The Perfect HiFi Home Audio System?? Bang and Olufsen BEOLAB 28 Review
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 5. 06. 2024
- đ Learn more about the B&O Beolab 28: bit.ly/3pK2B4y
âŹïž CLICK 'SHOW MORE' TO SEE HOW WE TESTED THE B&O SPEAKERS + SIMILAR, BUDGET FRIENDLY OPTIONS
âș BANG AND OLUFSEN BEOLAB 28 REVIEW
Beolab 28: bit.ly/3pK2B4y
âș TESTING THE B&O BEOLAB 28
TURNTABLE
Cambridge Audio Alva (shown): bit.ly/AlvaCA
Pro-Ject T1: amzn.to/3bmtO4U
Sony PS-LX310BT: amzn.to/3bmHsFc
OTHER SOURCES
Sony 85â TV: amzn.to/3zFCCN1, bit.ly/3uaJTn5
Apple TV 4K: amzn.to/3em0YUp
PS5: amzn.to/3j61hUR
WiSA COMPATIBLE TVS
LG 90 QNED WiSA TV: amzn.to/3nIG5qb, bit.ly/2XZRcCp
LG 99 8K WiSA TV: amzn.to/3w1e9BR
MOVIES - GAMING - MUSIC
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âș COMPARABLE WIRELESS SPEAKERS
Bower & Wilkins Formation Duo: bit.ly/2GXyWkq
Dali Oberon 7C & Hub: bit.ly/2ZB5EkC & bit.ly/3EyWVyq
KEF LS50 Wireless II: bit.ly/37HOx27, amzn.to/2Kx0sHp
Q Acoustic Active: amzn.to/3enerLs
âș OTHER FAVORITE HIFI SPEAKERS REFERENCED
Focal Diablo Utopia Evo: dealer only
Magnat Transpuls 1500: bit.ly/3DUJicC
Klipsch La Scala: bit.ly/36bPQVb, bit.ly/klipschlas
Klipsch Forte IV: amzn.to/2PggXtz, bit.ly/35GRnlQ
âș MORE FROM BANG & OLUFSEN
Beoplay A9: amzn.to/3meJ6yT, bit.ly/3miLAMN
Beosound Edge: amzn.to/3hJLfip
Beosound Stage Sound Bar: amzn.to/3txBHwi
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Beosound 2: amzn.to/2JLZjLC, bit.ly/3nAbKdj
Beosound Level: amzn.to/3d1L14S, bit.ly/3da6VmI
Beosound Explore: amzn.to/3CgZyVa
Beoplay Portal Xbox Gaming Headphones: amzn.to/31iblF2
Beolit 20: amzn.to/35eQyRL
Beoplay H29 Headphones: amzn.to/2TJTR0K
âș WHAT'S IN THE BACKGROUND OF YOUR A-CAMERA SHOTS?
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ART: bit.ly/ARdecor
LEATHER OTTOMAN CUBES: amzn.to/3cfcfF1
âș BANG AND OLUFSEN SPEAKER REVIEW - BEOLAB 28 SPEAKER REVIEW
When audiophiles think about putting together the best high end home audio system, this new Bang & Olufsen speaker is likely not what they imagine. The Beolab 28 speakers are more than stylish speakers for home, they provide everything you need to have a complete hifi experience.
The B&O Beolab 28 are also more than just wireless speakers for home stereo, they are also WiSA speakers which massively simplify home theater sound by omitting the speaker cables. Watch our Bang and Olufsen Beolab review of the new Beolab 28 Hi-Res wireless stereo speakers.
INTRO: 00:00
BEOLAB 28 SPECS: 00:31
BEOLAB 28 SETUP: 01:18
HOW TO CONTROL BEOLAB 28: 02:45
BANG & OLUFSEN APP: 03:44
BANG & OLUFSEN BEOLAB 28 SOUND QUALITY: 04:35
BANG & OLUFSEN BASS: 05:22
BEOLAB 28 MIDRANGE: 06:32
BEOLAB 28 TWEETER: 08:23
BEOLAB 28 ADJUSTABLE SOUNDSTAGE: 09:22
BANG & OLUFSEN DYNAMICS: 10:17
BEOLAB 28 CONCERNS: 11:05
B&O VS KEF LS50 WIRELESS II: 12:45
B&W FORMATION DUO: 13:35
BUCHARDT A700: 14:11
FOCAL DIABLO UTOPIA EVO: 14:21
CONCLUSION: 14:59
KRISTI'S REVIEW: 15:54
SIGN OFF: 24:17
â MORE ANDREW ROBINSON REVIEWS
â Bang & Olufsen Level Review: âą OMG! Bang and Olufsen ...
â Bang & Olufsen Stage Soundbar Review: âą Was it WORTH the WAIT?...
â Focal Utopia Evo Review: âą Do EXPENSIVE Speakers ...
â B&W Formation Duo Review: âą Bowers and Wilkins For...
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#bangandolfusen #bangolufsen #hifi - VÄda a technologie
đ *Learn more about the B&O Beolab 28: **bit.ly/3pK2B4y*
â *CLICK âSHOW MOREâ ⏠for details & answers to many of your questions*
â *QOTD: What is the purpose of an audio system for you? Would you ever ditch all the gear for something like this?*
â *RULES: Please be respectful. NO OUTSIDE LINKS, URLs, email addresses, etc.*
I would ditch all the gear. Maybe not at that price point. Those speakers are just too high maintenance for the cost. I am, however, considering ditching my main AVR system and replacing it with a second Q950A because that thing gives me all the features with ease of use. My opinion for my house.
@@SeanVedell Curious how you see the 28s as "high maintenance" ?
I love my surround setup so instead of ditching my system at the price point of the B&O'S , I would upgrade my home theater system!
@@SeanVedell If we didn't run a channel like this, I'd likely just have some type of soundbar setup in each room and call it good. Or have one dedicated speaker setup and the rest soundbars.
