MBL 126 - The Absolute Sound

MBL 126 is a four-driver, three-way, bass-reflex design. It's composed of MBL's bespoke radial tweeter and radial midrange drivers mounted ... Upto84%insavingswhenyousubscribetoTheAbsoluteSound SUBSCRIBE Begintypingyoursearchaboveandpressreturntosearch.PressEsctocancel. MBL126 REVIEW byNeilGader Nov30th,2021 A A A FewaudiophilecompaniescommandthelevelofrespectthatMBLhasgarneredovertheyears.ItsfamedRadialstrahleromnidirectionalloudspeakers(nottomentionitssuperbelectronics)inspirecuriosityandawe.Thisisparticularlytrueifyou’reinthepresenceofitsstoried101EMkIIorthejaw-droppingfour-tower101X-treme.AttradeshowsI’vewatchedenthusiastsenterMBLexhibitswithahushedsolemnityandwalkawayglowing,asifthey’dundergoneaspiritualexperience.  ButthisreviewisaboutanotherMBL,thesmallestRadialstrahlerintheMBLline—the126.Atunder14inchestall,certainlynoonewillconfusethisthree-waycompactwithoneoftheaforementionedflagships.Ontheotherhand,nooneshouldmistakeitswhimsical,droid-likeappearanceforanythingotherthananaudiophileloudspeakerofthemostserioussonicintentionsandpedigree.  MBL126isafour-driver,three-way,bass-reflexdesign.It’scomposedofMBL’sbespokeradialtweeterandradialmidrangedriversmountedatopaneleven-literenclosure,whichhousesapairoffive-inchmid/woofers.Inthesensethattheuppermostmidrangeandtweeterdriversaremountedinabafflelessverticalarrayoutsidethewooferenclosuretheconfigurationmightbeconsideredahybrid.Sensitivityislowat81.5dBandnominalimpedanceis4ohms.Thisisanotherwayofsayingnottobeshyaboutbringingonthepower.Fortunately,IhadMBL’sown180WpcC51integratedamplifieronhandtoassist.  TheMBL126mightbe“entry-level”forthisGermancompany,butthereisnothinglowrentaboutit.Inbuild-qualitytherewerenocompromisesthatIcouldsee.Theheavy,inertcabinetcloakedinasuperblacquerfinishwassmoothasglass,andoutfittedwithtop-notchspeakerterminals.Andthatgoesforthebespokefloorstands,which,Ishouldadd,arepivotaltoperformanceofthe126.Theyarenotanafterthought.Theyareconstructedandfinishedwiththesamequalityandattentiontodetailasthespeakers.Whentheyarebolteddirectlytothebottomplateofthe126,theresultisessentiallyasingle,rigid,floor-standingstructure.Ican’timaginethe126sittingatopanotheraftermarketstand.True,thestandisconsideredoptional,butitreallyisn’tanoption.It’savirtualnecessity. Theradialtweeter,knownasHT37,isthesamebasictransducerthatMBLdeploysinallitsothermodels.Itconsistsof24 proprietary,130-micron-thick,unidirectional-carbon-fiberblades(comparisonstoflowerpetalshavebeenmadeinthepast),withnospiderencirclingthevoicecoil.LargerbutsimilarinconstructionistheMT50midrange,whichsports12woven-carbon-fiberblades,thickerat200micronsandslightlylessstiff.ThecurrentMT50’smagnetisslightlywiderthanbeforeandexactlycenteredtothevoicecoil,sothatnospiderisrequired,and,aswiththetweeter,distortionisreduced.  