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

 

BL18s ordered

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This post has 24 Replies | 1 Follower

moxxey
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moxxey Posted: Fri, Jan 17 2014 2:44 PM

Committed to the order. Paid for a pair this morning, along with a Transmitter 1 and PlayMaker. ETA for delivery and installation end of February.

Impressed with these speakers. I've mentioned it before, but they are a level above the BL3/BL11 combo which I currently own, but the BL18s won't replace the BL3/BL11, they'll be in another room.

I'll decide whether to get a BL19 at a later date, but after a demo on Wednesday, I figured that it wasn't really required for the music I like.

Good thing about these BL18s, for me, is they'll look great in a sitting room, in their oak finish. They're going to wirelessly flank my fireplace.

I'll get a photo up and some user experience on delivery.

There's a part of me that's really pleased to be supporting B&O's latest products and direction.

Millemissen
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That sounds great - congrats Smile

MM

There is a tv - and there is a BV

Jeff
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Jeff replied on Fri, Jan 17 2014 4:24 PM

Congratulations. Must be those paper midwoofers that sound so good...Big Smile

Jeff

I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus. Sad

BeoGreg
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BeoGreg replied on Fri, Jan 17 2014 4:30 PM
Lucky man !
moxxey
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moxxey replied on Fri, Jan 17 2014 4:54 PM

BeoGreg:
Lucky man !

Cheers, thanks. Looking forward to them. Was going to get the black SE A9 - that was the original plan - but it just sounds like an upgraded BS8 (which I own) and I prefer the sharper dynamics of the BL3s, which the BL18s share.

digi
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digi replied on Fri, Jan 17 2014 5:41 PM

Congratulation,

a good choice Smile.  I have got them in december and they sound very good. Much better than BL8000.

Digi

BV 14-55 mit BL 18, BL 8000, BL 2, BeoRemote One-BT, ATV 3; BS 9000 & BS Core & BS 4500 mit BL 12-3, BL 12-2, BeoLink 1000; BeoLine mit BC 2, BC 6000; BS 8; BeoVox CX100; BeoTime (analog), BeoTime (digital); Earphone A8; Beoplay H3 + P2

symmes
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symmes replied on Fri, Jan 17 2014 5:48 PM

Congratulations.  

Which frets (if you can call them that), Moxxey?

moxxey
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moxxey replied on Fri, Jan 17 2014 7:50 PM

symmes:

Congratulations.  

Which frets (if you can call them that), Moxxey?

Oak. Traditional. It will go with my Danish furniture!

Other wood finishes are coming, but when?

elephant
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elephant replied on Fri, Jan 17 2014 8:41 PM
moxxey:

Oak. Traditional. It will go with my Danish furniture!

Other wood finishes are coming, but when?

Their Facebook page has announced the release of the White BL18

Says "soon"

https://www.facebook.com/bangolufsen/posts/10152006924594145

BeoNut since '75

moxxey
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moxxey replied on Fri, Jan 17 2014 9:41 PM

elephant:
moxxey:

Oak. Traditional. It will go with my Danish furniture!

Other wood finishes are coming, but when?

Their Facebook page has announced the release of the White BL18

There are supposed to be three wood finishes, eventually. That was the original plan, I was told. Teak, walnut? I guess like the A9 legs.

w5bno123
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w5bno123 replied on Fri, Jan 17 2014 11:10 PM
moxxey:

There are supposed to be three wood finishes, eventually. That was the original plan, I was told. Teak, walnut? I guess like the A9 legs.

The finished colours will be oak, walnut and American Maple. Walnut has replaced Teak in the A9 range already.
Normann
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Normann replied on Fri, Jan 17 2014 11:31 PM

Moxxey. 

Do you think it is better to buy the bl18 then the bl9? Just in your opinion ..

moxxey
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moxxey replied on Sat, Jan 18 2014 8:36 AM

Normann:

Do you think it is better to buy the bl18 then the bl9? Just in your opinion ..

Well, when I first listened to the BL18s, the BL19 made a significant difference, for my style of music (electronic). When I had a further demo on Wednesday, both myself and the dealer thought the BL18s sounded brighter and more 'rounded' without the BL19, for electronic music. The best way I can describe the BL18s is like the BL3+BL11 (sub) combo, with more power. Same bright sound, just more strength.

So, I'm debating whether you really need a sub with the BL18s. My plan is to get them compare against my BL3s/BL11 and go on from there. I might get the sub later. You definitely wouldn't need the sub if you listen to classical music. You would if you wanted to use the speakers with your TV, for movies. I'm not using them with my BV11.

I'm also wondering if my dealers BL18s have 'settled in' somewhat, which is why they sound good enough without the sub? He's had them a couple of months now. My original demo was the day after they set them up.

w5bno123
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w5bno123 replied on Sat, Jan 18 2014 9:14 AM
I am impressed with the depth of both the 17's & 18's without the sub. I believe B&O have done an amazing job with all three new speakers, enjoy yours when they arrive. The installation is a nice simple process. I would highly recommend that the playmaker is Ethernet connected with a new Devolo AV500 mini if you can't get a direct connection from your router.

