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
The Beolab 1 speakers seem to have been forgotten somehow by many people. However, I am actually quite interested in them, even though I have never heard them. What would you say is a fair price to pay for them today?
Can't give you much of an answer regarding price because it varies depending on location, but I owned these and LOVED them. They are physically breathtaking and impossibly beautiful if in mint condition. The sound is very clear and will slap you in the face when turned up. I miss them dearly but may buy another pair one day when I'm not such a gypsy.
I would still pay 2000 Euro for a pair without thinking twice. But they definitely need a subwoofer (which doesn't have to be a B&O one, just with enough power).
I have them and wouldn't swop. Yes they are getting on in years , but so am I ! There are probably better sounding speakers out there but few have the presence. TWG is correct they do need a sub, in my case a BL2.
This winter I will add a second sub.
In which country are you looking for BL1's? makes a big difference, for instance the UK seems to be way more expensive than the Netherlands is.
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Old: Beosound 9000 mk3, Beolab 3's, Beovision Eclipse, Beolab 1's, Beolab 2, Beovision 10-46, Overture 2300, beolab 8000's, Beolab 4000's, Beovision avant 32" etc. etc.
I wouldn't say they have been forgotten It seems like people who have them, tend to keep them… They are quite rare to find for sale - even here in Denmark... and when you find them, the price is still quite high. Nice speakers - though the Pentas sound better.
In Denmark the prices are often 10.000 -12.000DKKr (approx. 1600-1900 US$) for a pair - while the price for a set of BL Penta's mk3 often are 4.000-6.000DKKr.
Lovely speakers for looks and sound in the right room.
Beware some spares (pcb boards) are now obsolete, so make sure the price is right!
Today I drove to the seller and listened to the speakers. On this forum people have compared the speakers to the Beolab 8000, but that is just unfair, the Beolab 1 sound waaaaaaaaaay better! I would even say they sound better than the beolab 3. The thing I found most astonishing was how clear the stereo imaging was. I actually asked the seller if the center speaker was on because the imaging was that good! However, I think the design has not aged that well, which makes me think twice about the purchase....
Beosince98: Today I drove to the seller and listened to the speakers. On this forum people have compared the speakers to the Beolab 8000, but that is just unfair, the Beolab 1 sound waaaaaaaaaay better! I would even say they sound better than the beolab 3. The thing I found most astonishing was how clear the stereo imaging was. I actually asked the seller if the center speaker was on because the imaging was that good! However, I think the design has not aged that well, which makes me think twice about the purchase....
If you think the design has not aged that well, could I respectfully ask why you wasted the sellers time in going to see them in the first place?
Did they look so different in the flesh?
I do think speakers always look different in person! I have never seen the Beolab 1 before in person so this was my first experience with them. I did definitely tell the seller that I am not certain that I will buy them. He agreed to invite me to test them, so I do not think I “wasted his time” (we actually talked for quite some time about our experiences/thought with B&O). It is hard to describe what, to me, makes them look „dated“ (still better than 99% of speakers sold today). I think it is best described by this: The beolab 1 look large, I think „clonky“ is the perfect description. If I look at Beolab 6000 they look light and thin. I know it is quite strange to say, as beolab 1 are basically large 6000s, at least with respect to design.
Bl1s are for sure a similar design but worlds apart on sound.
What your opinion on their sound ?
Beosince98: I do think speakers always look different in person! I have never seen the Beolab 1 before in person so this was my first experience with them. I did definitely tell the seller that I am not certain that I will buy them. He agreed to invite me to test them, so I do not think I “wasted his time” (we actually talked for quite some time about our experiences/thought with B&O). It is hard to describe what, to me, makes them look „dated“ (still better than 99% of speakers sold today). I think it is best described by this: The beolab 1 look large, I think „clonky“ is the perfect description. If I look at Beolab 6000 they look light and thin. I know it is quite strange to say, as beolab 1 are basically large 6000s, at least with respect to design.
