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
Hey Everyone. I've decided to invest in a more cohesive system that will satisfy my music and movie needs, by way of the BL14. I've finally grown tired of my continuous hodge-podge systems that I've slapped together. The first was a pair of RL60.2 fronts, CX50 surrounds, and Cona sub. Then, there was my BL6000 fronts and BL4 surrounds. I got lucky and managed to part with my BL6000 for a respectable price (especially since all the woofers were brand new), and the BL4 aren't impressive enough to keep, so those are still looking for a new home.
Anyway, there doesn't seem to be a great deal of content online about the Beolab 14. 90% of the reviews are from the initial introduction. 90% of the images are stock-photos from the initial release - I'd really love to see them in more real-world home environments. I'm assuming it didn't do too well, since the price dropped almost $1000 since it first came out (good for me!), not to mention the use of parts to create what is now the S8. But is the number of people that own the system that small? The BL14 isn't even on the Products page of Beoworld!
And so, I'm hopefully turning to those on here who could help provide more insight to the BL14. Does it really do well sonically reproducing music and movies, or am I going to be compromising on one of those doing better than the other (I'm hoping it can do both reasonably well)? How is the general build quality (to those that have had them for a while now)? Is it wrong for me to have concerns about this being a full B&O product (not BeoPlay) and being 'made in China'?
I'm probably going to pull the trigger, but it would be nice to know what the general consensus was about them.
I don't own the 14 but have heard it several times at dealers since release and have always found it very impressive for movies particularly. Can't comment on how it is for music as only really tested for 5.1 movie experience. If I didn't have my 9s as fronts in my current setup I would almost certainly buy the 14 as I also love the design, although the sub, powerful and impressive as it is, does not quite sing to me from a design perspective but easily remedied by hiding away in the room somewhere. In fact I am still very much thinking about buying one anyway and moving the 9s to a separate area to use with a separate sound system.
If you are going to buy the 14 then do it now as it will soon be discontinued and no longer supported or sold by main dealers. From m perspective though, simply amazing for movies, more than powerful sub, great looking speakers (with my noted reservation about design of the sub) and although I have not heard it playing music, I am assuming that it must surely be pretty good being B&O. Hear it somewhere if you can.
B&O products are V1-32, BS2, H95, E8 and an Essence remote.11-46 now replaced with Sony A90J 65”, Sony HT-A9, Sony UBP-X800M2 and Sony SRS-NS7.
I purchased the BeoLab 14 shortly after it was released. I had received the BeoLab 14 booklet in the mail and I fell in love with the looks. They sounded good at my local B&O dealer, but they really did not have an optimal setup. I believe they sound much better than my old, larger system, but that is with the BeoSystem 4 which I bought a little later. For music and movies it sounds wonderful to me.
I had purchased a pair of new BeoLab 4000's and a BeoLab 11 and placed it next to the front BeoLab 14's for testing. Switching back and forth they sounded similar but I preferred the BeoLab 14's (in stereo mode to keep it fair) because I thought they sounded fuller. I'm sure that is because the BeoLab 14 sub is bigger.
Late last year I purchased a second BeoLab 14, but in a 2.1 configuration because I wondered how it would sound with Stereo subwoofers. I ended up purchasing another 3 satellites to make it a 10.2 system. I still haven't mounted the rear center speaker for some reason, so I currently have a 9.2 system. I wouldn't say there is a night and day difference, the extra speakers and sub make a minimal difference I would say, but it does give a little extra depth for some movies.Visually though it does balance out the room since I have a sub near both the front L & R speakers! I don't know if I would do that again knowing what I know now.
Earle:Hey Everyone. I've decided to invest in a more cohesive system that will satisfy my music and movie needs, by way of the BL14. I've finally grown tired of my continuous hodge-podge systems that I've slapped together. The first was a pair of RL60.2 fronts, CX50 surrounds, and Cona sub. Then, there was my BL6000 fronts and BL4 surrounds. I got lucky and managed to part with my BL6000 for a respectable price (especially since all the woofers were brand new), and the BL4 aren't impressive enough to keep, so those are still looking for a new home. Anyway, there doesn't seem to be a great deal of content online about the Beolab 14. 90% of the reviews are from the initial introduction. 90% of the images are stock-photos from the initial release - I'd really love to see them in more real-world home environments. I'm assuming it didn't do too well, since the price dropped almost $1000 since it first came out (good for me!), not to mention the use of parts to create what is now the S8. But is the number of people that own the system that small? The BL14 isn't even on the Products page of Beoworld! And so, I'm hopefully turning to those on here who could help provide more insight to the BL14. Does it really do well sonically reproducing music and movies, or am I going to be compromising on one of those doing better than the other (I'm hoping it can do both reasonably well)? How is the general build quality (to those that have had them for a while now)? Is it wrong for me to have concerns about this being a full B&O product (not BeoPlay) and being 'made in China'? I'm probably going to pull the trigger, but it would be nice to know what the general consensus was about them.
Mark-N:I ended up purchasing another 3 satellites to make it a 10.2 system. I still haven't mounted the rear center speaker for some reason, so I currently have a 9.2 system.
BeoNut since '75
I wouldn't say the sound is not worthy! I think it is a great system as a 9.2 system right now. A single 5.1 BeoLab is really great and I don't know if I was expecting two BeoLab 14's to be twice as good... I have 4 of the new satellites on ceiling mounts so it does sound "fuller". Having a second subwoofer seems to make a little less of a difference to my ears.
I haven't played a lot of movies that have taken advantage of 7,1 surround, I did play Man of Steel a few weeks ago which I thought was very impressive.
I think anyone would be happy with a single BeoLab 14 system! I'm sad to hear it's approaching its end of product line, but I'm glad I have mine!
I'll have to watch Gravity and report back! I wonder if B&O will come out with a BeoSystem 5 in the near future?
Mark-N:I wouldn't say the sound is not worthy
Mark-N: ...I'm sad to hear it's approaching its end of product line
...I'm sad to hear it's approaching its end of product line
Where/who is the source for this?
I've heard nothing about that before now.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Millemissen:Where/who is the source for this? I've heard nothing about that before now. MM There is a tv - and there is a BV.
Well.... there it is, then.
Earle: Well.... there it is, then.
Thanks for clarifying!