I’d like to open this i-fidelity.net review with a strange piece of reasoning: after releasing the Burmester B18 from their packaging I can’t help but to think of those spot-the-difference puzzzles as they can often be found in magazines. You know that: two seemingly identical photographs are pictured side by side, but they differ in quite a few details. The viewer is then challenged to discover those differences. How does this association come to my mind? It’s the immaculate workmanship of the B18 that guides my initial thoughts into this direction – it doesn’t reveal even the smallest flaw. If you placed another loudspeaker next to it, the differences in the details would become clearly apparent. Usually nobody will go down on their knees before a test object to gently stroke along the base with the tip of one’s index finger. But the B18 is literally asking for this kind of physical examination as it definitely shows a superb quality of workmanship, thereby giving proof that it comes from a good family. The harmonious dimensions of this slim floorstander also please the eyes of the beholder.

The B18 offers five enclosure/front panel variations to choose from. Beside the top-selling white and black finishes, there are also macassar and walnut in a light and a dark variant available. The aluminium faceplate, which covers the upper third of the enclosure, is available in black or silver to match the selected body. Despite its delicate appearance the beautiful Berlin lady puts a massive 77 pounds on the scales. If someone puts so much effort into the visual presence and spends big time on the material, will there still be sufficient funds then for the technology?

The B18 is a 2 1/2-way bass reflex construction. Frequencies above 2,300 hertz are taken care of by a metal diaphragm ring radiator which is custom-made exclusively for Burmester to the specifications by design engineer Martin Lorenz. Below we have a 6.5“ cone driver with a diaphragm made of a glassfibre compound. The duo is supported by a second driver of identical size which sits in its own enclosure chamber and is faded out already at 400 hertz. Design-wise the B18 is thus a loudspeaker similar to the compact B10, but with a stronger bass range. Ultimate precision in the reproduction is only achievable if the frequency crossover is enabled to work free from microphony effects. For this reason the Berlin design team gave it a dedicated separate chamber.