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
Hi!
So i can finally see an end on the rebuilding of the livingroom in our new house.
Right now i have Beosystem 7000 + Samsung TV (DAC). CX100 and Cona.I have been very pleased with the sound in our previous livingroom. The old livingroom was 25 square meters.Our new livingroom is 50 square meters so i am afraid that the (somewhat small) punch the old 2.1 setup could deliver will drown here.
As the system is rather oldschool, and i love my Beogram i have been considering keeping the Beosystem for as long as possible and just upgrade to Beolab's
I've been looking at Beolab 3, 4000 and 4. But i am afraid that they would need a Beolab 2 before delivering something like the CX100+Cona (in a bigger scale of course).
The Beolab 2 is rather pricey.
I have considered the Beolab 8000 instead. But for not so much more i can get a used pair of Beolab 12-2's.
How are the Beolab 12-2 compared to the 8000? Would i be missing a Beolab 2/11/19 no matter what i choose?
I also looked at Bolab 14.2 / S8. Seems as a more or less 2015 version of the CX100/Cona system at a fair price.
Used 8000's are cheaper. S8 a bit more expensive and used 12-2's are more or less same price as 14.2.
I can buy Beolab 12-3 or a brand new 14.2 for the price of small Beolabs and Beolab 2.
Can anybody enlighten me just a little bit about "cheaper" Beolabs performace.
It really depends on what you are expecting - on how you want to use the setup.
As I have understood, you plan to use it with the tv (through the 7000 system) - probably for watching movies.
I'd consider the S8 - you get a very good set of speakers for the money there.
If you prefer the white version with stands etc (and you can get it at a fair price) go for the 14.2.
These are the modern versions of the CX100/Cona.
Tip: you can use the CX100/Cona in another room - just connect it to a MLC2A, which is connected to the 7000 master unit through a MCL cable. Nice for a kitchen or a second smaller livingroom/work space....
P.S. You can't go wrong with a pair of used BL8000 - but be sure, that they are not too old and do check the condition of the drivers, before you buy.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
I have a set of older (Mk1) BL8000 recently purchased. No experience of any other B&O speakers. All I can say about them is that to my ears they sound great playing music. You can actually 'feel' the sound , even at lower volumes .
I have them connected up to the tv as well for when I fancy a bit more umph than the tv itself provides and they do a good job there, not surround sound but a great improvement for films etc.
Plus they look quite nice and 'iconic' , the wife likes the look so a win/win for me :-)
Just for interest :
Millemissen:P.S. You can't go wrong with a pair of used BL8000 - but be sure, that they are not too old and do check the condition of the drivers, before you buy.
As mine are older (1997 I believe), what should I be looking for to check the condition of the drivers? I bought them a bit blind on ebay so didn't really do anything other than check they worked and no funny 'I'm broken' sounds. Maybe that's enough but I'd be interested to know for future reference.
DJ
Hi Dave,
that is quite easy - just pull off the frets and have a look at the drivers.
They must look 'fresh' - I am sure another Beoworlder could post pictures of 'fresh' and 'bad' looking drivers.
If everything works and they sound good - be happy, enjoy!
Thanks, so its the actual speaker cones to look at (the paper/fibre part) got it.
Just need to be brave enough to pull off the frets, although as they are currently undamaged bar a tiny scuff on one corner I think I may leave that until another day.
At least I know what I'm looking at now!
apologies for the slight thread hijack
Dave Hutton:Just need to be brave enough to pull off the frets, although as they are currently undamaged bar a tiny scuff on one corner I think I may leave that until another day.
It isn't actually that easy to remove them (and put them back!) especially for a first timer. It is a bit fiddly and the top edge may never fit as good as new again. If you don't hear anything wrong with the sound, I suggest you leave the frets alone and enjoy the speakers!
--mika
You push them/slide them upwards with one hand at the buttom and one hand to push.
Ok - a bit tricky, but that is how you do it.
I'd never buy a set of speakers from 1997 without having a peak at condition of the drivers.
Millemissen: I'd never buy a set of speakers from 1997 without having a peak at condition of the drivers. MM
Thats probably why I got them for £490 on ebay ! I never considered there might be something wrong with them, but I guess a few other bidders might have thought of that. The ones I replaced them with (mordant short bookshelf speakers) were perfect condition (same age) so didn't think the B&O would be any different.
Fortunately I was able to check them sound wise before I handed over the cash, so fingers crossed they are good. Sound good to me so thats the main thing, if they start sounding ragged I'll know where to look and how to get the covers off - Thanks
Millemissen: You push them/slide them upwards with one hand at the buttom and one hand to push. Ok - a bit tricky, but that is how you do it.
You must be talking about Beolab 6000. Beolab 8000 frets are not going to move anywhere with a simple push.
*edit: And the Beolab 6000s are susceptible to split bass driver surrounds, so there's plenty of reason to check them when buying!
tournedos: Millemissen: You push them/slide them upwards with one hand at the buttom and one hand to push. Ok - a bit tricky, but that is how you do it. You must be talking about Beolab 6000. Beolab 8000 frets are not going to move anywhere with a simple push. *edit: And the Beolab 6000s are susceptible to split bass driver surrounds, so there's plenty of reason to check them when buying!
I'm talking about BL8000
Apologies for taking this thread off topic.
I would definitely check before buying drivers - having had my fingers burnt very badly on two pairs of pentas and their mid range units, amplifiers and crossovers! But if they sound good then that's a great price and I wouldn't worry - also if the cabinet condition is good then you got a good deal - electronics are much easier to deal with than cosmetic problems.
You cannot easily remove the frets of BL8000. It is a bit tricky. On BL6000 you can easily push them up and remove them, not 8000. And you are correct, the tops will probably never look original again after mounting again.
To my experience 8000 drivers do not have foam rot or anything. It is the BL 6000 you have to check. But then again, you can still buy complete new original drivers for BL 6000 for a low price, so risk is very limited.
BeoVision 11-55, BeoLab 8000, BeoRemote One BT, AppleTV 4, 2x BeoPlay A2, BeoPlay A1
Andrew: also if the cabinet condition is good then you got a good deal - electronics are much easier to deal with than cosmetic problems.
The cabinets don't have a mark on them - like brand new, so I'm happy.
So back to topic.
Any thoughts on 12-2?I have seen the S8 Thread and color wise i like the black S8 over the white 14's
Yes i am going to keep my Beosystem 7000 then. I have a small office i am hinking about putting the CX/Cona set in instead :)
Readin the original question, it seems that you have not heard your present system in t,he new room.
I understand that you might have concerns, but I would strongly advocate wait and see (hear); you might be very pleasantly surprised.
Sorry about the typos
Good answer. I actually didn't think of waiting to lay off the CX100/Cona until i've heard it.The reason i was thinking about the 12-2 was that i then would have the electrician to cut in some cables so they could be wall mounted.But hey, the walls will be fresh painted, so i will just have to get that single wall painted again if the 12.2's will be the solution.