Beolab 4 vs. Beoplay S3 - which is better?

I use a pair of Beolab 4's with a non-B&O subwoofer, and I am happy with the sound quality compared to the small footprint of the system. However, I think Beoplay S3 looks better, and my Beolab 4 baffles are starting to show their age.

So I wonder if it would be a good or bad idea to "sidegrade" to Beoplay S3?

The two models are similar in many ways: Similar driver sizes, similar cabinet size and material, similar amplifier size.

They are also different: Beolab 4 was introduced 11 years before Beoplay S3, and the latter was sold as bluetooth speaker, not as a hifi speaker. Also, Beolab 4 was introduced under the elite Beolab umbrella at a much higher price.

I can't listen to Beoplay S3 anywhere so I turn to you guys: If any of you own or know both products - what do you think? I will keep my subwoofer, so differences in bass performance should not be the main deciding factor.

I've set up two S3s this way and didn't like the sound. They're not tuned to be a stereo pair. The sound on the BeoLab 4s is much nicer. 

I had Lab4s as computer speakers and replaced them with a pair of M3s. The sound is much more contemporary. They sound warmer and definitely produce more bass. I was also looking at S3's, but found a pair of new M3s for €350 together. I prefer the design of the M3, it doesn't have the cheap shiny plastic bezels as the S3 does. On the other hand, they are indeed less 'special'. They don't stand out, which the Lab4s and S3s do.

One of my Beolab 4s died and I was looking for a repair/replacement, but since they all have failing PCBs I didn't bother spending the same money on 10-15y old speakers which were bound to fail again.

I use the M3s through their line in connection as a L/R stereo pair. The nice thing is I can also include them in the airplay multiroom setup with my living room (marantz + Beolab 9) and terrace (Beolit 12), all playing in perfect sync. (The S3 is only bluetooth and line in, and is therefore more limited.)

I'm not sure how easy you can set them up with a subwoofer, there are no powerlink connectors. But at moderate volumes, I would not bother. 

I used a pair of S3s wirelessly connected to each other to give stereo. The source was a Mac mini playing to them via Bluetooth whilst showing a picture on a small non-B&O tv. The content was mainly video, with some full-quality music from CD. They were in an irregularly shaped bedroom and used mainly for late-night viewing, or for listening before going out.

My opinion is that the S3s provide more clarity and bass depth than the BL4s by themselves. The S3s sound open and dynamic.

I’ve never paired my BL4s with my BL11 nor my BL2, but I did pair my BL3s with my BL2. Overall, listening to them in a small room at normal volume levels (40 to 70 percent) I preferred the S3s to the BL3s + BL2.

A friend of mine who has an end-to-end Linn system also greatly preferred the S3s to the BL3/BL2 combo.

I suppose the challenge you face is predicting how well the sound of the S3s integrates with your sub vs the BL4s. In addition to how to connect them.

If you use “normal” stereo leads (3.5mm to 3.5mm jacks) to connect a pair of S3s, you will get stereo from each speaker, i.e. no stereo image. To get a single channel from each speaker (left in one, right in the other) you need a special lead from Steve at SoundsHeavenly. He makes a similar lead for the BL4 PC model.

Hope this helps.

Lawrence

I currently use two S3s with a small sub for my desk setup in a ~25m² room. I connected them to my miniDSP 2x4 HD which allows me to route, and configure the LPF and HPF for each of the four outputs. I feel like the sound is much clearer and fuller with this combination than without the sub.

I had two S3 first connected to an Chromecast audio and later to an BS Essence. The sound, especially the low, was amazing for the size.

My parents own the BL4 but I prefer S3 (if used in a set of two) although it is not always seen as a ‘real’ B&o speaker :)