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
In your qualified and expert opinion, who would be the ranking of Bang & Olufsen loudspeaker for every use?
For example, the "Top three" for stereo music, the top 3 for 2.1 and the top 3 for Home cinema (5.1). Please, consider the price besides the quality in your opinions.
Beovision 10-46, Beocenter 1, Beo 4, Beocom 4, Beolit 12, Beosound 4, Beosound Essence, Beolab 6000
Don't much care for Home Cinema or even 2.1, but I can say without a doubt that the Lab 5 and Penta are at least the top two in the music category for the active line, followed by the Lab 9. Some would flip-flop the latter 2 I'm sure, though another member on here once said that the Penta gets you as close as possible to the Lab 5 sound for 20,000.00 less. Having both and having severely underestimated that the Penta was any good, I'd have to agree. The MS150 passives are probably up there near the top as well.
As far as cost, between those four you pretty much have every possible cost strata covered. Pentas can be as low as a few hundred dollars if you're willing to put in some work, and Lab 5s of course are 10-15k used or 20k or so new, in US dollar terms, anyway.
Hi there.
I have lab 9 and lab 6000 in my tv room.
the lab 9 is excellent for TV but no good for audio as they cannot handle loud volume. I played will-I-am #thatpower and it turns the speakers down as they cannot handle loud dance music.
i had some lab 12's but found them to bright and not enough power.
i have never had lab5's but I imagine they would be the only speakers that could handle my music taste.
Eclipse 65V1-32Beosound M5Essence MK2BLI
Veermer: For example, the "Top three" for stereo music, the top 3 for 2.1 and the top 3 for Home cinema (5.1). Please, consider the price besides the quality in your opinions.
Having owned just about every speaker combination over the last 10 years, I'd go with:
Stereo music - BL3/BL112.1 - BL7.4/BL9s
Never had a 5.1 setup, sadly, but BL14s would be a great choice? Or BL9s as fronts, BL3s as rears?
The BL5s are superb, but incredibly hard to calibrate properly. I could never get them right on my wooden-floored, sash-windowed home.
Thank you very much for the answers. And the best to complete a BV10 46 as "all in one" solution?
Seanie_230: i have never had lab5's but I imagine they would be the only speakers that could handle my music taste.
OK, I've got to ask based on the sentence above, what are you listening to?
D
moxxey: Veermer: For example, the "Top three" for stereo music, the top 3 for 2.1 and the top 3 for Home cinema (5.1). Please, consider the price besides the quality in your opinions. Having owned just about every speaker combination over the last 10 years, I'd go with: Stereo music - BL3/BL112.1 - BL7.4/BL9s Never had a 5.1 setup, sadly, but BL14s would be a great choice? Or BL9s as fronts, BL3s as rears? The BL5s are superb, but incredibly hard to calibrate properly. I could never get them right on my wooden-floored, sash-windowed home.
I have a small room with a very tall ceiling and it's carpeted and full of bookshelves and oblique angles from the architecture of the building, which killed the bass on the BL1s. Ironically, after I allow the BL5s to self-calibrate I find there's actually a little *too much* bass, so I guess the calibration just can't accomodate for everything. No huge deal though, I just notched the bass control on my BM to -1.
I'll be a little sad when the 5s go, but the truth is they're not by any stretch 15-20 grand more speaker than a lot of the others in the lineup. They're still the best in my view, but there's no where near the amount of difference the price and spec sheet would lead one to believe.
For stereo music, I would say without doubt:
1 - Beolab 5
2 - Beovox MS150
3 - Beolab Penta
I can't really comment on the 2.1 or 5.1 systems as B&O do not currently make a subwoofer I would give house room to, and I've not heard a Beovox Cona!
Despite being a Penta owner and lover, I would not put Pentas that high. The MS150s certainly outperfrom them as do M100s. This is due to the bass detail which is lacking in the Pentas. They are however very easy to listen to , having no wearing treble bias and also don't distort as much at the top end. I find all ALT speakers quite tiring though my experience of BL5s is limited but when I have listened to them, they are simply in another league. The ability for them to disappear sonically is unmatched and the detail of the bass often means one listens far louder than one would usually do.
Peter
Peter: Despite being a Penta owner and lover, I would not put Pentas that high. The MS150s certainly outperfrom them as do M100s. This is due to the bass detail which is lacking in the Pentas. They are however very easy to listen to , having no wearing treble bias and also don't distort as much at the top end. I find all ALT speakers quite tiring though my experience of BL5s is limited but when I have listened to them, they are simply in another league. The ability for them to disappear sonically is unmatched and the detail of the bass often means one listens far louder than one would usually do.
I've noticed your comments about the Pentas having a "bass bulge" up high or something before and, at one point, I agreed. In fact, when I had them here I had the loudness control active and the bass control on the speaker at its lowest setting. After setting them up in another location with cement floors and a fairly simple room however, I found they really came alive in a dramatic way. So much so that I could deactivate the loudness control on the 9500 and set the bass control on the speaker to the middle position. They now please me every bit as much as the 5s do and provide far more bang for the dollar than the 5s in their given price category (since the OP mentioned comparing and contrasting based on cost not just performance).
Pentas are the one B&O product that has most dramatically changed my position on a product since I began messing with B&O. I initially found them hideous looking and rather silly, and seeing the driver layout and hearing comments about the bass problems and their being "outdated" due to the lack of ABL, wrote them off as a product that probably wasn't even worth my time. Then I ended up with that basically new pair by happenstance when I picked up a BS9000 and gave them a shot. I was obviously very very wrong about them. So I have no problem confidently putting them in my top 3. Though I have not auditioned MS150s. If I were going to go the MS150 route though, I'd probably get JBL XPL-200s instead, which are far more common and typically have already been refoamed over here.
