Vintage Speakers: B&W vs B&O Beovox S45

[@margix1172]

Great comparison...it's fascinating that the B&O are way better than the B&W both aesthetically and sonically.

[@sturmanaskie]

Agree totally I just bought the S120 and waiting for them to arrive I think I will be in for a treat though listening to these

[@jukingeo]

Okay, this was a VERY interesting test. At first I liked the B&W speakers as they have better imaging. The S45's were more forward and have less imaging, almost as if someone punch a 'mono' button on my system. Now mind you, I do have a decent computer speaker system made by Cambridge Audio. So it is a decent system. I was ready to write off the B&O's as I am really not fond of their electronics. But I did like their CX-100 speaker. Anyway, things changed when the crescendo came in at 2:59 right when it cut off the S45's. I was like Whoa! When the B&W switched in, it seems as if the life was sucked out of that crescendo and it sounded like it was having a hard time with it. However, the sound stage opened up again. When the B&O's came back in, the lively sound came back! So this was a good piece that demonstrates the capability of both of these speakers. So my impressions are that the B&W speakers have better imaging than the S45's, but the latter is far more dynamic. This has me thinking that what might be a good continued test is to place the S45s in the spot where the B&W speakers are and do not toe them in. I wonder if this might improve the imaging on the S45's.

[@stofopdenaald132]

I hooked up two s45.2's on a Inkel amp combined with 2 chario bookshelf speakers, and damn, these old geezers have some live in them! Currently playing dances of death by Mekong Delta and it melts your face off 🤤 great vintage speakers. Blow the more modern Audio Monitor floorspeakers I had before out of the water. And those sounded great.

[@passsacaglia]

Amazing story!! You should try put some tracks by The Midnight or FM84 and get into that sick 80s vibe! Sunset, Los Angeles, Running in the Night and Never stop are some great tracks!

[@jonathangordon3730]

Great comparison. I prefer the 45's, but that may be because I am listening to this on my own S45s, which I bought new when they were in production. Mine have a dark wood finish. Thanks!

[@otmaroti]

Beovox - you're right there in front of the stage and you can actually smell the orchestra's sweat. B&W - you just walked out of a train station and there's music playing somewhere in the neighbourhood, not sure where it is though 😄 'Nough said.

[@davidtanguma6247]

I have the B&O s75, and I love them.

[@iosifderecichei3743]

Great video! Any chance you can compare Luxman L-580 vs Accuphase E 202? I own the 580 and would like to hear how it compares to the E-202.

[@JesusGarcia-jn5kj]

Gracias por esta comparativa tan ilustrativa de la diferencia de timbres entre estas dos buenas parejas de altavoces, pero tan diferentes entre sí. Buena música elegida. Bien exigente en exprimir las cualidades de estos altavoces. Excelentes tomas visuales que nos ilustran cual es la procedencia del sonido. Me he suscrito de cabeza!!!

[@RRRSaulius]

Круто сравнить👍👌 У меня есть теперь Beovox S45.2 Beovox S75 Beovox MS 150.2 Звучат все достойно,но я бы отметил S45.2 первым делом,а после остальные😊,но они все прекрасно играют

[@passsacaglia]

Could you do a test with The Midnight - Sunset or Los Angeles? That would be amazing! Also FM 84 - Running in the night ^^

[@canalfamiliar302]

the mid range is clear in s45 good sound

[@davidtanguma6247]

B&O by far on this comparison.

[@Xantylon74]

Nice sounding Phillips driver in the Beovox.

[@simeonpetkov768]

They used all SEAS speakers in this model.

[@TheOmnipotently]

The Beovox S4500 sounds even better imo. Very good speakers even till todays standards. I like the airy open soundstage and also the deep but not muddy sounding bass of these a lot. For some reason they were not very popular, i guess maybe the price was too high. They are the successor of the Beovox S45.2

[@HifiBarcelona]

The Beovox S4500 is indeed an underrated gem! I completely agree-they offer an exceptionally airy and open soundstage, which really sets them apart. The bass is deep but well-controlled, never overwhelming or muddy, making them a great choice for a balanced listening experience. It's surprising they didn’t gain more popularity, but as you mentioned, the higher price might have been a factor. As the successor to the Beovox S45.2, they carry forward the strengths of that line while refining the sound even more. Definitely a fantastic speaker, even by today's standards!

