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
Greetings. I am an avid reader in the forum, and have been an active contributor in the archived board for many years, although I have lost the associated mail address from the late 90s. Since the early 2000s, I laid low and enjoyed all my dream stuff for almost two decades in silence, with minor repairs.
Anyways - although I own absolutely everything from the catalogues between 1990 and 1995 (except for the Beolink 7000 floor stand), I have not much love for most things after that era, so I refrained from buying anything contemporary from the B&O line - at one point I have replaced my dear CRT Beovisions for BV 7s, 8s and 9s, but TVs do not really count, do they?
That said, I just have been offered an immaculate pair of Beolab 1s in black, which would look gorgeous when positioned left and right to my favorite system, the Beosystem 7000 in black. Unfortunately, the BL1s sound flimsy and dull in the current owners setup when compared to my MK3 Pentas.
Can this be resolved by adding a Beolab 2, or will this sound like all the other satellite systems out there - like Bose, for worst?
I am tempted by the price, as they would cost me only €500, but would need a severe remodeling of my main room setup.
Beolab 28s Beolab 9s Beolab 12-3s Beolab 1s Beolab 6000s 2 pairs Beolab 4000s Beovision 7-55 Beovision 10-40 Beoplay V1 32 inch Beovision Avant 32 inch Beosound 1 (CD player) Beosound 3000 Beosound 5 Core Essence MKII Beoplay M5
At that cost, I'm sure you'd regret not jumping on that offer! The BL1 really does benefit from having a BL2. A BL2 would be a great future addition. Something else to consider is that the BL1's make good surround speakers due to their height. When I got my BL9s, I made the BL9s the front speakers and moved the BL1s to be surround speakers. So you can always find good uses to re-purpose the BL1s.
I too enjoy my BL1s without a BS2. Actually, I moved the BS2 to the Eclipse because I thought it added more there. Maybe add a BS2 later as it does improve the 1s, but, to my ears and listening habits, it is somewhat subtle. Not night and day like with the 8000s.
This could just be an artifact of words being ill suited for describing sounds, but I've never heard the BS1s described as "dull". Usually, people complain about them being too "sharp". It's possible they could have a problem.
I have my BL1s with a BS2 and it adds to them . Thats a great price.
beojeff:At that cost, I'm sure you'd regret not jumping on that offer! The BL1 really does benefit from having a BL2. A BL2 would be a great future addition. Something else to consider is that the BL1's make good surround speakers due to their height. When I got my BL9s, I made the BL9s the front speakers and moved the BL1s to be surround speakers. So you can always find good uses to re-purpose the BL1s.
Razlaw: beojeff: At that cost, I'm sure you'd regret not jumping on that offer! The BL1 really does benefit from having a BL2. A BL2 would be a great future addition. Something else to consider is that the BL1's make good surround speakers due to their height. When I got my BL9s, I made the BL9s the front speakers and moved the BL1s to be surround speakers. So you can always find good uses to re-purpose the BL1s. I had the exact same setup.....9s with 1s in the rear. I still miss the 1s as rears but now have in another room. The wall mounted 12-3s I now have as rears just can’t compare with the 1s.
beojeff: At that cost, I'm sure you'd regret not jumping on that offer! The BL1 really does benefit from having a BL2. A BL2 would be a great future addition. Something else to consider is that the BL1's make good surround speakers due to their height. When I got my BL9s, I made the BL9s the front speakers and moved the BL1s to be surround speakers. So you can always find good uses to re-purpose the BL1s.
I had the exact same setup.....9s with 1s in the rear. I still miss the 1s as rears but now have in another room. The wall mounted 12-3s I now have as rears just can’t compare with the 1s.
I'm actually right this moment watching the movie "Dirty Dancing" in 4K and 7.1 new release UHD disc. They wouldn't DARE to put Baby in the corner with the Beolab 1 speakers!
Hello Beocluster
As you were active in the "archieved forum times" you will probably remeber that there was some discussion about the sound characteristics of Beolab1 and whether a Beolab2 should be added or not. I said it back at the times and I still think that, compared to my Penta MkIII, Beolab 1 sounds hard an cold as surgical steel and listening to them has always be tiring for me, especially as high- and midrange seem "overpresent" for my taste.
But they do certainly look great in black and for that kind of money I would get them (if in good condition) and either add a Beolab2 or try to tweak with the setting as discribed here on the Beotech page https://www.beoworld.org/beotech/beolab1.htmI remember that the member who came up with this method was very satisfied with the result.
If I remember correctly back at the time some members critizised Beolab2 as "to slow" or "boomy" for some music type mostly related to the passive radiators) and the Bower&Wilkins P1 subwoofer was named as alternative for music and also in combination with Beolab speakers.If you don't get the Lab1, then give us a hint were they are.... I am sure that a Beoworlder nearby could be tempted at that price.CheersFoxtrott
"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."
William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 2, Act 4
Beolab 1 are great speakers but only for the high and mid frequency range. Sorry to say: They really suck without a subwoofer! Without a subwoofer they sounded bad at the dealer and in my home. I still bought them as they sounded promising. But WITH a subwoofer they come to live and perform much much better!Music doesn't feel "cutoff" anymore when adding a subwoofer. The high and mid frequencies are reproduced punchy "in your face" and detailed and authentic/natural at the same time. Some people find them too harsh/bright but I wonder if they're listening to them without a subwoofer or not.
At that price - buy them! Add a BL2 and you've got speakers that are truly amazing.
I've got exactly that setup, and would not even consider parting with them unless I was to take the step up to 50's or 90's.
Foxtrott: Hello Beocluster As you were active in the "archieved forum times" you will probably remeber that there was some discussion about the sound characteristics of Beolab1 and whether a Beolab2 should be added or not. I said it back at the times and I still think that, compared to my Penta MkIII, Beolab 1 sounds hard an cold as surgical steel and listening to them has always be tiring for me, especially as high- and midrange seem "overpresent" for my taste. But they do certainly look great in black and for that kind of money I would get them (if in good condition) and either add a Beolab2 or try to tweak with the setting as discribed here on the Beotech page https://www.beoworld.org/beotech/beolab1.htmI remember that the member who came up with this method was very satisfied with the result. If I remember correctly back at the time some members critizised Beolab2 as "to slow" or "boomy" for some music type mostly related to the passive radiators) and the Bower&Wilkins P1 subwoofer was named as alternative for music and also in combination with Beolab speakers.If you don't get the Lab1, then give us a hint were they are.... I am sure that a Beoworlder nearby could be tempted at that price.CheersFoxtrott
I have the exact same perception of the BL1's. They are more "harsh" in the sound than the Pentas -and lack some bass.
Thank you for the link. I will try to tweak the settings a bit.
Beovision 7-55 MK1 red, Beolab 10 red. Beolab 50, all black. Beolab 17 broken ice. Beolab transmitter. Apple tv4 and apple express 2.
I have BL1 with a sub. Depending on the music you listen to you may be fine without a sub. I love the sub for movies, but find myself turning down the sub when listening to some music
dub due to slow website response.