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B&O is exceptional in taking care of you as a customer. I had an issue with stereo pairing two Beosound Emerge. Around two-three days of back and forth emails, they escalated it. They CALLED ME and made sure I tried everything possible. Before even saying “OK, we will take them back” they brought the problem to their engineers and pushed a tailored update TO MY SPEAKERS!!! Just to fix them. Never had an issue since. I became a devout follower and have no intention of going back. If I need more speakers I just wait until I can afford one. They’re incredible. I got into it when I saw your Beosound Stage review a couple of years ago and I’ve been your fan ever since. Great content, as always!!
My life changed after buying my first b&o speaker. Theres is honestly a sound that is truly special, not only the sound, but the design, the history, the quality. Its honestly something else. Ive had speakers of different quality through out my life, but b&o changed my life. I started with a couple of used beolap 4000, added a couple of used beolap 8000. Then i bougt a beosound moment and now ive got of almost new couple of beolap 8000 and beo lap 3's and a subwoofer. Its continues to blow my mind. I wouldnt have it anyother way.
I’m really happy that this speaker gets more exposure, because it really is that exceptional. It doesn’t hurt either that it’s also stunningly beautiful. Excellent video! 🎉
i bought a used, very old CRT TV from bang and olufsen for playing retro gaming consoles and, i was missing some accessories for it and i just went to the closest B&O dealer and they were super happy for me and they helped me a lot getting everything for it to work. Bang and Olufsen resellers are incredibly passionate and are always happy to help you even if you come in the stores with a product you bought used somewhere else and that is definitely not something i can say about most brands
My audio story started when I was like 11 years old (now I am 31) and first listened to in ear headphones and experienced bass for the first time and was blown away already. I moved on and started to put all my pocket money into sennheiser in ear headphones a few years later and got to the point where in ears could not live up to my expectations anymore. This story would take forever and there was a lot of progress for me but for now I will jump to my most recent experience. I had large speakers with subs, amps and everything but I just listened to a shelf speaker and I experienced something new. It was not about max volume or couch shaking bass anymore. This speaker in such a small housing brought my initial joy about music back to me! I did not think about specs anymore and just listened… That‘s why I have smaller speakers than ever before and love it. I just listened to the A9 and experienced the same thing. This is out of my price category right now but someday I will buy a bang @ olufsen speaker. There is something about it that can‘t be measured by just technical data. Thanks for the honest review, really enjoying it everytime
One of my favorite reviews you have done. The joy of enjoying music with the people we love us really hard to put a price tag on. My Dad got me into the hobby as a kid and he passed 13 years ago but I always wonder how he would enjoy my current gear. That what if means the world to me because of our relationship.
Kristi makes the most important point anyone could make in Hifi reviewing, when she speaks about "looking forward to using the product everyday"!!! In case you missed it folks, that's what hifi is all about!! It couldn't be more plain or better put than that, because when you have that one quality going for you then you really have done something right!
I have been listening to my stereo system since 1970 when I bought à Sonata NS 1600 amp (8w per ch) and a simple turntable (just the platter, belt, motor and metal base plate and tone arm (a really long one, all chrome) bought separate to the turntable and l made a box for the turntable, and a SURE cartridge then $20. And built my own 6" single driver speaker boxes for my 6" single drivers. My first system. 😅
First of all - excellent review. I enjoy hearing both perspectives and personal stories as they relate to music and audio equipment. Secondly - I need to comment on B&O products in general. Their audio is pleasing to me. However, I must admit, a large part of my decision to purchase their products is driven by their design which is across the board AMAZING. In fact, design had a lot to do with my purchase of the NAD M10. So, my audio / personal story is that the way it sounds is the most important, but the way it looks ( and the user interface / experience ) is a close second.
Hi Andrew and Kristie. Wow, my story started when I was 15, I listening to my old Grundig LP+cassete player from my dad. Very good ones for the time, all paper 3 way speaker. Then I build my system, I build my own speakers with 12 inch woofer and a hornet compression driver in a 12 square meter room (my old neighbors probably still remember me), with a Kenwood tuner, a Brasilian professional amp, and my dad's Grundig as a source. In 93 I sell all and bought a JVC portable mini system with CD (that is so expensive that time) around 90's here. And think I had best in class audio. Then something happens. I went to a AV show in São Paulo, probably in 94, and viewed and listened first time a B&W tower speaker. Wow man, it was a change in my life, everything I listened was not even close to that. I spend my next 15 years dreaming on having some similar. Then in 2002 after much saving I bought a pair of B&W CM4 (Qasim 2200 used here), a because a job I have here I started visiting USA on a year, I bought a denon sacd, a yamaha multi CD, a rotel integrated and in a nice deal (half price due dealer will no more work with rotel) and a pro-jekt LP, all between 2003 and 2007. They all still with me, all working except denon CD (sacd part is ok). My CM4 needed to change the woofer and mid-range suspension (gray ones hardened, got new black ones from a Netherlands b&w spare part supplier). But beside all new nice products, I still love my setup. But I need to confess that if I have a easier to play I and my family will listen much more. Need to think about, may be a A9 a solution? Thanks a lot for the video, to let me remember my history and share with you, and to think about the future of may hi-fi with may family (thanks Kristie)
My Hi-Fi experience started when my dad tried to influence me, by playing music he loved in the car. When I was about three I would sit and hum along to Rammstein in the back seat. I didn't pay much attention to music until later when I started drumming. This would get me to think more about the craftsmanship that goes into well written music. Having played the drums for some years my dad sat me down on the couch to introduce me to a band he felt I was ready to be introduced to, so he played Forty Six & 2 by Tool on his Logitech 5.1 surround set and I was blown away by the music. This was the gateway for me to really get into listening on a per album basis as I would go away from playlists, which would later help me get into vinyl. I had already bought a pair of headphones specifically for listening to music, a pair of Sennheiseer hd558's, which for the price I think are great, till this day, almost nine years later. One day my dad told me that he had once listened to a pair of great stereo speakers and it had kind of ruined his experience with systems like his surround, so I asked whether there really was a substantial difference and I ended up buying a pair of B&W 685 s2. This was almost six years ago when I was about 16 and I still use these speakers every day. I now have a girlfriend who also appreciates Hi-Fi and I am studying electronics engineering, where I have built an ibtegrated audio amplifier as a project and might end up applying for a job at B&O or some other danish audio brands. In the future I hope to be able to upgrade my system to something like the KEF meta R11 because of your video on them. Love your work and your channel!
"Let's do some good". Words to live by, and one reason I love this channel. You guys are the best! And now I don't have to carry my KEF LS60's outside....
13:40 - 16:00 is important to me. Im in my mid forties, married with two kids around 10 years old. To bring in your wife and kids to come in and want to share and enjoy not only your music but their music also can bring so much joy that it cannot have a price put onto it, and makes your investments do much worth while. I have recently just done my lasted speaker and amp upgrade which I hope to last 20 years, and chose components based on not just the music I listen to, but the music we as a family listen to.
Hi I’m a hifi nut and have been in the industry for years. I’ve sold from all levels: realistic-technics rack systems- mission, quad- linn, naim- krell, Martin Logan, and of course B&0. And out of all those products the most fun I had was with B&0. Yes it didn’t sound the best but whenever they brought something out it’s a real head turner. The customers never had “golden ears” so no audiophile snobbery here. Just fun (yes pricey) kit, and the friends I made on the way selling it have stayed friends forever. Yes good old bang and Olufsen hope they keep creating head turning kit for a long time, and thanks for being open minded to reviewing their stuff.
Great review by you both. I grew up in the 70’s and my earliest memories are my dad’s Sansui 441 receiver and Utah loudspeakers. Early 80’d dad purchased an NAD 7240PE receiver. Upgraded to Fisher loudspeakers. Late 80’s I purchased Adcom amps, 535,545. Polk audio speakers, M7 and monitor 2 bookshelves. 2004 I found Monitor Audio Silver S 10 and S 5 i . Denon AVR 2802. Plus various others components over the years. Point is after dad passed in ‘21 I finally had a chance to enjoy his vintage gear and some of my own. Has brought my family closer together. Music can do that. Sorry so long winded here. All the best.
The emotion and truth from this review is what was key for me!! #DoSomeGood.... It has been a life goal of mine as long as I have had memory. Well done Andrew and Kristi... :)
18:55 My HiFi story could be summed up like this… I wish I could go back in time before I ever knew audiophile terms like Imaging & Soundstage existed. That was back when I truly just enjoyed listening to my stereo instead of constantly analyzing & judging my gear for what it doesn’t do and always thinking…”is this audiophile enough?” “Is this what other more seasoned audiophiles would consider a proper 2 channel system?” I almost wish I never went down this rabbit hole because I feel like what I have will never be enough. There’s always a better amp, a better pair of speakers, a better turntable with a better cartridge, a better DAC, a better pair of speaker wires, a better treated room, etc etc… It never fucking ends in this hobby. Like an over zealous painter that doesn’t know when to stop adding to a painting that’s already a masterpiece.
I feel like ive gotten my spouse and 3 kids into audio. I feel like i hit s balance between quality and ease of use. I own lifestyle proucts from sonos, yet also have separates. Remember, people first....priducts second. Cheers!
That combination of style, technological advancement and satisfying performance has been B&O’s jam for well over half a century. Been in the hobby myself since the early ‘60s, and the brand was always felt to be other side of my fiscal comfort zone, but in retrospect there were years in which the cost of turnover and depreciation chasing the FOMO could easily have paid for a pair of Pentas. Currently rocking a DIY built three channel ICE Power amp in my HT system, so I guess there’s a little bit of B&O in my home after all.
I remember, a few years ago, shopping for a bluetooth speaker for my son. After listening to all the store had, a tiny one, the size of a soap, caught our attention...A B&O, which sounded much clearer and with better fidelity than all the others but really expensive. In the end we bought a Wonderboom (because it was for a teenager after all) but that speaker really was the best and the smallest. A really good piece of equipment.
What cool review. So wonderful to hear your unabashed love for this speaker and how it connects you to the music... which is the whole point. My audio story started in college in Seguin, Texas in the early 80's: I regularly gathered with other friends at the apt. of two friends who had the same JBL L series (big boxes - forget which model) and had combined them into one system. I had never heard imaging before or any hi fi reproduction that was so spectacular. They welcomed me to bring my music (mostly classical) and we spent many hours together listening to 'A Prairie Home Companion' on Saturdays and every conceivable type of music. Both of those friends are gone now... one tragically while we were still in college. But the memories of those times listening to music never left me. I owe a lot to Schawartzy and Sumey. They were good friends and music brought us together. PS - I am dying to hear this speaker system. Thank you, both!!
Great video and discussion at the end! My one concern would be long-term app support, as someone who has an old Klipsch airplay speaker (G-17 Air) that has had repeated issues with the app becoming so dated that it stops working whenever a new version of iOS is released.
Wow sounds like a life changing speaker. Very cool. We have a couple of cheap bose speakers and love them for the same reason although I'm sure they sound nowhere close.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews it is a gorgeous speaker, my goodness. My partner described it as the "ultimate picnic blaster". She said they should have made plaid options hahaha. The brown one looks like a damn car filter. The color we got fits the picnic blanket scene well...and is overkill in terms of SPL. It's somewhat portable. It's heavy!! We've been using the little Bose micro soundlink guy and that thing is so enjoyable. Also keen on the JBL flip 5 and 6. It surprises me almost every time. I've heard so many of these portable speakers you guys. I also build portable vintage suitcase bluetooth boomboxes so I have an ear for the stuff. Regarding bluetooth speakers, ya'll know the bass is always flabby and artificial. The A5 has minor "traits" of the traditional, bluetooth, signature sound, but oh man, the low end is actually decent. It will dig pretty deep and not fatigue you. Indoors the bass out of the box is ridiculous and shocking. I could type for a while about it but I gotta go make dinner for my family. My only grip is, you have to manually disconnect bluetooth on your device when you power the A5 down. I'm considering sending it back JUST for that lol.
