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Hi all,
I've got two questions that I hope you can answer and help me understand using a V1/BV11 + Lab speakers as my single living room entertainment system.
My needs in priority order are music, then TV, then DVD/Bluray. As I live in an apartment with poor soundproofing I need to be conservative on the bass.
Therefore I'm considering either the V1 40 + Beolab 3's or biting the bullet and getting a BV11 + B3's, with a future eye on some Beolab 9's when I move to a bigger place and can put the B3's as rears.
Having spent some time reading the excellent reviews by John of his V1 and KMA of his BV11 I'm keen to understand more about the speaker groups and subsequent sound options when using the system to listen to music.
Firstly, is there the option and any benefits/disadvantages to having the TV speakers AND 2x Beolab 3 speakers playing music. Reviews and info I've seen so far suggest that the TV speaker is only really used in conjunction with external speakers as part of a home cinema/tv setup rather than music. When listening to music it is usually either the TV on its own, or just the external speakers.
Secondly, do the sound options within either the V1 or BV11 control sound output from external Beolab speakers. For example, Active/Passive etc. and particularly widening sound stage, bass tilt. My logical guess is that they do but I'd like to check.
Kind regards
James
Hi James,
The TV will output sound differently depending on which sound setting you choose. If you want stereo it will only output sound in stereo (R+L) but you can also get the sound output thru all the speakers in your setup if you rather have that.
I am not sure I understand your last question but you should connect all speakers directly thru your V1, not thru the BL11.
You can connect the speakers via the BL11 and then it will make sure to send sound that it can not itself process to the other speakers - however this is just used when connected to a music system that itself does not have a subwoofer output (which the V1 has). Instead you should connect everything directly to the V1 and select what kind of speakers that are connected to what port. The TV will then adjust itself to the frequencies of each speaker.What sound are you most after right now? I think you should start with just the V1 and listen to it a bit. BeoLab 3 will probably give more power to the overall sound but the BL11 will just add more punch to the included speakers (which might be all you need?). Ask your retailer to lend you the products so you can try and listen to them in your home if possible.
Beolab 50, Beolab 8000 x 2, Beolab 4000 x 2, BeoSound Core, BeoSound 9000, BeoSound Century, BeoLit 15, BeoPlay A1, BeoPlay P2, BeoPlay H9 3rd Gen, BeoPlay H6, EarSet 3i, BeoVision Eclipse Gen 2 55", BeoPlay V1-40, BeoCom 6000 and so much else :)
Apologies if I wasn't clear, I'm considering either a V1 + Beolab 3's or a Beovision 11 + Beolab 3's.
Thanks for your reply Michael.
Michael:I don't think he mentions a BL11. He is considering a V1 or a BV11. Both with BL3
For music i would use the BL3s alone. Then for TV/movies i would use both internal speaker and BL3.
I think i do understand your second question, and yes, the sound option settings on V1/BV11 can also affects the external speakers.
CasperI: Michael:I don't think he mentions a BL11. He is considering a V1 or a BV11. Both with BL3 For music i would use the BL3s alone. Then for TV/movies i would use both internal speaker and BL3. I think i do understand your second question, and yes, the sound option settings on V1/BV11 can also affects the external speakers.
Oh, my bad! . That´s why I should not comment before lunch! Hehe. Yes I also think just the external speakers should be used for music (and they will if you select that sound group on the TV).
I have a V1-40 Connected to 8000s at the front, 6000s at the back and a 2. All speakers are plugged directly into the TV.
I have the 'Speaker Group' function mapped to the remote so it couldn't be easier to switch between speaker groups which are easily and powerfully configurable from the V1 sound menu. The processor is very advanced with bass tilt, crossover/spatial adjustment, EQ... basically any combination is possible.
This makes it a joy to switch to the appropriate speaker group (most often for music I will just listen with the stereo fronts, for TV I will use the V1 speaker only and for movies the full 5.1 setup) by simply selecting Speaker group then 1,2,3,4,5 from the Beo4 (typically with P.MUTE enabled).
I think you would find the combination that works for you with the 3s and V1 with a little experimentation. Having said this I do agree with Michael that the best combination for music would probably be the 3s alone!
Jonathan
jkhamler: Hi James, I have a V1-40 Connected to 8000s at the front, 6000s at the back and a 2. All speakers are plugged directly into the TV. I have the 'Speaker Group' function mapped to the remote so it couldn't be easier to switch between speaker groups which are easily and powerfully configurable from the V1 sound menu. The processor is very advanced with bass tilt, crossover/spatial adjustment, EQ... basically any combination is possible. This makes it a joy to switch to the appropriate speaker group (most often for music I will just listen with the stereo fronts, for TV I will use the V1 speaker only and for movies the full 5.1 setup) by simply selecting Speaker group then 1,2,3,4,5 from the Beo4 (typically with P.MUTE enabled). I think you would find the combination that works for you with the 3s and V1 with a little experimentation. Having said this I do agree with Michael that the best combination for music would probably be the 3s alone! Jonathan
Hi James
Jonathon has summed it up well.
For a more detailed appraisal, the technical sound papers are very useful, as they outline all the various options and permutations.
Here is a link to the one for the V1 TV:
http://beoplay.com/Support/Support-Beoplay-V1
The Technical sound guide will open at that site as a .pdf file.
There is also a technical sound guide available to browse for the BV11 on the main B&O site - the features are quite similar, albeit the BV11 I understand from my dealer is more advanced again - quite by how much I can't comment, as I haven't directly compared the technical sound guides for both the V1 & the BV11.
As to whether one prioritises sound or picture is difficult and very personal - I'd love to have a BV11, - but the money saved with the V1-40 allowed me to go for Beolab 9's rather than the Beolab 3's. I prefer the looks of a floor-stander personally, and also they are quite prodigious in the bass - a sub such as a Beolab 2 might add a bit more volume in the bass for .LFE on movies, but is not likely to go much lower re extension.
For music, I would think it fair to say that both the Beolab 3's and 9's would outperform the speakers in the V1 or a BV11, by a significant amount overall, all things considered, so would personally, listen to them on their own for stereo music, but use them in conjunction with the TV in it's centre channel mode, for either TV or Bluray movie viewing etc.
Hope this helps.
Best Regards
John....