Bang & Olufsen Beolab 5700 (1985)
The Bang & Olufsen Beolab 5700 was introduced in 1985. It was one of the first fully active floor-standing loudspeaker systems from the Danish brand, and it broke from conventional passive speaker design. It combined advanced electronics, careful acoustics, and the minimalist look B&O is known for.
Design and Aesthetic Philosophy
David Lewis designed the Beolab 5700. He was responsible for many of Bang & Olufsen’s most celebrated products during the 1980s and 1990s. The speaker has a cylindrical aluminum enclosure mounted on a polished steel base. The upward-firing tweeter and midrange drivers sit in a sealed aluminum column, and the bass driver is in a separate, downward-firing compartment beneath. This layout gave a compact footprint while keeping the acoustics sound.
The enclosure is extruded aluminum, anodized in B&O’s signature champagne or black finish, depending on the model variant. The material also serves a practical purpose - it minimizes resonance and keeps the structure rigid and acoustically inert. The base has a built-in leveling system, so the speaker stays vertical even on uneven surfaces.
Active Electronics and Amplification
The big change in the Beolab 5700 was its integrated active design. Traditional passive speakers rely on external amplifiers. The Beolab 5700 has built-in amplifiers for each driver. Total output is 150 watts - 75 watts for the bass driver and 75 watts shared between the midrange and tweeter. This bi-amplified setup gives precise control over each frequency band, which reduces intermodulation distortion and improves transient response.
Each speaker is a self-contained audio system and needs only a line-level signal from a preamplifier or source component. That removes the speaker cables and simplifies setup. The internal crossover is active and electronic, and it works at line level before the signal reaches the amplifiers. Passive crossovers work after amplification and can degrade signal quality.
The amplifiers are based on Bang & Olufsen’s ICEpower technology (though not branded as such at the time), using efficient Class D or Class G topologies to deliver high power with minimal heat. That let the amplifiers fit inside the compact enclosure without large heatsinks or ventilation grilles, so the exterior stayed clean.
Acoustic Performance
The Beolab 5700 uses a three-way driver configuration:
- Tweeter: A 22mm textile dome tweeter, upward-firing, with a waveguide to control dispersion.
- Midrange: A 75mm aluminum cone driver, also upward-firing, time-aligned with the tweeter.
- Bass Driver: A 230mm (9-inch) downward-firing woofer with a long-throw design and powerful magnet structure.
The upward-firing midrange and tweeter reflect sound off the ceiling. The idea was a diffuse, spacious soundstage that minimizes the effects of room boundaries. This “indirect radiation” approach was meant to give a more natural, enveloping sound, particularly in homes where traditional speaker placement is constrained.
The downward-firing bass driver couples with the floor, using it as a reflective surface to extend the low end. The bass enclosure is sealed (acoustic suspension), which gives tight, accurate bass without the coloration often associated with ported designs. Frequency response is rated from 35 Hz to 20 kHz, with a sensitivity of approximately 89 dB, which is respectable given the active design and controlled dispersion.
Connectivity and Integration
Each Beolab 5700 speaker has a dedicated input terminal for a stereo line-level signal. For stereo operation, a special Y-splitter cable sends the same signal to both speakers, with one acting as the master and the other as the slave. The master contains additional circuitry to distribute the signal and synchronize operation. This was innovative for its time but could confuse users unfamiliar with active speaker systems.
Later versions of the Beolab 5700 supported B&O’s proprietary Link System, which allowed integration with other Bang & Olufsen components such as the Beovox control units and Beocord tape decks. Components communicated digitally and could be controlled via remote or wall-mounted interfaces.
Legacy and Collectibility
The Beolab 5700 was produced from 1985 to 1992 and was succeeded by models like the Beolab 6000 and Beolab 8000. It was not as commercially widespread as some of B&O’s later products. It has since gained a cult following among vintage audio enthusiasts and design collectors, and its rarity makes it sought after.
Working examples are prized for their sound quality and as design artifacts. They frequently appear in design museums and private collections focused on 20th-century industrial design. Restoration projects are common, with specialists refurbishing amplifiers, replacing aging capacitors, and re-foaming the bass drivers to restore original performance.
Conclusion
At a time when most high-fidelity systems relied on passive designs and bulky enclosures, B&O rethought the loudspeaker. The Beolab 5700 combined active electronics, an architectural form, and room-filling sound.
Its influence can be seen in modern active speakers from companies like KEF, Bowers & Wilkins, and even B&O’s own current lineup. For collectors and audiophiles alike, the Beolab 5700 remains a symbol of what happens when uncompromising design meets fearless engineering—a true icon of 1980s audio innovation.
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