95%
Borresen Acoustics Børresen Z5
7 unit wonder
The Børresen Z5 speaker is the top end loudspeaker of the Z-series and guarantees unsurpassed clarity, detailed subtlety, and unadulterated purity in its musical performance. This speaker opens up a new dimension of authentic sound experience of high-end music with amazing dynamics, natural lightness, and emotional passion.
Technologies and Components
The Børresen tweeter
Børresen RP94 Ribbon Planar TweeterElaborate finite element methods have been applied to linearize and optimize the magnetic flux field, to facilitate driver movement and to ensure high efficiency and outstanding linearity.The efficiency of this closed ribbon tweeter amounts to an exceptional 94dB and operates from approximately 2.5 kHz upwards. The moving mass is extremely low at 0.01 grams. The totally concealed tweeter has the capacity to operate at an incredible speed, which is an absolute prerequisite to unlocking the most subtle and refined sound details of any kind of music. The enormous robustness of this tweeter allows it to handle extremely high transient peaks without any ear fatiguing breakups. No transformers are being used.
Membrane – Bass/midrange
Impressing stiffness to weight ratio. The Børresen membrane consists of a composite of two layers of very thin carbon on both sides of a 4 mm Nomex honeycomb core. This composite structure – like the one used in formula 1 type of racing cars – provides the ultimate combination of stiffness to weight ratio. The exceptionally low weight of only 5.5 grams allows a very high acceleration factor in the driver, resulting in both outstanding resolution and higher efficiency.
Magnet system – Bass/midrange
Conventional principle, unconventional performance. With the invention of the patented iron-free driver system in the 0-series, Børresen Acoustics came to realize that it is possible to reduce induction to an amazing 0.04 mH, which is approximately 10 times lower than that of common driver systems. The challenge for manufacturing the Z-series was to design a new, but less costly driver system with significantly reduced induction. As a result, Børresen Acoustics developed a driver with an 8 mm voice coil and an induction of only 0.06 mH. By linearizing the magnetic field, the driver is less affected by the actual movement and is more easily controlled by the amplifier.
Crossover Z-series
Exclusive components and stability. The Z-series is fitted with a parallel crossover configuration using the same exclusive components from the 0-series. This ensures a very mechanically stable crossover, which minimizes its own resonance.
Ansuz feet
Resonance control option.The adjustable feet of the ground cross plate are designed to be placed on Darkz resonance control separated by 3 titanium balls. Ansuz Darkz have been designed to ensure a distinctly better mechanical grounding to the floor.
Dealers selling Borresen Acoustics near you
The Børresen Z5 delivers astonishing clarity rooted in an ultra-low distortion treble and a pristine, extended top end from its ribbon tweeter, paired with authoritative, room-shaping deep bass and remarkably resolving detail. Reviewers from Fidelity Magazine and Audiophil-Online highlight its engineering and neutrality. That combination yields an unfailingly transparent presentation that reveals more of the recording's inner detail.
Pros
- Planar ribbon tweeter produces exceptionally low distortion and a pure, extended treble.
- Industry-leading build and resonance control — iron-free motor, cryogenic treatment and lightweight diaphragm support outstanding resolution.
- Robust, well-controlled low end from multiple large woofers with authoritative extension down to ~25 Hz and strong dynamics.
&
Cons
- Very high price (review example around €50,000 per pair), making these a premium investment.
- Large, heavy floorstanders (151 cm tall, 75 kg) require substantial room, rigging and an appropriate amplifier.
Sound Quality
95/100
Bass
96/100
Four 8" woofers, claimed 25 Hz extension and reviewer praise for low-resonance and lack of distortion support authoritative, deep bass. Matches 'Reference' tower band (excellent ceiling). Reviewer implication of effortless, uncolored low end justifies a very high score.
Mid
95/100
Multiple comments cite neutrality ('sound exactly however the recording...') and resolution of fine string/woodwind detail. Timbre accuracy and coherence through crossover praised, yielding top-tier midrange performance.
Treble
96/100
Planar ribbon tweeter with tiny moving mass and extremely low distortion; reviewer highlights absence of typical tweeter artifacts and pure, unadulterated high frequencies. Extension to 50 kHz and lack of harshness merit an excellent score.
Soundstage Imaging
94/100
Reviewer reports a 'comprehensive and effortless image' and exceptional layering without masking. Excellent width/depth and image focus, with modest conservatism due to single-source review.
Dynamics
94/100
Reviewer observed no loss of information during orchestral climaxes and minimal compression; strong macrodynamic authority and microdynamics resolution. Very capable dynamics with little evidence of running out of headroom.
Show Less
Build Quality
97/100
High-tech diaphragm sandwich, cryogenic treatment, iron-free motor and exceptionally low inductance cited. Materials, engineering and attention to resonance control are industry-leading, supporting a near-reference build score.
Features Connectivity
80/100
Passive floorstanding loudspeaker baseline applied. Three-way, bass-reflex design with listed driver complement; no DSP/app functions (not penalized).
Value for Money
88/100
At approx. €50,000 per pair it's a major investment, but reviewer states 'you truly get a lot of bang for your buck.' High performance relative to price justifies a strong value score, though price remains premium.
Reviews
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet