beolab 5 are the only ones that can be used for live music performances, as the other two speakers have a latency (delay);on their line inputs which prevents them from being used with musical instruments

[@percussionologist]

@@soundsheavenly ah very interesting, cheers mate!

[@JustAboredZombie]

Beolab 90 is my favorite

[@soundsheavenly]

Yes, they are superb speakers!

[@pascalkrzeminski7341]

BeoLab 5 👍

[@soundsheavenly]

They would be my choice as well! ;-)

[@geraldmcmullon2465]

B&O Beolab 90 £125,000, 735x1253x747 mm, 687.95 litres, 137.00kg, 12-43k, 126dB B&O Beolab 50 oak £47,650, 455x1088x285 mm, 141.09 litres, 61.00kg, 15-43k, 120dB B&O Beolab 28 gold/oak £14,500, 1370x253x253 mm, 87.69 litres, 18.60kg, 27-23k, 110dB B&O Beolab 5 £15,000 (2005), now ~£7k 970x490 diameter mm, 182.9 litres, 61kg each, 14-21.8k, 91dB The Beolab 90 are so large that they would not fit through most doors in their original crates. At 137kg getting them up stairs is a challenge. The current 2024 price tag of £125k is at the level of a luxury car or even a substantial part of buying a house. Beolab 5 by inflation rates ought to be £25,546 (by Bank of England inflation calculator), if available new in 2024, but by B&O price rises as seen with Beolab 50 and 90 since launch possibly £35000 if still manufactured now. Specifications are only part of a guide and listening to your choice of music and avoiding over rating heavy bass (which always sounds impressive but can become over tiring after a short while) and matching the real sound pressure levels, deciding if you are really getting that much valuable improvement for ten times the cost and which can you comfortably live with in your own home.

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks, that is interesting!

[@scrunts666]

I bought a pair of Beolab 5 from a charity shop for £50.

[@soundsheavenly]

That is amazing, I have never seen an offer that good...

[@Smog104]

That was some charity

[@MootPoot]

2:27 ultimate bass

[@soundsheavenly]

Yes, the bass from Beolab 5 is superb!

[@MrModikoe]

I've been cracking my mind almost the whole vid who this guy sounds like and I know now, he sounds a lot like Rupert Spira, probably not a very popular figure. A british is a spiritual teacher.

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks, that is interesting... Rupert Spira has a very calm, measured tone, making him a good public speaker and easy to listen to. I hope you also found my videos easy to listen to!

[@MrModikoe]

@@soundsheavenly true..I'm from South Africa. Saw the Beolab 90 in person just a month back but never had the privilege of testing them. The price is uhmm, let me say quite above average. Anyway just subscribed to your channel, cheers.

[@soundsheavenly]

@@MrModikoe Thanks!

[@TAREKG701]

هhello sir how are you Can you help me to get spare parts for this spicker am from Egypt

[@soundsheavenly]

Hello, sorry I don't have any spare parts, I just make cables. Please contact your local B&O store for any spare parts

[@fredgien]

Only talking about sound won’t do.

[@soundsheavenly]

The only way to properly hear these speakers is to do it yourself, in person. There is no point in me recording the sound of such high-end speakers for a video, as very few people will be listening to the video on speakers that are good enough to do justice to the sound differences between these B&O speakers. Hence, my approach for this video was to explain the auditioning process and to outline the strengths and weaknesses of each speaker, so that you can make an informed decision when you visit the store for yourself. Hope this helps.

[@202One]

Beolab 5 futuristic.. Beolab 50🍾.. Beolab 90 looks better topless..😂

[@soundsheavenly]

I agree! Did you see my video with Noto (the designers of Beolab 90) about how this was designed?

[@202One]

@@soundsheavenly Oh yes, great Interview..! ✌

[@soundsheavenly]

Thank you!

[@JohnThomas-gl4qu]

So where's the showdown? All I see and hear is talk. How can you have have a showdown without playing and hearing the speakers with various types of music??

[@soundsheavenly]

Good question! I tried various ways to let viewers hear the sound of the headphones on the video, but they don't lend themselves well to being accurately monitored for video reviews in the way that speakers do. Also, in order to compare speakers (for example, the Beolab 8000 vs. 3 review on my channel where you DO hear the music through the speakers), you need to listen at home on a good pair of headphones in order to hear the differences. There isn't any easy way to hear the sound of several different headphones on another pair of headphones....... To cut a long story short, this review is intended to give you pointers to listen out for when you do your own auditions for yourself (ideally in a B&O store if possible)......hope this helps?

[@egj1975]

How can you say that you would prefer the BL5 in some cases..... Beolab 5 is NOTHING compared to the BL90. I have over 500 hours of listening on all of these speakers and the BL5 is an fine speaker. The BL50 is a better speaker. And the Beolab 90 is 10 times better in any way than the other two. When I listen to the 90 for an hour and get back to the BL5 it sounds broken. No bass at all, weak mids and harsh highs. I dont get it

[@soundsheavenly]

Hi, speaker performance varies depending on your listening room, the music and your own personal preference. Whilst Beolab 90 is a World class speaker, it won't always be the absolute best for every person, room and situation. In the video, I used the analogy of speakers being like cars - Beolab 90 reminds me of a Bugatti Veyron, a great car but it wouldn't be the one I chose to go shopping in! Beolab 5 has a warm tone due to the way its ABL circuitry works and that suits my listening preferences. We are all different (it would be a boring World if we weren't!) and I admire your choice of a superb speaker. I also aspire to this, but for some situations, Beolab 5 would suit me just as well at a lower cost.

[@BobischEBM]

"No bass at all". Interesting. So, in your humble opinion; a speaker that has a 15" driver with a dedicated amplifier with 1000W has no base at all? ...not to mention the 6.5" midrange driver with it´s 1000W dedicated amplifer...

[@soundsheavenly]

@@BobischEBM Sorry, I think you may have misunderstood me (or maybe I didn't make myself clear)? Beolab 5, 50 and 90 all have IMMENSE bass, although their sound does vary depending on how they are set up in a room.....

[@adypitbull]

@@soundsheavenly "No bass at all, weak mids and harsh highs. I dont get it" i think it was an answer to Erik J...

[@soundsheavenly]

@@adypitbull No problem, thanks for clarifying. I was a bit puzzled, as I have never considered Beolab 5 to be light on bass.....

[@mrb5394]

Beolab 5 just screams i have made it. The rest just blaaaaa

[@soundsheavenly]

They are superb, timeless design and unmatched sound. I love them!

[@Justwantahover]

They are woke speakers a bit like BOSE but adding a źero to the co$t. 😅

[@soundsheavenly]

I would suggest that they sound very different to any Bose speakers I have ever heard. Not sure how a speaker can be’woke’?

[@allanmackay6453]

Beolab 20 are a better sounding speaker than the beolab 5 The 5 sound is now starting to be dated , the vocals sound slightly muffled compared to the 20’s . 5’s still an amazing speaker but starting to show its age with all the newer speakers

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks, that is interesting. I know of several people who have changed from Beolab 5 to Beolab 20. Beolab 5 has a slightly boosted bass which can make them sound muffled in some rooms, although they are still incredible speakers that can play insanely loud without distortion. Beolab 20 gives a lovely clear sound that is hard to beat, just without the ultimate power of Beolab 5.