Replaced My Penta's MK2 With the Beolab 1, really disappointed, any advice?

Dear Beoworld community,

Just today I got my 'new' Beolab 1 speakers model year 2006, which replaced my old Beolab Penta Mk2. And to make a long story short i'm really disappointed by the sound compared to the Penta's, I was expecting much more from the BL1's, is there any advice you guys could give me? I have them attached to a Beosound Ouverture. Any tweeks or tips? (have them set on 'freestanding' in a pretty small room, around 24 m2) 

Kind Regards, and thanks in advance for the advice! 

hi

if you don't use a beolab 2 with them, you will stay disappointed.

I made a direct comparison between my bl5 and  my pair of bl1 with a bl2, the bl1 are really good.  when bass go deep, the limit of the bl2 is fast reached.

medium and highs of the bl1 with the bl2 are very natural. they are also powerfull.

maybe you should also move them are they are better in a corner.

not too much space between them

 

 

 

 

 

I will add that these speakers need space to breathe. if you want to be in the best position, you should be at least at 4 meters from them and 3/4 meters between them. the pentas are far easier to deal with, but when you arrange the bl1 perfectly, they sound really better and more natural than any penta do.

Hi, thanks for the reply, appreciate it! unfortunately I do not have the budget for a BL2 at the moment... Right now I set the bass on the Ouverture on +2 and the treble to -1 in my opinion they sound a bit better, but still not as good as the penta's in my opnionion :(

Any suggestions on different tweeks/settings as ofifferent placement isn't possible, would a bit of toe-in make a difference? They stand 2 meters apart from eachother. 

 

Kind regards,

 

Juraj

I don't know if there are any universal suggestions for "better sound" as this is personal taste and highly dependent on the room and the music you prefer.  I would suggest that you experiment with placement, toe in, etc.  I have also heard that they need "space" to sound their best.  I have mine in a relatively small room (by US standards - ~4m x 4m octagonal-ish), but with a very high ceiling, and I think they sound wonderful (also have a BS2).  I have never heard pentas so I can't compare.  Do not mess with the hidden potentiometers.  

I also think there's a break-in period for your brain.  It seems when speakers sound different, the brain tends to prefer the familiar.  After a few days, this often goes away.  Good luck. 

Thanks for your reply, your last sentence really makes a lot of sense as i'm already starting to get used to the sound a bit more, but still find them a bit 'cold' sounding with classical music, and sometimes a bit 'muddy' with rock music like the Stones or the Dire Straits. Now experimenting with different settings on the Ouverture en the toe in. I also have a pretty high ceiling and a small room btw. 

 

Kind regards,

 

Juraj

I do have both Penta III and BL 1. I love them both, BL 1 is more for music than movies, unless you have BL 2 with it. BeoSystem 3 is also highly recommended for the Speakers. I used to Have non-B&O Receiver with it and the sound was flat. My setup is BL 1 at front, Pentas at rear. Trust me, I love them for watching movies, even though, Friends tells me to do it vice-visa but I like the base at the back.

Using a BL2 with BL1s will change the whole listening experience. The best solution would (if possible) borrow one and try it.

jprombout1:

Dear Beoworld community,

Just today I got my 'new' Beolab 1 speakers model year 2006, which replaced my old Beolab Penta Mk2. And to make a long story short i'm really disappointed by the sound compared to the Penta's,

I won't say "I told you so", but I did by email. The only solution is to add a BL2 indeed.

Maybe Appie has a BL2 for you (he has as I spoke to him yesterday)

 

Once again, I will also say add a BeoLab 2.  This will transform them completely and you'll be delighted.

Lee

Hi! Yeah should've listened..