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
G'day,
This arvo i'm going to try and make use of my BL2 which is currently sitting pretty and doing nothing. I was just going to connect the BL2 directly to the Beosound 3000 so as to not cut off the woofers in the BL9's. Has anyine had any experience adding a BL2 to large Beolabs like these? I searched the current and archived forums but couldn't find anything.
My head is telling me it will be a pointless exercise because the BL2 is 1" smaller than the BL9s and doesn't go as low as them either... may also affect bass accuracy, but it could be fun. I'm hoping it will add some punch the 9's, they have always had a bit of a floppy sound pressure to me when i remember back to when i had BL1 which were really tight and packed a hell of a punch in comparison (I still miss them ).
Anywho, i'll let you know how I go.Cheers!
How did it end up sounding? From what I've heard on here and from my local dealer they don't complement each other very well.
BL90, BL5 x 2, BL9, BL8000 x 2, Penta III x 2, Penta II, BL2, BL4, BL2500, RL6000 x 3, MS150, MS150.2, A9, A1, A2, P2, Beolit 12/17, S70, CX50, CX100, Beovox 2500, BS9000 x 2, BS3000, BS4, BC2, BS1, Moment, Essence MkII x 2, BS5 Encore, BG8002, BC8002, BM8002, BG5500, BV7-40 MkIII, BV11-55, BV Avant 85", BC5, H8, E8, Form 2, A8...Serene
I expect you will have been disappointed by adding the BL2 ..... were you ?
BeoNut since '75
I can imagine a sub making the bass go deeper as measured than the BL9s (though maybe not necessarily the BL2) but it's about impossible for me to imagine the bass quality being improved. The BL9s have wonderful bass, deep, smooth, tuneful, musical, whatever adjective you want to use.
But please, for the love of all that's holy don't say "fast." Well damped, fine, not fast. A fast woofer is called a tweeter.
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
I did - for a short while - have a BL2 connected to my BL9s (which were connected to my BL7.4-powered BV7-40), but barely made any difference, so used the BL2 as a trade-in against other B&O kit, keep the BL9s. The BL9s are so powerful, and have a wide frequency range, that they mean a sub is negligible at best. Same with the BL5s and BL20s.
Jeff:But please, for the love of all that's holy don't say "fast." Well damped, fine, not fast. A fast woofer is called a tweeter.
@BeoLion
An interesting woman your wife ! What movies does she like watching ? Mine would rather be out of the house for some of my explosive movies !
elephant:@BeoLion An interesting woman your wife ! What movies does she like watching ? Mine would rather be out of the house for some of my explosive movies ! The Essence of B&O is discretion in design and life
One BeoLab 9 can, when averaged over a range of low frequencies, play louder than one BeoLab 2. This is why the BeoSystem 4-based products (BV11 BV Avant, BeoPlay V1, BSys 4) will not bass manage from a BL9 to a BL2.
However, since you're thinking of connecting everything in parallel, the answer is more complicated. It might be that, due to room position and the relative phase response of the loudspeakers, you could lose overall level in some frequency bands in the bass region by running everything in parallel. More is not always better...
Cheers
- geoff
Geoff,
While we have you on this thread, could you tell me your opinion about adding a second BeoLab 2 to a BeoSystem 3 system including the following:
BeoLab 8000s for fronts
BeoLab 10 for center
BeoLab 8000s for surrounds
Beolab 6000s for rears
BeoLab 2 for subwoofer
Would adding a second BeoLab 2 improve the sound? What would be the ideal placement for 2 subwoofers? Would it be ill-advised to mix subwoofers, such as having a BeoLab 2 with a BeoLab 19?
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Hi all!
Thanks for the many responses, particularly Geoff for the relevant technical perspective on doing this.
I actually wrote a reply as soon as I plugged it in and turned it up, but it was somehow lost in the ether, which is probably a good thing because it was an emotional response!! I can't stop listening to music all of a sudden!
My first impressions were shock and disbelief, because of the physical impact I was suddenly accessing! I was expecting it to be messy and over the top.