I remember I went to the B&O store with my dad about 4 years ago and the Beolab 90s were in a demo and I asked to listen and they played music wirelessly from their TV. The sound was a little disappointing when equating to the price and hyper entered around them. I asked to listen to music on their Beolab 18 and 19 stereo combo and I’ve never heard music as crisp as that setup! To this day it is still the setup I want but the price is just way out of my reach.
QotD: B&W DM603 S2 speakers ruined my HiFi journey for 20 years. Back in the late 90s, I "upgraded" my first speakers, the Mission 731 at around £150 (which I still love) to the B&Ws at around £700.... I shrugged my shoulders for 20 years... Then came lockdown = UA-cam on all sorts of subjects... Klipsch RP-600M, and a vintage Sansui amp purchase, and.... OMG, I'm back! Now in possession of the new Mission 770.. but cannot decide on a new amp...Help !
Not everyone is or likes to be an audiophile. Nothing wrong with liking good Music and nice sound. The audiophile obsession is not for everyone where music reproduction is as important as the Music and for many more important. The B&O fits this profile specially with their design priority focus. Many could immediately detect lower sound quality compared to an audiophile set up but mainstream people just don’t care for the difference. There are many hobbies after all some go for cars, some on watches and a few on audiophile gear.
Sounds wonderful, but I have to wonder if the review would be different if you had two and tried to set them up as a stereo pair. I have a pair of BeoSound Emerge and spent a huge number of hours trying to get them to work. I even replaced my router in the attempt. Finally I had to wire them together with an ethernet cable to get a stereo pair. They sound wonderful, but clearly B&O's "smart" speakers are missing the smarts.
In my past upon listening to B&O speakers..i was immediately turned off because they were over the top in a sterile sounding , they gave me a headache ..i can't remember what model number it was.But i had a B&O turntable for over 40 years and i did not have any problems with it.Sorry to say it was vandalized when someone broke into.my apartment. Having said the aforementioned i would like to give them a audition. Greatly appreciate this channel. Last question is how much do they cost ?
I have to give it to Bang and Olfson for the forward look and award winning designs...sleek , modern, up front design..in all aspects.I however have had a Bang and Olfsen turntable and it served me well..THE BEST TURNTABLE I have ever owned period. But I cannot listen to B&O speaker even today since 1974..they give me a headache..they are crystal clear...and definitely Not for everyone..they have there own sound...not a traditional sound..it's a fatigued speaker to listen to ..in my honest opinion.Andrew Edwards your review was spot on..not to the left not to the right...I've experienced these speakers so to each his own.
Easier to move around the house with a Besound Level as Andrew reported last year. A5 adds IP65 and lower bass and louder volume than the Levels but are closer to the Balance in performance than the Levels. A5 and Level have long battery life.
So it wasn't clear. You said you took it outside and used room correction out there to make an outdoor setting. So it sounds better and you started listening more when you used the outdoor settings inside? Thank you, loved the review, now I need to win the lottery.
Nice ! Shame I don't have an extra room for something like it. Maybe the new B&O Beosound Theater Sound Bar 🤔 which appears to be incredible. But I'm still waiting on the "Dragon 🐉" to show up before I make a move on something.
Oh boy, my hifi story....hmmmm...I hesitate to even call it a hifi story. I LOVE movies. I love the movie theater experience. I love sitting close to a screen, filling my entire view and being immersed into the story. At some point, probably around 20 years ago now, I started to hate to go to the theater. It is very expensive, and at the time I smoked and enjoyed a beer when I was going out. The only theaters that allowed smoking, or allowed beer, showed only older movies. When I went to a new movie, it was out of focus, or I didn't get a great seat, or somebody was talking through the movie, or a baby was crying, or I had to get up to pee and I didn't want to miss any part of the movie I had paid an arm and a leg to go watch. So, I started to hate movie theaters...then the flat panel TVs came out. YAY! I had already learned about AV equipment so sound wasn't an issue, at least I thought so. I hadn't heard about hifi in the sense of different cost speakers might have better sound. Anyway, I've always been kind of poor. When I did get a really good paying job, the job started laying people off, so I decided to go to college. Before I finished college my mom got cancer and I dropped out to take care of her. After she passed away life just didn't go in the direction of going back to college, so I got back into the swing of dead end, low paying jobs. Anyway, I retired to save what is left of my sanity and my body, so money is the lowest it has ever been, but having all this free time I'm now trying to learn how to improve my movie and music experience. Because my money is low all my stuff is either thrift store or ebay finds. I'm using an Onkyo receiver that has Dolby 5.1, I think it cost $10, a pair of Cambridge Soundworks m80 speakers for $40, a Jamo center for $10 and some random Panasonic speakers for surround, oh a Sony 12 inch sw (can't remember the model or cost but it was definitely lower than $60), and a Klipsch ksw10 (newest member of the sound family for $40). The receiver has Audyssey which I ran and makes the movies sound great, but makes my ears drums hurt if I listen to music on stereo mode. Sadly, listening to music in the 5.1 mode just sounds kind of weird. I wish I knew if I could improve my "hifi experience" but I don't have the money, nor do I have access to listening rooms so I have nothing to compare my sound against. Anyway, that's my hifi story I guess. I've spent more money than listed above because I've bought other equipment that I still have but are no longer being used now that I've got nicer equipment. I hope some day I can figure out how to listen to my system in stereo without hurting my ears, and I'd love to go somewhere and hear all these wonderful speakers and ATMOS and everything else your channel tells me about. Watching your channel, and other hifi channels is like driving a 30 year old, second hand Honda and wondering what it is like to drive a Corvette or Ferrari.
Hi Andrew, could you make a video to talk about the difference between speakers like sonos Era 300 and speakers like b and w, b and o, klipsch etc. Many thanks
My story is still in the process. I'm struggling with pulling the trigger on my first audio purchase ever. This seems like a great option for me as I love the all in ones, but I don't have a good spot for a traditional speaker setup and I don't like the look of most speakers. Not sure if my budget can stomach two of them for stereo :(
Great review.. how would you categorize sound characteristics of the bang and olufsen sound? It always has a very enjoyable, listening experience. It has a sort of forgivable trait even went bad recordings . Trying to achieve this is my traditional two channel set up. Looking for a DAC With smooth, organic sound with soul that won’t sacrifice detail retrieval as well? Would love to know your thoughts thank you for your all the great reviews
Man, I have loved your reviews. Australian mortgages are variable so 20k worse off now than a year ago. Cut Tidal (I only use it). UA-cam remains. Any cheap streaming ideas? Cheers Nick.
Hey Andrew, amazing review as always. I have a B&o M5 and feel similarly due to the smaller space I work with. Wanted to get your thoughts on an M5 and given that the chromecast features are not available on the older speakers do we have an alternative to get chromecast working on an M5? Thanks!
Oh and do you think a flic twist would be able to operate a B&os volume control? Their physical remotes are quite pricey and was wondering if you had any alternatives :)
@@matteventu hey Matteo thank you for responding. If you chromecast individually to the M5 it works; however, if in a speaker group with other devices it does not.
@@samirdiwan612 unfortunately Google changed the requirements of speaker groups, and now all Chromecast speakers need to be on Cast firmware 1.52 or newer to work in groups. Beoplay M5 is on Cast firmware 1.28, and according to B&O they can't update it to 1.52 (like they did with some more recent products) because the hardware wouldn't support it. Therefore, it can't be used in groups :( A workaround would be to use a device such as WiiM Pro plugged in to the 3.5mm input jack of the M5, and then cast to it also in groups.
@@matteventu Thank you! I was looking for a workaround. I did notice that the M5 lags on the headphone Jack connections and was wondering if there were any alternatives that worked well.
I repeat it any time you review a B&O product, but your is the only "credible" youtube channel able to do it properly, and transmit the feelings and the real experience that come from these speakers. Great job as always, and thanks for this video.
Best and most heartfelt video I’ve seen from you guys and the one I can relate the most, especially the monologue section where Kristi confesses of how she rediscovered music through those speakers and can’t stop listening to them instead of worrying about how she will get to the “ideal sound”. I feel EXACTLY like that about the B&W Formation Duos and I can’t thank you enough guys for your review on them and how they ended up changing my approach to HiFi listening. Now, I don’t know how they compare sonically to the A9 (it will be interesting to know) but boy have I rediscovered music. It has solved all my issues snd hassle about trying to find the right amp preamp, DAC, sub that will match, because B&W has done it for me in a smart active speaker format. And they have done it in the best way they feel their signature sound will be represented. Short signal path, optimised drive unit behaviour to amplifier, dynamic EQ, full control over dynamic unit behaviour, DSP, those are some of the benefits a smart active speaker will give you and in the process take away the time consuming, pricy headache (for many people fun way) to try, play around and find what match is right for you. If you get goosebumps right away and can’t look forward to come back home to listen to music; I mean what more do you need, isn’t what we most strive for from our “ideal” system?
I really loved this review and video. Congrats both Andrew and Kristi on getting an A9, and I'm so glad you both enjoyed it. My audio journey started really young, born in 1983, and MTV was my favorite station to watch by the time I was 5. My Dad had a Pioneer SX-828 receiver, PL-12D turntable, a Technics cassette deck, all running to a pair of Bang & Olufsen Beovox S45-2 speakers. I was always in love with this stereo system, and wanted my own. I went through a lot of different items as a young kid. GE radio, Panasonic radio that I still own (early 90's), to an older 1970's RCA receiver with built in 8 Track player, and a set of some kind of hifi speaker. A few different Sharp Walkmans, and a Sony Discman in the late 90's. I was able to get a Pioneer SX-828 of my own when I turned something like 13 years old. It was one that my uncle owned, and gifted to me for my birthday. I had saved up money by getting a paper rout, and went to my local hi-fi store (RIP Audio Village), and bought a pair of Pioneer CS-G304a speakers. I used that set up for many many years. I also had some pretty decent car audio equipment, as it was the first time in my life that I was allowed to get some freedom from the home, get away from the parents, and listen to what I wanted to, at a loud level. Lots of Pioneer car audio, and Panasonic as well. Mixed with different subwoofers from Pioneer, Kenwood, and some other brands I'm just forgetting. In 2010 I bought my first house, set up my living room with the Pioneer SX-828, and CS-G304a speakers. I've also had a Kenwood 5 disc changer, and when that broke, I bought a Sony ES 5 disc changer that I still own today. I also got back into records at this time. The B&O speakers my dad had left an impression on me, and I bought a Beogram 1602 turntable with a working MMC 20EN cartridge. Around this time I was trying a lot of different turntables. My Dad's old PL-12D, the 1602, an Audio Technica AT-PL-120, a Pioneer PL-510A. After jumping around a lot, I found that the 1602 was the best sounding of all the turntables I owned, but it was getting pretty beat up too. So I found a Bang & Olufsen RX2 that was in basically mint condition. I put a new belt on it, and bought a new Sound-Smith SMMC 3 cart, and then found that the phono pre amp I had (Cambridge) was not well made, and was leaking voltage back to the cartridge. So I then upgraded that to a Musical Fidelity V90, and was really happy with that set up for a while. All of that got me really into the B&O bug, and I wanted a full B&O system. I had a living room in my lower level that would collect odd and ends of odd hi-fi equipment, but around 2018 I decided to go deeper into the B&O rabbit hole. I started by buying a Beomaster 5500, Beocord 5500, and a Master Control Panel 5500, running to my Dad's old S45-2 speakers. I then got a Beogram 5005 as well, but the Beomaster was a bit of a mess at times, and the MCP had major issues too. The person who sold me the Beogram 5005 was a huge B&O nerd, and we both were on the Beoworld forums, so we ended up becoming pretty good friends, and he helped me repair the Beomaster 5500 and MCP to the point where everything worked as it should. However, I saw he had a Beocenter 9000, and I was in awe of how cool that system was, and how it worked. I told him if he ever wanted to sell that, I wanted it. Well, he had another in storage that was in good condition looks wise, but needed some work. I got the Beocenter 9000, it is in near mint condition and works flawlessly. I picked up a pair of Beolab Penta Mk I speakers, a matching Beogram 9000, Beolink 1000, and even the Active 10AM antenna. It's a gorgeous system and I just love when I get to listen to it. The Penta's were a huge project, but turned out good. I love the flexibility of the system. I have a Pioneer 8 Track player hooked up to it, built in cassette, CD, AM, FM, an Audioengine Bluetooth B1, and the Beogram turntable. It's crazy how versatile it is. I've since picked up Bang & Olfusen H6 headphones, H7, H9i, E6, and H95's. Beoplay Active A2, a set of Beolab 4000's Mk II (love them), Beocenter 9500 (huge project in the works), Beomaster 7000, and Beogram CD 7000 (also a project). There is still a lot for me left to do, but eventually I want a pair of Beolab 5's. Thanks to anyone who read this.
