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
We have a Squeezebox radio at our combined kitchen/dining room, it is very simple to use (one button to listen) and because of that I am very happy it as a source.
But the problem is sound quality coming from a single speaker device on the kitchen countertop. My idea is to add better speakers for it. It has a headphone output, so active speakers might work.
My first choice for speakers was the Beolab 4500/3000, but they are a not easy to find and price for about 20 year old device is high on ebay. I have experience of foaming of CX100 and not want to experience it again.
So would Beolab 4 be a good choice for dining room background music speakers? I have read somewhere that BL4 sound quality is not so good, what you think about it? Should I consider finding 4500 instead? How about quality of 4500?
The room is not so big, I think under 10m2 and 2,5m high.
Tane
I am not impressed by Beolab 4s. I wonder if Beolab 4000s would be better and if you get used ones, they will also be cheaper. I like the Mk Is - they have Class AB amplifiers instead of Class D and are none the worse for that. They also have an on off switch on the front.
I have 3000s and have had 5000s - I would personally use 4000s instead especially in the situation you describe. The displays will not work with non B&O products on the 3000/4500.
Peter
I must check the BL 4000s, I have not considered those before. At first glance they seems to be a possible choice. 4000 has one shortcoming as they do not have auto-on feature as BL 4 has. I did not find any good online review about BL 4, now I will google reviews about BL 4Ks. Does anyone have link to reviews? Maybe scanned reviews? How about own opinions?
The 4000 are much better than the 4. Having said this, I own both and the 4s are not nearly as bad as most on this forum believe. They sound much better at home than in the store (most negative posts have only heard them in the store). To my ears, they sound quite good *for their size*. I have mine in our bedroom and they are well suited to the purpose. Here, the 4000s were overkill, and way too big. If small size is more important than absolute sound quality, then you should consider the 4s.
Stan
Peter:I would personally use 4000s instead especially in the situation you describe.
i am with peter on this one, 4000s are a great all rounder and can be hung vertically or horizontally or used in bookcases or on furniture.
Hey Tane,
I bought BeoLab 4 two month ago for matching my Sony Bravia LCD. They are really better than read in beoworld. I listen music to them by connecting an ipod. For the size it´s ok - no comparisson to beolab 4000 but as a kitchen stereo-speaker they are quite good.
tane:I must check the BL 4000s, I have not considered those before. At first glance they seems to be a possible choice. 4000 has one shortcoming as they do not have auto-on feature as BL 4 has. I did not find any good online review about BL 4, now I will google reviews about BL 4Ks. Does anyone have link to reviews? Maybe scanned reviews? How about own opinions? Tane
I did not found mention of auto sensing from the manual, thanks for correction. I'm more and more shifting to 4000, it even looks better than 4. Money is issue here, my main setup is at living room and I do not have too much money to burn for dining room speakers. Main setup is not B&O (nad+amphion), but other two secondary sets has CX 100s.
So looking a good deal now.
If you ever take a trip round Struer, you will find almost all rooms have a pair or more of Beolab 4000s mounted somewhere. Very good all-rounders with wonderful looks but not too in your face. I would get Mk1s from one of the resellers and wall mount them. I have a blue pair and a gold pair!
tane: My first choice for speakers was the Beolab 4500/3000, but they are a not easy to find and price for about 20 year old device is high on ebay. I have experience of foaming of CX100 and not want to experience it again.
I will just add: If you find some Beolab 4500/3000 you don't have to re-foam them, as they have rubber rings on the units. The units in mine still looks like new.
Without sounduing too much like a parrot.. I would go with the 4000s, I have Mk1 as fronts in my livingroom, we really like the sound and the looks of the speakers.
Thanks for info about re-foaming, it was my concern with 3000/4500 as they are so old.
Do you like sound of your speakers? Which of two models you have? And do you know is there difference between speaker part of 3000/4500? I know amp is different.
3000/4500 back in game with 4000, BL4 dropped.
I have 3000s in my hall - nice looking but quite large, though nothing like 5000s!, and I think the 4000s are better and easier to place. Remember if you are not using a B&O audio or video source, the displays will not work. They are also sought after and hence will be expensive and rare. The perspex fronts are held on with the infamous double sided tape, which rots!
Peter:If you ever take a trip round Struer, you will find almost all rooms have a pair or more of Beolab 4000s mounted somewhere. Very good all-rounders with wonderful looks but not too in your face. I would get Mk1s from one of the resellers and wall mount them. I have a blue pair and a gold pair! Peter
Hello
What I should check when looking pair of 4000s? Here is one example: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BANG-OLUFSEN-BEOLAB-4000-SILVER-RED-TABLE-STANDS-B-O-/200804878614?pt=UK_AudioVideoElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_HiFiSpeakers&hash=item2ec0e74916
They do not include wall brackets which I will need. The color is silver as wanted, black is too dark to our room. And the serial number and year tells to me that these are mk1s. (Serial compared to list on page: http://www.morethanav.co.uk/products/103/57/beolab_4000_mk1-103.html). Anything else?
I would always tend to go for a re-seller - not sure why Ian is selling this pair so cheaply compared to the other 4000s he has, but they come with a warranty and you know they will work. I would imagine they have a couple of marks on them.
tane: The room is not so big, I think under 10m2 and 2,5m high. Tane
Hi,
I think a lot of important points have already been mentioned. About the 4´s I can´t say much, except that the design doesn´t suit me that well. Let me add, considering the size of your room to fill with music, the 3000/4500´s, or the 3´s, would be overkill for me (the display inability of use has already been mentioned). Although, if it comes to bass reproduction characteristics, in bigger rooms I always would go for the 4500´s instead of 4000´s (and design is a pleasure as well!), if there is wall mounting possibility.
In approximately the same size of kitchen we use a Beolab 2000, which we love and use frequently. But having in mind that your source is not Master Link capable, this is of course no proper choice.
I use the 4000´s in a surround sound set-up as rear speakers (also have been trying them first stereo), and they perform very well, so not knowing of the 4´s over all performance but considering design, variability and speaker power, I would recommend the 4000.
Also I would underline what has been mentioned before about buying the fine pieces. If you want an "as described" status of the speakers, with very good optical and technical condition, I recommend to look for reseller offers. I bought my 4500´s there and they are as new. I bought my golden 4000´s in ebay, advertised "as new" and have been disappointed.
If you choose the 4000´s, you should always ask for several pictures, if you cannot collect (which I didn´t). In my case I received the 4k´s with a lot of scratches, marks and dents, especially on the bottom side (occurs if they have been used as shelve speakers without a stand). You mostly cannot see it too good on the pictures which are displayed, so in addition let the seller assure you, that beside all the other points (speakers, frets, etc.) there are no such damages to the polished surfaces or at least only the described ones. Which I did, and in the end got new metal plates for both bottom sides and one new speaker fret.
So. make your choice and enjoy!
Cheers and regards,
Rolf
tane: Hi Thanks for info about re-foaming, it was my concern with 3000/4500 as they are so old. Do you like sound of your speakers? Which of two models you have? And do you know is there difference between speaker part of 3000/4500? I know amp is different. 3000/4500 back in game with 4000, BL4 dropped. Tane
Yes - I really like the sound of my 4500's. I don't think there's any difference between the speaker part of 3000/4500.
I also have a set of 4000's. Can't decide which ones are best... I really like the design of the 4500's -but offcourse they are a little bigger, so the room shouldn't be too small.
Steffen
Beosound 8 might suit to situation. But for us its appearence is not suitable. Maybe a good choice for bedroom or children's room (he already has pair of CX100s).