Speakers that are defined by an app or some technology that can be phased out scares me at $15k (which means they likely arenât meant for my wallet size either). If they were just powered speakers with inputs Iâd be less hesitant. They are absolutely stunning speakers though!
SoâŠmy wife and I are in NYC and while she was sleeping in this morning I was exploring the city on foot. I literally happened across the B&O showroom on 58th St near Central Park. I saw the Beolab 28âs in the window, immediately thought of this review and had to go in a demo them. Itâs small showroom and the sales associate Ian let me demo them for the better part of an hour. I threw everything I could think at these speakers: AC/DC, Pink Floyd, QueensrĂżche, U2, Led Zeppelin and he had a couple jazz and classical pieces he put on. My jaw nearly hit the floor. Iâm new to this audiophile hi end world and I have NEVER heard a speaker like this. Holographic is absolutely the best way to describe it. My mind was đ€Żđ€Żđ€Ż. My wife finally got motivated and we headed back for a walk through Central Park and I told her about these speakers and she agreed to give them a quick listen. First she was absolutely blown away by the look and designâŠwhich is important to her as we just remodeled our family room and she is very conscious of the design choices she made in the new space. These would go very nicely with the aesthetic we have and like. Then Ian put on U2 for her (her favorite band) and she was impressed. Then she had him put on a song she has strong memories from her childhood; Chuck Mangioneâs Feels So Good. I could tell she was instantly transported to another time and place by what she was hearing. With minutes she had tears in her eyes. My wife likes music and listens to music quite a bit BUT NOTHING has ever come close to eliciting this kind of emotional response from her. So much so, that when she asked how much they cost, she didnât really bat an eye and considered buying them on the spot. And my wife is definitely NOT an audiophile by any mean and often rolls her eyes at the cost of speakers and components I tell her about on several HiFi/Audiophile CZcams channels I now watch. The fact that my wife is legitimately considering buying these, is all anybody needs to know about how good they are. So glad I saw this review and subscribe to this channelâŠthank you Andrew and Kristi!
I agree with you and your wives reaction. B& O creates great designs aesthetics and great great sound
Phil did you finally get it.
@@porousdumasia3256 in the end no. Just couldnât justify the cost. But they are still the best sounding speakers đ Iâve ever heard in person.
Hear their new product the B& O theatre lesser cost though and see if that can justify the spend. B& O says that product wont go redundant like the Stage plus its scalable to add 16 more speakers if you choose to.
Added to my if I ever win the lottery dreams.
Same, Joshua. Same.
Same here đđŒ
You should go to a b&o store and listen to them. It's amazing.
Your photography is dreamy! Great review, I'd love B&O to get you some Beolab 90 to play with, I think you'd really have a lot to say about them and would enjoy the experience. All the best - John.
John,
FIRST, LOVE your channel!
SECOND, I would welcome the chance to demo the 90s in my home for I've only ever heard them in showrooms. Heck, I'd settle for the 50's. But we have a fun B&O project in the works that I think a lot of people are going to like and one that will make the brand WAY more approachable for more people. I'm excited because we're working with the larger B&O community to pull it off. Stay tuned!
@@robinsonbrand That means a lot coming from you Andrew, thank you. I'm exited to see what's coming, I'll keep an eye out for that one. Not sure what I can do, but, If there is anything I can ever help with just let me know. (Having Kristi voice her opinion at the end is a lovely touch by the way).
I have the Beolab 50. People probably consider me an audiophile, I have had tons of hifi-equipment, in the latter days mostly Linn. Until I tried Beolab 50. Even my wife loved them and she convinced me to buy them. Has never happened before. I guess she doesnât miss all the âblack boxesâ in the living room. If you get the chance to review the Beolab 50, do it. That soundstage and the monstrous amount of power is really impressive. Works perfectly with my Linn DS streamer, which is now hidden from view.
Your speakers are more expensive than my car. You sir have made it in life. Cheers đ
People told me that hi-fi is the most expensive purchase after home and car. I don't like driving and was determined to make my hi-fi the second most expensive purchase. For decades that was the case with my speakers costs more than my car and then you throw in turntable pre amp and cassette. My first speakers was half a year's take home salary as a teacher. But 10 years ago I was adding rear speakers, centre and sub for 1990 equipment and would not dream of getting another 1990 car. But replacement of equivalent current models and now 6 channel not 2 would be still more than a new Jaguar fitted with a 350 watt 17 speaker Meridian surround sound system.
I am sorry but those speakers look "double wow"! The light wood with the aluminium is just so beautifully crafted.
Thanks for this review man. It's pretty rare to find professional review of B&O products. Good work đ đ
Great review thank you. I listened to these speakers in London a couple of months ago and I was absolutely floored by the superb sound quality from these. They are very expensive but, yes, they are for me amongst the best speakers I have ever heard and that includes many hi-end systems over the years.
If I had the money for these I'd buy them in a heartbeat. I am going to wait a couple of years and then look for them on the second-hand market.
These speakers eat for breakfast so many other systems I've heard.
Bang & Olufsen speakers, stereo equipment, TV's, and other products are not mere electronics; they are sculptural works of art that belong in any museum of modern art and industrial design. :)
True but if you want "investment art" buy a Picasso. B&O has basically eliminated "affordable" audio equipment like in the '80s and '90s. They have gone high end and that puts the average customers out of their marketplace. If they were smart they would create their own financing so people could possibly afford their products. Pretty stupid IMO.
ââ@@rancosteel luxury's basic definition is that all cannot afford it
If you make it accessible to a larger audience ,you might sell more but then wealthy class will not prefer your brand as it's common
It's not about revenue, but your market placement strategy that decides that.
Less units sold (with 5 times more price) means less hassle for post sales service/ repairs, meaning companies can concentrate their resources( with more money now, thanks to the price paid by luxurious customers) on innovation and aesthetics rather than fighting for survival.
Till date there is no electronics company that says you don't need my warranty as my product will not go bad.
Companies that charge high ticket prices, simply replace the unit , that is called gaurantee.
