Bk XLS200-DF

[Ilkka]

Manufacturer: BK Electronics
Model: XLS200-DF
Provided by: Marek Sound
Manufacturer link: BK Electronics
Price: 499 EUR

Manufacturer specs:
• System Type: Critically Damped Active System with Variable Freq bass filter and 18 Litre Sealed Enclosure
• Frequency Response at -6dB: 17Hz
• Amplifier Input / Output Impedance: High Level 100K - Low Level 10K
• Gain Control Range: 60dB
• Drive Unit Impedance: 4 Ohm
• Mains Input: 230V / 50Hz
• Dimensions: 340D X 355H x 290W
• Weight: 17.5kg
• Finishes: Black Semi Gloss, Silver Semi Gloss, Light Oak Veneer and Cheery Veneer
• True 275W continuous discrete Bipolar amplifier
• Truly hand built in Great Britain, when we claim hand built we mean hand built, as there are no SMD components or other automatic placement devices
• Forward Firing 250mm (10") Peerless XLS10 long throw heavy duty and highly regarded drive unit
• Continuously variable frequency control
• Audiophile grade toroidal transformers
• Gas Tight Neutrik connection for long term consistency of sound quality
• Separate controls for high and low-level input adjustment
• Simultaneous connection of high and low level sources
• ASP automatic speaker protection audibly transparent driver protection
• 4 x 16A output devices for effortless current control
• IEC Power Socket

Configuration as tested:
Phase: 0 degrees
Orientation: Standard down-firing

[Ilkka]

+/- 3 dB points: 36.5 Hz - >200 Hz

[Ilkka]

[Ilkka]

[Ilkka]

[Ilkka]

The shape and extension of the frequency response is heavily affected by the crossover. When set to bypass, the -6 dB point is around 36.5 Hz, but when the crossover is set to minimum, the -6 dB point goes close to 15 Hz. The low pass slope is on the shallow side. The frequency response starts to slope already as high as 70-80 Hz, so rooms having little or no low frequency room gain at all shouldn’t expect deep extension. But with a high low frequency room gain and a crossover setting of 80Hz or less, this little box can reach ~20 Hz extension. The maximum output is naturally limited by the share physical limitations, though close to 90 dB at 20 Hz and over 100 dB above 50 Hz leave even much larger subwoofers swallowing dirt. The XLS200 exhibits extremely low power compression up to the maximum output level.

The THD grows rather steadily towards the low frequencies, keeping the upper end well below 10%. At lower levels the THD stays close to/below 1% in the upper bass range. The group delay is the lowest I have ever measured; it barely touches 5 ms at any frequency. Also the spectral decay shows a superb performance; the whole pass band attenuates very quickly.

The BK XLS200 is a really good performer. It can not challenge the big dogs when it comes to maximum output, but for its size, its capabilities are very respectable. Also the sound quality should be very high, assuming one keeps the output level reasonable. It is geared towards music use or small scale HT, and performs best in small rooms with good amount of low frequency room gain.

+ Good extension when using a low crossover
+ High output for its size
+ Very small subwoofer
+ Extremely low group delay and very fast decay rate at all frequencies
+ Low power compression

- Weak extension when using a high crossover
- High distortion at low frequencies at high output levels