Custon Installation Equipment Reviews

High-end speaker maker Burmester, US introduced a trio of slim speakers at CEDIA. All three speakers – the B30, B25, and B20 – are three-way, full-range, floorstanding models. Each uses a new air motion transformer (with a frequency range of 2,700 – 45,000 Hz) that's mounted in a small horn. This high-frequency driver design is said to be highly efficient and highly dynamic. The speakers also share a similarly engineered side-firing oval woofer with a powerful Ferrite magnet system. The oval shape helps maximize the cone's surface area while making it possible to construct a narrow speaker cabinet.

The B30 is rated at 250 watts and measures 43.3 inches high, 9.6 inches wide, and 16.1 inches deep. It uses a 6.25-inch midrange driver plus a 12 x 8.25-inch side-firing oval woofer. The sensitivity rating of the B30 is 89 dB with a 4 ohm impedance.

The 200-watt rated B25 stands 35.6 inches tall, 7.9 inches wide, and 13.8 inches deep. It incorporates a 5-inch midrange and an 8.25 x 6.25-inch side-firing oval woofer. As with the larger B30, the B25 is rated at 89 dB sensitivity with an impedance of 4 ohms.

The smallest of the three, the B20 is rated for 150 watts. The cabinet is 34.6 inches tall, 6.5 inches wide, and 11 inches deep. In addition to a 4-inch midrange driver, the B20 uses the same 8.25 x 6.25-inch side-firing oval woofer found in the B25. It has a sensitivity rating one dB less than the larger models (88 dB) with an impedance of 4 ohms.

Burmester says it burns in every driver for a full 14 days before it's measured and computer-matched in pairs. Each speaker cabinet is made in Denmark using a composite of HDF and birch plywood. Finish choices include Macassar ebony, Silver, or Elsberry (a finish comparable to Swiss pear). The prices for the B30, B25, and B20 respectively are $12,995, $9,995, and $6,995. They are scheduled to be available in October (B30), September (B25), and November (B20).