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
I have found a pair of very nice Beolab 8000 speakers; however it appears they require a Powerlink connection, which I don’t believe I have with either my Beomaster 4500 or Beocenter 9000.
So cut to the chase, can these newer speaker be used with older equipment, and if so, what do you think of them? (I have heard they have a magnitude of issues.)
Jeff
Beogram 4000, Beogram 4002, Beogram 4004, Beogram 8000, Beogram 8002, Beogram 1602. Beogram 4500 CD player, B&O CDX player, Beocord 4500, Beocord 5000 T4716, Beocord 5000 T4716, Beocord 5000 T4716, Beocord 8004, Beocord 9000, Beomaster 1000, Beomaster 1600, Beomaster 2400.2, Beomaster 2400.2, Beomaster 4400, Beomaster 4500, Beolab 5000, Beomaster 5000, BeoCenter 9000. BeoSound Century, S-45.2, S-45.2, S-75, S-75, M-75, M-100, MC 120.2 speakers; B&O Illuminated Sign (with crown & red logo). B&O grey & black Illuminated Sign, B&O black Plexiglas dealer sign, B&O ash tray, B&O (Orrefors) dealer award vase, B&O Beotime Clock. Navy blue B&O baseball cap, B&O T-shirt X2, B&O black ball point pen, B&O Retail Management Binder
BeoNut since '75
They can be used from a line out connection RCA jack/plug, just set the selector switch on the speakers to line and you are ready to go. I have a pair here driven by my Beosound 3000, check the production year of your 8000s, best if after 2001/2, You wont be disappointed very good sounding speakers
Collecting Vintage B&O is not a hobby, its a lifestyle.
Hi. Doesn't the Beomaster 4500 have power link connections already? I have a pair of BL8000 connected to a Beocenter 9300 and am delighted with them. I also believe the Beocenter 9000 has line out sockets which, as already stated, will connect to the line in connection on the BL8000.
Graeme.
Thanks guys,
I really wasn’t looking for Beolab series speakers, rather as I have had no luck whatsoever with nabbing a pair of M100 or M150 speakers on eBay, I have been searching locally.
Found nothing for the last several months until I spotted these Beolab 8000 speakers which come with a massive Pioneer amplifier. (which I don’t need)
I will give this some thought as if Søren says he knows I won’t be disappointed with these speakers, then I KNOW I’ll be thrilled.
Damn, I feel like a child that just discovered the cookie jar unguarded. Hummmmm, what to do?
The M-series speakers were intended to pair with my Beomaster 4400.
I wouldn’t mind having these Beolab speakers on the main floor, as this “great room” set-up (Kitchen/Breakfast Room/Living Room) has no other music source besides the Beomaster 4500.
Whatever, I’ll work out the placement and amp matching assuming I make this purchase.
From the photos and description these Beolab speakers appear to be pristine and in excellent working condition. The seller wants $1,500 (or something “close”) for the pair and the Pioneer amplifier.
I know prices vary from county to country, but what’s a fair “ballpark” figure of a decent pair of Beolab 8000 speakers?
I probably will pass on this “opportunity” preferring the M100 or M150 series speakers as $1,500 strikes me as an “OK” price for this series speakers combined with that big Pioneer amp…. IF that was what I was looking for in the first place.
Had the seller asked $150, I wouldn’t have posted this question….. I’d be busy making room for them in the living room.
So what do you think?
Jeff, get the serial numbers, you will find the serial number inside on the flip out panel at the back of the speaker, the 2 first digits in the serial number is the year code, 15 is 2001 16 is 2002, and so on. There has been some problems with woofers on the speakers produced before 2000 (I think), the cone on the woofers deformed if stored or used in a humid environment, and lately I saw here on the forum that a foam insert around the amplifier like melted, damaged the PCB and is very difficult to clean off. (not to speak of taking the speakers apart, which is an act in itself) I suppose that the melting foam syndrome will be for early productions as well.
