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
My first Bang & Olufsen system. The BeoSystem 8. It's what started my obession with B&O!
The system that replaced my beloved BeoSystem 8
Shortly after the BeoSound 8 was released I purchased one to replace a B&W Zeppelin that was not very old. Why? Because this was my opportunity to own a Bang & Olufsen, and I loved the looks so much more than the Zeppelin. Yes, I am shallow that way! I loved it and quickly converted it into an AirPlay system with an Airport Express and a Musical Fidelity DAC. Listening to my music was a new experience for me and it would be easy to say that it beat my McIntosh home theater receiver in presentation and instrument separation. I became a fan with that purchase, but how much more would I be able (afford) to buy?!? In time I replaced the Airport Express and the DAC with a BeoSound Essence Mk II.
When the BeoLab 14 came out I fell in love with the look of the satellites. It was a clear contrast to the mammoths I had in my home theater.
A few months ago I saw a brand new pair of BeoLab 4000’s up for auction on eBay. I’m not sure why I bid on them, possibly it was out of curiosity. I won the auction and then put an offer on a BeoLab 11 to take care of the low end. I really didn’t have a place to put them, but I thought I would figure something out. I also purchased a “new demo” Playmaker and a pair of floor stands from overseas to make a system. Temporarily I placed it next to my BeoLab 14 to see what the difference was. I was surprised at how similar they both sounded. The BeoLab 14 sounded a little “fuller” probably because of the larger subwoofer. I don’t think I was expecting that, but from that moment on I was completely satisfied with the BeoLab 14. I thought about using the 4000’s & 11 in my bedroom to replace my BeoSound 8. I was thinking replacing the BeoSound 8 with the BeoPlay A6 but this might make an even more enjoyable system. I just didn’t know if I had the room for all of the stuff!
While browsing BeoShop.co.uk I saw that they still had a red BeoLab 4000 and a red BeoLab 11. That would fit into the color scheme of my basement bedroom. I really wanted them, but I never received a reply to the messages I sent to BeoShop. I then started to consider the BeoLab 17’s, I wouldn't need a subwoofer with them. I was leaning toward the silver, but then I found out about the white. I talked myself into it and on November 1st I order it (and another Essence) from Abt Electronics. I was hoping to receive them in less than 3 weeks, but it took almost 6 weeks (and several phone calls) before I received them. The moment I received them, I took the white endcaps and took them to auto body shops around me to find someone who would paint them… red! I received them back on Friday and I think they look wonderful! It complements the white body wonderfully!
I set them up on Saturday and my excitement peaked when I saw the green lights come on when I pushed the top of the Essence Remote! J-Pop Project radio never sounded so good, but I need to play my music… I have several songs I played on several system and know them intimately. All songs played through Twonky DLNA server. This is what I listen for to judge a system.
Yvonne Catterfeld - Immer Noch (Blau Im Blau)
Rainie Yang - Journey of Love (Wishing For Happiness)
Both of these songs are special to me and similar in what I look for. There are hard “ch” sound in German and Mandarin that can sound harsh. The Musical Fidelity M1 DAC on my BeoSound 8 emphasized the ch sounds more than I was used to and I did a double take when I first played these songs. I guess some things you just have to live with! I was very happy to realize that I wasn’t overly aware of the opening lines and they just sounded normal with the Essence and BeoLab 17’s. Immer Noch was my first “Wow!” song I listened to on the BeoSound 8. I love the piano at the end of both songs, and I felt that the piano was right in my room. Journey of Love has to be one of my top 5 favorite songs (maybe the top) and it was a treat to listen to it on the 17’s!
Rinne Yoshida - M.I.R.A.C.L.E ~Aishitai Kimiga Kuru~ (Fantaskie)
One of the artists I discovered on J-Pop Project Radio! I turned on the system with my Essence wall mount remote when I entered the room. There is a lot of bass in the beginning. I thought my bass settings needed to be changed from “free” to “wall” because it was so overpowering. I wondered if that was because I was off-axis when I was listening to it. I played it again where I would normally listen to it, and while the bass was strong I thought it was perfectly fine.
Erina Mano - Lucky Aura (Friends)
My favorite artist on the worst label, at least her early recordings. Lucky Aura was actually her second single on an independent label. It is compressed, probably over recorded and can sound very unpleasant. I have used this song to audition DACs a long time ago, and many times I just couldn’t finish listening to the song, it was presented that badly on some high-end systems. The salesman just told me I needed to listen to better recorded music, but I like to listen to music for artists that I like, not the recording engineer. I fell in love with the song after seeing the music video of her shopping at Cost-U-Less in Guam! Even when the song is listenable, the vocals can have a little bit of a gritty quality as it did with the BeoSound 8. Imagine my happiness when I heard smooth vocals and a very good presentation! One of the best presentations I have heard! I love the BeoLab 17’s!!!
