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ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022
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This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022

 

Opinions wanted: BL3 / 2 vs BL9

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Sal
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Sal Posted: Thu, Aug 27 2015 6:54 PM

I wanted to ask people's opinions on their thoughts on speaker options. 

I currently have a pair of Beolab 9's and I love them. But years ago, I also loved the Beolab 3 / 2 combination. It has been a while, so I can't remember exactly how the Lab 3/2 sounds now, but I remember it was really good.

Currently prices for used Lab 3 and Lab 2 are pretty good here in the US, and save some cash from buying another pair of used Lab 9's (which are also available for a decent price, but of course, at a premium from the 3/2 combination)

The lab 3/2 will be used connected to a BV11 in a 2.0 setting for television / movies / music

Thoughts?

Playdrv4me
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Sal:

I wanted to ask people's opinions on their thoughts on speaker options. 

I currently have a pair of Beolab 9's and I love them. But years ago, I also loved the Beolab 3 / 2 combination. It has been a while, so I can't remember exactly how the Lab 3/2 sounds now, but I remember it was really good.

Currently prices for used Lab 3 and Lab 2 are pretty good here in the US, and save some cash from buying another pair of used Lab 9's (which are also available for a decent price, but of course, at a premium from the 3/2 combination)

The lab 3/2 will be used connected to a BV11 in a 2.0 setting for television / movies / music

Thoughts?

I don't see how the 3/2 could be in the same league as the BL9. I don't know what it is that people ever liked about the BL3/2 combination as B&O loved for everyone to buy it and sold a bunch this way, but the weak link here was simply that the BL2 was *NEVER* an adequate music speaker. It is loose, boomy and optimum for home theater and movie watching first and music as a secondary "feature". I coupled a BL2 with BL1s (another "recommended pairing")  and it was terrible.

By contrast, the BL9 is probably one of the most favored B&O speakers in history. There are many here who have even switched from BL5s to BL9s and been perfectly happy. The BL9 is a tightly integrated system of interplay between the bass section and the uppers. The BL9 also has an advantage I've discovered owning BL5s as much as I have over the years on and off, as much as I love them. When you get a room with certain acoustics, the BL5s auto calibration is an absolute pain in the ass when it completely curtails the bass setting to its minimum despite a disagreement with your ears. This doesn't happen often but it DOES happen, and then you're stuck with resetting them to factory defaults which maxes the bass control and might be too MUCH. The BL9 has the plain old traditional bass management switch to tailor its sound as you feel necessary. 

BL3s by themselves are a nice little package, but adding a BL2 does not put them in the category of BL9s. Personally I don't think it's even close. 

Sal
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Sal replied on Thu, Aug 27 2015 10:17 PM

Thanks for your thoughts. I was expecting to hear something similar. As I said I have the opportunity to grab another pair of BL9s for a good price, or BL3/2 at an even better price, and was wondering which direction I should go.

Playdrv4me
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Playdrv4me replied on Thu, Aug 27 2015 10:45 PM

Sal:

Thanks for your thoughts. I was expecting to hear something similar. As I said I have the opportunity to grab another pair of BL9s for a good price, or BL3/2 at an even better price, and was wondering which direction I should go.

Alternate argument... BL3 combined with BL19? But then you'd likely be surpassing the cost of a nice used BL9 pair and you'd still not likely be as good as the 9s. 

Sal
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Sal replied on Fri, Aug 28 2015 1:20 AM

Yes, the more I think about it, the more sticking with what I know now and love (Beolab 9) seems to be the way to go rather than saving some money and not being as happy with the decision. 

elephant
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elephant replied on Fri, Aug 28 2015 4:35 AM
Sal:

Yes, the more I think about it, the more sticking with what I know now and love (Beolab 9) seems to be the way to go rather than saving some money and not being as happy with the decision.

I agree

Go BL9

BeoNut since '75

Dave Farr
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Dave Farr replied on Fri, Aug 28 2015 2:41 PM
BL9's are getting cheaper and cheaper at the moment. I actually use a pair plus BL3's and a BL2 for music in a large room and especially for live music recordings it's incredible. So many people have said 'it's just like being there'. However, it comes down to personal taste and I do like a bit of bass! I don't think you can go wrong with the BL9's. Powerful, clear and punch if you want.

Dave.
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