Bookshelf Speakers — Mbl 126

MBL introduced the 126 in 2009 as the smallest omnidirectional loudspeaker it had built, developed for smaller listening rooms. Despite being the entry point to the range, it stacks vertically the same spherical tweeter and midrange drivers that MBL uses in its large 101 model. The original UK price was GBP 9,400 per pair plus GBP 1,080 for stands, and the current 126 MKII lists in Germany from EUR 13,580 per pair, or EUR 14,884 with stands.

Key specs that matter

The speaker works in three ways with reflex loading. Its Radial HT37 tweeter uses 24 carbon-fibre lamellae, each 5 mm wide and 130 microns thick, while the Radial MT50 midrange has 12 lamellae measuring 12 mm across and 200 microns thick. Bass comes from a pair of aluminium-cone woofers, each 150 mm. Filters split the range at 650 Hz and 3.5 kHz with fourth-order Linkwitz-Riley slopes of 24 dB per octave. Response is quoted as 70 Hz to 17 kHz and maximum linear output is 99 dB SPL. Width is 252 mm, height 603 mm and depth 343 mm, and the speaker alone weighs 15 kg, with the total reaching 1,202 mm and 24 kg once the matching stand is added.

Engineering and use context

The petal-shaped carbon segments of both radial units pulse in and out to spread output over 360 degrees across a wide band. The reinforced MDF enclosure has an internal volume of 11 litres and a port tuned to 50 Hz. Its two woofers face outward from opposite side panels and move in a push-push pattern, following the energy-preserving construction MBL applies to its larger speakers, with opposing forces on the walls cancelling out. An extra two-pole subsonic filter below the port frequency combines with the reflex alignment to give a fifth-order roll-off at the bottom end. Mounted on its stand, the speaker places its acoustic centre at 107 cm. The MKII update brought crossovers built with Intertechnik components, WBT binding posts and two further finish choices, with current options in piano white or piano black with gold or chrome, plus satin black with chrome. Earlier cabinets came in black, white or silver in piano or satin surfaces, each with a choice of chrome or gold trim.

Pairing

MBL rates the 126 at 4 ohm nominal, its sensitivity is listed as 81 dB at 1 W and 1 m, and power handling is 180 W. For multichannel systems the range includes the 126 RC, a centre channel version built on the same concept.

Alternatives

The MBL 120 is the larger stand-mount Radialstrahler, with twin 165 mm woofers in a 20 litre cabinet reaching 61 Hz.