Leo Ieiri - Hello (Leo)
The trouble with this song is the line “See when I see you”. At worst I have heard bad sibilance on the S’s where I cringe every time Leo or her background singers would sing it. On other systems the S’s were somewhat pronounced but nothing annoying. On the BeoLab 17’s with the Essence the S’s did not stand out at all, very natural sounding, bordering on almost subdued. The whole song sounded wonderful, as with the other songs!
Yvonne Catterfeld - Als der Herbst kam (Unterwegs)
Ok, right up there with Rainie Yang’s Journey of Love, this has to be one of my top favorite songs. I closed my eyes during this song and I was somewhere else. I did not want to come back! I’ve read Geoff’s description of the locations of the instruments and vocals in Jennifer Warne’s Bird on a Wire. I’ve never been close to being able to do that on any song I’ve listened to, but I’ve come closest on this song! I thought I could see them playing! It was amazing!
I recently purchased some high definition music from HDTracks.com. A few AIFF albums in 24bit 96 kHz, and 24 bit 192 kHz. I was hoping to hear them on the BeoLab 17’s since the Essence is supposed to support this resolution. Unfortunately it doesn’t work using BeoMusic through the Twonky DLNA server. I hope this can be fixed. AirPlay will down sample it to 16 bit 44.1 kHz, or so I am told.
The system is not perfect yet, but it is getting close to my perfect system. There are still a few issues with BeoMusic that I hope can be solved, and a few features I hope can be added. I just noticed something today that I hadn’t noticed before. When I turn on the system and select the DLNA source it was playing what appeared to be random selections within my music library, which is a very good thing. The only problem was the song displayed on the BeoMusic app was not what was playing, on any song.
I loved the BeoSound 8 and I hate to retire it. This was the system where I started really appreciating what good sound systems can do. Even at its size it is impressive.
I also love my BeoLab 14 system, it’s just not in an environment I can get lost in listening to music. I very rarely have the living room to myself, but I can enjoy music and movies in a different way.
So what happened to the BeoLab 4000’s and the BeoLab 11? I gave it to a friend along with a BeoSound Essence for an early Christmas gift. It’s an amazing system and gift if I do say so myself, and she loves it! I love forcing my passion on other people!
Several months ago, I went to the nearest hifi shop to see what they had to offer me for around the budget I paid for my BL17 and Essence. My first impression was that $6000 wasn't enough to enter the big leagues, and they would take the time to show me a few things since it wasn't that busy! My only option was some floor standing Totem speakers (Hawk I think) and a Primaluna tube integrated amplifier, along with a Sonos source to stream my music. Definitely a very bulky system and one I couldn't use for my bedroom.
I am not impressed with the world outside of Bang & Olufsen...
Beolab 28s Beolab 9s Beolab 12-3s Beolab 1s Beolab 6000s 2 pairs Beolab 4000s Beovision 7-55 Beovision 10-40 Beoplay V1 32 inch Beovision Avant 32 inch Beosound 1 (CD player) Beosound 3000 Beosound 5 Core Essence MKII Beoplay M5
I had no idea they offered the side plates in red for the BL 17's
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BeoLab 18's. Beolab 3's. A8. A9. A2. H7.
White and black endcaps only from B&O. A local auto body shop painted them red for me. They came out very nice and the gloss finish matches the white finish of the speakers!
Lovely post, thank you for sharing, and red is sure stunning for the 17s. Enjoy them!
I agree with Sal - it's a lovely post and thanks for sharing.
I like that you took the end caps in for spraying, very creative .
Beo in white is my thing
Currently own: BeoVision Avant 55", BeoLab 5, BeoLab 18, BeoRemoteOne, BeoPlay V1-32", BeoRemote4, BeoSound 3200, BeoGram 6500 (MMC-1), BeoLit 15, BeoPlay A1, LC2, BeoVision MX7000 and BeoLab 3
Totally agree, a beautiful post. Don't retire the BS8, it's worth keeping just for the design in itself! Definitely one of David Lewis' best designs of all time!
Thanks for posting your review and impressions! Very happy for you, sounds like the BL17s really fit the bill. The red endcaps are very stylish too.
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
Jeff: Thanks for posting your review and impressions! Very happy for you, sounds like the BL17s really fit the bill. The red endcaps are very stylish too.
Great to hear the story behind your B&O set-up. For me, it started with my family shopping for a "music centre" in the seventies and discovering the superb design of the Bang & Olufsen compared to the other stuff. Years later it was a motorised MX on the wall of a hotel room in Paris which said " oh yes it will be mine" . No I didn't steal it with the towels; I bought my own. First it was a Century, which was the whole idea of the product. Then the TV , then a beocenter6. Then the V1 etc etc...
Your speakers look great in red and white.
Beo Century ,Beoplay V1, Beocenter 6, Ex-Beolit 12, Beotime , A8. Beolit 15 , Form 2i , Beolab 2000, Beoplay A3.Beosound 1
Paul W: Totally agree, a beautiful post. Don't retire the BS8, it's worth keeping just for the design in itself! Definitely one of David Lewis' best designs of all time!
