What's unique about the brand
What reviewers are saying
We read all the reviews. Here's what reviewers feel most strongly about:
- The brand crafts Radialstrahler drivers with a unique bending mode design that radiates sound spherically, creating a distinct and immersive listening experience.
- MBL's products boast high-quality construction, with many components, including the drivers themselves, being manufactured in-house in Germany, for long-term reliability.
- MBL sources and amplifiers incorporate innovative analog and digital engineering, such as Linear Analog Switching Amplifier (LASA) technology and sophisticated jitter reduction techniques, to optimize performance across different amplifier classes and digital sources.
Our favorite reviewer quotes:
- "Anchored by its rich, warm midrange, tonal balance is natural, highly present, and toe-tappingly lively. From the most delicate transients to the most explosive percussion, every note simply sings with full-throated expression and jaw-dropping transparency." (https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/mbl-126)
- "Thanks to the Precedence Effect and the fact that the speakers are lighting up reflective surfaces uniformly at all frequencies and all angles rather than selectively at specific frequencies and specific angles, your room no longer exists as a separate entity—like a picture frame within which the recorded soundstage is mounted, which is the way soundstaging generally works with a direct-radiating loudspeaker. Instead, the entire listening room merges with the recorded space, producing a wall-to-wall-to-ceiling-to-floor soundfield of astonishing layered depth and uniform ambience." (https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/mbl-101-x-treme-mkii-loudspeaker)
- "The net result of the MBL's very low level of "timing error" is a huge increase in resolution with few or none of the usual solid-state penalties paid in the desaturation of tone colors and loss of fine textures. The 6010 D is the highest-resolution preamp I've yet heard— and, simultaneously, the least analytical sounding." (https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/mbl-6010-d-preamplifier)
- "In terms of speed and transparency, the 126 was knocking on the door of planars and electrostats. Imaging and orchestral layering and dimensionality are, for want of a better word, nearly holographic; you can almost measure the space between the players and their music stands." (https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/mbl-126)
- "And they did drum cymbals more believably than anything I've heard. Most speakers sound to me like drum cymbals are being "squeezed" through tiny tweeters, so the drum cymbals sound like smaller spots of brightness in the soundstage, where real drum cymbals sound BIG, like big vibrating discs of metal." (https://www.stereophile.com/content/mbl-radialstrahler-120-loudspeaker)
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Products
Lineup comparison
We think it's helpful to understand how their products compare. To learn more about each, scroll to the section above to click through to individual product pages.
MBL 126
- Positioning: The entry-level model in the Radialstrahler lineup, designed for small to medium-sized rooms.
- Description: Offers a compact design with the same Radialstrahler technology found in the flagship models, providing a large soundstage in smaller spaces. Its pyramid-shaped bass cabinet and push-push woofer configuration deliver impressive bass for its size, making it ideal for those with limited space and budget. Compared to larger models like the 101 E MkII, it's more affordable and space-efficient, while still offering the signature MBL sound.
MBL 111 F
- Positioning: Positioned as a high-performance model in the Radialstrahler lineup, ideal for larger rooms.
- Description: Combines Radialstrahler technology with a robust bass reflex system, delivering a powerful and immersive sound experience. Its push-push woofer configuration ensures tight bass control. Compared to the 120, the 111 F offers greater bass depth and room-filling capabilities.
MBL 116 F
- Positioning: A premium model in the Radialstrahler series, designed for audiophiles seeking high-end performance.
- Description: Features a sophisticated 4-way design with Radialstrahler drivers, providing exceptional clarity and soundstage. Its push-push woofer arrangement minimizes cabinet vibrations, offering precise bass reproduction. Compared to the 111 F, the 116 F offers enhanced midrange and treble performance.
MBL 101 E MkII
- Positioning: A flagship model in the Radialstrahler lineup, known for its iconic design and performance.
- Description: Uses advanced Radialstrahler technology to deliver a 360-degree sound experience, with a powerful subwoofer for deep bass. Its design allows for seamless integration into large spaces, providing concert-level sound. Compared to the 116 F, the 101 E MkII offers superior bass extension and overall soundstage.
MBL 101 X-treme MkII
- Positioning: The ultimate flagship model, representing the pinnacle of MBL's loudspeaker technology.
- Description: Features a four-tower system with Radialstrahler drivers and massive subwoofers, delivering groundbreaking sound quality and presence. Its design is suited for the most discerning audiophiles with large spaces and no budget constraints. Compared to the 101 E MkII, the X-treme MkII offers even greater soundstage and bass capabilities.
Used
MBL
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About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
We are working hard to reduce the negative influence of cabinet vibrations, but without the sledgehammer method. We have our own drive unit development team and our own woodshop to make cabinets, operated by a master carpenter. We are basically an engineering team with a lot of measurement equipment, working for the big industry, making the FinkTeam speaker because we can and because this is our passion.
What's your approach to customer support?
Customers can contact us or the distributor, so we can find the best way to sort out problems. As a small company, we don’t need complicated formal procedures.
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
That’s a difficult one, as some tracks are what we call "limit tracks“ to find the balance of the speakers. But we have a few we like:
Toto, I will remember, Beyoncé, Blackbird, Malia & Blank, Magnetic Lies, Brina Bromberg, elephants on ice skates, John Lee Hooker with Van Morrison, The Waterfront.
What other products pair best with yours?
We like electronic from Soulnote, Japan and tube electronics from CANOR in Slovakia. Internally, we also use SPL Pro equipment and MATRIX for streamers.
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