I can understand your arguments very well. I was and am a bit of a gear junkie, but it became too complicated and too complex to use for "just listening to music". So some time ago I switched to active speakers (older Elac Air-X 207 with manual room correction) and only connected a turntable and CD Player. It was an almost liberating step without any loss of sound. I don't have to keep thinking about whether this or that device fits, whether an upgrade might help or whatever the origin of the dissatisfaction is. I'm sure I'll switch to a full smartspeaker at some point...just keep my Alva TT V2 ;) ...(and a CD player - Yes I grew up in the 90s ;) )
I've just bought the A9 and wow it's gooooood we have a big living room and kitchen in one and it's play music crystal clear , we are a couple in our 50th and we are dancing together almost every day since we got even our youngest daughter that still lives at home join us ❤ thank you B&O
Greetings from Singapore, Andrew & Kristi, Wish to say this is such a heart warming review. I have been a B&O fan for decades and am still using a pair of Lab9 speakers with a BV10 TV. Masterlinked to a Beosound 9000. Even own their now discontinued cabinets. Brought joy to both my wife and myself for years. And can certainly relate to both your sentiments. Wishing you both and all your channel subscribers great health and joy.
High school in the 70's meant every guy I knew had a stereo. Yes mixed tapes were a thing, but basically if you weren't sure if you wanted an album that you found out someone had, you went over and heard it on their stereo. Fast forward a few decades and I got back into audio by hunting craigslist and then online forums. Traveling around New England to buy/sell meant I got to move up the audio ladder over the course of the last 12 years or so. Finally arriving at an Audio Research vsi60 tube amp and Sonus Faber Signum based system I think I got to hear some pretty nice gear, but now I'm nearing retirement and to prepare for a retirement move, I'm selling it all. However, I do want one good BT speaker and this might be the solution. I think lots of people are looking for a less-is-more solution.
I have been a B&O customer since 1989 when I bought my first and only turntable the Beogram RX2. B&O puts so much care, design, and quality in their products that almost everyone can find a very nice product that works for them, both musically, and financially. I have several of their portable bluetooth speakers(2 Beolit 15s and a Beolit 20) and that beautiful turntable which is over 30 years old now. I wish more companies gave as much thought to their products and took as much care manufacturing them as B&O does. The A9 is really out of my budget now, but the tech that they have developed to make that speaker as amazing as it is, is also, in different forms in other B&O products, and they really are all, beautiful, and amazing things.
Good morning fam! Thanks for another great Sunday edition! Andrew, I've never even considered a smart speaker as a listening option. I believe it's because I've never heard a premium option - or at least something that sounds good. I have a background in media. So, for years, the recording studio (studio monitors) was the extent of my exposure to powered speakers of any sort outside of Sonus 👎. (The recording studio was also the start of my journey into sound). Thank you for opening my mind. I'll explore this. And ,thank you Kristi for highlighting how we can experience our audio journey with our partners. My wife has come along in my journey to an extent. I still haven't gotten her to cross the DMZ to the audiophile experience.😅So thanks for sharing. Be well my friends!
Love your comment DaWayne! Thank you! And I hope you get to experience B&O products sometime in the not too distant future, if for no other reason than to see what's out there.
I have been looking at the A9 for so long now it is silly. They have advanced it so many times and I am just still looking haha. Your video has made me think I might decide to get one. The problem is that I have already decided that I will never ever get ONE Bluetooth speaker again. I will only get speakers that can be stereo paired. The sound is too good to miss out on. That mehaveI have to find £6000 from somewhere. Your videos and monologues are so enticing. I love listening to you and Kristi (especially Kristi😊) talk about what the speakers have done in your life. My P6 stereo pair live in a very special place in my heart. The sound is lush and luxuriou as ,speakers of that size and shape have no right to be. They are just lovely. In my office I have no reason to have more however for where I will be living the A9 might be the speaker that makes our whole family spend an evening istening again. Love this video. I once was someone who was thinking I needed to get an amp and I was daunted by the prospect of having to choose which one to get - tube, solid state, etc. With modern active speakers of this quality, this goes away and I am closer to simply choosing the music. I love that. I may ditch the idea of even looking for amps. Not a bad thingg for those who want to do it. I just want to listen to the music. A9.... (Or maybe the 28s in a few years more) Hmmmm. I woud love to hear how you think the level and the new Beosound A5 compare to the Balance which youjnhave in your kitchen. I really would love to get your take on the Balance. It has been described as a mini Beolab 90 because of its many drivers. What do you think and how do you rate the sound produced. BTW - it is sompletely reasonable to compare all of these speakers - it is about what you want and how you listen. I remember in your review of the Beosound Level - you said that you wre ejust listening to it after having listened to some higher end speakers. People will do that. Also someone may hear one of these speakers and simply never need ot go anywhere else in their life to listen to their music. Thanks again for the video. You both do such a great job describing speakers. Looking forward to the next one and I am already going to go to a store and have a listen to the A9 ..... just a taste.
I love Bang & Olufsen for adding Airplay and Chromecast to their own multiroom option. We’re a mixed Apple/Android household, everyone uses different streaming services, so this flexibility is fantastic.
I love music and I wore out my folks console, blew up the speakers when they went to separates, and told my fiance (now wife of 47 years), that I would always have a good system in the house. We had 3 music professors in the family and they gifted some very profound albums and I wore those out also.
I've actually owned B&O products since I was a teenager, but over the years, especially with their software issues and short cycles 10-15 years ago, especially with the Beosound Moment, I turned my back on the brand a bit. Today I still own a Beovision 5 and an A1, as well as the old Beolab 4000 (which still sound great despite their age, driven by a Bluesound). I would like to buy more stuff from them again because i love there desgin, but they should be more flexible with other brands (I will never give up piega Cl90x in combo with my naim unitiy nova, because with these I rediscovered my music) and integrate roon for example.
I've been into hi-fi for close to 30 years now and currently have a near six figure system. However, that system (or any really high end system) only performs to capability in dedicated/treated spaces that, honestly, aren't enjoyable to spend time in. The result is that I find myself listening to it less and less and have a harder time connecting with music because it has become too much like work. Makes me miss the days of playing my boom box in my bedroom or hanging out with the car stereo blasting as a kid. Maybe something like this is the answer - bring good music back to the space I where I want to be.
45 years ago I was invited to bring my hi-fi in to the store's demo room and let compare it with what they would have picked and choices as upgrades. I thought, I expected, to spend 100 or so on a new cartridge. I spent 40% of my annual salary on turntable, arm, cartridge, pre-amp and active speakers. The turntable has been upgraded twice (same Linn Sondek well it looks the same) and the pre-amp and speakers maintained but not replaced. They have been moved around from a two room flat to a house, a bigger house and then bungalow. They have remained the sound stage of all the music, radio, television and movie watching from the outset eventually included in a 5.1/7.1 system. I would like to replace them as due to age repairs take longer and being big floor standing speakers take up a lot of space. As the music gets transferred to the digital jukebox I don't need racks to hold vinyl, CD, DVD or Blu-ray. Even the most expensive system that I would consider to replace them ~ 24k GBP current Linn Sondek, Meridian 8000 at 75k GBP a pair I would not get to six figures for a 5.1 set up. 40 years ago when I could hear frequencies beyond 15kHz I might have even considered a system like that but not now. Some of the life style steaming all in one pair of dsp active speaker systems have all the quality of sound with so much convenience.
Although I love B&W of late, you cannot convince me there is a better looking lineup of products, then B&O currently on the market period. Every single product they make looks top notch, beautiful and stylish no matter what room you try to place it in. Whoever is the designer for the brand right now, bravo! I will absolutely switch to a fully smart, wireless system, once it offers everything I need, like HDMI Arc, phono (not so much now with BT turntable) but nice to have, and especially great sound and design. This is nearly perfection to me. Great review guys!
Thanks Vadym. The Beosound 28s will do everything you just described albeit at a price, but I can attest to the BT turntable connection to them as being a match made in heaven! They do surround sound wirelessly --no HDMI needed!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews that’s awesome! I just gotta make sure my other kidney is still ripe for sale 😂 but in all seriousness I’ll definitely consider it at some point.
@@gavriushka You’re welcome. You could then stream the turntable throughout your house with Beolink Miltiroom. Didn’t really make a lot of sense in my smallish apartment back then, but I had a Beoplay M3 in the bathroom that could play whatever was playing in the living room.
Loved your review guys! I have listened to some previous version of the A9, probably the 1st gen, and what pulled me in headlong was listening to MLTR's Paint my love, at ever increasing volume at a store, and suddenly realizing that the snare drum wasn't getting harsher, in the way it ALWAYS happens with every passive speaker and so on. Long story short, for the first time I understood how effective a weapon DSP (or the like) is, but for me personally, while I definitely don't own one, I will always look at these with longing. (Oh, and did I mention I love how these look?)
Oh so tell you eh . . . Your B & O experience goes back 20+ years, mine closer to 40 years long before I could afford it. My friends were blown away by the B & O Biolab 8000 mk2. Nothing had ever looked like or performed like those.
Darn you & your good reviews with cool speakers. 😂 I need to stay FAR away from the b&o store. Speaker i use by far the most is my UE hyperboom since it sounds good & goes about anywhere & drowns out most of the kids yelling. Maybe thats not good...
My journey started when my stepdad introduced me to hifi speakers! He's had speakers ranging from $500 each to $3,000 each. My mind was blown away! (While I don't have high-end speakers at this point) my wife and I still enjoy dancing to the music of my Klipsch towers. Those are the moments I enjoy the most. With humans never knowing how much time we have on the earth. Every moment sent with my wife and kids will forever be treasured. It's the joy of them tower's that helps bring that joy! It's only a matter of time before I will have higher end speakers. For now there just fine to me! Kristi great conversation at the end.. those moments are the moments you such never take for granted.
My hifi journey started about 4 years ago in my early 40s. I was not really interested in hifi before 2019. I listened to music but just on whatever I had in av system or on headphones from phone. But in early 2019 my mom wanted a new record player for her old records . I helped her get one, an all-in-one as that's the room she had. But listening to the records sparked something in me. Now my whole hifi journey has mainly involved thrift stores as I don't have the budget for things that are seen on this channel. But you would be amazed what people donate, and with a little work can get them sounding great. Most audiophiles would still scoff at what I use but for having collected dozens of pieces for less than one set of speakers seen here I can't complain. And it sounds amazing to me and the projects with the units give me a great hobby. Plus it's a way to try crazy setups without breaking the bank. I love seeing the high end equipment and still dream of having them. But I'll always be happy with my thrifting hifi. That's my story.
Andrew, you asked for our Hi-Fi story. Here is mine: When I was a kid, I had a portable 8-track player. The tape slid into the side of it. The thing had one 4" speaker. Well, I also played guitar. One day my father bought me this huge guitar amplifier. It stood about 3 feet tall and had a 15" speaker. It didn't take long for me to figure out that I could take the 1/4" plug out of my guitar and plug it into the headphone jack of that 8-track tape player. My Rush 2112 album had never before sounded so awesome! The fidelity was probably horrible, but to this 12 year old, it was the biggest sound I had ever heard. Plus, the guitar amp had a reverb dial which made it sound like Rush was playing in a big concert venue! This was way before DSP and Dolby surround. Also, paging through the home stereo sections of the big Sears and JC Penney catalogs got me into Hi-fi gear.
Great review specially the part with Kristi was very insightful. Still it would be interesting to see a review on the Sonia Era 300, even if it’s a little difficult working with them as a brand.
