Beolab 1 vs Beolab 8000

Hi beoworld,

I'm after some advice please on choosing between these two speakers. They will be used as part of my current 5.1 setup as I'm not happy with the beolab 6000 being used as surrounds. 

My set up is as follows. Fronts beolab 8000, Center beolab 7.2, Sub Kef ( to be changed asap for beolab 2), Surrounds beolab 6000. The room is approximately 4.5m x 4.5m with tall ceilings. 

So I'm thinking of possible the beolab 1's as new fronts & the 8000's as them for fronts and surrounds. 

Any help or advice would be great. 

Many thanks. 

if you have the space for bl1 and have a beolab 2 go for them without any hesitation. You can find some at very reasonable price actually. Have mine for sale for a question of space only.

 

Hi Olvisab,

Thank you for the speedy reply. You have confirmed my thoughts on this. I must admit it took a lot of searching to find some beolab 1's for sale. Plus someone that would ship them to Spain with a warranty. I would be interested in talking to you about the pair you have for sale. 

 

Thanks again. 

I think BL8000 looks more classy and that Bl1 is too big and sharp in its sound.

Hi Michael, thanks for your reply. I wondered this myself as I love my 8000's. They sound fantastic. 

I use the set up 50/50 music/movie. 

I think I'm going to have to listen to some 1's first. 

Thanks again. 

markemark:

...as I'm not happy with the beolab 6000 being used as surrounds.

My set up is as follows. Fronts beolab 8000, Center beolab 7.2, Sub Kef ( to be changed asap for beolab 2), Surrounds beolab 6000....

I use Beolab 4000 as rears due to a) their improved sound in comparison to the 6000 and b) better options in setting them up (have them on table brackets).

Not having heard the Beolab 1 I cannot judge, but I could not convince my wife to swap...

Ralf

you will find always more negativ opinion than positiv because few have listened to them during a reasonable time, with a beolab 2, in its best set up and few can afford them compared to the price of a pair of bl8000 and their rarity.

it was not a widespread speaker because of its price. even the dealers had very few.

it is an excellent speaker far better than any bl8000. At 1000/1200 it is a really bargain.

I own bl8000 mk2, bl1 and bl5 and in the near past penta mk2, I have done every comparison possible with or without bl2. the bl8000 are good but bl1 can be considered as big 8000.

 

 

I can only confirm what olvisab is saying ! I have been a more than happy owner of the BL1 (replacing a 8000 pair), and I miss them each day since I sold them for space reasons after a move.

With a BL2, it is more comparing to a pair of BL5 in my opinion. It is just another world compared to a BL8000...

I have done the comparison myself with the bl5 in real time because each pair was at the opposite side of the room. the highs of the bl1 are excellent and if the music is not asking for deep bass, the bl1 really bright. if the bass are too deep, the bl2 cannot deal with them properly, then the quality of the sound decreases rapidly.

if I won't have my mint bl5000 to move from front to rear due to the size of my new 7 55, I won't keep them for rears.

 

... I concur with the previous posters. If you have the space, go for the BL1 with BL2 for surround. Once you have them, it is beneficial to test the settings (wall - free - corner) to color the lower frequencies. 

My BL1 soldier on for 10 years now - I would miss them. 

olvisab:

you will find always more negativ opinion than positiv because few have listened to them during a reasonable time, with a beolab 2, in its best set up and few can afford them compared to the price of a pair of bl8000 and their rarity.

it was not a widespread speaker because of its price. even the dealers had very few.

it is an excellent speaker far better than any bl8000. At 1000/1200 it is a really bargain.

I own bl8000 mk2, bl1 and bl5 and in the near past penta mk2, I have done every comparison possible with or without bl2. the bl8000 are good but bl1 can be considered as big 8000.

beolab 5, beolab 10, beolab 5000, beolab 4500, beolab 8000 mk2, beolab 2, beolab 1, beolab 3500, IWS 2000, beovision 7 55 mk2, beovision 11 46, beotime, beogram 7000 white mmc2, beosound century, beosound ouverture, beosound essence and the collection continues...

Of course Bl1 is better than BL8000(!) but they do take up much more space visually. I enjoy the elegant construction of the BL8000 and almost got myself BL1 (I don't think they are so expensive) but I settled for a new pair of BL9 that has more or less the same technical design but updated and smaller, with much better bass. For this reason I could not find a reason to buy BL1 then. They would look to huge as fronts to my TV when they had to stand just a few meters away from each other.

Today most stores and many people buy small Sonia speakers that hides and plays really good for what they are. This has made visible speakers a bit of the past. That's also something I am considering while decorating. I never owned a pair of BL1 myself but two of my friends has them at least so I have listened to them quite a lot. They are nice but I don't see any audio advantages in them over BL9 for example. Of course they produce more sound than BL8000 but with a Bl2 the difference is less noticeable.