My setup is aesthetically awful, I know, this is a temporary solution, we just got a kitten so they're in this small room and out of paws reach! I've always been a little underwhelmed with the visceral impact the bl9s have in the lower end at higher volumes, going from bl1s...
Anyway, I'm surprisingly very happy with this setup having the BL2 assisting on the side! I have the bass turned down on the Beosound, from 0 to -2 and the BL2 is on its lower settings (corner and setup 2, - setup 1 was too loud for me). I've been wavering between setup 3 and 2 on the BL2 actually.
I've had a bit of a play around and I've listened (using the B&O Active Listening III CD) with and without the BL2 plugged in, there is a mild difference at lower volumes where the bl2 seems to discretely cover what the bl9s are missing, it's when I turn the music up much louder that the difference is earth-shattering, erring on emotional!
It's a more relentless sound now and is a great improvement when at full blast (well up to VOL 62 anyway) and I'm outside doing gardening... My theory is that the BL9s are working slightly less hard having turned the bass down a little, but the BL2 adds a punchy element to the lower end and covers the notes in between that the BL9 doesn't reproduce as strongly in some tracks.
I strongly recommend you try this yourself if you have a BL2 and BL9s, especially if you're planning a party or turn your system up louder than what would be acceptable in a domestic environment! (my nearest neighbors are over 15kms away)
Summing up, adding the Beolab 2 has essentially added a more visceral (i hope that's the right word) element to listening without taking away from the BL9s, but it's subjective of course, and everyones tastes and setups are different. When i have my way I'll just have Beolab 5s.
Thanks for reading
Jeff: But please, for the love of all that's holy don't say "fast." Well damped, fine, not fast. A fast woofer is called a tweeter.
I can't seem to find anywhere in this thread, someone saying "fast"
Dave: Hi all! Thanks for the many responses, particularly Geoff for the relevant technical perspective on doing this. I actually wrote a reply as soon as I plugged it in and turned it up, but it was somehow lost in the ether, which is probably a good thing because it was an emotional response!! I can't stop listening to music all of a sudden! My first impressions were shock and disbelief, because of the physical impact I was suddenly accessing! I was expecting it to be messy and over the top. My setup is aesthetically awful, I know, this is a temporary solution, we just got a kitten so they're in this small room and out of paws reach! I've always been a little underwhelmed with the visceral impact the bl9s have in the lower end at higher volumes, going from bl1s... Anyway, I'm surprisingly very happy with this setup having the BL2 assisting on the side! I have the bass turned down on the Beosound, from 0 to -2 and the BL2 is on its lower settings (corner and setup 2, - setup 1 was too loud for me). I've been wavering between setup 3 and 2 on the BL2 actually. I've had a bit of a play around and I've listened (using the B&O Active Listening III CD) with and without the BL2 plugged in, there is a mild difference at lower volumes where the bl2 seems to discretely cover what the bl9s are missing, it's when I turn the music up much louder that the difference is earth-shattering, erring on emotional! It's a more relentless sound now and is a great improvement when at full blast (well up to VOL 62 anyway) and I'm outside doing gardening... My theory is that the BL9s are working slightly less hard having turned the bass down a little, but the BL2 adds a punchy element to the lower end and covers the notes in between that the BL9 doesn't reproduce as strongly in some tracks. I strongly recommend you try this yourself if you have a BL2 and BL9s, especially if you're planning a party or turn your system up louder than what would be acceptable in a domestic environment! (my nearest neighbors are over 15kms away) Summing up, adding the Beolab 2 has essentially added a more visceral (i hope that's the right word) element to listening without taking away from the BL9s, but it's subjective of course, and everyones tastes and setups are different. When i have my way I'll just have Beolab 5s. Thanks for reading
Hi Dave
Good to hear that the new kitty hasn't destroyed your HiFi!
it's only a guess, but I'd wager the sonic results you're getting are due the setup (kitty necessity) as shown in the photos.
The Lab 9's will not likely give of their best re bass response in that position.
I think if the positioning was more 'real life' then the differences between the Lab 9's and the Beolab 2 may not be as noticeable perhaps?
My lounge room in an apartment, is 5 x 4 metres, carpeted with concrete floor/ceiling, double brick walls and one end ⅔ floor to ceiling glass overlooking a balcony.
