ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Hello folks, hoping to get some opinions on my choice of speakers for the iMac in my office!
Right now I'm thinking about maybe Beolit 15, or a stereo pair of BeoPlay S3s. In either case I'd connect either via bluetooth or 3.5mm cable, and although a bit low-tech I guess 3.5mm would be 100% reliable with zero connection/pairing hassles...
My thoughts on these so far - I love the design of Beolit 12/15, and the sound is good enough for this purpose although not really stereo (unless I buy two I guess, which would look odd!). Also, my desk and office shelving is from Vitsoe, meaning the bookshelves are steel and probably not ideal placement for Beolit 15; it would need to sit on a desk or cabinet so that it's all-round drivers work properly?
The S3s would give me stereo, and could sit unobtrusively on my bookshelves, but while I love the shape of them, they do seem a bit cheap and plasticky-looking (and reviews seem mixed).
I would look at BeoSound 1 or 2 (or 35), but these are beyond my budget. The new M5 looks like the B&O branded HP PC to me, I just don't like the look of it or the A6, just a personal thing.
Another option I guess might be to look out for a pair of BeoLab 4s or 4000s? Anyway, any and all thoughts very welcome!
Greg
Beolab 4000 would be my choice - very cheap now and sound great.
Peter
Thanks Peter, yes I recall they sound pretty good, but I saw a post on here about their unreliability - I guess that will partly depend on how old (or new) are the ones I can find! Could I hook them up to an iMac without too much problem? Can't recall what connections beolabs of that era have?
It has line in so jack to two RCA plugs is fine. Have two pairs and no problems with either. Mine are the older Mk 1s.
I used a pair of BL-6000 speakers for years with my iMac. I just used the iMac headphone out jack and connected to stereo RCA adaptor and connected that to the Line In on the 6000s. Be careful. A loose connection around the iMac headphone jack can cause popping noises that can easily damage active speakers. My woofers eventually blew out and had to be replaced years later.
BeoLab 5, BeoVision 7-55 MK2, BeoSound 5 Encore, BeoSound 9000, BeoLab Penta III, BeoLab 8000, BeoLab 6000, BeoLab 2, BeoLab 7-6, BeoSound 8, BeoTime (analog clock), Beo 4 remote.
Ah now that's not fair! - that does look good though; are you pleased with the sound performance? also, is Beosound 2 chinese-made as well? I know that shouldn't bother me, but I think it would, if I were paying that sort of price. btw love that you even got the vitsoe spirit level in the shot!
Seems this could be a good option then, if I can find some in good condition at a reasonable price. Thanks for the info.
Greg: also, is Beosound 2 chinese-made as well? I know that shouldn't bother me, but I think it would, if I were paying that sort of price.
also, is Beosound 2 chinese-made as well? I know that shouldn't bother me, but I think it would, if I were paying that sort of price.
The aluminium enclosure is done by B&O in their aluminium factory in Denmark.
Livingroom: BL3, BL11, BV11-46 Kitchen: Beosound 1 GVA, Beocom 2 Bathroom: M3 Homeoffice: M3, Beocom 2 Library: Beosound Emerge, Beocom 6000 Bedroom: M5, Essence remote Travel: Beoplay E8 2.0, Beoplay EQ, Beoplay Earset
Duels:How about an a1. Or even a pair in stereo.
Not sure about A1, or rather how it's intended to be used (I guess outdoors?); drivers seem to fire upwards which seems odd. I must admit I've never heard an A1 but I would think the sound of the S3 might be better (and they're even less money - although admittedly the A1 seems to have a nicer build quality).
Hiort: Greg: also, is Beosound 2 chinese-made as well? I know that shouldn't bother me, but I think it would, if I were paying that sort of price. The aluminium enclosure is done by B&O in their aluminium factory in Denmark.
Ah, that's interesting to know - thank you.
Sandyb:Sorry yes that was cheeky...but sounds very good.....not A9 good, but then again no one should expect that.....will probably end up moving the BS2 to the kitchen.....I like a big open sound, so its very good in home office or kitchen, prefer the A9 for my bedroom, which is decent size......finish is good, design seems very B&O, so its provenance isn't a factor to me....after all my iPhone is made in China.....
No issues with quality of Chinese manufacture - all the apple stuff, H6, etc are all chinese (and beautifully) made, but for the main B&O (ie not Play) products I just like that they should be made in Denmark, or at least in the EU (eg Czech) because at those price points we should be able to pay higher wages and provide EU-standard worker protection etc. Don't mean to be contentious in any way and appreciate not everyone feels the same!
Not much love so far for the S3s? I think right now I'm weighing up Beolit 15 (no stereo, and would need to sit on a desk or cabinet surface, but I guess it could be useful sometimes to be able to pick it up & take it outside) against Peter's suggestion of finding some BL4000s...
Depending on the layout of your office room, the desk etc, you might consider a BeoSound 8 and use the USB-input of it as connection.
Pretty nice sound - and at very reasonable prices now.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
I definitely agree with the Beosound 8!
1. Because you can connect it to the USB and transfer the sound digitally. Great crispy sound!
2. Because you can control your music with the remote control!
Millemissen:Depending on the layout of your office room, the desk etc, you might consider a BeoSound 8 and use the USB-input of it as connection. Pretty nice sound - and at very reasonable prices now. MM There is a tv - and there is a BV.
Thanks for all the suggestions; love the USB-connection idea but I never liked the look of the BeoSound 8; it's a bit "madonna's bra" for my taste. Superficial reason to reject it maybe, but needs to look nice too (hence my concern about the plasticky-ness of the S3s). I'll ponder this for a bit longer...
I actually have a Beomaster 5500 under my iMac and it goes to some CX100s . In addition I feed a DACMagic which attaches to a Beolink PC2 so it can play through the house system by remote using iTunes. Of course I now use none of this as I have an Amazon Echo and Dot so have voice control of any music I want. I am investigating just how much of my present system I can get to work via this!
I've been wondering if it's possible to hook 2 S3's together and connect it to an iMac with usb. I currently have B&W MM-1's and love them but I wish B&O had a competing product. A nice set of Play computer speakers is something I'd love to see in the future.
aawil24: I've been wondering if it's possible to hook 2 S3's together and connect it to an iMac with usb. I currently have B&W MM-1's and love them but I wish B&O had a competing product. A nice set of Play computer speakers is something I'd love to see in the future.
That was what I wondered about to start with, but I'm not sure if you can connect to S3 (for audio purposes) via USB? Also, I understand some people have had issues with the S3s not sensing the line in when connected via 3.5mm cable, and not forming a stereo pair reliably (generally seem a bit flaky, although I'd love to hear from someone on here that's managed to get them working OK). Also, I found them a little bit 'plasticky looking' and wondered about how long their little plasticky buttons would continue to function!!
I still think the BS8 is an awkward shape/size and I personally don't like the looks or the fact that it's basically an old-fashioned iPod dock; I love the idea of a pair of BL4000s - would undoubtedly give the best sound - but concerned about the foam issue on an old product. Plus, I might be coming around to the occasional benefits of being able to connect to the Beolit 15 via bluetooth and use it in different places when I'm not sat at the iMac...