How do they replace it , they charge you that during the sell alreadyđ
@@preets1 Yes, it sounds more like leasing than owning. Any product that is not repairable is worthless IMO.
âIdc that itâs not ruler flat. I measured it with my ears and it sounds brilliantâ đđ greatest quote of all time
After spending about 6 months with these the sound is just stunning. Music becomes so freeking good and I have started listening to music I didnt listen to before. Among the best sounding speakers I have ever heard no matter the price. And to Andrew... there is actually a magnet to hold the covers. But there is a small guide pin you have to lign up first before the magnet catches.
Youâll happy to know the B&O store in Singapore loops your review on a giant screen. Youâre now a big part of their in-store marketing.
Oh wow! I did not expect this review at all. Good job bringing something different and new to the review table! đ„
Thank you so much, Boonnn! We appreciate you watching.
I demo'd the 90s at Harrods during an England Euros match in 2016. The shop assistant wasn't too happy being dragged away from the game to let some 20 year olds gorp over a system they could only dream of. But I'm glad we asked... it was jaw-dropping. Perhaps got my love of HiFi from that experience so have a lot to thank B&O for.
:) Great story!
The 90s are my END GAME speaker. If I could afford them I would get them and quit HiFi without a second thought because that speaker is SOOOOOO good. I too credit B&O for igniting my love for HiFi too --albeit many, many years ago.
@@robinsonbrand it's quite strange, I've always had it in my head that there's better if you search deeper. Everyone knows B&O. And as someone who's in this community, you want to feel like you know something they don't. We research so we should get better, no?
I live across the road from a B&O showroom. Walk past it every day but never pay it much thought. This review's got me thinking: Maybe they are end game?
During breaks, working at Harrods as a student, I would hang around the hi-fi department of Harrods and picked up on demonstrations of some hi end gear. The first CRT projection screens from Sony, the Gale, transcriptor turntables from Mitchell. 4 channel super amps and towers that would not fit in to the house I lived in. But it would have been hard to put a good end to end system together with what they had on display. There for looks and price point. Not knocking it all. They even had some student affordable gear and with the sale on and my friend's staff discount knocking off 30% a bargain. But the turntable was from another store and unlike the amp, tuner and cassette didn't need an upgrade for my parents.
Just returned from local B&O store in Moscow, I was choosing a portable speaker, but asked to demo 28 for me.
This is what I call âfestiveâ, âsweetâ sound. It doesnât sound neutral like true high-end speaker.
But Iâm in love, it was maybe the best experience, except Beolab 90 I heard a year before (no comments, itâs just stunning) and Focal Utopia.
Yesterday I visited a B&O shop to hear the Beosound Balance. On the way there I collected a Niam Mu-so 2 for a different room. Whilst in store I thought that I'd listen to the Beolab 28 just for the heck of it. BIG MISTAKE.
Listening to Ren Harvieu 'Through the Night', they made me cry. A grown man sitting in front of a complete stranger in the middle of a city centre store openly weeping. I saw Ren Harvieu at an intimate gig 2 weeks earlier and listening to the Beolab 28's was as if I could feel her breath on my face - seductively authentic.
So, I arrived home unpacked and set up the Mu-so 2 and was left underwhelmed. If you can't afford these babies (ÂŁ10K - yes you read that correctly) then don't ever listed to them or they will haunt your waking dreams. Once heard never forgotten.
Holy shit dude amazing. I'll probably not heed your warning and find a way to listen one day!
B&O have never made budget speakers, there's a reason for that. They are timeless works of art that sound fantastic to boot. These Beolab 28 speakers look amazing and if I was wanting to get rid of my gear I would 100% shortlist these as an option. This is the future. Thanks for another amazing review.đ
Canât wait to hear you review the new Beosound Theatre!
I am too looking forward to theatre and hoping it would solve my problem of my living room
After watching a video on that âmeasurement guyâsâ channel today, itâs completely refreshing to watch your videos. Your channel will keep growing, keep it up đ
Appreciate you watching!
I love connecting, configuring and shopping for gear. I spend just as much time looking for new gear as I do looking for new records and listening to music. The search for me is part of the fun. I totally get somebody wanting to be âdoneâ but not me I love reading reviews of new gear and will probably never be done. These look cool though. Not my style but I bet they sound amazing.
Iâm in love with this product. Thanks for the review - completely sold me tbh.
Happiness is Andrew & Kristi on Sunday morning.
Thank you so much. We're so happy you decided to join us. Have a great day and thanks for watching!
@@robinsonbrand Hey, you guys are must-see youtube tv. If I go to the youtube app on my Roku at 10 am Sunday and don't see a video, I start to get all jittery. It's almost like I missed my morning coffee.
You're the only audio reviewer I can tolerate without sampling the speakers. I don't know how you do it but I just subscribed đ€ŠđŸââïž
Great review once again, love that you love B&O!
I have some on order to make my B&O system even more silly and I can't wait :p
One comment on the midrange/full-range drivers in terms of the two directivity modes: the two side drivers are never disabled - even in narrow mode, they're used together with the front drivers to control directivity of the speaker. They actively cancel out some frequencies emitted by the front drivers that would otherwise travel to the sides and cause reflections in the room.
Coffee in hand, sunday audio fix in progress
Good morning!
Always great to see you join us!
Cheers to that!
I tune out so much pop culture and what not. This content is worth my time.
I see those Wharfdale Lintons back there, pumped for the review since I bought them a couple months ago!
Brilliant review - I absolutely love your format - Kristi has a wonderful sense of humour. You guys are a great team. Thank youđđđ
I love them , my parents had an old b&o stereo all in one made with teakwood and had reel to reel , turntable and receiver from the 60s when we lived in Germany and now I have two b&o s3 speakers hooked up to the Mac mini and they sound awesome
look amazing......your review reminds me of the first time I heard Bose 901 and 601......back in the 80's
Coffee and brunch, on the sofa watching Andrew and Kristi. Love Sundayâs!
These B&Oâs design wise are stupendously gorgeous. They look great in your room - keep âem! lol
PS⊠I see Lintons in the new black finish in the backgroundâŠ
Thanks for joining us @S. L.
Good morning!
The speakers look stunning and I imagine they sound the same too. Intrigued by how yu described it as highly transparent. Great review.
I'd NOT replace my separates (main listening gear) with an all-in-one setup like Beolab 28. . . BUT . . for living room speakers they look gorgeous.
I really like both your views which are honest and always detailed
And as a Bang and Olufsen fanatic your view on. The brand gets a fair ride on your channel
I agree with you. The simplicity of not needing separate amps, preamps, interconnects, etc. makes for a whole new experience. For many years I owned stacks of gear from Mark Levinson, Krell and speakers from Wilson, Eggleston, Dynaudio and Martin Logan. I bought a pair of Bang & Olufsen Beolab 5âs and a Naim Unitiserve and sold off all my other gear. Beolab 5âs weâre around $24000.00 and the Unitiserve was $4800.00. While the Beolab 5âs were not wireless, Bang & Olufsen does make a wireless transmitter and you add a receiver to each speaker and works flawlessly. I have never enjoyed music more and have never looked back. (The Beolab 5âs weâre recently replaced by the current Beolab 50).
@@danielduesentriebjunior Hello. A close friend of mine traded in his Beolab 5âs toward a new pair of 50âs. I cannot say that they are better than the Beolab 5âs, I would just say that they are voiced differently. That is to say they are not necessarily an upgrade from the Beolab 5, but an entirely different speaker. I prefer the way the Beolab 5âs are voiced, however; thatâs just my opinion. I have listened to the 50âs pretty extensively and they are very good, just different from what I am used to. My friend is now sorry he traded in his 5âs and also spent a lot of money doing so. I hope that helps answer your question.
@@danielduesentriebjunior I agree. Thatâs a good price and you have them for many more years to come.
Wie Need More B&O Reviews on this HiFi Channel. I wish you would do the A9 or theatre
Love your reviews.
Love this one in particular (I just finished listening to the Beoplay Level Video AGAIN -got to be about 6 or 7 times now).
I love the way you bring the experience to life and give us the best rendition of what was evoked in you.
I am sitting here and just want them - I want a room where I can enjoy them and want them in my life.
I have a pair of B&O P6s and a Pair of B&O A1 2nd Gens, and I absolutely love love love those.
I also have the H95s Headphones, which I adore - almost as much as the HD650s, haha.
Can you tell I like the high-end but have no money? Haha.
I absolutely do NOT think I will ever have the room to spend that much on speakers, but I might get a pair of B&O Levels or maybe even a pair of B&O Balance speakers.
I love what B&O have done.
By focusing on active speakers - they make it possible to have an audiophilic ear but not have to go through what amp to get for a set of speakers -you can actually focus on the music and that quality. There is nothing wrong with going through amps, and I am sure it is incredibly enjoyable.t I have no desire to do that, but I do want exceptional music delivery - THat is what B&O delivers, and I love it.
I am going to try and find a store to go and listen to the 28s - and hurt myself, haha.
The video made that a necessity - I really need to experience what you and Kristi did - you made it sound so good.
BTW - I always wait for Kristi's thoughts - she has a view that connects with y perspective and makes really interesting points.
Thanks for doing the work - while this is enjoyable, and I am sure you enjoy doing these - I recognise that this is work too, and you guys have put a lot into this. Thank you for doing that. Much appreciated.
You are very good at it!
Thank you for the amplifier class question! I would love a more in-depth video, link me if you have it already, but this has always thrown me.
Hi Andrew, thanks for a great review - interested to hear that you preferred the "Wide" sound setting, I personally find the "Narrow" mode to be more engaging, with a better soundstage. Either way, this is a great speaker/sound system for all types of music. All of the special connections used by B&O are available so these speakers can be used with any brand of audio or video system, companies such as Sounds Heavenly which I run can help with this. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on how Beolab 28 compares to the more powerful Beolab 50? Thanks, Steve.
This man is a KING reviewer! Great review Andrew!
Excellent video like always. Thanks both of you
Awesome review! I'm really glad you went into detail about some of the connectivity options near the end. Honestly I have considered these speakers, but my main problem is that I don't want to ditch my current gear. If I did decide on these speakers, I'd continue my look for a Bang & Olufsen Beocenter 9500 so that I'd have the Powerlink connectivity options that I could then get an adapter for the RJ45. My current B&O set up uses the Beocenter 9000. I'm fully in love with the looks, design, and functionality of that item, and I'm a little worried the 28's would add a layer of complexity to what is currently a system that I just really am glad to own and love and care for. Though honestly, I think my dream speakers are still going to be the Beolab 5's. It's my goal in life to own a pair of them some day.
Whatâs really great wit B&O is that itâs just compatible with everything. Products that support Airplay, Chromecast and in addition a manufacturer specific multi room system are so rare.
Yes, and if you want to be compatible down the road, or with older gear you can reach out to Sounds Heavenly and have the appropriate cables crafted and be back in business.
@@robinsonbrand Yes, those cables are good quality as well. Nothing extravagant. But solid.
Excellent and very honest review and appraisal. Thank you!
I think you have neatly encapsulated the difference between audiophiles and music lovers with your review comments and the approach to system building that B&O has to offer, compared to atypical, passive, separates systems assembled on a mix and match and hope for the best basis by audiophiles at an amateur and retail level.
Audiophiles love to mix and match their kit, and to them the kit is the hobby - the music exists almost as an after thought and a means to an end, which is to listen to the system. And that is perfectly fine - it's a valid, if expensive hobby after all.
As a classical musician and music lover, I obtained my first serious separates system in my early twenties and have had various setups over many decades culminating in a multi-box high end Naim Audio system.