Excellent review!! One of these days I plan to give a B&O product a shot. Love how their stuff looks and everything you have said about them just sounds awesome. My “gateway” to hifi was Boston Acoustic. When I was in college (late 90s) I bought simple bookshelf speakers and a small sub and just LOVED their midrange centric sound. So smooth and relaxing. I still have them and pop them on from time to time just for the hell of it and still enjoy them. Also a Boston acoustic system in my car contributed as well. And that feeling of an experience for me is vinyl when I started collecting that about 7-8 years ago. Just love the whole experience of popping one on, reading the artwork while listening and chilling out.
They do outdoor speakers (via dealers) that are really cool as well as in ceilings for a whole home audio distribution. But this or the Balance amzn.to/3bblRkh is a good place to start if you want to dip your toes into B&O.
Bang and Olufsen was pivotal in my hi-fi journey, because as a kid, nothing drew me in like those systems they had with the moving glass doors and moving CD shuttles. I do not own any of their kit today, but I have to say they have always been objects of wonder And I might not be into audio as much without them.
My mom worked for B&O in the late 70s/early 80s and we had their Beomaster 2400 with the chunky silver button remote that was ultrasonic, the beogram turntable and B&O speakers with stands that raised the speakers maybe a foot off the ground. I knew the stuff was cool, but didn't realize most stereos didn't look like that. And here's the thing..... that Beomaster was a 30 watt x 2 receiver. You would NEVER know.
On a whim, I just picked up a time capsule Beosystem 2400 (Beomaster 2400 w remote, Beocord 1900, Beogram 3404, Beovox 45-2, no stands). After getting it all cleaned and lubed it all works like a champ. I’m very pleasantly surprised at what 1979/1980 gave us. Normally into lots of other audio brands but I’m digging this old system. Your mom had great taste.
I have an A9 mk2 that I’ve had for a couple of years. Got to agree with the review, though I’m sure the latest mk5 sounds better. To Kristis point, I think the design itself lends itself to encourage people to listen. The design of the product is inviting and anytime someone comes over they always ask what it is. You put your hand on it, and it starts playing. No need to even think about what you should listen to or how, it can take care of it for you. It can suit any space, and while it’s large it’s not dominating. I think it’s one of b&o’s best designs and will be considered a classic for years to come. There’s a reason why they’ve made 5 versions. While I’m sure stereo pairing would sound incredible, I feel it defeats the point of the speaker. The A9 plays a perfect balance between form and function that not many other products can.
excellent description. a few questions, i heard the mk4 in store a few months back and it sounded awesome, but i think it would be hard to find a spot for it. so did you put it in a corner like where a recliner would go? that’s why i ended up going with a Balance and Level.
Loved the review, especially Kristi's comments. My hifi journey began as a 13 yr old kid with his first all-in-one stereo and visiting any record shop I could find. Fast forward about about 35 years and I now get to share the experiences with my 16yr daughter who just loves music. The hobby has given me a lifetime of pleasure of just listening to music and to now share it with my kid, it's truely something special to me.
I think you make a really good and compelling point in this video - especially Kristi. Everyone's HiFi experience will be different and enjoyed on varying levels. Currently I'm running the KEF LS50 Metas powered by an NAD M10 V2 and it's great - for me. I'd never begrudge someone their own enjoyment of a somewhat/completely different product. In fact, to most 'casual' HiFi folks, I often recommend Sonos, for just ease of use and financial proposition. I used to have a pair of Sonos Fives and they were great for what they were. what's interesting is that when I was younger (late teens, twenties) I placed more emphasis on an amazing pair of headphones than any speaker system. I was always around others, or in a small apartment, and didn't want to bother anyone else - especially because I wanted to enjoy music loudly and really illicit an emotional response. All this to say, everyone's journey with musical equipment will be different, just as everyone has different financial or musical restrictions. I think this A9 will suit a great many people, especially for those HiFi folks who prioritize ease of streaming over anything else. Cheers!
Kristi, that was some of the best advice I have heard about getting your family to enjoy music together. With the $10 of equipment I have around the house, it’s the citation smart speaker we have in the bedroom that gets used almost every day by my wife because it is easy.
One of your best reviews, of course. I confess to checking out all kinds of hi-fi review sites, even hardcore objectivist forums (one of which was actually instrumental in my getting the best system I ever owned), but you both - especially Kristi - hit the nail on the head. When I get chills or a tear in my eye because of an album, song, or even 5-second snippet, it is because I am no longer focused on the quality of my gear, but the artistic experience of having my mind, body and spirit moved by someone's talent. It helps that some of my favorite music was recorded for less than the cost of a decent sofa (the first albums by the Ramones and Nirvana come to mind), but it really is all about the music. People get into vicious shouting matches on the internet about break-in, cables and so forth - where truly hurtful things are said - as if any of that matters AT ALL when Patti Smith introduces Gloria, or Tyler the Creator gets my butt moving without my permission, and on and on. I listened to hair metal and classic rock as an '80s teen on an NAD receiver with Polk bookshelves (they had 5 in their name and were pretty big). I remember them being placed high up near the ceiling and sideways, but can't even tell you if the tweeters were on the inside or outside: I knew nothing, except that Hendrix playing the Star-Spangled Banner was something I wanted to hear again. And again. First wife insisted on small, all-in-one-surround systems that took up very little space and SUUUUCKED. Recently, second (and last) wife encouraged me to get what I loved, within budgetary reason. (She is not in the hobby, really, but is encouraging enough not to make a difference). Played around for a bit before settling on KEF LS50WII with 2 KC62 subs, and: whattayaknow! They don't take up a lot of space, sound great, and also offer some of the simplicity and convenience you discuss in this video. So, just as I am done getting married forever, I am done (for now!) chasing perfect sound. Now, if you'll excuse me, got a date with Megan Thee Stallion, or is it Tina Turner? Liz Phair? Decisions, decisions...
17:18 The difference though is that those speakers 30+ years ago didn’t have all the quickly outdated technology (WiFi protocols, wireless connections). If B&O were clever/cared about longevity/environment/waste management, they would make a removable module in the speaker of the newer models and it alone could be removed/replaced/updated… because the speaker hardware itself lasts much longer.
That kind of stuff is updated with software. Indeed, they do very much care about the longevity of their products and they put a great deal of effort, time, money into the software. Wi-Fi is not outdated, nor USB, they been around for more than 20 years, same with Bluetooth. I suppose one could imagine a scene in which your speaker is bricked, although I can't imagine any realistic one.
I’m not sure if you’re aware, all B&O Mozart platform products have precisely what you’re proposing. They have a removable streaming module, and for those products that have batteries, these are user replaceable also. Apparently the streaming modules are significantly overspecced by current standards to support future software upgrades. I have a Beosound Level, you take the grill off and and can remove the brains and battery 👌
I got into HiFi as a young kid. Grade school age. My dad was an A/V repair tech, so we always had lots of “units” around the house. I sneaked into the attic and grabbed an old Kenwood KR-6200 (which we still have) and hooked it up to some old RadioShack speakers to make my first system. I would become a car audio tech myself in my 20s, and have gone through too many car and home systems to mention here. But have landed with a set of Marantz Model 30/30N with Tannoy Stirling GRs in the house, and CDT speakers and amps in the car.
I sold hi-fi in the 70's and early 80's. We sold B&O, but I didn't sell much of it. Problem was that I saw their main draw as styling, with "acceptable" sound quality. And all of my B&O customers didn't really care about price. They loved having a piece of art. Maybe something has changed since then.
Hi @Andrew and @Kristi! Been looking a lot of your reviews and been meaning to give you a feedback for your absolutely amazing work! I could consider myself as an audioholic of sorts but i've never come across with anyone putting out reviews of audio systems before in a way so clear, as yourself To put it simply; anyone can understand you! And that is the fundamental issue of everyone giving out reviews and i guess it just comes out naturally, when you truly know, what you're talking about? And i have to raise one particular specialty for your reviews, and that would be B&O speakers. There is simply no one else to put them authentically on the line with everyone else as you do! To explain further this personal importance, is that i've had always B&O products together with, what you should call as a "high-end" and simply because of the aesthetics. For instance, i consider, that one doesn't need a but a one high-end "station" and the rest of the house would rather be for aesthetics and comfortable ambience combined with simplicity and minimalism. Another reason is the so called "B&O enthusiasts" who often seem to have somewhat religious traits, that can't be reasoned with. On the other side high-end enthusiasts seem to be allergic to B&O and what i'm always looking for, is the non-biased comparison and there You have finally filled that void, so i salute You and express my gratitude for the great work you've done! Oh, and as you have took your better half along, it would somehow reason how my significant other watches your reviews til the end, even thou she has no interest on the matter such as i do but finds your content to be interesting. That seems to complete the whole meaning of your way of delivering the experience. And if i may suggest something, is the rather new Beolab 8 and a somewhat similar smart-speaker of Apple HomePod to be reviewed as a stereo-pair simply because, there aren't any good reviews about both of them in a sense of audio-focused way. Oh, and the Phantom Mini for that same framework! I wish all the best for you guys, cheers!
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What's better, the A9 or the 28?
Can connection to cable aux supra 3.5 mm jack for Pro Display XDR Mac Mini M2 Mac Studio M2 Max Mac Studio M2 Ultra?
B&O is exceptional in taking care of you as a customer. I had an issue with stereo pairing two Beosound Emerge. Around two-three days of back and forth emails, they escalated it. They CALLED ME and made sure I tried everything possible. Before even saying “OK, we will take them back” they brought the problem to their engineers and pushed a tailored update TO MY SPEAKERS!!! Just to fix them. Never had an issue since. I became a devout follower and have no intention of going back. If I need more speakers I just wait until I can afford one. They’re incredible.
I got into it when I saw your Beosound Stage review a couple of years ago and I’ve been your fan ever since. Great content, as always!!
My life changed after buying my first b&o speaker. Theres is honestly a sound that is truly special, not only the sound, but the design, the history, the quality. Its honestly something else. Ive had speakers of different quality through out my life, but b&o changed my life.
I started with a couple of used beolap 4000, added a couple of used beolap 8000. Then i bougt a beosound moment and now ive got of almost new couple of beolap 8000 and beo lap 3's and a subwoofer. Its continues to blow my mind. I wouldnt have it anyother way.
Really appreciate you sharing!
I’m really happy that this speaker gets more exposure, because it really is that exceptional. It doesn’t hurt either that it’s also stunningly beautiful.
Excellent video! 🎉
Thanks so much for watching!
Emotional comments, really touching. It's not about equipment, it's about relationship right? With people, with brands.....moments.
Guess where I am / what I'm doing right now? If you watched the whole video, you already know. Thank you to those who do. ❤
Best "room" in the house.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews It really is. 🥰
Next chat with B&O, maybe request a home test sample of a 97” Harmony and pair of Lab28s.
It’s only money 😂
Outside, listening to B & O.😂
@@amgguy4319 Coffee and biscotti or chocolate drizzled croissants involved?🥐☕️
i bought a used, very old CRT TV from bang and olufsen for playing retro gaming consoles and, i was missing some accessories for it and i just went to the closest B&O dealer and they were super happy for me and they helped me a lot getting everything for it to work. Bang and Olufsen resellers are incredibly passionate and are always happy to help you even if you come in the stores with a product you bought used somewhere else and that is definitely not something i can say about most brands
My audio story started when I was like 11 years old (now I am 31) and first listened to in ear headphones and experienced bass for the first time and was blown away already.
I moved on and started to put all my pocket money into sennheiser in ear headphones a few years later and got to the point where in ears could not live up to my expectations anymore.
This story would take forever and there was a lot of progress for me but for now I will jump to my most recent experience.
I had large speakers with subs, amps and everything but I just listened to a shelf speaker and I experienced something new. It was not about max volume or couch shaking bass anymore. This speaker in such a small housing brought my initial joy about music back to me! I did not think about specs anymore and just listened…
That‘s why I have smaller speakers than ever before and love it.
I just listened to the A9 and experienced the same thing. This is out of my price category right now but someday I will buy a bang @ olufsen speaker.
There is something about it that can‘t be measured by just technical data.
