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
Speakers vs spekaers has been discussed tons of times, but what are forums for.. :P
A Beolab 2 is waiting for me at the post office when I get home from Thailand. Really excited!
I am wondering if I should add it to my current setup which is BV7-40, BL7.4, 4 x Pentas, BS5500 with the Attyca stand.
Or if I should go with 4 x BL4000´s I have in the basement. I have the floor stands for the front BL4000´s, and I also have a BS3000 with the matching floorstand.
Soundwise, what would sound better? I LOVE the majestic look of the penta´s next to the tv, but I think that the BL4000´s maybe sound more "musical".
Will it be "too much" with too many matching floorstands? I would like to hear your opinions on both sound and design :)
Millemissen: please bring on your audio expertise :)
AussieMichael: please bring on your design expertise :)
"You think we can slap some oak on this thing?"
It is your home and your ears will be listening.
You are lucky enough to be able to set up both systems and decide what you think sounds and looks best.
Trust your own judgment and be happy with what you decide.
It is very hard to give someone a 'sound advice', if you don't know the room, where the speakers are placed.
Remember - you are the one, who are going to listen to your setup and therefore you are the expert!
Or rather - if you try out your options - you may become the expert.
I guess you like the sound of the Penta's. It is often been said, that they could need a bit more bas/lower end. Means - using a subwoofer with them is a good idea, especially, if you listen to movies with a genuine multi channel soundtrack and/or if you prefer music with lots of bas.
However, the BL2 can be a beast - you will have to tame it!
A subwoofer - imo - should not be heard, but should deliever, what the other speakers don't deliever. It should just be there.
Start with the setup (the Penta's), that you already have - and try to find the right place and the right settings for the BL2.
Do remember, that the right setting of the position-swith etc is very important for the BL2 to not sound 'blubby'/'boomy'. You can also try to tilt it more or less on the base - people have noticed differences doing so.
Normally a sub should be placed between the front speakers, right or left of the tv - please don't try to put it somewhere in a corner!
As I wrote above, your room (dimentions, materials) is very important - so you will have to try out things.
Listen to something, that you know well (music and video sound) - and take your time before you change the placement of the sub etc again.
If you are satisfied with the sound of the Penta's and the BL2, I see no resaon for trying out a combination with the BL4000.
However, if your room is small, the BL 4000's might be better.
Sometimes a person may long for a redecoration (if you may say so with a change of speakers) of the room.
If you feel, that a change is overdue, you will have to do it to find out, what is right.
As I see It, a setup with the 4 4000's and the sub and the BS3000 will look pretty different from, what you have now! It is up to you to decide, whether you want the 'heavy looks' of the current setup or a more 'light feeling' with the BL4000 (on stands) and the BS 3000 (on a stand).
Too many words from me already!!! Best advice I can give, is to try things out and take your time with the decition (you might even - for the 'design portion' - ask someone else (girlfriend.....), how they feel, if you change to the BL4000-combination).
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
You will love the addition of your BL2. I've retained mine with my newly acquired BL9's attached to mly BV7-55 with the BL9's as fronts and BL3's as rears. Especially for music, the BL2 is incredible. It does also add a lot to films - we watched the worst Star Wars film (Phantom Menace) last night and the BL2 was amazing. It's not boomy but you literally 'feel' the bass through your body. It's like being at a good rock concert!
As the BL2 is just plug and play into the sub powerlink socket, try it first with your Pentas. I think the height of them will give you better directional sound than from the BL4000's. The 4000's are one of my favourite speakers - for their size and style they are amazing and with floor stands all around will look fantastic. Certainly less prominant than the Penta's.
The Penta's with the Attyca and BS5500 will look more retro and the 4000's more modern. How that fits will depend on the rest of your room and furnishings.
I'd spend a wet weekend with both systems set-up and decide on that. There will be opposing views on which 'style' is best and which 'sound' is best. As has been said, only you can decide that based on your ears, room, furnishings and style.