Wish all buyers were a gentleman like you :)
Regards
Kiran
Born in NL; I ride ML
Inclusive shipping i pulled them in Q1 2018 for 1300,- Euro/DE.Compared to my old rears (8000) the 1 build a much better accustic team with 5 at front, may i add.
I need more Beolabs!
I am still considering if I should buy them or not. I just don't know if they are 2-3 times better than the Beolab 8000, which would make the price fair. I did fell in love with them though! If I pay 1000-1500€ and then add a Beolab 2 (another 1000€), I get a price of about 2250€, which is almost Beolab 9 money. So I just don't know what to do! The speakers will be placed next to a Beosound 9000 with the stand, btw.
Beolab 2 for music...don't do it
Go for the beolab 9
Visually the 8000s were made to match the 9000 on a stand - exact same height!
Beolab 8000 and Beolab 1 are different speakers. Only the design group is the same: column style. And of course they are Beolab's.
Beolab 1 unfold visualy best in a bigger room (>50m²) compared to Beolab 8000. IMHO...
What would you guys say sounds better: The Beolab 9 or the Beolab 1+2?
Kiran:You won’t get the look that you will with the BL1. They are huge! Yes they don’t have any bass but I use BL2 for that 👍🏻💯🔥
They are huge!
Yes they don’t have any bass but I use BL2 for that 👍🏻💯🔥
They are indeed! Still pretty timeless.
I (now) have 8000s only and will hopefully soon add a BL2. I cannot tell if BeoLab 1+2 is better than 9. I never heard them. I know many in the forum say they are not good for music. I will just try it. They are very stable in value, so no problem there. One day I hope to be able to get a pair of Beolab 5s :-).
koning: Beolab 2 for music...don't do it Go for the beolab 9
I have read that once or twice. Why do you think, that the BL2 is not good for music?
Which Suns do you reccon?
I have bought myself a used pair of BL1 last year and must say, they have lots and lots of power! The frequencies don‘t go as deep as modern speaker might do, but the do it with a lot of pressure. Wann to add a bl2 as a sub, but as i have mentioned it before, People are saying bad things abput the Music performance.
I live in a flat and my living is Not mich of a dancefloor. Its about 20m^2 or so, but the labs fit perfectly in this room. I‘ll post a picture in case one is interested.
Bl2 is to slow,i would go for the beolab 19
i've had a Beolab 2 in the past for music, i thought it was ok.
If you can't afford a Beolab 11 then get the 2, it' better than having nothing, it really helps with the deep bass with the beolab 4000,6000,8000 and 1.
koning: Bl2 is to slow,i would go for the beolab 19
please help me to understand as i am really interested, but dont know
what dös beim Slow mean? As i understand the woofer moves do Slow dös it make the Music not precise enough? Bl 19 is dar to expansive and bl11 doesnt Seem to have enough power or size of the woofer according to the specs. Does anybody habe experiences with other subs from Yamaha or so?
i allways wantes the bl2 so i am keen in having one. Is it though good for Movies?
Slow is a misnomer for underdamped, either the sub itself or its interaction with the room. Boomy, ill defined bass. You usually address that by moving the sub around until it sounds best. One approach is to put the sub at your listening position and wander around the room to find where it sounds best, good bass but not boomy, then move your sub there.
BL11 will not have enough bass. BL19 has no built in high pass filter so it's hard to get it to mate well without causing humps or suckouts in the crossover region. Really, the BL2 was designed for use with the BL1 and is the best option. It has a high pass and low pass section to filter bass out of the high range speakers (BL1 or other) and settings to match the efficiency of the BL1s.
Really though, there is no such thing as a "fast" subwoofer. A "fast" subwoofer would be called a tweeter. That being said, the design of the BL2 using passive radiators doesn't help. Makes it easy to make a smaller enclosure/cabinet, but passive radiator woofer alignments tend to be a bit underdamped.
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
Thanks Jeff,
in other words you are saying that even if the BL2 ain't perfect it is the best solution for my setup? Think I'll get one in the near future.