The Beolab 1 alone do suffer from a powerless bass, they really need a powerful subwoofer - which is not the Beolab 2. If you choose Beolab 2 you'll better buy two of them. With a powerful subwoofer the Beolab 1 will let you enjoy music on a very very high level. Yes, they do sound different to the 8000 but not worse. The Beolab 1 sound fresh, analytical and very punchy and I love it. You don't need any EQ or treble or bass control. They just deliver accurate great sound. But please let them play together with a great subwoofer. :-)

TWG:

The Beolab 1 alone do suffer from a powerless bass, they really need a powerful subwoofer - which is not the Beolab 2. If you choose Beolab 2 you'll better buy two of them. With a powerful subwoofer the Beolab 1 will let you enjoy music on a very very high level. Yes, they do sound different to the 8000 but not worse. The Beolab 1 sound fresh, analytical and very punchy and I love it. You don't need any EQ or treble or bass control. They just deliver accurate great sound. But please let them play together with a great subwoofer. :-)

I agree 100% with everything you just said. I have BeoLab 1 speakers as my fronts and BeoLab 8000 speakers as my rears and surrounds. With 2 BeoLab 2 subs, the sound seems much more natural. There have been many essays written about the benefits of using 2 subs and about finding the best placement of them.

beojeff:

I agree 100% with everything you just said. I have BeoLab 1 speakers as my fronts and BeoLab 8000 speakers as my rears and surrounds. With 2 BeoLab 2 subs, the sound seems much more natural. There have been many essays written about the benefits of using 2 subs and about finding the best placement of them.

Maybe that's why they were replaced by speakers with huge bass speakers?

Michael:

beojeff:

 

I agree 100% with everything you just said. I have BeoLab 1 speakers as my fronts and BeoLab 8000 speakers as my rears and surrounds. With 2 BeoLab 2 subs, the sound seems much more natural. There have been many essays written about the benefits of using 2 subs and about finding the best placement of them.

 

 

Maybe that's why they were replaced by speakers with huge bass speakers?

Actually, the placement of 2 subs is not necessarily where the two fronts would be. It's actually nice to have the flexibility of placement of the 2 subs.

beolab 9 are not as good as the bl1 due to their conception even if their share the same amps design. the highs and mediums are absolutely not of the same level.

I agree with twg.  The bl2 is really good if the level of bass is reasonable. Otherwise, it is a real nightmare. so there can be a better choice. its advantage is that you can plug the speakers into it and let it deal The bass.

olvisab:

beolab 9 are not as good as the bl1 due to their conception even if their share the same amps design. the highs and mediums are absolutely not of the same level.

I agree with twg. The bl2 is really good if the level of bass is reasonable. Otherwise, it is a real nightmare. so there can be a better choice. its advantage is that you can plug the speakers into it and let it deal The bass.

beolab 5, beolab 10, beolab 5000, beolab 4500, beolab 8000 mk2, beolab 2, beolab 1, beolab 3500, IWS 2000, beovision 7 55 mk2, beovision 11 46, beotime, beogram 7000 white mmc2, beosound century, beosound ouverture, beosound essence and the collection continues...

Oh I don't agree, but each to his own

I have BL1s and BL8000s (MK1).  I will echo the sentiments that the BL1s are much better (if you have the room), especially with a BL2 (which I also have).  Not even close.  I thought they were similar to the BL9s (although BL9s obviously have better bass), but the BL9 were too short for my room, and I already had the BL2 (and the BL1s were much cheaper).

If you have them shipped, make sure they are packed extremely well.  I had mine shipped from across the US.  I saw the delivery man when he drove up, and walked out to greet him just as he was *throwing* my speakers from the back of the truck to the ground.  Thwak!  Thwak!  I almost had a heart attack.  He said "What are these, tarps?".  I said, "no, stereo speakers and I'm really glad I had them insured".  He was kind of embarrassed at that point, and mumbled something about them being so big and heavy, and how sorry he was.  I spent a lot of money on the packaging so they survived (they are also really well built).

Stan

TWG:

If you choose Beolab 2 you'll better buy two of them. With a powerful subwoofer the Beolab 1 will let you enjoy music on a very very high level.

This is news to me. Im a big BL1 and BL2 fan . I have had and loved the 8000s and yes they are iconic but I prefer the BL1s. Its a shame I didn't read this yesterday as I could have taken my Dublin BL2 down to France to try it.

 

 

Hello there

This question of speakers has bugged me for many years.

I find it depends on the requirement for the speakers.

I think the Lab 8000's are amazing for front speakers when using a sub of some kind.

For my party room I need some speakers which can take some abuse, the lab's 9's used to overheat, the lab 12's didn't have enough volume, any speakers for music with a lab2 didnt work as I find the lab2 to slow for music.

In the end my party room has a pair of Penta3 which I refurbed and these sound amazing and volume is not an issue at all but who knows how long they will last, they also dont have the acceptance from my partner who things they are ugly ;(

I have always thought about a nice set of lab 1's to replace the Penta3 but reviews all say I would gain mid / high notes and loose Bass and have to put in a sub.

I am not sure as I have not hear the Lab1's so maybe need to buy a pair and see if they are up to the job without a sub for the room I want to use them in.

Sean

Hi Guys, thanks very much for all the input and information. I'm so glad I joined this group, it's very helpful and a lot of information. 

As much as I like my Bl1s, they do get a bit "screechy" at high volumes without the Bl2. Also, if you're playing the type of music that the BL2 can struggle with (bass heavy), then this will probably sound pretty "thin" on the 1s with no sub.

I'd stick with the Pentas or give the Bl1 + 2 a try (and if the bass seems booomy, try moving it to another location and/or change the location switch).

Stan

eddie, you just have to borrow mine

Olivier we will do this in the next few weeks first I will see what leads I have.