Thanks for the honest review, really enjoying it everytime
One of my favorite reviews you have done. The joy of enjoying music with the people we love us really hard to put a price tag on. My Dad got me into the hobby as a kid and he passed 13 years ago but I always wonder how he would enjoy my current gear. That what if means the world to me because of our relationship.
Kristi makes the most important point anyone could make in Hifi reviewing, when she speaks about "looking forward to using the product everyday"!!! In case you missed it folks, that's what hifi is all about!! It couldn't be more plain or better put than that, because when you have that one quality going for you then you really have done something right!
😍
I look forward to listening to my open FR driver plus boxed woofer, speakers every day. They give me so much joy that it makes me so glad I'm alive! 😅
I have been listening to my stereo system since 1970 when I bought à Sonata NS 1600 amp (8w per ch) and a simple turntable (just the platter, belt, motor and metal base plate and tone arm (a really long one, all chrome) bought separate to the turntable and l made a box for the turntable, and a SURE cartridge then $20. And built my own 6" single driver speaker boxes for my 6" single drivers. My first system. 😅
That's how I feel about Bose SoundLink Flex. Use it everyday.
First of all - excellent review. I enjoy hearing both perspectives and personal stories as they relate to music and audio equipment. Secondly - I need to comment on B&O products in general. Their audio is pleasing to me. However, I must admit, a large part of my decision to purchase their products is driven by their design which is across the board AMAZING. In fact, design had a lot to do with my purchase of the NAD M10. So, my audio / personal story is that the way it sounds is the most important, but the way it looks ( and the user interface / experience ) is a close second.
Hi Andrew and Kristie. Wow, my story started when I was 15, I listening to my old Grundig LP+cassete player from my dad. Very good ones for the time, all paper 3 way speaker. Then I build my system, I build my own speakers with 12 inch woofer and a hornet compression driver in a 12 square meter room (my old neighbors probably still remember me), with a Kenwood tuner, a Brasilian professional amp, and my dad's Grundig as a source.
In 93 I sell all and bought a JVC portable mini system with CD (that is so expensive that time) around 90's here. And think I had best in class audio.
Then something happens. I went to a AV show in São Paulo, probably in 94, and viewed and listened first time a B&W tower speaker. Wow man, it was a change in my life, everything I listened was not even close to that. I spend my next 15 years dreaming on having some similar. Then in 2002 after much saving I bought a pair of B&W CM4 (Qasim 2200 used here), a because a job I have here I started visiting USA on a year, I bought a denon sacd, a yamaha multi CD, a rotel integrated and in a nice deal (half price due dealer will no more work with rotel) and a pro-jekt LP, all between 2003 and 2007. They all still with me, all working except denon CD (sacd part is ok). My CM4 needed to change the woofer and mid-range suspension (gray ones hardened, got new black ones from a Netherlands b&w spare part supplier).
But beside all new nice products, I still love my setup. But I need to confess that if I have a easier to play I and my family will listen much more. Need to think about, may be a A9 a solution? Thanks a lot for the video, to let me remember my history and share with you, and to think about the future of may hi-fi with may family (thanks Kristie)
My Hi-Fi experience started when my dad tried to influence me, by playing music he loved in the car. When I was about three I would sit and hum along to Rammstein in the back seat. I didn't pay much attention to music until later when I started drumming. This would get me to think more about the craftsmanship that goes into well written music.
Having played the drums for some years my dad sat me down on the couch to introduce me to a band he felt I was ready to be introduced to, so he played Forty Six & 2 by Tool on his Logitech 5.1 surround set and I was blown away by the music. This was the gateway for me to really get into listening on a per album basis as I would go away from playlists, which would later help me get into vinyl.
I had already bought a pair of headphones specifically for listening to music, a pair of Sennheiseer hd558's, which for the price I think are great, till this day, almost nine years later.
One day my dad told me that he had once listened to a pair of great stereo speakers and it had kind of ruined his experience with systems like his surround, so I asked whether there really was a substantial difference and I ended up buying a pair of B&W 685 s2. This was almost six years ago when I was about 16 and I still use these speakers every day. I now have a girlfriend who also appreciates Hi-Fi and I am studying electronics engineering, where I have built an ibtegrated audio amplifier as a project and might end up applying for a job at B&O or some other danish audio brands.
In the future I hope to be able to upgrade my system to something like the KEF meta R11 because of your video on them.
Love your work and your channel!
"Let's do some good". Words to live by, and one reason I love this channel. You guys are the best! And now I don't have to carry my KEF LS60's outside....
13:40 - 16:00 is important to me. Im in my mid forties, married with two kids around 10 years old. To bring in your wife and kids to come in and want to share and enjoy not only your music but their music also can bring so much joy that it cannot have a price put onto it, and makes your investments do much worth while. I have recently just done my lasted speaker and amp upgrade which I hope to last 20 years, and chose components based on not just the music I listen to, but the music we as a family listen to.
I am just speechless! Now I have to find a B&O store so I can listen to these (even though I will never be able to afford even one)!
I think everyone should at least spend an afternoon in a B&O store if for no other reason than to broaden their horizons.
Hi I’m a hifi nut and have been in the industry for years. I’ve sold from all levels: realistic-technics rack systems- mission, quad- linn, naim- krell, Martin Logan, and of course B&0. And out of all those products the most fun I had was with B&0. Yes it didn’t sound the best but whenever they brought something out it’s a real head turner. The customers never had “golden ears” so no audiophile snobbery here. Just fun (yes pricey) kit, and the friends I made on the way selling it have stayed friends forever.
Yes good old bang and Olufsen hope they keep creating head turning kit for a long time, and thanks for being open minded to reviewing their stuff.
Great review by you both. I grew up in the 70’s and my earliest memories are my dad’s Sansui 441 receiver and Utah loudspeakers. Early 80’d dad purchased an NAD 7240PE receiver. Upgraded to Fisher loudspeakers. Late 80’s I purchased Adcom amps, 535,545. Polk audio speakers, M7 and monitor 2 bookshelves. 2004 I found Monitor Audio Silver S 10 and S 5 i . Denon AVR 2802. Plus various others components over the years. Point is after dad passed in ‘21 I finally had a chance to enjoy his vintage gear and some of my own. Has brought my family closer together. Music can do that. Sorry so long winded here. All the best.
The emotion and truth from this review is what was key for me!! #DoSomeGood.... It has been a life goal of mine as long as I have had memory. Well done Andrew and Kristi... :)
Thank you so much for the extra love.
18:55 My HiFi story could be summed up like this… I wish I could go back in time before I ever knew audiophile terms like Imaging & Soundstage existed. That was back when I truly just enjoyed listening to my stereo instead of constantly analyzing & judging my gear for what it doesn’t do and always thinking…”is this audiophile enough?” “Is this what other more seasoned audiophiles would consider a proper 2 channel system?”
I almost wish I never went down this rabbit hole because I feel like what I have will never be enough. There’s always a better amp, a better pair of speakers, a better turntable with a better cartridge, a better DAC, a better pair of speaker wires, a better treated room, etc etc… It never fucking ends in this hobby.
Like an over zealous painter that doesn’t know when to stop adding to a painting that’s already a masterpiece.
I feel like ive gotten my spouse and 3 kids into audio. I feel like i hit s balance between quality and ease of use. I own lifestyle proucts from sonos, yet also have separates. Remember, people first....priducts second. Cheers!
It’s such a unique looking speaker.
Very! Appreciate you watching!
And it sound fucking amazing!
That combination of style, technological advancement and satisfying performance has been B&O’s jam for well over half a century. Been in the hobby myself since the early ‘60s, and the brand was always felt to be other side of my fiscal comfort zone, but in retrospect there were years in which the cost of turnover and depreciation chasing the FOMO could easily have paid for a pair of Pentas.
Currently rocking a DIY built three channel ICE Power amp in my HT system, so I guess there’s a little bit of B&O in my home after all.
I remember, a few years ago, shopping for a bluetooth speaker for my son. After listening to all the store had, a tiny one, the size of a soap, caught our attention...A B&O, which sounded much clearer and with better fidelity than all the others but really expensive. In the end we bought a Wonderboom (because it was for a teenager after all) but that speaker really was the best and the smallest. A really good piece of equipment.
What cool review. So wonderful to hear your unabashed love for this speaker and how it connects you to the music... which is the whole point. My audio story started in college in Seguin, Texas in the early 80's: I regularly gathered with other friends at the apt. of two friends who had the same JBL L series (big boxes - forget which model) and had combined them into one system. I had never heard imaging before or any hi fi reproduction that was so spectacular. They welcomed me to bring my music (mostly classical) and we spent many hours together listening to 'A Prairie Home Companion' on Saturdays and every conceivable type of music. Both of those friends are gone now... one tragically while we were still in college. But the memories of those times listening to music never left me. I owe a lot to Schawartzy and Sumey. They were good friends and music brought us together. PS - I am dying to hear this speaker system. Thank you, both!!
Great video and discussion at the end! My one concern would be long-term app support, as someone who has an old Klipsch airplay speaker (G-17 Air) that has had repeated issues with the app becoming so dated that it stops working whenever a new version of iOS is released.
Awesome review. Thanks guys. I have the original MK1 and want to upgrade soooo badly. This review means I need to start saving now.
Wow sounds like a life changing speaker. Very cool. We have a couple of cheap bose speakers and love them for the same reason although I'm sure they sound nowhere close.
I love you guys. I’m so excited for the A5. Will be coming to my home soon. Any plans to review one?…”if it arrives”
I just recently saw the A5 in person and I'm pretty keen on it, so maybe we'll take a look down the road.
We just saw one in person and it's really nice looking. Let us know how you like it when it arrives.
@@KristiWright will do. Claims 32hz 😂
@@andrewrobinsonreviews it is a gorgeous speaker, my goodness. My partner described it as the "ultimate picnic blaster". She said they should have made plaid options hahaha. The brown one looks like a damn car filter. The color we got fits the picnic blanket scene well...and is overkill in terms of SPL. It's somewhat portable. It's heavy!! We've been using the little Bose micro soundlink guy and that thing is so enjoyable. Also keen on the JBL flip 5 and 6. It surprises me almost every time. I've heard so many of these portable speakers you guys. I also build portable vintage suitcase bluetooth boomboxes so I have an ear for the stuff. Regarding bluetooth speakers, ya'll know the bass is always flabby and artificial. The A5 has minor "traits" of the traditional, bluetooth, signature sound, but oh man, the low end is actually decent. It will dig pretty deep and not fatigue you. Indoors the bass out of the box is ridiculous and shocking. I could type for a while about it but I gotta go make dinner for my family. My only grip is, you have to manually disconnect bluetooth on your device when you power the A5 down. I'm considering sending it back JUST for that lol.
I remember I went to the B&O store with my dad about 4 years ago and the Beolab 90s were in a demo and I asked to listen and they played music wirelessly from their TV. The sound was a little disappointing when equating to the price and hyper entered around them. I asked to listen to music on their Beolab 18 and 19 stereo combo and I’ve never heard music as crisp as that setup! To this day it is still the setup I want but the price is just way out of my reach.
QotD: B&W DM603 S2 speakers ruined my HiFi journey for 20 years. Back in the late 90s, I "upgraded" my first speakers, the Mission 731 at around £150 (which I still love) to the B&Ws at around £700.... I shrugged my shoulders for 20 years... Then came lockdown = UA-cam on all sorts of subjects... Klipsch RP-600M, and a vintage Sansui amp purchase, and.... OMG, I'm back! Now in possession of the new Mission 770.. but cannot decide on a new amp...Help !
This bit.ly/3YKWQSh
@@KristiWright thank you. I've actually been considering the Audiolab 9000A, and Billie Amp MK 2. Any plans to review, please?
We reviewed the 9000A, but no plans for the Billie.
Not everyone is or likes to be an audiophile. Nothing wrong with liking good Music and nice sound. The audiophile obsession is not for everyone where music reproduction is as important as the Music and for many more important. The B&O fits this profile specially with their design priority focus. Many could immediately detect lower sound quality compared to an audiophile set up but mainstream people just don’t care for the difference. There are many hobbies after all some go for cars, some on watches and a few on audiophile gear.