But dis-enchantment had long set in as I was expanding the system to an AV rather than strictly 2 channel stereo role, and all the 'upgrades' and fiddling about with mixing and matching and changing components and cabling supposedly needed to try and get audio 'nirvana' was becoming expensive, time consuming and arguably unhealthily obsessive with all the fiddling and faffing about - to say nothing of ugly racks full of black boxes spoiling the look of a lounge room. Some of us like interior design like your good self and an anorak style man cave 'look' is just not for me.
So ten years ago, all my passive separates systems went with the acquisition of a B&O TV and some fully active (not powered) B&O speakers.
And I've never looked back. Gone were all the concerns about getting the 'best' kit, or the 'right' matching components - cables, leads, support tables etc, agonising over setup and routing of signal and mains cables etc and following all the myth and folklore or passive, separates, audiophile home setups.
And, importantly, I got my music back and more. After all, for me as a musician, the system is the means to an end, and that end is the enjoyment of music to a level where I can immerse myself in a performance and at times, on stunning recordings, suspend disbelief that I am listening to live music.
Imagine; one buys a HiFi system based upon sound reproduction performance and looks, secure in the knowledge that the system has been designed, engineered and built as a finished and matched whole, by a team of engineers with huge R&D budgets and testing equipment, and with most team members having PhD's in specialised fields behind them.
Compare that professional buying experience to the audiophile hobbyist retail experience of mixing and hopefully matching, multi box passive separates components to build a system, using methodology rooted in the 1950s cottage industry days of Hifi, and enamoured of amateur Audiophile hobbyists to this day.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but as a Classical musician, if I had known back then when I started, what I know now as regards fully active speaker systems, and the wonderful ease of use and home integration that a product like B&O offers, I would never have bothered with passive, separates systems and the whole Audiophile hobby and arguable pseudo science, that commonly goes with it.
With B&O my HiFi "eagle" has landed. 10 Years in, and my total ownership satisfaction level is still 110%.
My enjoyment of music, both in stereo, discreet and matrixed surround, along with movies is at a level none of my previous passive separates systems could even approach.
For me, as a music lover and classical musician first, and a HiFi enthusiast second, fully active HiFi systems designed by engineers at the top of their game in terms of qualifications and experience, relegates the Audiophile mix and match approach to system building to the hobbyist niche and those who love tinkering with kit as a valid hobby.
If you want to enjoy a hassle free system that you will fall in love with, will look stunning in your home, and keep you listening and loving your music for hours on end, then fully active systems such as the Beolab 28's you review here, are the way forwards for home AV systems and music and movie connoisseurs.
Keep these weekend releases coming, Kristi and Andrew! Products like the Beolab 28 and Sony A9 definitely have me questioning everything I thought I knew about hifi. Also, I love the options for living spaces and decor when minimizing the electronics aspect of a set-up!
Thank you. Also, when you don't have to worry about where to place or set a turntable, amp, preamp etc., one's living space really does start to open up and have more or greater flexibility.
Two of the most surprising products of the year for sure!
@@robinsonbrand đthis đisđthe đfutuređ
Answering Your Question: I had 2 BOSE Performance Classic Equipment. In a little way they remind of those speakers I had which I used for myself and as a Sound Guy at City Events. The sound on them was Wonderful, but they were not Record Listening Speakers Like I want in the house. I need more STUFF to Play with because almost every record seems to do better if I tweak them individual to the Record I'm playing. I loved MY BOSE for my Guitar, band, vocals and it's amazing in part because I put it up and plug things in and IT DOES THE REST.... but at home, I need to fiddle more with my Seat in the Auditorium.
Great review, Andrew! I'm a long term owner of Beolab 5. They are a force to be reckoned with. It would be great if you could review those too? Again, they completely vanish and give a holographic image... but also have enough power to almost blow the walls of your room out. They kick so hard that you can feel the hair move on your head. However, they are big. And technology moves on.
Hi Andrew, my friend have Beolab 28 and before he owned Beolab 18 and Beolab 9. Now.. I have owned a sea of speakers including KEF LS50, Anthony Gallo Ref 3.1 and ATC's and I know how hard it is to describe Bang Olufsens newer speakers. To my ears Beolab 18 is the more affordable choise. You get a high percentage of that big and pleasing experience for less than the 28's.. My own speakers is Aurelia Cerica XO and that's a speaker that I'll never sell (they came out 2013 and the model is still in production),I have them connected to a separate Icepower amp just like all Beolabs comes equiped with. The Cerica's is extremely holografic and holds up good with Beolab 28 and even outperforms them with more spooky/physical/pinpointed effects and also the bass sometimes sounds more exact/realistic on the Cericas... BUT, would I rather have the Beolabs 28's? Yes! Simply because they are better allround, pretty and no need trying out 100 positions and adapt to your room. Before the Cerica was my No.1 soundstages wise.. but the soundstage on 28's is even bigger and wider and they setup a lifelike stage! I think it's the best allround speaker I've heard and it goes from the quality of pleasing all to perfection and you won't need to buy a surround, because it's really good with movies. That feature you ALSO get with the Beolab 18's with a sub). But the 28's can do things I've never heard before.. as YOU said: "Let you in on the recordings" On well recored performaces your room becomes a huge, lifelike bubble that transports you back to the exact time and place. You really understand that you're getting that same feeling the people around that certain stage/studio got at at the time of the recording/concert played out.. Magic stuff! But as I said! I recommend the Beolab 18's if you want that signature, preferably used with sub if played with high volume or movies. 18's speakers give you a big piece of the magic experience of pleasure. If we talk vocals alone or movies.. I think the 18's better.. Voices/solo is so harmonic and sedusive. But then, if you turn on different genres, live, complex music, rock or tracks with special effects the performance on the 28's wins hands down.
My conclusion is that I really want 28's or 5's as my next main speakers if nothing better comes out.. I've seen a danish guy review both at home and he clearly prefered the 5's because of the extra dynamic/preasure and punch that you feel in your body.