I would not by any 8000s build before 2001 (No. code 15) my 8000s are year 2002 I bought them 2004 for USD 2000.00 in San Francisco, they were ground shipped all the way down here, I assembled them connected them and they have been playing daily ever since, they have survived brown outs, black outs, overloads and have been used at max volume level at several parties over the years. The only thing negative I can say about them is that you cant daisy chain them. The small foot print does that they are easy to place, the beautiful design fits in everywhere.
Price: I would say USD 1200.00 for 2001 and later, increasing a little for each year. But as always, test before buying, and pick up if possible.
Dave Farr:Just decide what you really want and don't buy them on impulse if it sacrifices your future speaker dreams.
Thanks Dave, that is very good advice and much appreciated.
Truthfully I can not imagine the scenario where I shelled out $1,500 on impulse. For that kind of money I will either really NEED something, or gave it a good deal of thought.
I am probably intrigued with the look (appearance) of the speakers more than anything….. well that and finding anything B&O on this island. If we lived in Vancouver that would be very different.
Living on an island where the largest city, Victoria, has a population of about 200,000 (330,000 in “greater Victoria) has its limits.
As an analogy, looking for anything Bang & Olufsen here is like searching for a Bugatti in this land of Honda Civics and Fiat 500’s.
Have a great weekend!
Søren Mexico:I would not by any 8000s build before 2001
Hi Søren,
Thank you for this detailed review.
I was aware of the various problems with the woofers and the PCB boards, but I didn’t know when these issues were properly addressed. Now, thanks to you, I do.
From what you have said I deduce that the $1,500 is a bit high, but not totally unrealistic. I was beginning to equate this asking price with the guy in Quebec who wanted $1,800 for his MS150 speakers when the cognoscenti here on BeoWorld felt $400 would be more appropriate.
I just emailed the seller requesting either the date of manufacture or the serial number.
We’ll see what he says. Thanks!
Hey Søren,
I just got his reply, are ya ready?
“I don’t have that info. I have had them for maybe 10 years and bought them new on the mainland.” (Well I knew he didn’t buy them here!)
If he is telling the truth that would make them 2005’s.
I asked him again to please check for the serial numbers and should he say it is too much trouble to check for the serial numbers, I have been around long enough to know that is a good time to RUN!
Hi Jeff,
It might be worth telling the seller where to find the serial number if you haven't already as they're not the easiest to locate.
He needs to press the connection panel cover to open it, and the serial number is then printed on a small sticker on the underside of this cover (located just above the power connector when the panel is open).
You pretty much have to lay the speaker down on it's front to be able to read it (or take a photo with the camera / phone on the floor facing upwards).
Kind Regards,
Martin.
Thank you Martin,
I did tell him as Søren explained to me, but not in the detail that you provided.
I will send him a second note, but as the seller “went silent,” following my message, I’d have to say, is not a good sign.
Thank you very much for the informative note.
Piaf:Søren explained to me
So he did - I missed that.
Piaf:I will send him a second note, but as the seller “went silent,” following my message, I’d have to say, is not a good sign.
Yeah, this would make me nervous too. I can't understand this kind of attitude from sellers when it comes to higher value items. Surely they should expect to have to make at least some effort to answer enquiries and actually go and check details if they expect to achieve a sale - rather than taking the "I don't know and I can't be bothered to look" attitude!
Best of luck.
Hi Martin,
There can be many reasons for “going silent,” but an uncooperative seller is one best avoided.
If I don’t hear anything by tomorrow, I will know to take a pass, and be patient in my search for M100 or M150 speakers.
In truth it easiest connection for the Beolab speakers is my Beomaster 4500, but I am so very pleased with the current set-up and the S-45’s. Sound wonderful!
My main speaker interest is to replace the Rube Goldberg speaker set-up that I have for my Beomaster 4400: MC 120.2 speakers (which I hate) and 1967 Fisher XP-66 speakers which have various speaker failures, the Fisher woofers function and they make up for the utter lack of bass with the MC 120.2 speakers.