Sounds wonderful, but I have to wonder if the review would be different if you had two and tried to set them up as a stereo pair. I have a pair of BeoSound Emerge and spent a huge number of hours trying to get them to work. I even replaced my router in the attempt. Finally I had to wire them together with an ethernet cable to get a stereo pair. They sound wonderful, but clearly B&O's "smart" speakers are missing the smarts.
I had no issues with two A9....
In my past upon listening to B&O speakers..i was immediately turned off because they were over the top in a sterile sounding , they gave me a headache ..i can't remember what model number it was.But i had a B&O turntable for over 40 years and i did not have any problems with it.Sorry to say it was vandalized when someone broke into.my apartment. Having said the aforementioned i would like to give them a audition. Greatly appreciate this channel. Last question is how much do they cost ?
I have to give it to Bang and Olfson for the forward look and award winning designs...sleek , modern, up front design..in all aspects.I however have had a Bang and Olfsen turntable and it served me well..THE BEST TURNTABLE I have ever owned period. But I cannot listen to B&O speaker even today since 1974..they give me a headache..they are crystal clear...and definitely Not for everyone..they have there own sound...not a traditional sound..it's a fatigued speaker to listen to ..in my honest opinion.Andrew Edwards your review was spot on..not to the left not to the right...I've experienced these speakers so to each his own.
Easier to move around the house with a Besound Level as Andrew reported last year. A5 adds IP65 and lower bass and louder volume than the Levels but are closer to the Balance in performance than the Levels. A5 and Level have long battery life.
So it wasn't clear. You said you took it outside and used room correction out there to make an outdoor setting. So it sounds better and you started listening more when you used the outdoor settings inside? Thank you, loved the review, now I need to win the lottery.
I am proud to be a dane 🇩🇰😉
Nice ! Shame I don't have an extra room for something like it. Maybe the new B&O Beosound Theater Sound Bar 🤔 which appears to be incredible. But I'm still waiting on the "Dragon 🐉" to show up before I make a move on something.
Oh boy, my hifi story....hmmmm...I hesitate to even call it a hifi story. I LOVE movies. I love the movie theater experience. I love sitting close to a screen, filling my entire view and being immersed into the story. At some point, probably around 20 years ago now, I started to hate to go to the theater. It is very expensive, and at the time I smoked and enjoyed a beer when I was going out. The only theaters that allowed smoking, or allowed beer, showed only older movies. When I went to a new movie, it was out of focus, or I didn't get a great seat, or somebody was talking through the movie, or a baby was crying, or I had to get up to pee and I didn't want to miss any part of the movie I had paid an arm and a leg to go watch. So, I started to hate movie theaters...then the flat panel TVs came out. YAY! I had already learned about AV equipment so sound wasn't an issue, at least I thought so. I hadn't heard about hifi in the sense of different cost speakers might have better sound. Anyway, I've always been kind of poor. When I did get a really good paying job, the job started laying people off, so I decided to go to college. Before I finished college my mom got cancer and I dropped out to take care of her. After she passed away life just didn't go in the direction of going back to college, so I got back into the swing of dead end, low paying jobs. Anyway, I retired to save what is left of my sanity and my body, so money is the lowest it has ever been, but having all this free time I'm now trying to learn how to improve my movie and music experience. Because my money is low all my stuff is either thrift store or ebay finds. I'm using an Onkyo receiver that has Dolby 5.1, I think it cost $10, a pair of Cambridge Soundworks m80 speakers for $40, a Jamo center for $10 and some random Panasonic speakers for surround, oh a Sony 12 inch sw (can't remember the model or cost but it was definitely lower than $60), and a Klipsch ksw10 (newest member of the sound family for $40). The receiver has Audyssey which I ran and makes the movies sound great, but makes my ears drums hurt if I listen to music on stereo mode. Sadly, listening to music in the 5.1 mode just sounds kind of weird. I wish I knew if I could improve my "hifi experience" but I don't have the money, nor do I have access to listening rooms so I have nothing to compare my sound against. Anyway, that's my hifi story I guess. I've spent more money than listed above because I've bought other equipment that I still have but are no longer being used now that I've got nicer equipment. I hope some day I can figure out how to listen to my system in stereo without hurting my ears, and I'd love to go somewhere and hear all these wonderful speakers and ATMOS and everything else your channel tells me about. Watching your channel, and other hifi channels is like driving a 30 year old, second hand Honda and wondering what it is like to drive a Corvette or Ferrari.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hi Andrew, could you make a video to talk about the difference between speakers like sonos Era 300 and speakers like b and w, b and o, klipsch etc. Many thanks
My story is still in the process. I'm struggling with pulling the trigger on my first audio purchase ever. This seems like a great option for me as I love the all in ones, but I don't have a good spot for a traditional speaker setup and I don't like the look of most speakers. Not sure if my budget can stomach two of them for stereo :(
Great review.. how would you categorize sound characteristics of the bang and olufsen sound? It always has a very enjoyable, listening experience. It has a sort of forgivable trait even went bad recordings . Trying to achieve this is my traditional two channel set up. Looking for a DAC With smooth, organic sound with soul that won’t sacrifice detail retrieval as well? Would love to know your thoughts thank you for your all the great reviews
B&O house sound is bit warm and laid back. soothing is the word..it won't get ear piercing even with bad recordings.
Man, I have loved your reviews. Australian mortgages are variable so 20k worse off now than a year ago. Cut Tidal (I only use it). UA-cam remains.
Any cheap streaming ideas?
Cheers
Nick.
Here is an idea: if you link up two A9 speakers the price is about similar to a pair of KEF LS60. Which option would you prefer?
Will you review ERA300? Thank you for your video! 😊
I would like to. We have to buy a pair in order to review which means planning accordingly.
@@KristiWright thank you! Have a nice day! 😉
@@jamesson451 You too!
Hey Andrew, amazing review as always. I have a B&o M5 and feel similarly due to the smaller space I work with. Wanted to get your thoughts on an M5 and given that the chromecast features are not available on the older speakers do we have an alternative to get chromecast working on an M5? Thanks!
Oh and do you think a flic twist would be able to operate a B&os volume control? Their physical remotes are quite pricey and was wondering if you had any alternatives :)
Samir, what issues are you having with the M5 and Chromecast? I have an M5 myself, extremely happy with the sound.
@@matteventu hey Matteo thank you for responding. If you chromecast individually to the M5 it works; however, if in a speaker group with other devices it does not.
@@samirdiwan612 unfortunately Google changed the requirements of speaker groups, and now all Chromecast speakers need to be on Cast firmware 1.52 or newer to work in groups. Beoplay M5 is on Cast firmware 1.28, and according to B&O they can't update it to 1.52 (like they did with some more recent products) because the hardware wouldn't support it.
Therefore, it can't be used in groups :(
A workaround would be to use a device such as WiiM Pro plugged in to the 3.5mm input jack of the M5, and then cast to it also in groups.
@@matteventu Thank you! I was looking for a workaround. I did notice that the M5 lags on the headphone Jack connections and was wondering if there were any alternatives that worked well.
Thanks!
Thank you so very much for your support and for watching one of our favorite videos of the year!
THANKS 🤗 ANDREW…THERE IS ALOT TO BE SAID ABOUT PORTABILITY 😁😎💚💚💚
Luggability.
@@geraldmcmullon2465 😁👍
Your reaction reminds me of Randy's reaction to the Nines. Just enjoying music.
You assessment sounds like it's better than Sonus Faber. Any model
Would two of these hold up against klipsch 280fs?
Judging by the patio looks like you guys went somewhere like Arizona or Nevada, but then again you might not be working outside over there lol.
Can the A9 be paired with another A9 for an even much better sound experience ?
Yes
Paired as stereo with another A9. Multi-room with any of the Mozart speakers {Emerge, Level, Balance, A5, Beolab 28}.
@@geraldmcmullon2465 that’s a multi room feature, not stereo
@@jumbocrunchh Stereo pairing with a speaker of the same model is a feature of the Mozart platform.
@@geraldmcmullon2465 yes same model, i thought u meant u stereo paired from lets say an emerge to a level. which is wrong
Thanks Andrew
I repeat it any time you review a B&O product, but your is the only "credible" youtube channel able to do it properly, and transmit the feelings and the real experience that come from these speakers. Great job as always, and thanks for this video.
Appreciate you saying that and watching Alberto.
Best and most heartfelt video I’ve seen from you guys and the one I can relate the most, especially the monologue section where Kristi confesses of how she rediscovered music through those speakers and can’t stop listening to them instead of worrying about how she will get to the “ideal sound”. I feel EXACTLY like that about the B&W Formation Duos and I can’t thank you enough guys for your review on them and how they ended up changing my approach to HiFi listening.
Now, I don’t know how they compare sonically to the A9 (it will be interesting to know) but boy have I rediscovered music. It has solved all my issues snd hassle about trying to find the right amp preamp, DAC, sub that will match, because B&W has done it for me in a smart active speaker format. And they have done it in the best way they feel their signature sound will be represented. Short signal path, optimised drive unit behaviour to amplifier, dynamic EQ, full control over dynamic unit behaviour, DSP, those are some of the benefits a smart active speaker will give you and in the process take away the time consuming, pricy headache (for many people fun way) to try, play around and find what match is right for you. If you get goosebumps right away and can’t look forward to come back home to listen to music; I mean what more do you need, isn’t what we most strive for from our “ideal” system?
Sincerely appreciate your comment and I thank you so much for sharing your experience with everyone!
I really loved this review and video. Congrats both Andrew and Kristi on getting an A9, and I'm so glad you both enjoyed it.
My audio journey started really young, born in 1983, and MTV was my favorite station to watch by the time I was 5. My Dad had a Pioneer SX-828 receiver, PL-12D turntable, a Technics cassette deck, all running to a pair of Bang & Olufsen Beovox S45-2 speakers. I was always in love with this stereo system, and wanted my own. I went through a lot of different items as a young kid. GE radio, Panasonic radio that I still own (early 90's), to an older 1970's RCA receiver with built in 8 Track player, and a set of some kind of hifi speaker. A few different Sharp Walkmans, and a Sony Discman in the late 90's. I was able to get a Pioneer SX-828 of my own when I turned something like 13 years old. It was one that my uncle owned, and gifted to me for my birthday. I had saved up money by getting a paper rout, and went to my local hi-fi store (RIP Audio Village), and bought a pair of Pioneer CS-G304a speakers. I used that set up for many many years.
I also had some pretty decent car audio equipment, as it was the first time in my life that I was allowed to get some freedom from the home, get away from the parents, and listen to what I wanted to, at a loud level. Lots of Pioneer car audio, and Panasonic as well. Mixed with different subwoofers from Pioneer, Kenwood, and some other brands I'm just forgetting.
In 2010 I bought my first house, set up my living room with the Pioneer SX-828, and CS-G304a speakers. I've also had a Kenwood 5 disc changer, and when that broke, I bought a Sony ES 5 disc changer that I still own today. I also got back into records at this time. The B&O speakers my dad had left an impression on me, and I bought a Beogram 1602 turntable with a working MMC 20EN cartridge. Around this time I was trying a lot of different turntables. My Dad's old PL-12D, the 1602, an Audio Technica AT-PL-120, a Pioneer PL-510A. After jumping around a lot, I found that the 1602 was the best sounding of all the turntables I owned, but it was getting pretty beat up too. So I found a Bang & Olufsen RX2 that was in basically mint condition. I put a new belt on it, and bought a new Sound-Smith SMMC 3 cart, and then found that the phono pre amp I had (Cambridge) was not well made, and was leaking voltage back to the cartridge. So I then upgraded that to a Musical Fidelity V90, and was really happy with that set up for a while.