[@justinlinnane8043]

You really cant beat a good pair of S45-2 speakers . I'm listening now with the Beomaster 6000 hooked up to mine . Stunning all rounders . Peirod matching Kef's are almost as good but not quite

[@HifiBarcelona]

You're absolutely right! The **Bang & Olufsen S45-2** speakers are fantastic-especially when paired with something like the **Beomaster 6000**. They offer such a well-balanced and detailed sound, and it's hard to find a match for that warm, full-bodied tone. Period-matching **KEF speakers** do come close in some aspects, but the S45-2 has a unique character that's hard to beat. Glad to hear you're enjoying them!

[@donjohnstone3707]

The B&W's were smoother overall and went deeper in the bass with a more refined top end, but were lacking definition and detail in the midrange, which you might expect from a 2-way design without a dedicated midrange speaker. By comparison the B&O's were less smooth and refined overall, with brighter highs and more clearly defined mid range but less depth in the bass. For my taste generally, the B&W's sound was a bit dull and subdued, while the B&O's sound was a bit too blaring and course but more exciting. They both have their pro's and cons but I have heard better speakers.

[@HifiBarcelona]

You are completely right! Thanks for your comment!

[@michalmanja5938]

Nice comment. What speakers are better? Just few for example.

[@richardcrook2112]

Fascinating, thanks dude.

[@janclemente5301]

Una pregunta vale la pena comprarse unos B&O beovox 3702 se escuchan bien? Seria para conectarlos a un amplificador Pioneer sa - 510. Serian para escuchar Rock, Pop, Opera, música clásica, etc. un poco de todo 😂

[@HifiBarcelona]

Segun mi opinion todos los altavices Beovox teien una calidad muy buena. Si la marca fuera Britànica seguro que seria considerada de las mas important es.

[@ramskiramski]

Did you build the wood enclosure of the S45 yourself? It does not look like the original or am I wrong? Thanks in advance!

[@HifiBarcelona]

Yes I did. The original wood was completely broken…

[@michaeljohnson1006]

Our beovox have very good bass but you need to make sure you are sitting opposite and near to a wall to get the best from them.

[@pernormann4869]

Beo sounds much better. I guess in terms of modern sound they lack sub bass. It would be interesting to hear the S45-2s with a sub woofer.

[@jobidden2073]

You must compare like design with like design.... Beovox S45 should be compared to Bowers & Wilkins DM4 or DM2. What you has is just a compact bookshelf speaker from B&W.

[@soundcheck6053]

Brilliant!

[@kaisermark3462]

Sansui 881?

[@newagegaga]

B&O win!

[@farquell5782]

Una pena que no puedes combinar los dos altavoces. Los beovox suenan demasiado abierto con poca profundidad y los b&w demasiado cerrados.

[@nestorsito1879]

Bo s45

[@souldoc123]

my goal to s45,but comparing not correct,2 way system vs 3 way..

[@HifiBarcelona]

Yes, I know that is not a fair comparation... but it is not a competition! They have diferent sound for diferent type of music, isn't it?

[@canalfamiliar302]

@@HifiBarcelona in the actuality is usually 2 way system

[@Tyson09]

Those B&W look like 603 S3's which are a modern, well designed, high res 2 way speaker system. They are a more than adequate comparison which should kick the B&O s45. No problem with the speaker class comparison. The B & O sounds much better unsurprisingly. Personally, I have found them (B&W) too bright and over rated

[@YaroslavViva]

Both sound exactly like the speakers of my iPad that I'm listening to them on. By the way, the rest of the audience also hears only their speakers 🤭

[@HifiBarcelona]

Yes, that it is true. But I like this type of videos: we can see the machine and imagine the sound.

[@jackjackie3152]

beo

[@steveallen489]

Bang and Olufsen sound better

[@HifiBarcelona]

It has a cert round sound, and a little bit brighter on top.