Beolab 3s - any insights before I pick up a used pair? Models / revisions / age?

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muppetsrock Posted: Thu, Dec 6 2012 2:26 PM

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Hi. I'm thinking of picking up a used pair of Beolab 3s. I picked up the audiophile bug about 10 years ago - listening to a Spendor 1/2e rig. It was kind of life-changing. But the Spendors were, first of all, too expensive, and second incompatible with my lifestyle (I seem to wind up in a new country about every six months to two years as work moves me around.)

Recently auditioned the Beolab 3s and I was blown away. It's very, very hard to do a direct comparison with the Spendors, but the truth is that I'm never, ever going to be able to travel with two refrigerator-sized speakers, so the BL3s are actually the practical choice.

Here are the questions I'm hoping to answer:

1> Used they seem to be pretty stable around £1500. Is there anything I need to know before paying about that for a set? Guarantees? Repairs? Maintenance? Are there any problems with used units in general?

2> Models. There seem to be a couple of different revisions. Again, anything I need to know?

D/A - I'd be listening from FLAC/WAV files (lossless audio.) I'd plan on using some kind of external D/A and there's a bewildering array of possible options across a huge price range. I tend to like a fairly clinical sound (I actually enjoy pro-audio gear quite a lot - the Focusrite VRM box suits my ears well as a headphone box). Any recommendations?

Finally, I see persistent threads about "well, instead of the Beolab 3s, you should try..." and there's a list of options. Orb or some particular pair of studio monitors or this or that.

Anything really knockout in the same general size / price range?

Oh, and finally finally - bass. It's fine, right? I don't need a sub. Right?

Thank you so much for your input, and I'll let you know what I do, promise!

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pf85 replied on Thu, Dec 6 2012 7:54 PM

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My recommendation, having bought a pair of used ones 5 years ago.

a) very robust, normally a very good history

b) just check them out before buying

c) "sound better than their size", ALT and ICE power make a difference

d) normally used in smaller room ... have not missed a sub

e) no regrets...

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elephant replied on Sat, Dec 8 2012 1:08 AM

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pf85:

My recommendation, having bought a pair of used ones 5 years ago.

a) very robust, normally a very good history

b) just check them out before buying

c) "sound better than their size", ALT and ICE power make a difference

d) normally used in smaller room ... have not missed a sub

e) no regrets...

agree (a), (b), (c), and (e)

having just moved the BL11 away from the BL3s I miss it when watching movies ....

I bought my BL3s for the very reason you had ... I was travelling and wanted a quality sound with reasonable portability.

Keep the box they come in - you won't want to risk the bass diaphragms during transport.

When I need even more extreme portablity I bought the BL4s but they are miserable compared to the BL3s.

So (e) squared

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muppetsrock replied on Sun, Dec 23 2012 7:26 PM

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Well, thank you for the input, guys. I took the plunge! Will write up the show so far in a moment.