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This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022

 

Which subwoofer to pair with Beolab 3s

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muppetsrock
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muppetsrock Posted: Mon, Jan 25 2021 1:28 AM


Hi. I recently set up a pair of 8" powered studio monitors in my bedroom, and I found myself noticing the Beolab 3s in the living room really are four inch speakers. Spooky 4" speakers, but 4" speakers. They're connected to a Playmaker. 

I picked up a Beo 4 remote to adjust bass and treble - thanks for that tip! - and that's helped a fair bit, but I find myself thinking "proper subwoofer?"

Choice seem to be Beolab 2 or Beolab 11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erKm7sqg2zg this chap seems to be of the opinion that the Beolab 2 isn't great for music (my primary application) and the 11 is The Business, but also points out that the 3s are already pretty solid and the 11 doesn't add much.

So do I want a Beolab 2? Do I want a Beolab 11? They both seem to do bass filtering, so I can plug the Beolab 3s directly into the sub and let it sort out who plays what... and I'm guessing on aesthetics alone the 2 and the 3s play nicely together, they were clearly designed as a set.

Your expertise is greatly appreciated. What should I buy? Are there other options I should be considering?

 

BartS
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BartS replied on Mon, Jan 25 2021 8:27 AM

I have 4 Beolabs in a surround set up combined with a Beovision Horizon and a Beolab 11. Beolab 11 does not deliver the 'deepest' punch when watching a film (although it is undoubtedly there). On the other hand, the Beolab 11 certainly gives that extra - but wel balanced - bass when listening to music without exaggerating. The addition of the Beolab 11 is well noticeable (I have programmed speaker groups with and without the Beolab 11 in my set up and I absolutely prefer the one with Beolab 11). The Beolab 2 would certainly be better for watching movies but if it would integrate as nicely with music???

BartS
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BartS replied on Mon, Jan 25 2021 8:33 AM

For the sake of completeness, I noticed that I forgot the '3' in the first sentence. So 'I have 4 Beolabs 3.......'Smile

verzollnix
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verzollnix replied on Mon, Jan 25 2021 11:17 AM

Having the same setup in combination with BV10 and BS5 and must say that I don't miss at all a stronger or deeper punch than the BL11 is delivering. Neither for movies, nor for music. But I had to adjust according to the room conditions to get the most out of it....

Jaffrey2230
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BL2

B&O in my life 😊: 

 

  • Beolab 8002 + Beolab 2 + Beosound Core with Essence Remote (Office)
  • Beolab 6000 + Beolab 11 + Beosound Core with Essence Remote (Bedroom)
  • Beoplay A9 Mk2 (Living Room)
  • Beosound 1 with wireless dock (Portable)
  • Beosound Balance (Dining)
  • Beoplay H95 (Focused listening, travel)
  • Beoplay H9 (3rd gen) (retired)
  • Beoplay P6 (Portable)
  • Beotime wall clock (hallway entrance)
  • BMW X5 50i with B&O Audio Package (Commute/drive)

 

 

 

Fansastic
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Fansastic replied on Mon, Jan 25 2021 4:32 PM
BartS:

I have 4 Beolabs in a surround set up combined with a Beovision Horizon and a Beolab 11. Beolab 11 does not deliver the 'deepest' punch when watching a film (although it is undoubtedly there). On the other hand, the Beolab 11 certainly gives that extra - but wel balanced - bass when listening to music without exaggerating. The addition of the Beolab 11 is well noticeable (I have programmed speaker groups with and without the Beolab 11 in my set up and I absolutely prefer the one with Beolab 11). The Beolab 2 would certainly be better for watching movies but if it would integrate as nicely with music???

This is exactly what the BL11 was designed for. Adding bass for music, not a true subwoofer for movies.

BL2, movies best, music bit slow

BL11, music and subtle, movies not useful

BL14/S8 sub, both music and movies

BL19 both music and movies

This is how I would rate them

BV Harmony 65 / Eclipse 55 / BL 50 / 19 / 18 / BS 2 all brass

BV Horizon 48 / V1 40 / BL 17 / Beoplay S3 all black

V1 / BL 3 / BS Essence MKII / Beoplay A3 all white

BS Moment / BS 3000 / BS 3200 / BL 400 all silver

Headphones / bluetooth speakers / BLC NL-ML / BLGateway

I know…B&O virus has grown on me ! 