I will soon buy B/O mainspeakers. BUT I WON'T sell the Aurelia Cerica simply because they are different and they does many things even better than the 28's.
You really should review Beolab 5's or 18's with sub and report what you think.. You can find both cheaper and the 5's might even outperform the 28's.. or why not try Aurelia?
28's is excellent, but I am not convinced with the lows on some tracks.. it may come somme updates/corrections, it reminded me of a Harman Kardon Go Play. But on the other hand they can play magic on other songs like no one else.
Thanks for one of few REAL reviews on Beolab!
Thank you very much for a fantastic review of. Beolab 28. Now Iâm really considering to get a pair đ
Thanks for great review. How would you recommend an Atmos setup with AppleTV and the Beolab 28? What additional speakers & Amp?
High class review of a high class product. Would fit nicely in a Bond Villainâs lair (who could probably afford these speakers, too.)
Please make a Beolab 8 review! Would greatly appreciate it!
That would be awesome. Iâll second that. Heard them the other day. Awesome for their size.
Review of the Beolab 8's Yes Please Andrew. !!!!!!
I love B&O, and i have a multiroom system. i would love to add the Beolab 28 speakers to that system... like you said, they sound incredible, and i love the timeless design... great review
Thanks for leaning into the place that us future-fi minimalists & music first heads love. Yes, I would ditch the quantity / gear jungle for something that is beautiful, unusual but takes the experience to the next level.
This reviewer has great articulation, he's really made me want to listen to them. I just wish i could afford them
I happily ditched all the âextrasâ when I finally bought a pair of BeoLab 5âs 2nd hand. HiFi heaven.
Beolab 5 is a better speaker for most music and movies. 28's can throw sounds wider than iv'e ever heard 2 speakers do and can create a impressive real life stage. But sometimes on tracks the bass in 28's sounds really boomy and in my opinion that's a huge deal for this kind of money. If they can fix that, this speaker could be the one of the best no matter the price.. but I don't think it will happend because they have to remain that selling point for the 50's.
I bought the Buchardt A500. Excellent speaker system. I think these go too far for me but I admire your ability to keep and open mind and open ears.
My first hi-fi experience happened to be with some Beolab 5 from early 2000â. Before that I thought music was just music, but since then I started realizing there was something more than just listening your favorite song, how it was played.. stared my âaudiophileâ approach with some basic Yamaha PianoCraft system, and then moved to some old Bose 901 that my father used to own, not for purist I know, but I loved them. After some time I decided to move for something now and more âpureâ. I was very tempted to go for some B&O beolab 3 with a Sub, I just love how B&O manages to deliver the sound quality regardless the purity of the process. Eventually I decided to go for a pair of B&W 702 S2 also thatâs to your reviews, they are linked to a Yamaha AS-702 not to go completely broke. I love the sound stage, the Yamaha with 100w/ channel manages a good job driving the thirsty speakers. Overall Iâm very happy and I spend hours listening to music. But them, B&O can give you a lot with very few pieces of equipment.
For people thinking the B&O 28's are expensive, you are thinking the wrong way. These are meant to be bought and kept for 10 years, the technology is such a breaktrough in terms of quality/design that will well last you 10+ years, in which if you decide to sell, you will still get back 50% of your investment as they hold their value as with every top level B&O speakers. The WISA wireless technology is barely implemendted in most of all speakers on the market right now (klipch, SA, buchardt so far) so rest assured you are buying into the future.
@@dougdavis8986 ask me how I know that you never head a pair of B&O?
@@dougdavis8986 lol.. keep digging, maybe someone will start to believe you.
@@dougdavis8986 You absolutely can't buy stuff that is way better, especially the stuff that sound exactly the same as the B&O system.
Go listen to the B&O system, and start to put together a system that can match it? that means speakers, amps, wireless receivers, etc.etc.. Yes it has to be fully wireless and let's get real, they are still going to look ugly. and yes beauty has a price, don't be against looks when you are talking about paying for sound, Go do it try it... I don't need advice nor approval from audiophile boomers. I know what sound good and right now B&O gives you the best bang for buck systems bar none.
More like 30 years. B&o will always be supporting older models, i still use Beolab 8002âs with dealer support.
Even modules will be able to be upgraded and changed later on, much like the Level
Awesome review as always. The speakers looks stunning in your setup. I have listened to them briefly in a B&O store and they are impressive. They look much nicer in the flesh. (BTW, is that a 77" on the wall?)
85. Dets in the description.
@@KristiWright Thanks. A majestic TV :) Looks really great. Hope you keep the Beolab 28. They look great in that room :)
Thank you for your very, VERY thorough review of the Bang & Olufsen Beolab 28 active loudspeakers. I watched this review several times. I am very seriously considering getting a pair for my home. Have you done a review of the Beolab 50âs? Would you recommend one over the other?
Wow as a danish audiophile this review makes me proud :), going from two black boxes to this must have been something designwise to get used to đ
Have you only gotten that bigger place yet, you might have had the room to keep them đđđ€
Great review guys, one of the best ones!
Andrew love those B+O speakers/esp their modern look! I GUESS I didn't hear the part of your review where you discuss their price??? From what I found, think it hovers around 17K?....... I would purchase them, and in probably 1-2 days find my cats climbing on them! Maybe you can contact B+O tell them you need a couple more years, for a thorough review!
I love B+O products although dont see the 28's in my near future! CCC Austin,TX
I love having no amp etc. on or in my sideboard between the speakers⊠just flowers onto and books into it đ€©đ
A lovely review, I appreciate and 200% agree to a thought of changing speakers, amps, cables & etc... and being dissatisfied all the time even after spending money and time.
Hello Andrew, I really like the no-nonsense style youâve, and also the fact that youâre articulate and what you present is structured. I was wondering how you connected your Sony TV to the Beolab 28, your set up looks so clean. I have a Sony TV also, a Bravia XBR-65A1E. It has an optical audio output for example and can be connected to the network an Ethernet cable. Thank you for your video, I have a 5 years old Marantz receiver on its last leg and I am about done with cluttered Sound System clutter. Your review opened up an expensive but very attractive avenue for me.