Bassdutiesarehandledbyapairoffive-inchTMTmid/basstransducersthatemploy26mmvoicecoilsandlong-excursionaluminumdiaphragmswithphaseplugstoimprovedispersionandreducecompression.MBLnotesthat“theouteredgesofthealuminumdiaphragmareflangedforstabilizationandasresultaredeformation-free,sothatthemembraneworksasatorsionallystiffpistontransducer.”Theformerofthevoicecoilisbondeddirectlytothealuminumdiaphragmforbetterheatdissipationandpotentiallylowercompressionatdemandingoutputs.Thearrangementofthesemid/bassdriversisapush-pushconfigurationsimilartoallMBLloudspeakers.Thispermitsthebassforcestoopposeandcompensateforeachother.Asaresult,thecabinetisfarlessexcitedbyresonancesandremainsquieter.The126cabinethasabass-reflextuningof50Hz.Bywayofcomparison,thelarger120hastwicethecabinetvolumeandalowertuningof40Hz.(Checkouttheaccompanyingsidebartoreadmoreaboutthedevelopmentofthe126.) TheMBL126crossoverisaLinkwitz-Rileyfourth-ordertype.Crossoverfrequenciesaresetat650Hzand3.5kHz.Inadditiontodividingthefrequencyspectrum,thecrossoveralsoincorporatesasubsonicfilterwhichallowsthewooferstoplaylouderwithoutoverload.Toovercomethetypicalbasslimitationsofsmallenclosures,MBL“doubledefficiencyinthebassrangewithapassivematchingfiltertoincreasebasslevel.Thisisrealizedbytheimpedancereserveofthewoofersworkinginpush-pushinelectricalseriesconnection.”  Sonically,youenterawholenewworldwhenyoulightuptheMBL126—oranyRadialstrahler,forthatmatter.So,ifyourlisteningexperienceshavebeenlimitedtodirect-radiatingspeakers,bepreparedforasurprisewiththe126.Unlikemoreconventionaldesigns,wherefrequencyresponseandoutputtendtooptimizeon-axisbutthenroll-offprecipitouslyasthelistenermovesfartherandfartheroff-axis,omnidirectionalradiatorslikethe126releasetheirenergyevenlyin360degrees—forallintentsandpurposessoundingthesameifyoustandbehindthemorinfrontofthem.Thiscreatesawiderandmorerelaxedlisteningpositionandsweetspot.Naturally,seriouslisteningstillhingesonsittingina“normal”positionequidistantfromeachchannel,ortime-arrivalissueswillskewtheoutputandbalance.Byvirtueoftheirconsistenton-/off-axisoutput,omniswillalsoengageroomacousticsandreflectionsinamyriadofwaysthatrequirecarefulsetupandattentiontosidewallandbackwalldistances.Bringatapemeasure.WithRadialstrahlersthesmallestshiftscanyieldmajorsonicrewards. Anchoredbyitsrich,warmmidrange,tonalbalanceisnatural,highlypresent,andtoe-tappinglylively.Fromthemostdelicatetransientstothemostexplosivepercussion,everynotesimplysingswithfull-throatedexpressionandjaw-droppingtransparency.SoopenandexpressiveisitsopulentandtactilemidbandthatIhadtoconstantlyremindmyselfthatIwaslisteningtoa“mere”stand-mount,justacoupleinchesoverafoottall.  Giventhecloseproximityofthestackedtransducers,Ianticipatedthatinterdrivercoherencewouldbeexcellent.Anditwas.The126spokeinoneconciseandauthoritativevoice,ratherthancreatingtheoff-puttingimpressionofatweeterchirpingontopandawooferbarkingbelow.Timbraldetailswereexplicit.Forexample,therewasnoguessingbetweenaclarinetandanoboe,aviolinoraviola,asteel-stringedacousticguitarandanylon-stringedclassical.It’saspeakerofstunningcontrasts,conveyingawidepaletteofmusicalcolor,temperature,andtexture.FromthechestyTomWaitstothebreathyNorahJonestotheLouisianadrawlofMaryGauthier,the126waswildlyaliveonvocals,reproducingtheactualphysicalityoftheartistandtheeffortandbreathcontrolthatgoesintosingingintoamicrophoneorprojectingoutintoanaudience.IdareanyonetotryLouisArmstrongsinging“StJamesInfirmaryBlues”throughtheseloudspeakerswithoutcomingawayfromtheexperienceemotionallytouchedbytheprofoundartistryofthemusicians. Low-leveldetails(inthisI’mincludingsustainanddecaycharacteristics)weresimplyastonishingintheirresolution.AsIlistenedtoDebussy’sClairdulune,Ireveledintheshimmerofupper-octavearpeggiosandtheluminousharmonicscapturedinthelengthysustainanddecayfromthepianosoundboard.Intermsofspeedandtransparency,the126wasknockingonthedoorofplanarsandelectrostats.Imagingandorchestrallayeringanddimensionalityare,forwantofabetterword,nearlyholographic;youcanalmostmeasurethespacebetweentheplayersandtheirmusicstands.Awidesoundstageextendingoutsideandfarbehindthe126boundarieswascommon.Andintermsofimaging,asclichéasthissounds,126flatoutdisappearsfromtheroom,kindoflike,well,poof. Basswascontrolled,melodic,anddynamicintothe50-cyclerange.Franklyspeaking,thedynamismandcontrolofthesmallfive-inchwoofersdefiedallmyexpectations.Asithappens,MBL’sChiefEngineerJürgenReisplaysbass.Acoincidence?Idon’tthinkso.  Mostsignificantly,MBLhascreatedanartfulpartnershipbetweenthebassdriversandtheport.Theyworktogetherimperceptibly,withlittletonoimpressionofportoverhangorartificialemphasis.Lackingthesecolorations,basstimbreremainspristine,achievingalowernoisefloorthatmakesbassperformancefromthe126doublysurprising.And,dynamically,Ifoundtherewaslittleneedtocoddlethe126.LightupafavoriteNirvanahit,reloadTchaikovsky’s1812Overture,cannonsandall,andtheMBL126willrarelyrunlowonammunition.Andwhentheydo,thereisnoprotest—justaquick,cleanbassroll-off.Further,thesemodestfive-inchersmatchedupdoggedlywiththemidrangeandtweeter,mirroringtheirspeed,pace,andprecision.  Directradiatororomnidirectional?Isonemore“right”thananother?Theanswer,asinmostaudiodiscussions,isapersonaloneandkindofdepends,atleastpartially,onthetypeofmusicyougravitateto.TheMBL126thrivesonacousticspace,dimension,andthecomplexitiesofclassicalmusic.Doesitaccuratelyreproducethevenue,orisitsdimensionalsoundstagepartlyanartifactof360degreedispersion?Everyspeaker-typeintersectswiththeroomtovaryingdegrees,stampingtheroomwithitsownsignature,andviceversa.Ifthedirectnessofastudiomonitorismoreyourthing,MBLsmaynotbethefirstchoice.Ifabalanceofspatialityandimagingmorecloselycapturesyourconcert-goingimagination,then126mightjustbetheticket. Takingoffmyreviewerhatforjustamoment,126isalsoapartyspeakerwithoutpeer.Duringasmallgatheringatmyhome,animpromptudancepartybrokeout,atleastinpartcourtesyofthe126(yes,alcoholicbeverageswereconsumed).ThebestthatIcanexplainforthishappenstanceisthattheomni-radiationpatternproducessuchawidesoundfieldandin-roompowerresponsethatsubconsciouslypeoplearerelievedofhavingtovieforaseatinthesweetspot.Cuetherightmusicandanyonewithaheartbeatjustwantstostartmoving.Friendsweresittingwelloff-axis,orcross-leggedonthefloor,ordancingtotheside.Perhapsmosttrippyofallwerethegueststhatsteppedbetweenthe126s,bendingatthewaistanddroppingtheirheadslevelwiththepairtogetthe“headphone”effectoftheomnisintheirears.That,Ididn’tseecoming. Atjustshyoftwelvegrand,plusthosegorgeousstands,the126representsaconsiderableoutlay,evenamongstthehigh-flyersofthehighend.Admittedly,I’vesometimesstruggledtojustifythepriceversustheperformanceofmorethanafewcomponents.However,thatisnotthecasewiththeMBL126.Theyexceededmysonicandmusicalexpectationsbyawidemargin.  