It will be interesting to get your feedback when it's all set-up.
Dave.
Thank you for some really good input!
At the moment, I do find my current setup a bit heavy. I tend to rearrange my whole apartment every 2 months because I get bored with the looks of it.
I will add the BL2 to my current setup, and after a while I will simply change it all out in order to try it out for a month or so.
I tried to add the S8 to the setup, but that sounded horrible, the pentas lost all their sound. I am hoping that the BL2 will do a better job.
Will it give any difference in sound if I use the subwoofer output from the BV7 for the BL2 versus putting the BL2 into the front output and hooking the Penta´s onto the BL2?
One problem I will run into is that I need to go into TV mode in order to adjust the BASS, as my BV7 is an MK2.
I guess it is not possible to connect the BL2 and front speakers to the BS3000, and still use them in the surround sound from the BV7? Or am I wrong about that?
I'd use the BV7's sub output as it is specifically for that and presumably tuned as such. All other speakers remain the same then with no alter effect in signal via the BL2. It's much simpler and easier to adjust that way too I expect.
I'd advocate for using the BL2 with the sub-out of the tv (as intented in a multi channel setup).
P.S. How often do you adjust the bass???
P.P.S. How was your (previous) sub - the S8 - set up in the sound menu?
Sorry, I did not mean BASS, I meant to adjust the SUBWOOFER I will have to go out to TV. It is not possible to adjust it from a digital source.
My BV7 does not have any subwoofer option settings, I can only choose SUBWOOFER "YES" or "NO".
With the S8 the sound was very bad. And it was so difficult to adjust the sound as I had to go back and forth. (never checked if it was possible from the DVD tho)
leosgonewild:My BV7 does not have any subwoofer option settings, I can only choose SUBWOOFER "YES" or "NO".
Once 'yes' is chosen, you should be able to manually adjust all of the settings in relation to the volume of the BL7.4 up or down. I had to play with that on mine. I assume the option under the 'sound' menu is similar across the BV7's?
G'day Leo
Congrats on your Beo2, it always reminds me of an Alien! :-) And incorporating it with the Pentas will depend on the size of your room. To me all of them is too heavy and it depends on your wall colour. For example if the Pentas blend in to the background (if that is possible), then it may be do-able.
How about using 2 Pentas, and 2 4000s as rears as long as you like the sound?
I always thought the 4000s are so beautiful when mounted, and look a bit much when on their stands, but it's been ages since I have seen them and what colour are they?
Its difficult to say without seeing your room, but have a play :-) And i'm sure the Beo2 will look great with your beautiful TV.
Hope you had a blast in Thailand
I have white walls at the moment, and the Penta´s looks really good next to the BV7.
The BL4000´s are 2xblue, and 2x gold. The blue ones are plastidipped into matte black, and if i chose to stick withthem, I will color all of them.
I can´t wait to get back to pick up the BL2, tilt it back and put it next to the tv. It will look awesome!
Still in Ao Nang, celebrating new years tomorrow. Year 2558, or something like that :P One week to go here, and enjoying massages every single day. It is nice to be the one receiving massage, not the one giving them :)
I´ll post pics of the new setup when I get it done. There are some pics of the current setup in the FLASH-tread.
Wow, these Pentas look rather mighty. :) Wonderful.
p.s. Interesting that moving speakers away makes a notable difference.
leosgonewild:Again, don't look at the cable clutter as I am still trying different setups. The PS4 will be hidden later on. I am leaning more against the Penta's, but I have to see them with the BS3000
The PS4 will be hidden later on.
I am leaning more against the Penta's, but I have to see them with the BS3000
All products from the same relative era in this picture (save for the two products in the left corner). I always had a soft spot for the BL4000's on floorstands. A most underrated and understated speaker.
A nice problem to have Leo. What about 2 x pentas at the front and 2 x 4000's at the rear?