Напольная акустика — Melodika BL40 MK3

The BL40 MK3 is a floorstander from Melodika, the Polish manufacturer of cables and loudspeakers, established in 2015. The BL40 has been described by the company as one of the best-selling loudspeakers on the Polish audio market, and the MK3 is the third version. Its main changes are a front bass reflex port and an improved cabinet.

Key specs that matter

It is a 2.5-way design with a 25 mm silk dome tweeter in a short horn waveguide and two 165 mm woven fibreglass drivers, one for mid and bass with a phase plug, one for bass with a dust cap. Crossover frequencies are 1 kHz and 3.4 kHz. Frequency response is 38 Hz to 20 kHz, sensitivity is 92 dB, impedance is 8 ohms and maximum power is 200 W. The speaker measures 97.7 x 27 x 34 cm including the plinth and weighs 20 kg. It was priced at about GBP 600 per pair, and 2,595 zł in Poland.

Engineering and use context

Moving the bass reflex port from the rear, where it was on the MK2, to the front means the BL40 MK3 can be placed close to the wall without the port's output being affected by the boundary. The cabinet is made of higher-quality MDF than before and is damped inside with bituminous mats, using DALtech technology, and felt to control panel resonances and load the drivers. In a 2.5-way layout, both 165 mm drivers work together in the bass, and the upper unit alone carries on above 1 kHz, keeping the midrange source close to the tweeter. The fibreglass cones are densely woven, and the tweeter's short waveguide shapes its dispersion. The crossover uses higher-quality components than the MK2's. Bi-wire terminals are fitted, and each cabinet stands on a removable plinth. Moving the port also required retuning the crossover to match the drivers to the new venting. Twenty transverse braces stiffen the cabinet walls. The tweeter has a neodymium magnet and protection against overheating, and both cone drivers use shielded magnet systems. The speaker terminals are now gold-plated against corrosion. The anodised spikes are adjustable and have lock nuts, so the speaker can be tilted back to align the drivers in phase. The plinths are finished in high gloss lacquer. Melodika gives a five-year warranty.

Pairing

At 92 dB and 8 ohms, the BL40 MK3 works with low-powered amplifiers and AV receivers. The front port suits rooms of 15 to 25 m2 where the speakers must stand near a wall.

Alternatives

Melodika's BL40 MK2 is the previous version with a rear port and similar driver complement.