All of that got me really into the B&O bug, and I wanted a full B&O system. I had a living room in my lower level that would collect odd and ends of odd hi-fi equipment, but around 2018 I decided to go deeper into the B&O rabbit hole. I started by buying a Beomaster 5500, Beocord 5500, and a Master Control Panel 5500, running to my Dad's old S45-2 speakers. I then got a Beogram 5005 as well, but the Beomaster was a bit of a mess at times, and the MCP had major issues too. The person who sold me the Beogram 5005 was a huge B&O nerd, and we both were on the Beoworld forums, so we ended up becoming pretty good friends, and he helped me repair the Beomaster 5500 and MCP to the point where everything worked as it should. However, I saw he had a Beocenter 9000, and I was in awe of how cool that system was, and how it worked. I told him if he ever wanted to sell that, I wanted it. Well, he had another in storage that was in good condition looks wise, but needed some work.
I got the Beocenter 9000, it is in near mint condition and works flawlessly. I picked up a pair of Beolab Penta Mk I speakers, a matching Beogram 9000, Beolink 1000, and even the Active 10AM antenna. It's a gorgeous system and I just love when I get to listen to it. The Penta's were a huge project, but turned out good. I love the flexibility of the system. I have a Pioneer 8 Track player hooked up to it, built in cassette, CD, AM, FM, an Audioengine Bluetooth B1, and the Beogram turntable. It's crazy how versatile it is.
I've since picked up Bang & Olfusen H6 headphones, H7, H9i, E6, and H95's. Beoplay Active A2, a set of Beolab 4000's Mk II (love them), Beocenter 9500 (huge project in the works), Beomaster 7000, and Beogram CD 7000 (also a project).
There is still a lot for me left to do, but eventually I want a pair of Beolab 5's. Thanks to anyone who read this.
I can understand your arguments very well. I was and am a bit of a gear junkie, but it became too complicated and too complex to use for "just listening to music". So some time ago I switched to active speakers (older Elac Air-X 207 with manual room correction) and only connected a turntable and CD Player. It was an almost liberating step without any loss of sound. I don't have to keep thinking about whether this or that device fits, whether an upgrade might help or whatever the origin of the dissatisfaction is. I'm sure I'll switch to a full smartspeaker at some point...just keep my Alva TT V2 ;) ...(and a CD player - Yes I grew up in the 90s ;) )
I've just bought the A9 and wow it's gooooood we have a big living room and kitchen in one and it's play music crystal clear , we are a couple in our 50th and we are dancing together almost every day since we got even our youngest daughter that still lives at home join us ❤ thank you B&O
I love to hear this!
I love that you do B&O reviews. They make some very good products but rarely get reviewed.
Greetings from Singapore, Andrew & Kristi,
Wish to say this is such a heart warming review.
I have been a B&O fan for decades and am still using a pair of Lab9 speakers with a BV10 TV. Masterlinked to a Beosound 9000.
Even own their now discontinued cabinets.
Brought joy to both my wife and myself for years. And can certainly relate to both your sentiments.
Wishing you both and all your channel subscribers great health and joy.
Thanks Shane! Appreciate you watching and sharing your thoughts.
Beolab 9's and a Beousound 9000!? That's awesome!
High school in the 70's meant every guy I knew had a stereo. Yes mixed tapes were a thing, but basically if you weren't sure if you wanted an album that you found out someone had, you went over and heard it on their stereo. Fast forward a few decades and I got back into audio by hunting craigslist and then online forums. Traveling around New England to buy/sell meant I got to move up the audio ladder over the course of the last 12 years or so. Finally arriving at an Audio Research vsi60 tube amp and Sonus Faber Signum based system I think I got to hear some pretty nice gear, but now I'm nearing retirement and to prepare for a retirement move, I'm selling it all. However, I do want one good BT speaker and this might be the solution. I think lots of people are looking for a less-is-more solution.
Loved Kristi’s comments about just enjoying the music. Keep up the great work, guys!
I have been a B&O customer since 1989 when I bought my first and only turntable the Beogram RX2. B&O puts so much care, design, and quality in their products that almost everyone can find a very nice product that works for them, both musically, and financially. I have several of their portable bluetooth speakers(2 Beolit 15s and a Beolit 20) and that beautiful turntable which is over 30 years old now. I wish more companies gave as much thought to their products and took as much care manufacturing them as B&O does. The A9 is really out of my budget now, but the tech that they have developed to make that speaker as amazing as it is, is also, in different forms in other B&O products, and they really are all, beautiful, and amazing things.
Good morning fam! Thanks for another great Sunday edition! Andrew, I've never even considered a smart speaker as a listening option. I believe it's because I've never heard a premium option - or at least something that sounds good. I have a background in media. So, for years, the recording studio (studio monitors) was the extent of my exposure to powered speakers of any sort outside of Sonus 👎. (The recording studio was also the start of my journey into sound). Thank you for opening my mind. I'll explore this. And ,thank you Kristi for highlighting how we can experience our audio journey with our partners. My wife has come along in my journey to an extent. I still haven't gotten her to cross the DMZ to the audiophile experience.😅So thanks for sharing. Be well my friends!
Love your comment DaWayne! Thank you! And I hope you get to experience B&O products sometime in the not too distant future, if for no other reason than to see what's out there.
I have been looking at the A9 for so long now it is silly. They have advanced it so many times and I am just still looking haha. Your video has made me think I might decide to get one. The problem is that I have already decided that I will never ever get ONE Bluetooth speaker again. I will only get speakers that can be stereo paired. The sound is too good to miss out on. That mehaveI have to find £6000 from somewhere.
Your videos and monologues are so enticing. I love listening to you and Kristi (especially Kristi😊) talk about what the speakers have done in your life.
My P6 stereo pair live in a very special place in my heart. The sound is lush and luxuriou as ,speakers of that size and shape have no right to be. They are just lovely.
In my office I have no reason to have more however for where I will be living the A9 might be the speaker that makes our whole family spend an evening istening again.
Love this video.
I once was someone who was thinking I needed to get an amp and I was daunted by the prospect of having to choose which one to get - tube, solid state, etc.
With modern active speakers of this quality, this goes away and I am closer to simply choosing the music.
I love that.
I may ditch the idea of even looking for amps. Not a bad thingg for those who want to do it. I just want to listen to the music.
A9.... (Or maybe the 28s in a few years more) Hmmmm.
I woud love to hear how you think the level and the new Beosound A5 compare to the Balance which youjnhave in your kitchen.
I really would love to get your take on the Balance.
It has been described as a mini Beolab 90 because of its many drivers.
What do you think and how do you rate the sound produced.
BTW - it is sompletely reasonable to compare all of these speakers - it is about what you want and how you listen.
I remember in your review of the Beosound Level - you said that you wre ejust listening to it after having listened to some higher end speakers.
People will do that.
Also someone may hear one of these speakers and simply never need ot go anywhere else in their life to listen to their music.
Thanks again for the video. You both do such a great job describing speakers.
Looking forward to the next one and I am already going to go to a store and have a listen to the A9 ..... just a taste.
My problem with B&O is they can’t stand up to being hit with a huge chunk of ice from my neighbors gutter - Todd
Clark!!!
😂😂
HAHAHAHAHA Nice!
I love Bang & Olufsen for adding Airplay and Chromecast to their own multiroom option. We’re a mixed Apple/Android household, everyone uses different streaming services, so this flexibility is fantastic.
The flexibility is clutch with these new products as I agree it allows more people to enjoy the speakers on their terms rather than the technology's.
Had an A9 for 7/8 years in y bedroom - its a true great, and the sounds signature is just so very lovely.
I love music and I wore out my folks console, blew up the speakers when they went to separates, and told my fiance (now wife of 47 years), that I would always have a good system in the house. We had 3 music professors in the family and they gifted some very profound albums and I wore those out also.
Refreshing discussion and thoughts about the enjoyment of music and how it makes you feel and connect. Applies to me with photography and my Leica Q2.
I've actually owned B&O products since I was a teenager, but over the years, especially with their software issues and short cycles 10-15 years ago, especially with the Beosound Moment, I turned my back on the brand a bit. Today I still own a Beovision 5 and an A1, as well as the old Beolab 4000 (which still sound great despite their age, driven by a Bluesound). I would like to buy more stuff from them again because i love there desgin, but they should be more flexible with other brands (I will never give up piega Cl90x in combo with my naim unitiy nova, because with these I rediscovered my music) and integrate roon for example.
I've been into hi-fi for close to 30 years now and currently have a near six figure system. However, that system (or any really high end system) only performs to capability in dedicated/treated spaces that, honestly, aren't enjoyable to spend time in. The result is that I find myself listening to it less and less and have a harder time connecting with music because it has become too much like work. Makes me miss the days of playing my boom box in my bedroom or hanging out with the car stereo blasting as a kid. Maybe something like this is the answer - bring good music back to the space I where I want to be.
45 years ago I was invited to bring my hi-fi in to the store's demo room and let compare it with what they would have picked and choices as upgrades. I thought, I expected, to spend 100 or so on a new cartridge. I spent 40% of my annual salary on turntable, arm, cartridge, pre-amp and active speakers. The turntable has been upgraded twice (same Linn Sondek well it looks the same) and the pre-amp and speakers maintained but not replaced. They have been moved around from a two room flat to a house, a bigger house and then bungalow. They have remained the sound stage of all the music, radio, television and movie watching from the outset eventually included in a 5.1/7.1 system.
I would like to replace them as due to age repairs take longer and being big floor standing speakers take up a lot of space. As the music gets transferred to the digital jukebox I don't need racks to hold vinyl, CD, DVD or Blu-ray. Even the most expensive system that I would consider to replace them ~ 24k GBP current Linn Sondek, Meridian 8000 at 75k GBP a pair I would not get to six figures for a 5.1 set up. 40 years ago when I could hear frequencies beyond 15kHz I might have even considered a system like that but not now.
Some of the life style steaming all in one pair of dsp active speaker systems have all the quality of sound with so much convenience.
Although I love B&W of late, you cannot convince me there is a better looking lineup of products, then B&O currently on the market period. Every single product they make looks top notch, beautiful and stylish no matter what room you try to place it in. Whoever is the designer for the brand right now, bravo!
I will absolutely switch to a fully smart, wireless system, once it offers everything I need, like HDMI Arc, phono (not so much now with BT turntable) but nice to have, and especially great sound and design. This is nearly perfection to me. Great review guys!
Thanks Vadym. The Beosound 28s will do everything you just described albeit at a price, but I can attest to the BT turntable connection to them as being a match made in heaven! They do surround sound wirelessly --no HDMI needed!
Most of B&O’s speakers also have an analogue line-in. I used a B&O streaming speaker with a turntable + preamp for over 10 years. Fun times!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews that’s awesome! I just gotta make sure my other kidney is still ripe for sale 😂 but in all seriousness I’ll definitely consider it at some point.
@@frankbernharduebler great tip, thanks!
@@gavriushka You’re welcome. You could then stream the turntable throughout your house with Beolink Miltiroom. Didn’t really make a lot of sense in my smallish apartment back then, but I had a Beoplay M3 in the bathroom that could play whatever was playing in the living room.
Loved your review guys! I have listened to some previous version of the A9, probably the 1st gen, and what pulled me in headlong was listening to MLTR's Paint my love, at ever increasing volume at a store, and suddenly realizing that the snare drum wasn't getting harsher, in the way it ALWAYS happens with every passive speaker and so on. Long story short, for the first time I understood how effective a weapon DSP (or the like) is, but for me personally, while I definitely don't own one, I will always look at these with longing. (Oh, and did I mention I love how these look?)
Very cool review. I love tech but hearing about how something makes you feel is the best part. Thank you.
Oh so tell you eh . . . Your B & O experience goes back 20+ years, mine closer to 40 years long before I could afford it. My friends were blown away by the B & O Biolab 8000 mk2. Nothing had ever looked like or performed like those.
Darn you & your good reviews with cool speakers. 😂 I need to stay FAR away from the b&o store. Speaker i use by far the most is my UE hyperboom since it sounds good & goes about anywhere & drowns out most of the kids yelling. Maybe thats not good...
My journey started when my stepdad introduced me to hifi speakers! He's had speakers ranging from $500 each to $3,000 each. My mind was blown away! (While I don't have high-end speakers at this point) my wife and I still enjoy dancing to the music of my Klipsch towers. Those are the moments I enjoy the most. With humans never knowing how much time we have on the earth. Every moment sent with my wife and kids will forever be treasured. It's the joy of them tower's that helps bring that joy! It's only a matter of time before I will have higher end speakers. For now there just fine to me! Kristi great conversation at the end.. those moments are the moments you such never take for granted.