Andrew, will you be reviewing the New Beosound Theatre? I've had a little listen at a local B&O store ; & they sound unreal ! !!!
Would be interesting to compare them with the Kii THREE. Would be nice to see Tidal / ROON integration.
Tank you for this review, I was waiting since the first instagram photo! Awesome product!
Hope it was worth the wait!
I have always drooled at the finesse in both design and execution of B&O products, from way back when in the 70's & 80's when I used to visit the Myer-Emco Audio Store in Washington DC. My second Turntable was the Beogram RX2 Turntable, which you could drop a tennis ball on the top of it while playing and it wouldn't skip! I personally like a "minimalist" design. And this System falls right into that category. But there is a huge benefit to such a design. And you hit on it in a big way Andrew in that you said, "these are the most transparent speakers you've ever heard!!" And yes I'll mention them again, but its why I love my KLH Kendall Towers, they are only, just less than 8 inches wide and 14 inches deep, they are fantastic at "not being heard". I have always believed the more "BOX" the less transparent. Dalquist made a range of speakers years ago that had "Floating" Drivers mounted on a frame, covered by a cloth "grill". Those speakers, having no real enclosure, were the most transparent I had ever listened to at that time and few have approached them since. My Kendall's have two 6.5 inch drivers in each cabinet and get down to 25hz, so I'm not surprised, with B&O's implementation of DSP, this system gets down as low as it does. Kristi said she would want them to be a bit shorter, but as you eluded to Andrew, there would be a drop off in performance. At first I was shocked to hear a 14,750 system was so un-user friendly to both set up and add connections, but when you mentioned they have mounting options, well then it all made sense. This next level step up from the BEOLAB 18's, which I always thought were beautiful speakers is not a system the typical "AUDIOPHILE" would even consider...why...because outside of the "Speakers" there is nothing else to SEE!!! Nothing else to show off to your friends here. But as a True Lover of Reproduced Audio, I personally would love to own this system. And most who will but it, will set this beautiful system up one time....and never touch it again!! Oh and did you see the picture of the Beolab 28 in the "WALNUT" color....??? Simply a piece of art!!!! The ONE thing I would have loved for you to have gotten your hands on and reviewed along side of this wonderful system, is the Beoremote Halo!! Yes its $900 bucks, but at this point...who's counting!!? It is such a compliment to this system in both the functionality and design able to match colors to your choice!! Why do I want to see that...because I hate...did I say HATE using my phone to change a song!!! And in this thread you did say its great with movies, a bit more on that would have been nice in the reviews, but after a point it was kinda of a "given" that it would sound great with "anything" as you spoke of!!! I did think about the SONY A9's while you were reviewing these, but started to realize that in your not mentioning them, was in fact the notion that "nothing" really compares to this system. So I have one question....is this B&O's best SPEAKER/SYSTEM, for almost 3 and half times the price, the BEOLAB 50 has an astonishing frequency response of 15-43,000hz!! And maybe the answer lies within the question....$40,000 vs $14,750. Yep I'd go with the Beolab 28!! With all that said though....I would love it if you could ever get your hands on the Beolab 90!! 18 drivers, 8200 watts of amplification, down to 12hz...all for just 100,000 bucks!!! That would be a fun review to watch!! Great review guys!!
I purchased my 28âs this week and canât wait for them to deliver. They are the perfect family room speaker. I have a large fireplace and no AV cabinet. I want to maintain a clean look and regular speakers wonât work. Wireless is my h option these look as good as they sound in my living room!
I'm curious and hope you're okay with me asking. Presumably you have now had some time with the 28's - are you happy with them? Anything that is cause for concern? And also - what finish did you choose?
@@bzdtemp I got the gold pair. Itâs beautiful and matched my home the best. In terms of problems, these are finicky with WiFi. Iâm being told the Orbi mesh systems donât work well with these, which I have. I am having a lot of lost connection problems. My dealer will be installing a new WiFi system in my home to hopefully correct this. I cannot recommend spending the premium for these until thatâs resolved.
@@mr.c.3150
Do you use them with your tv set and if you do how do they work for watching movies.
@@mr.c.3150 updates?
@@yeahthatsright33 Iâve delayed in updating as Iâve continued with wireless issues. The latest firmware update has made significant improvements, however, wireless link to my A9 and Beosound 2 via Bang and Olufsenâs proprietary protocol still does not work. Sound quality is great with built in Deezer. But the technical issue persist.
Will you review the new Beolab 8 stereo-speakers? Especially and unboxing and a review in general would be awesome!
I am beginning to think these are almost the speaker I have been looking for. At 4.1kg I can carry a single or pair room to room (sure I can make two trips with Beolab 28 but avoid hitting the top on the door and weight is hard). So they do everything the Beosound Balance or Level can but also have powerlink and WiSA for watching a movie or CZcams in synch. No battery but I am not looking to use as a fully portable speaker.
Agreed!
Please Andrew,let's have a review of the BEOLAB 8's
If I can afford, this unit will be my favorite, good for sitting room, easy to place and joy to listen, sometimes we do not need serious equipment but good sound.
I have B&O Earset 1 mobile for Ericsson mobile phone, the sound quality is superb, both me and the one at other side feels that we are talking face to face in a quiet room!
Iâm doing dishes and watching this. Now I have an insane itch to spend an obscene amount of money. Thank you for an awesome review, and for making my bank account dryer then Sahara desert. đ
:) good to see you! Have a great day!
@@KristiWright same to you maâam! đđ»đșđ»đžđ„
Excellent review.
Thank you kindly!
I was never about the aesthetics of my audio equipment. Then I met my significant, a first generation Dane, and she would frown on how the equipment would interfere with the room. She even had issues with how the cables were laid out. Didnât want more than one pair of speakers in the room. My two sets of Magenpans have to be put in storage when I wasnât using them. Sigh. These B&Oâs she would love. The things you do for love.