If I play a DTS HD Master Audio 7.1 Bluray movie via my V1 and the Lab 9's, at any more than about 60 - 62, it would only be a matter of time before the forces of law and order would possibly be knocking at the door at the behest of my neighbours; the LFE on such movies will rattle doors, windows, and anything 'loose' in the room such as ornaments, and make the sofa go all wobbly underneath one.
Of course, that's in my room, and all rooms differ, as do layouts and setups, so there may be an advantage to some situations (very large room perhaps, or one with stud and joist walls with plasterboard that will minutely flex and 'absorb' bass?) to 'add' the output of the Beolab 2 to the Lab 9's.
However as Geoff states, one Lab 9 is at least a 'match' technically for a Beolab 2, - and you have two Lab 9s, - so setup correctly and ideally in a suitable room, it's hard to say what would be best, but I would guess that you might then find the Beolab 2 redundant; certainly I would agree that more is not always better... quality over quantity perhaps.
But every situation is different and we each have to work with the limitations of rooms and spaces.
I'd be interested to hear how you feel about the combination once the kitty weaning period is over and you can set the speakers up in a sonically more ideal manner...
Kind regards
John..
Agree John. I've never come across a speaker where placement and surroundings are so important in achieving the best possible sound. I was originally dissapointed with the BL9's until I played around a bit more with placement which took away that apparent lack of midrange that I was experiencing.
I was considering a BL2 in my setup but I don't watch enough movies to justify it.
My partner wants to get a cat, this thread has made a good case for me to make against getting one! :D
The conclusion seems to be:
If you want a kitten in your house, you will have to buy a BL2
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
99% of the energy you get from speakers is from the room that they're in, however this isn't a recording studio or an interior illusions lounge, it's merely a setup where the brief is - no B&O is going un appreciated despite the less than ideal arrangements! I'm chuffed, doing the gardening and all the other work outside has never been more fun with music, then when i'm relaxing i have a room to go to if i just want to close my eyes and listen to music. The best possible sound is sound that you enjoy. Having pets is the icing on the cake. So like I've said, adding BL2 = thumbs up from me!
Millemissen: The conclusion seems to be: If you want a kitten in your house, you will have to buy a BL2 MM
Nope! This was conceived from making use of an unplugged BL2. The bass response from the BL9's barely changed at all placing them up high, the conclusion is more likely to be, if you live in the middle of nowhere and have a listening position that varies between 2 metres and 100 metres away outside, a BL2 is an effective sidekick!
I must say - one kind of peculiar looking setup you have there.
But your explanation above tells us why.
How about making two 'kitten cages' for the 9's instead?
Might even be a new product for stbbrackets - the brandnew 'BeoLab Kitty Protection Cages'
Hi Dave,
Since we are making general comments on your set-up: I know it's temporary, but looking at your arrangment of mains plugs I really think a single trailing socket extender would be far more asthetically pleasing, and actually much, much safer, especially with cats that may pull the wires around! Just a thought!
Guy: Hi Dave, Since we are making general comments on your set-up: I know it's temporary, but looking at your arrangment of mains plugs I really think a single trailing socket extender would be far more asthetically pleasing, and actually much, much safer, especially with cats that may pull the wires around! Just a thought!
It was plugged in like this for approximately 2 hours. Next time i'll finish connecting my setup properly before posting a photo! Comments are closed on the location of my personal belongings, this thread is about adding BL2 to BL9s. Besides i'm too busy to be fussing with the placement of my speakers when i'm only going to have this setup for a couple more months.
I was only trying to be helpful and am truly sorry that you took it personally!
I didn't take it personally, you don't need to apologise Guy!
Yesterday I was playing a little around with my setup for movies. My test movie is Super8, approx 16 Minutes in the movie. Here is where things really start to "rumble".
I tried with and without the BL2, and the sound is different for LFE. First impression is that the BL9 sounds a little better actually, they do make a great job. We have wooden floor on top of concrete, and I could "feel" the BL9 more when playing loud compared to the BL2. Soundlevel was on 60.
I have agreed a blind test with my wife :-)
But for music, BL2 should not be used.