Hiort
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Hiort replied on Mon, Jan 25 2021 4:43 PM
I use BL11 to add a bit of “bottom” to my BL3s.

Very happy with the results.

Sounds very balanced together.

 

 

 

 

Livingroom: BL3, BL11, BV11-46 Kitchen: Beosound 1 GVA, Beocom 2 Bathroom: M3 Homeoffice: M3, Beocom 2  Library: Beosound Emerge, Beocom 6000 Bedroom: M5, Essence remote  Travel: Beoplay E8 2.0, Beoplay EQ, Beoplay Earset

Hiort
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Hiort replied on Mon, Jan 25 2021 4:45 PM
And it’s awesome it can be mounted on the wall Smile

 

 

 

 

Livingroom: BL3, BL11, BV11-46 Kitchen: Beosound 1 GVA, Beocom 2 Bathroom: M3 Homeoffice: M3, Beocom 2  Library: Beosound Emerge, Beocom 6000 Bedroom: M5, Essence remote  Travel: Beoplay E8 2.0, Beoplay EQ, Beoplay Earset

muppetsrock
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So it sounds like a strong consensus that the Beolab 11 works really well for music and does add something with the Beolab 3s.

Anybody using the BL2 for music? Is the reported "slowness" really an issue?

Has anybody tried it and found it to be a problem? How does it actually show up?

Stan
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Stan replied on Mon, Jan 25 2021 5:39 PM

I used a BL2 with a music-only system paired with BL8000s, and then I upgraded to BL1s.  I think it's great.  I don't understand why it gets such poor reviews on this site.  Perhaps it's the difference between our large "stick and cardboard" homes here in the US vs. European small and solid construction. 

As I mentioned in another recent thread on this topic, there is some music that seems to resonate the passive drivers too much causing some muddiness.  This was demonstrated to me with a Massive Attack song.  This really isn't a genre of music I listen to so I have had absolutely no problems the music I listen to - Alternative Rock, Classic Rock, Classical, Jazz, Punk, New Wave.  You may need to experiment a bit with placement and switch settings to get the best sound, but, for me, it delivers everything its supposed to and really improved the sound of the 8000s and subtly improves the sound of the BL1s.

 

muppetsrock
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very useful, thank you, 

im guessing from the specs the 8000s are close-ish to the beolab 3s.

and I can always cut the bass with the remote if I’m getting distortion.

so either path is viable, I’ll just have to see what’s looking good on the second hand market.

 

thank you all so much!

jc
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jc replied on Tue, Jan 26 2021 12:55 PM

For what it's worth, I've never loved a speaker as much as I did love my BL11, until I got the BL20's.

The BL11 delivers such a clean, neat and fast bass reponse while also able to make the windows shake with a chopper in a movie. Sure, it won't disturb the neighbours as much as a BL2 could, but the cleanliness (in sound), the full control that the music source seems to have over it, made me absolutely in love with the BL11.

Which in my case was used with 2 BL6000's, by the way.

kuyttendaele
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So... Owner of a BL11 for more than 10y now in combination of my BL8000's

Had the BL2 on loan for my dealer before the BL11 came out... But the BL2 is tooooo much. Complaints from neighbours upstairs that their Velux windows were shaking. Explosions in movies were earthquakes... but too much when living in an appartement.

The BL11 is just perfect in a 50m2 livingspace. Giving enough bass for movies and giving the BL8000s breathingspace for music.

AND! The looks are still, even after all these years, just brilliant!

Karel.

 

jc
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jc replied on Tue, Jan 26 2021 2:08 PM

kuyttendaele:

AND! The looks are still, even after all these years, just brilliant!

THAT! There's never been a subwoofer that looked as good as the BL11. And for the record: that's not an opinion, it's a fact Big Smile.

Duels
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Duels replied on Tue, Jan 26 2021 8:16 PM
jc:

THAT! There's never been a subwoofer that looked as good as the BL11. And for the record: that's not an opinion, it's a fact .

I agree. The BL11 is absolutely beautiful.
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