Have fun!
moxxey
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moxxey replied on Tue, Feb 25 2014 11:29 AM

My brand new BL18s were installed yesterday, oddly at the same time as an electrician installed the Artek globe pendants in the same room.

BL18s are connected to the Transmitter 1, which is controlled by a Playmaker and a BC2.

Very pleased with these BL18s. The quality is so good, radio sounds like a live broadcast from the room. Having owned the BL3/BL1 combo for many years, this is like a BL3/BL11 upgrade. Better overall sound, wider and just more rounded.

Connected the Playmaker via a powerline wired ethernet port and setting a fixed IP. It's worked flawlessly, so far.

BeoGreg
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BeoGreg replied on Tue, Feb 25 2014 1:59 PM
Good to ear Moxxey.

Better sound than the bl3/11 combo, that's interesting.

A pic would be appreciated though...
moxxey
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moxxey replied on Tue, Feb 25 2014 2:04 PM

BeoGreg:

Better sound than the bl3/11 combo, that's interesting.

A pic would be appreciated though...

Definitely better. The same sound you get with the BL3s/BL11, but just more rounded etc. Just sounds like a big upgrade from I'm used to listening to, sound-wise. I don't think these are "TV speakers" though.

I'll try and take a photo later or tomorrow. At the moment there's a lot of boxes etc still around! 

olvisab
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olvisab replied on Tue, Feb 25 2014 3:01 PM
I would say FORTUNATELY they sound better than the bl3 combo.

I have this combo too but as you describe the sound can't be wider and powerfull as a recent column speaker.

I wonder how these sound compared to a pair of beolab 9.

Enjoy your new setup!

4 beolab 5,  beolab 9, beolab 10, beolab 5000, beolab 8000 mk2, beolab 6002, beolab 3500, beovision 7 55 mk2,  2 beovision 11 46 mk4, beotime, beosound ouverture, beosound essence, beoplay A8, beomaster 900 RG de luxe and the collection continues...

moxxey
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moxxey replied on Tue, Feb 25 2014 3:47 PM

olvisab:

I wonder how these sound compared to a pair of beolab 9.

I didn't quite follow what you said above this sentence, but I never got on with the BL9s. I owned two pairs at one point. I replaced the BL9s with the BL3s! BL9s were superb for movie audio, but for music they just sounded oddly mid-range. To be fair though, I'd sold them before I knew they had pot settings which enabled you to configure the sound :)

Marco6474
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Marco6474 replied on Tue, Feb 25 2014 3:53 PM

I was also willing to move to a simpler system to stream music from Spotify or iTunes. I was thinking of the Beoplay A9 instead of a Beosound 3000 and Beolab 8000 (also have a Beosound 8 in a bedroom now, not powerful enough for the living room).

Is there really a huge difference between  the Beolab 18 and the Beoplay A9? Did you compare them with the Beolab 9, which are almost as expensive as the BL 18 ?

 

olvisab
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olvisab replied on Tue, Feb 25 2014 4:47 PM

Well, you know what you are talking about if you owned both.

I find the bl3 sometimes under powered (maybe I become depth) and the sound lacks of dimension.

As front speakers I use a pair of beolab 5000 and a pair of beolab  3 under on wall too.

The difference is amazing compared to the beolab 3 alone with the sub. 

I admit it is a strange setup but it works for me.

 

 

4 beolab 5,  beolab 9, beolab 10, beolab 5000, beolab 8000 mk2, beolab 6002, beolab 3500, beovision 7 55 mk2,  2 beovision 11 46 mk4, beotime, beosound ouverture, beosound essence, beoplay A8, beomaster 900 RG de luxe and the collection continues...

Chris Townsend
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Great real world reviews. I hope you enjoy them, and i'm sure we all look forward to seeing them installed.Yes - thumbs up

Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.

moxxey
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moxxey replied on Tue, Feb 25 2014 5:12 PM

Marco6474:

Is there really a huge difference between  the Beolab 18 and the Beoplay A9? Did you compare them with the Beolab 9, which are almost as expensive as the BL 18 ?

I did indeed. I was going to buy the black SE A9. A9 sounded far more 'middle range' than these BL18s, primarily thanks to the ALTs (which are not to everyone's liking). A9 sounded great, but sounded more like an upgraded BS8, to me.

Marco6474
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Marco6474 replied on Tue, Feb 25 2014 6:16 PM

Thanks, I shall have to consider the BL 18 again. They look very nice.

Would be also interested in seeing how you manage to deal with the Playmaker connected to a transmitter. Could both be hidden in a cabinet?

Cheers, Marc.

Mark
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Mark replied on Wed, Feb 26 2014 8:22 PM
I really like the look of the BL 18's in wood, the more I look the more I want.

Personally I would like to see a dramatic music player to match these beauties also trimmed in matching wood.

Am I a dinosaur wanting such ?

we tend to forget there is more to design than designing.

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