Mit dem D3 präsentieren die Digital-Audio-Spezialisten von Lumin eine neue Version ihres erfolgreichen Streamers D2. Wieviel mehr Lumin-Qualität bietet das aufgefrischte Einstiegsmodell?

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.

Anyone who – on grounds of the price – expects a simple cabinet design, will be pretty much off-beam with the B18. Me, too, I’m indeed amazed at the expended effort. Pascal Bings has dealt extensively with the body, in particular with the structure-borne sound transmission of the drivers onto the walls. It was important to him that the energy of the drivers should be largely radiated so that only a small amount of force could trickle off into the enclosure at this point. The result was a soundboard of two inches in thickness, intelligently braced to the rear and side walls with their slightly thinner walls. The absent reaction of the B18 to the mandatory knock test is a first indicator of the solid solution to the problem. In any case, during music listening the enclosure will not make itself felt as a sound generator.

Design highlights

The supporting base is decoupled from the actual enclosure by a mass spring damping system. The remaining energy is thus converted into heat, and even with higher volume levels the base plate stays almost fully isolated from structure-borne sound. Coupling the enclosure to the floor through spikes is not necessary; however, there are corresponding drilled holes provided for individualists. This physically smart solution has a positive aesthecial effect. But even this measure does not mark the completion of development yet.

A listening check is a vital criterion when selecting loudspeakers. Committed dealers will grant their customers this procedure even in their own four walls. This is because the listening room has a significant influence on the quality of sound. I don’t want to know how many transducers didn’t survive this test, because there occurred problems whatsoever in the bass range. The B18 offers no less than four options to tweak the bass to your personal placement and taste. How does it work? On the back of the enclosure we have the »Room Adaption« switch. It may be used to boost the bass level by two decibels. If the sound is too bass heavy, the reflex port can be closed with a supplied plug. When trying out these possibilities in the listening room, the changes of the sound image aren’t spectacular and thus don’t lead to some sort of »oversensation«; rather they are absolutely practical. Excellent job.

In the listening room the B18 turns out to be an easy-going partner. Owing to the dispensable spikes and a design height of slightly above one metre [about 40’], the loudspeaker is well manoeuvrable. An ingenious treat is the visual support from the base when trying out different options of angling in. Here I mostly work with a solo voice where the imaging size of the mouth matters. As soon as it appears to be natural and credible, I stop working. In such a moment you get a feeling of how the sound image literally »locks into place«. At first I run the B18 on a valve combo from Italian maker New Audio Frontiers. The result is a performance which is marked by smoothness, yet with a really decent resolution. Above all the Burmester convinces by its inner musical coherence. At the listening spot one can’t detect that six drivers altogether contribute to the sound generation.

And then: the fast lane

Yet in order to reveal the true sound potential, solid-state amplifiers may this time deliver the power. In this case a rewarding decision, for Dominic Miller’s piece »Rush Hour« depends on speed. If the guitar player is thwarted only at one point of the chain, the magic of his music will get lost. However, with the B18 the reproduction turns out to become a heavenly experience. On the one hand this is due to the definition, transparency and high resolution, and on the other hand to the dotted energy of the marvellous bass. Often loudspeakers are designed in such a way that one of these features prevails. In the B18 they find common ground in a magnificent way. Furthermore, I’m also convinced by the high content of information, which is not offered by other transducers. Remember that spot-the-difference puzzle; there it’s also about differences, one picture delivers more information than the other. It’s such details that win me over as well: key noises from saxophones, the breathing of the vocalists and finally also the perfection of the reverberation that gives such a good hint of the room size.

To verify this outstanding sound impression I always fall back on orchestra music. Some loudspeakers show a rendering tendency of bloating 36 musicians into 360. Those who go for things like this – also known as demonstration effect – will be happy with it, but for my listening taste that’s definitely out of the question. I want to get a realistic impression of what’s going on. To me the »Ride of the Valkyries« by Richard Wagner falls into this category, for here it’s not the mass of the musicians which matters, but their class. And thus Gustavo Dudamel is wielding the baton, leading the Simon Bolivar Orchestra through the score with verve. Even at higher volume levels the musical performance does not fall apart here. With brilliant force the wind players are blaring the theme into the listening room, I cannot detect even the faintest trace of booming or resonating. The strings, too, come wonderfully into their own, precisely located within the sound image and not just coming from anywhere. Without doubt, the B18 doesn’t merely allow first-class music listening, no – it also makes the music come alive.

Loudspeaker Burmester B18

Minimum impedance:   3.3 ohms @ 10,000 Hz

Nominal impedance (± 20 % tolerance): 
  4 ohms

Sensitivity:   88.5 dB (2.83 V / 1m; 500-5,000 Hz)

Manufacturer:   Burmester Audiosysteme GmbH

Model:   Burmester B18

Category:   High-end floorstander

Warranty:   5 years

Design:   2 1/2-way bass reflex

Drivers:   2 x 6.5“ glassfibre cone, 1 x 1.1“ ring radiator

Crossover frequencies:   400 and 2,300 hertz

Terminal:   Single-wiring

Special features:   2 dB bass level boost switch, bass reflex plug

Dimensions (W x H x D):   8.3 x 41.7 x 15.7 in.

Weight:   77.3 lbs.

 

Burmester Audiosysteme GmbH
Wilhelm-Kabus-Strasse 47
10829 Berlin

Phone:   00 49 (0) 30 / 7 87 96 80
Fax:   00 49 (0) 30 / 78 79 68 68

E-Mail:   mail(at)burmester.de

Internet:   www.burmester.de

With their new B18 Burmester is definitely heading towards the fast lane. Considering its appearance, the quality of workmanship, its technical features and the high level of sound quality this package is, on top of all, crowned by an attractive price. With these transducers one can buy a solid high-end admission ticket. When I’m asked to return the Burmester B18 again, I will act deaf. After all, my musical enjoyment with this clear »highlight« is yet far from over.  Philip Cornelius

Burmester B18
Warranty: 5 years
Superb
good - very good
Very good
Superb
Outstanding

TEST

Loudspeaker:
Burmester B18
Author:
Philip Cornelius
Date:
15.05.2017
Manufacturer:
Burmester