Letmeconcludewithanobservation—ithastodowiththewayaudiophilesandreviewersaliketendtodownplaytheachievementsinthecompactloudspeakersegment,reservingourhighestpraiseforthelateststatementorflagshipproduct,creationssuitedonlytothelargeaudiocanvas.ThoughMBL’s126isdesignedfortheparlorratherthanthepalace,it’sasgoodasanythingthisesteemedcompanyhasevermade.Inspiteofitshumblesize,itistrulyastatementloudspeakerofthefirstorder.Ifyouconsideryourselfathoughtfulaudiophileandarepreparingtotaketheplungeintothispricerange,don’tevenconsidermakingamoveuntilyou’veauditionedtheMBL126.Itismustlistening.HatsofftoJürgenReisandtheMBLteam.  Specs&Pricing System: Three-wayomnidirectionalloudspeaker,portedenclosure Drivers:Oneradialtweeter,oneradialmidrange,two5″aluminumwoofers Impendance:4ohms Sensitivity:82dB Acousticcenter: 42.1″ Dimensions:9.9″x13.7″(47.7″withspeakerstand)x13.7″ Weight: 30lbs.;52.9lbs.w/stand Price:$11,800($1190,stands) MBLNORTHAMERICA,INC. 217NorthSeacrestBlvd.#276 BoyntonBeach,FL33425 (561)735-9300 mbl-northamerica.com Tags: LOUDSPEAKER MBL STAND-MOUNT MostPopular TheTenMostSignificantAmplifiersofAllTime byTASStaff Apr01st,2011 2021Editors’ChoiceAwards:Loudspeakers$10,000–$20,000 byTASStaff Mar30th,2021 50GreatestBargainsinHigh-EndAudio byTASStaff Dec14th,2020 RegaP6Turntable,RB330Tonearm,NeoPSU,andAniaMoving-CoilCartridge byWayneGarcia May06th,2021 Backtotop ByNeilGader Myloveofmusiclargelypredatesmyenthusiasmforaudio.IgrewupLosAngelesinahousewheremusicwasconstantlyplayingonthestereo(Altecs,ifyou’reinterested).ItrangedfrommymomlisteningtohitBroadwaymusicalstomysister’searlyBobDylan,JoanBaez,Beatles,andStonesLPs,anddad’sconstantcompanions,FrankSinatraandTonyBennett.WiththeBritishInvasion,Iimmediatelypickedupaguitarandtookpianolessonsandhavebeenplayingeversince.FollowinggraduationfromUCLAIbecameawritingmemberoftheLehmanEngel’sBMIMusicalTheaterWorkshopsinNewYork–workinginadvertisingtopaythebills.I’veco-writtenbunchesofsongs,somepublished,somerecorded.In1995Ico-producedanaward-winningshortfictionmoviethatdidwellontheinternationalfilm-festivalcircuit. IwasintroducedtoHarryPearsonintheearly70sbyamutualfriend.AtthattimeHarrywasstillworkingfull-timeforLongIsland’sNewsdayevenashewaswritingIssue1ofTASduringhisoffhours.Westruckupadecades-longfriendshipthatultimatelyturnedintoawritinggigthathasprovedbothstimulatingandrewarding. Intermsofmusicreproduction,Ifindmyselflisteningmorethaneverforthe“little”things.Low-levelresolvingpower,dynamicgradients,shadings,timbralcolorandcontrasts.ListeningtoalotofvocalsandsolopianohasalwayshelpedmerecalibrateandnaildownwhatI’mhearing.Tonalneutralityandpresenceareimportanttomebutsmalldeviationsarenotdisqualifying.ButIamquitesensitivetotrebleover-reach,andfinddry,hyper-detailedsystemsintriguingbutinauthenticcomparedwiththeconcert-goingexperience.Forme,truemusicalityconveysthecozywarmthofaroomwithafireplacenottheicycoldofanigloo. CurrentlyIsplitmytimebetweenSantaFe,NewMexicoandStudioCity,CaliforniawithmywifeJudiDickerson,anacting,voice,anddialectcoach,alongwithbordercolliesIvyandAlfie. 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