Patience is a virtue.
Just a side note, the Beolab 8000s do not suffer from foam rot. They are actually a very reliable speaker and it's very rare for something to go wrong with them. I wouldn't be too concerned re Mark 1 or Mark 2 as they sound very similar, buy on condition rather than age.
x:________________________
Jonathan:Just a side note, the Beolab 8000s do not suffer from foam rot. They are actually a very reliable speaker and it's very rare for something to go wrong with them. I wouldn't be too concerned re Mark 1 or Mark 2 as they sound very similar, buy on condition rather than age. x:________________________
Jonathan: Just a side note, the Beolab 8000s do not suffer from foam rot. They are actually a very reliable speaker and it's very rare for something to go wrong with them. I wouldn't be too concerned re Mark 1 or Mark 2 as they sound very similar, buy on condition rather than age.
The foam rot being discussed is that of the sealing tape - which leaves a sticky and corrosive mess which can eat through tracks on the PCBs.
See this thread: http://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/t/15962.aspx
Hi Jeff!
I don't know about the Beolab 8000 speakers, but I've got Beolab 6000 (basically, the same with less bass extension) and they sound worse than my MC120-2, which you know I like.
Test before you part with your money.
Jacques
Hi Jacques,
OMG! Worse than MC120.2? A thought too terrible to contemplate.
My poor Beomaster 4400 somehow manages to soldier on; with countless fried and burnt capacitors notwithstanding. The speaker acquisition is to replace the comical speaker set-up I have with this Beomaster: MC120.2 and a pair of 1967 Fisher XP-66 speakers; one with no tweeter or mid-range, and the other minus just the tweeter. However both have working woofers which manage to make up for the 120.2’s complete lack of meaningful bass.
IF, and that is a big IF I were to buy these speakers I rather imagine I’d pair them with my Beomaster 4500 located basically in my “great” room. Seems to me that powered speakers would be wasted on a powerful amp like the 4400. (The 4500 currently is paired with S45.2 speakers, a combination with which I am MORE than happy.)
Trying to think like an “adult” the Beolab speakers really don’t solve my speaker “problem” it is just that I found them by chance.
In any case, the seller didn’t respond to either my requests for information, so this becomes a non-starter.
Back to my search for a M100 or M150/MS150.
Thanks for the input…. always good to hear from you!
Jacques was speaking of the 6000s, the 4000 speakers are known to be better sounding than the 6000, I have the 4000s too and the 8000s are sounding even better than the 4000. But if I had to choose sound vise between the 8000s and my M70s I would go for my M70s, so go on searching for M 100/150 MS 150, the problem with the 150s is the big size, I saw them, visiting Søren Hammer and they are BIG.
First thing from your Beolab 5000 thread, you are too hard on yourself. You are anything but lazy…. and you will get your Beolab back in top condition, I know it. (And so should you.)
Now as to these Beolab speakers, yes, I thought Jacques was comparing them to his MC120.2 speakers which put a shiver up my spine. (I am pretty sure you know what I think of those speakers….)
Of course when it comes to speakers, everyone has their opinion….. and they are all different. You talk about your M70 speakers all the time, so I know you enjoy them. Yet when I mentioned M75’s to my good friend in California (the one who sent me all those B&O goodies just to be nice) he said he couldn’t hear the difference between them and S75’s.
Well you probably recall that I greatly admire the S75 speakers, but for my next pair, I wanted something more, hence the search for the M100, M150, MS150 speakers. (And yes, the MS150’s are gigantic, which is why I have been looking locally. But they are not as big as my Linn Isobarics, and hopefully not as heavy.)
Anyway, the focus of my search is back to the M-series as the seller is not responding to reasonable questions: date of manufacture or serial number.
When a seller is uncooperative and regards a simple question as an imposition….. it is a good time to just walk away.