B & O do it again with designs and products that fly in the face of convention. I love the look / functionality but to hear it gave you pause Andrew is what I really love. I think that is what makes things like this so exciting. As the technology gets better and the ability to, "Do more with less" in terms of overall gear is tremendous. Also, B&O should just license their app to every other manufacturer.
hi andrew can u also please review the cheaper beolab 18? thanks.
This presenter has like the perfect voice-over speaking voice! đđđđđŒđđŒđđŒ
Iâm happy with my four wired Kef meta with Kef atmos speakers atop the front speakers with a Denon Anniversary reference receiver and a Kef center and all priced competitively. The Beolab are great looking, though.
Your reaction on this stereo speaker is amazing and, this is one of the best to enjoy as a rich person.
I am ditching all of the gear and just purchased the beolabs 28 :) I will report back :) Great review presentation!
Any updates
These look amazing
They are very, very nice!
Hi, congrats on the reviews! As a hardened audiophile I have always looked to B&O speakers with a healthy dose of skepticism. However, I am recently transitioning more towards ease of use and minimalist approach that complements the decor instead of overwhelming it. These speakers are so gorgeous that if they sound half as good as they look could make my shopping list. However, I do have a couple of questions: how would I connect them to my Sony 77ÂŽÂŽAG9? Also, how could it connect to a BlueSOund Node and would it be possible to bypass the Node DAC altogether? Thank you very much for your reviews.
Awesome content as always. Great video.
I'd ditch 28 for 90!
Thanks, great review.
How does it compare to Beolab 18?
Iâve just recently come across your videos and they are not only helpful and entertaining, but youâve also got an impressively soothing and enjoyable voice! Your channel is really great, thanks for all the work!
The only thing I donât understand is the placement of your Eames, doesnât it suck to listen to those speakers from over there
Welcome aboard. To your question, I do not use the Eames chair to listen to music, I use it to relax and read, so it's placement in the video is not an issue (at least not to me). Have a great rest of your day!
@@robinsonbrand interesting that itâs so special purpose for you! Love Eames, youâve got a great interior!
The âgear junkieâ aspect can also drive you in the direction of a product like these. They are slick new tech that allow what was traditionally a stack of gear to just vanish into the background, yet still provide the desired end result, which is an excellent listening experience. Very desirable.
Are you going to do a review on the B&O Beolab 90's ?
It would be smart for B&O to lend him a pair. No doubt he would fall in love đ
I must admit they are cool looking! From the future or something
B&O has been leading in the looks department for decades. If you're not familiar with their products, totally fall down a google rabbit hole checking out their older stuff. So, so good!
Great review Andrew heard nothing but good things about the BL28âs but yet to hear them. In relation to your question afraid I grew up with B&O and always used them myself, do feel like an outsider when it comes to the audiophile community but then the only one that needs to enjoy my system is me. Love the Channel especially the $5 finds and your honest approach when it comes to your review⊠keep up the great work đđŒ also from watching your previous reviews and q&aâs you spoke that you had a B&O stage in your life also and interested which turntable and speakers those where?
A surprising demo track to understand "wide" versus "narrow" on the 28's is "Risin' To The Top" by Ken Burke. In narrow mode, it's a vocal in the range of the front and side drivers that has one focus in narrow, and as mentioned in the review, a much smoother, warmer approach in wide. Meanwhile, you can practically see the speaker kicking the drums. Auditioned on a floor standing pair.
I been an audio enthusiast to B&O from 10+ years⊠while I cannot afford the new equipmentâŠI do buy vintage audio from B&O.. some of those quite fantastic looking and sounding⊠would you consider to make a review of those?.. I have a beosound 3000 , beolab 8000âŠand some othersâŠ
Beolab 8000 is vintage now! :( I'm getting old..
@@rghl5617 ⊠the beauty of B&O is that they make such a timeless pieces of audio gear.. the 8000 is a perfect example⊠people that I know that they never heard of B&O and they saw it for the first time they would never guess how old they are.. and that is the beauty of a well designed speaker..
@@fortanell1 Absolutely, it can still compete nowadays which really is amazing. I would be happy owning them now.
Excellent and enjoyable review!đ„đđŸ
The Beolab 50 and the flagship Beolab 90 speakers will blow you away even more if you loved the sound of the 28âs.
Great review, I followed the link to have a look at the product page. I then swore out loud when I saw the price.
âHouse curve.â Brilliant ! Man, I have to write that down.
The ultimate Lasko fan.
As much as I love gear and getting the next shiny thing, I could go for a system like this, where everything is already figured out.
What would hold me back, particularly at a price point like this, is what if something goes wrong?
That essentially will give me the biggest pause, because if something breaks I would be terrified at the cost of fixing it and the steps that I might have to go through.
If B & O addresses this concern in a reasonable manner, I could see myself going for something like the 28.
Same, the good thing about separates, is you can upgrade the component that dies, or when it becomes outdated. But on the other hand, dsp and matched components can do wonders for sound quality
Iâm living this concern now with my Kef LS50 Wireless 2âs. Sent them in (Kef paid shipping) due to a HDMI eARC handshake issue that required a new board. Going 8 weeks and counting with no word on when Iâll get them back.
This level of complexity and integration does introduce an exponentially higher point of failure surface. An amp. A power supply. A connector. A driver. The motor that moves the wooden shutters back and forth. I could get into these for how they sound, but I probably wouldn't because of how service-unfriendly they are.
@@MrRainyCity Sorry to hear that. I think these companies have something to figure out because of the investment they are expecting from their customers and the complexity of such solutions. The nature of the tech is such that things will break, and it is not practical or easy to troubleshoot.
@@dtsdigitalden5023 Totally agree.
You can pair this with a Almando Surround Decoder throu ARC for any TV. Either with cables or wisa. The decoder can mix the center channel on the front speakers. Cheers, love your reviews.
Yet another excellent review! đ
Thanks so much!