😍
100% Nick, you get what this hobby is about (or supposed to be about).
@@KristiWright good morning Kristi.. I hope your enjoying Andrews famously made coffee 😂
@@andrewrobinsonreviews good things come to those who wait... Hard work in the end will pay off!!
@@movie_av_impulse You know it!! He's spoiled me for drinking anything but his. :) Happy Sunday!
My hifi journey started about 4 years ago in my early 40s. I was not really interested in hifi before 2019. I listened to music but just on whatever I had in av system or on headphones from phone. But in early 2019 my mom wanted a new record player for her old records . I helped her get one, an all-in-one as that's the room she had. But listening to the records sparked something in me. Now my whole hifi journey has mainly involved thrift stores as I don't have the budget for things that are seen on this channel. But you would be amazed what people donate, and with a little work can get them sounding great. Most audiophiles would still scoff at what I use but for having collected dozens of pieces for less than one set of speakers seen here I can't complain. And it sounds amazing to me and the projects with the units give me a great hobby. Plus it's a way to try crazy setups without breaking the bank. I love seeing the high end equipment and still dream of having them. But I'll always be happy with my thrifting hifi. That's my story.
Andrew, you asked for our Hi-Fi story. Here is mine: When I was a kid, I had a portable 8-track player. The tape slid into the side of it. The thing had one 4" speaker. Well, I also played guitar. One day my father bought me this huge guitar amplifier. It stood about 3 feet tall and had a 15" speaker. It didn't take long for me to figure out that I could take the 1/4" plug out of my guitar and plug it into the headphone jack of that 8-track tape player. My Rush 2112 album had never before sounded so awesome! The fidelity was probably horrible, but to this 12 year old, it was the biggest sound I had ever heard. Plus, the guitar amp had a reverb dial which made it sound like Rush was playing in a big concert venue! This was way before DSP and Dolby surround. Also, paging through the home stereo sections of the big Sears and JC Penney catalogs got me into Hi-fi gear.
Great review specially the part with Kristi was very insightful. Still it would be interesting to see a review on the Sonia Era 300, even if it’s a little difficult working with them as a brand.
Excellent review!! One of these days I plan to give a B&O product a shot. Love how their stuff looks and everything you have said about them just sounds awesome.
My “gateway” to hifi was Boston Acoustic. When I was in college (late 90s) I bought simple bookshelf speakers and a small sub and just LOVED their midrange centric sound. So smooth and relaxing. I still have them and pop them on from time to time just for the hell of it and still enjoy them. Also a Boston acoustic system in my car contributed as well. And that feeling of an experience for me is vinyl when I started collecting that about 7-8 years ago. Just love the whole experience of popping one on, reading the artwork while listening and chilling out.
They do outdoor speakers (via dealers) that are really cool as well as in ceilings for a whole home audio distribution. But this or the Balance amzn.to/3bblRkh is a good place to start if you want to dip your toes into B&O.
Bang and Olufsen was pivotal in my hi-fi journey, because as a kid, nothing drew me in like those systems they had with the moving glass doors and moving CD shuttles. I do not own any of their kit today, but I have to say they have always been objects of wonder And I might not be into audio as much without them.
My mom worked for B&O in the late 70s/early 80s and we had their Beomaster 2400 with the chunky silver button remote that was ultrasonic, the beogram turntable and B&O speakers with stands that raised the speakers maybe a foot off the ground. I knew the stuff was cool, but didn't realize most stereos didn't look like that. And here's the thing..... that Beomaster was a 30 watt x 2 receiver. You would NEVER know.
On a whim, I just picked up a time capsule Beosystem 2400 (Beomaster 2400 w remote, Beocord 1900, Beogram 3404, Beovox 45-2, no stands). After getting it all cleaned and lubed it all works like a champ. I’m very pleasantly surprised at what 1979/1980 gave us. Normally into lots of other audio brands but I’m digging this old system. Your mom had great taste.
I have an A9 mk2 that I’ve had for a couple of years. Got to agree with the review, though I’m sure the latest mk5 sounds better.
To Kristis point, I think the design itself lends itself to encourage people to listen. The design of the product is inviting and anytime someone comes over they always ask what it is. You put your hand on it, and it starts playing. No need to even think about what you should listen to or how, it can take care of it for you.
It can suit any space, and while it’s large it’s not dominating.
I think it’s one of b&o’s best designs and will be considered a classic for years to come. There’s a reason why they’ve made 5 versions.
While I’m sure stereo pairing would sound incredible, I feel it defeats the point of the speaker. The A9 plays a perfect balance between form and function that not many other products can.
excellent description. a few questions, i heard the mk4 in store a few months back and it sounded awesome, but i think it would be hard to find a spot for it. so did you put it in a corner like where a recliner would go? that’s why i ended up going with a Balance and Level.
@@jumbocrunchh I have it in a corner in the living room pointing towards the typical listening area
@@Stevejobs722 okay
Loved the review, especially Kristi's comments. My hifi journey began as a 13 yr old kid with his first all-in-one stereo and visiting any record shop I could find. Fast forward about about 35 years and I now get to share the experiences with my 16yr daughter who just loves music. The hobby has given me a lifetime of pleasure of just listening to music and to now share it with my kid, it's truely something special to me.
I think you make a really good and compelling point in this video - especially Kristi. Everyone's HiFi experience will be different and enjoyed on varying levels. Currently I'm running the KEF LS50 Metas powered by an NAD M10 V2 and it's great - for me. I'd never begrudge someone their own enjoyment of a somewhat/completely different product. In fact, to most 'casual' HiFi folks, I often recommend Sonos, for just ease of use and financial proposition. I used to have a pair of Sonos Fives and they were great for what they were. what's interesting is that when I was younger (late teens, twenties) I placed more emphasis on an amazing pair of headphones than any speaker system. I was always around others, or in a small apartment, and didn't want to bother anyone else - especially because I wanted to enjoy music loudly and really illicit an emotional response. All this to say, everyone's journey with musical equipment will be different, just as everyone has different financial or musical restrictions. I think this A9 will suit a great many people, especially for those HiFi folks who prioritize ease of streaming over anything else. Cheers!
Kristi, that was some of the best advice I have heard about getting your family to enjoy music together. With the $10 of equipment I have around the house, it’s the citation smart speaker we have in the bedroom that gets used almost every day by my wife because it is easy.
One of your best reviews, of course. I confess to checking out all kinds of hi-fi review sites, even hardcore objectivist forums (one of which was actually instrumental in my getting the best system I ever owned), but you both - especially Kristi - hit the nail on the head. When I get chills or a tear in my eye because of an album, song, or even 5-second snippet, it is because I am no longer focused on the quality of my gear, but the artistic experience of having my mind, body and spirit moved by someone's talent. It helps that some of my favorite music was recorded for less than the cost of a decent sofa (the first albums by the Ramones and Nirvana come to mind), but it really is all about the music. People get into vicious shouting matches on the internet about break-in, cables and so forth - where truly hurtful things are said - as if any of that matters AT ALL when Patti Smith introduces Gloria, or Tyler the Creator gets my butt moving without my permission, and on and on. I listened to hair metal and classic rock as an '80s teen on an NAD receiver with Polk bookshelves (they had 5 in their name and were pretty big). I remember them being placed high up near the ceiling and sideways, but can't even tell you if the tweeters were on the inside or outside: I knew nothing, except that Hendrix playing the Star-Spangled Banner was something I wanted to hear again. And again. First wife insisted on small, all-in-one-surround systems that took up very little space and SUUUUCKED. Recently, second (and last) wife encouraged me to get what I loved, within budgetary reason. (She is not in the hobby, really, but is encouraging enough not to make a difference). Played around for a bit before settling on KEF LS50WII with 2 KC62 subs, and: whattayaknow! They don't take up a lot of space, sound great, and also offer some of the simplicity and convenience you discuss in this video. So, just as I am done getting married forever, I am done (for now!) chasing perfect sound. Now, if you'll excuse me, got a date with Megan Thee Stallion, or is it Tina Turner? Liz Phair? Decisions, decisions...
17:18 The difference though is that those speakers 30+ years ago didn’t have all the quickly outdated technology (WiFi protocols, wireless connections). If B&O were clever/cared about longevity/environment/waste management, they would make a removable module in the speaker of the newer models and it alone could be removed/replaced/updated… because the speaker hardware itself lasts much longer.
That kind of stuff is updated with software. Indeed, they do very much care about the longevity of their products and they put a great deal of effort, time, money into the software. Wi-Fi is not outdated, nor USB, they been around for more than 20 years, same with Bluetooth. I suppose one could imagine a scene in which your speaker is bricked, although I can't imagine any realistic one.
at the end of the day it is a speaker with an amp...plug the line in and listen till the world end. There is nothing else to it
I’m not sure if you’re aware, all B&O Mozart platform products have precisely what you’re proposing. They have a removable streaming module, and for those products that have batteries, these are user replaceable also. Apparently the streaming modules are significantly overspecced by current standards to support future software upgrades. I have a Beosound Level, you take the grill off and and can remove the brains and battery 👌
@@dcpayne5264 I didn't know all that, thanks a ton.
Wow!! Thanks for this amazing Review! Love the way you see the 'portable' speaker, BnO are incredible!
I have a Beosound 3200 with beolab 800 for 30 Years and i Love it. 😎🇩🇰
I got into HiFi as a young kid. Grade school age. My dad was an A/V repair tech, so we always had lots of “units” around the house. I sneaked into the attic and grabbed an old Kenwood KR-6200 (which we still have) and hooked it up to some old RadioShack speakers to make my first system. I would become a car audio tech myself in my 20s, and have gone through too many car and home systems to mention here. But have landed with a set of Marantz Model 30/30N with Tannoy Stirling GRs in the house, and CDT speakers and amps in the car.
Appreciate you sharing your story Michael!
I sold hi-fi in the 70's and early 80's. We sold B&O, but I didn't sell much of it. Problem was that I saw their main draw as styling, with "acceptable" sound quality. And all of my B&O customers didn't really care about price. They loved having a piece of art. Maybe something has changed since then.
It fits wonderfully into your interior design 🤩
Your closing statement says it all , just enjoy and be thankful fot allthe great reviews !!!😊👍👍
Why can't other speaker companies think out of the box like B&O?
I agree. Maybe their look isn't always for everyone, but at least they're trying.
Hi @Andrew and @Kristi!
Been looking a lot of your reviews and been meaning to give you a feedback for your absolutely amazing work! I could consider myself as an audioholic of sorts but i've never come across with anyone putting out reviews of audio systems before in a way so clear, as yourself To put it simply; anyone can understand you! And that is the fundamental issue of everyone giving out reviews and i guess it just comes out naturally, when you truly know, what you're talking about?
And i have to raise one particular specialty for your reviews, and that would be B&O speakers. There is simply no one else to put them authentically on the line with everyone else as you do! To explain further this personal importance, is that i've had always B&O products together with, what you should call as a "high-end" and simply because of the aesthetics. For instance, i consider, that one doesn't need a but a one high-end "station" and the rest of the house would rather be for aesthetics and comfortable ambience combined with simplicity and minimalism.
Another reason is the so called "B&O enthusiasts" who often seem to have somewhat religious traits, that can't be reasoned with. On the other side high-end enthusiasts seem to be allergic to B&O and what i'm always looking for, is the non-biased comparison and there You have finally filled that void, so i salute You and express my gratitude for the great work you've done!
Oh, and as you have took your better half along, it would somehow reason how my significant other watches your reviews til the end, even thou she has no interest on the matter such as i do but finds your content to be interesting. That seems to complete the whole meaning of your way of delivering the experience.
And if i may suggest something, is the rather new Beolab 8 and a somewhat similar smart-speaker of Apple HomePod to be reviewed as a stereo-pair simply because, there aren't any good reviews about both of them in a sense of audio-focused way. Oh, and the Phantom Mini for that same framework!
I wish all the best for you guys, cheers!