I love the BeoSound 8, but unfortunately by itself it is a product from another time. There are not many 30-pin Apple devices still in use today, and I think the iPod I use in my car is on its last legs. I will have an Essence being freed up soon which will be replaced with an A6, but it's not very practical to pair the Essence and BS8 together. It takes at least 45 seconds, sometimes well over a minute for the BS8 to detect an input signal and turn on.
Mark-N:I love the BeoSound 8, but unfortunately by itself it is a product from another time. There are not many 30-pin Apple devices still in use today, and I think the iPod I use in my car is on its last legs. I will have an Essence being freed up soon which will be replaced with an A6, but it's not very practical to pair the Essence and BS8 together. It takes at least 45 seconds, sometimes well over a minute for the BS8 to detect an input signal and turn on.
Duels: I have a couple of old iPhones and an ipad2 which I use just for my BS8. There's plenty of life in it yet. Plus the lightening/30 pin adapter is available. Not so elegant but it works.
I have a couple of old iPhones and an ipad2 which I use just for my BS8. There's plenty of life in it yet. Plus the lightening/30 pin adapter is available. Not so elegant but it works.
It becomes like a turntable where you have to go back to the unit to listen to something else! I am amazed at how lazy I've become with just reaching for my iPad and making the selection. Even worse, if my iPad is not available, I will just listen to J-Pop Project Radio or J-Pop Idols Radio, or just select "Music Stream" and see if anything comes up from DLNA!!!
I did buy a BeoGram 8002 turntable recently and a few albums so I will be force to be active again! I just haven't received the phono preamp and cables from Sounds Heavenly yet. I should be receiving the vinyl version of Anneli Drecker "Rocks and Straws" tomorrow! I will be instantly transported back to the 70's!!!
Totally agree Duels - still PLENTY of life in my iPhone 4S. funnily, I noticed Argos were selling pre-loved iPhone 4S the other day for £105. Still a demand :)
Keep the BS8 Mark, it's one of the very last David Lewis designs. I'm sure on Ebay you'll find a 30pin iPod Touch thats still boxed if you hunt around :) OR even a iPod NANO. Maybe retire it to the kitchen, as being truly honest, thats were all the socialising moves to when friends come a calling :)
Paul W: Keep the BS8 Mark, it's one of the very last David Lewis designs. I'm sure on Ebay you'll find a 30pin iPod Touch thats still boxed if you hunt around :) OR even a iPod NANO. Maybe retire it to the kitchen, as being truly honest, thats were all the socialising moves to when friends come a calling :)
I actually like that idea! i was hoping to get something for the kitchen, possibly like the s3 if they would make a wifi version of it, but I think I like this idea even more!
Being honest Mark, my kitchen is always the place were friends love to sit, drink espresso and play tunes from their phones saying 'Do you remember this tune?' and 'remember this one'. Always a great place to discover new music especially from SoundCloud, Mixcloud and Noon Pacific apps :) We all have a lot of fun :)
Bought a Beosound 8 half a year ago - a good deal with a second life dealer.
Got it even if I did not know where to use it - always wanted one
The kitchen is a good place for 'a spare BS8'.
The only problem is, that I already have music there ( = linkroom).
Here it is anyway. I got the green and the yellow (which I probably prefer) covers too, but have no picture of these right now.
This is from testing - with an old iPod Touch/the iPeng app fed by my iPad from the Slim/LMS-server running on my MacMini.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
That's lovely MM :) The yellow grilles are amazing :) I have orange :)
Sorry to hijack the tread slightly, but like others have mentioned the BS8 was the start of my adventure into B&O, and like most it's now hard to stop. We have the BS8 in our bedroom (using an old iPod nano) however being a standalone product I'm also thinking of selling it on (replacing it with an Essence and some BL6002s).
Before we do, I've seen a few comments in this thread where some of you have added devices to make it more 'accessible' and was wondering on what you feel the best approach would be to give this a new lease of life? (I'm not expecting to be able to fulling integrate it into the BeoLink setup, as great as that would be, but being the BS8 (& not the A8) any 'over the air' solution that's stable would be really interesting to hear).
Many thanks, Matt
The BS8 has a line-in connection with autosense.
You can use that for a lot of devices - from a (good) bluetooth receiver to an Apple Airport Express, a Playmaker or even a BS Essence (the hideaway box).
If you choose the 2nd generation Essence (box) and configure the output of it as 'fixed line level', you can even integrate it with other NL products.
Don't sell a BeoSound 8, unless you are utterly forced to do so!
Thanks MM,
Right that's decided it for me, I'm going to keep the BS8 even if I don't have a specific place for it at present. Being able to integrate it into my existing set-up (NL) in the future is the main factor as I love the design of it.