Considering the speakers I've owned or tested for enough time, considering only a speaker pair (no sub to help them) and for music listening, the "sound quality ranking" would be this :
1 - BL52- BL93 - BL3 4 - BL80005 - BL40006 - BL60007 - BL48 - BL2500
Now if we are considering value for money, it's more like this for me :
1 - BL52- BL33 - BL9 4 - BL40005 - BL80006 - BL47 - BL25008 - BL6000
diisign.com
mbee:1 - BL52- BL93 - BL3 4 - BL80005 - BL40006 - BL60007 - BL48 - BL2500
Funny! I had a pair of BL6000 for a while and I must say that my Beosystem 2500 (BL2500) easily out-performed the BL6000 in almost every aspect. The one thin the was better with the BL6000 was the "clarity". Sold them because I think they gave real low value for money.
But as said before, taste is different.
//Bo.A long list...
BO: Funny! I had a pair of BL6000 for a while and I must say that my Beosystem 2500 (BL2500) easily out-performed the BL6000 in almost every aspect. The one thin the was better with the BL6000 was the "clarity". Sold them because I think they gave real low value for money. But as said before, taste is different.
I must admit that I had sold my BL2500 for a long time when I got a pair of 6000 for my bedroom, and that I had never listened to the 2500 in the same room (the room with the 2500 was larger), But we agree about value for money, 6000's are the last ones ;-)
Playdrv4me: I've noticed your comments about the Pentas having a "bass bulge" up high or something before and, at one point, I agreed. In fact, when I had them here I had the loudness control active and the bass control on the speaker at its lowest setting. After setting them up in another location with cement floors and a fairly simple room however, I found they really came alive in a dramatic way. So much so that I could deactivate the loudness control on the 9500 and set the bass control on the speaker to the middle position. They now please me every bit as much as the 5s do and provide far more bang for the dollar than the 5s in their given price category (since the OP mentioned comparing and contrasting based on cost not just performance). Pentas are the one B&O product that has most dramatically changed my position on a product since I began messing with B&O. I initially found them hideous looking and rather silly, and seeing the driver layout and hearing comments about the bass problems and their being "outdated" due to the lack of ABL, wrote them off as a product that probably wasn't even worth my time. Then I ended up with that basically new pair by happenstance when I picked up a BS9000 and gave them a shot. I was obviously very very wrong about them. So I have no problem confidently putting them in my top 3. Though I have not auditioned MS150s. If I were going to go the MS150 route though, I'd probably get JBL XPL-200s instead, which are far more common and typically have already been refoamed over here.
I can fully understand where you are coming from. I run my Pentas flat and never use loudness though I do have a BL2 when used with the TV! I think Pentas are a high point for B&O in many ways - effortless sound and no real vices. My contention is that the bass is simply not that detailed. There is bass - but this is a result of the subtle lift at 120Hz which disguises a fairly sharp roll off lower down. Listen side by side with a good speaker with a big bass driver (I used the MS150 and M100 as examples simply because I have had them!) and the bass instead of a thump becomes distinguidable as the sound of a musical instrument. The BL5 does this beautifully and you don't hear the thumping when in the room. Go outside though and the deadening of the detail means that you will realise that you are playing music louder than you imagined.
I bought my Pentas new rather than 8000s as they just sounded better to me. I have never rated 6000s at all though I know some do, and I like 4000s as a small almost S45 type speaker though I confess to not liking the ABL so much. I am sure a large part of thisis the type of music we listen to and individual hearing levels. We all hear slightly differently so it would be very strange if we all liked exactly the same speakers!
Peter: the subtle lift at 120Hz
Is this documented or measured? Does it apply to both Beovox Penta and Beolab Penta?
In my mind the Beolab should have a straighter, without any peaks) frequency response since the built in amp should be tuned for the speaker characteristics.
Veermer,
I can suggest the BL9 front with BL4000 rear. BL3 as rear is better, but a wast of money for rear speakers - and BL4000 are better looking. I`m very very satiesfied with the combo. Before the BL9 I owned the BL8002 with BL2 and tried the BL3 and BL4 as rears.
LOEWE bild 5.55 OLED + AppleTV; BS4; BL9; BL8000 MKII all black
I like your setup, hotknife.
mbee: Considering the speakers I've owned or tested for enough time, considering only a speaker pair (no sub to help them) and for music listening, the "sound quality ranking" would be this : 1 - BL52- BL93 - BL3 4 - BL80005 - BL40006 - BL60007 - BL48 - BL2500 Now if we are considering value for money, it's more like this for me : 1 - BL52- BL33 - BL9 4 - BL40005 - BL80006 - BL47 - BL25008 - BL6000
Thank you. It is a very useful information for me.
hotknife: Veermer, I can suggest the BL9 front with BL4000 rear. BL3 as rear is better, but a wast of money for rear speakers - and BL4000 are better looking. I`m very very satiesfied with the combo. Before the BL9 I owned the BL8002 with BL2 and tried the BL3 and BL4 as rears.
It is a very nice installation. You owned a BL2... Do not you miss the bass now?
if you like big b u u u u m and movies like DIE HARD, yes the BL2 is a very good subwoofer. But if you like listen to music too, the BL2 is not the first choice.
In 2011 after I`ve bought the BL9 speakers, I`ve written a review in the old archive forum. I suggest you use a online translator.
http://archivedarchivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/p/38092/316391.aspx#316391
The amplifier (Beolab 150/200) is a stand alone unit with a flat frequency response. The Penta crossover is what causes the slight rise at 120Hz. Pentalabs are not active but amplified speakers.
Peter: The amplifier (Beolab 150/200) is a stand alone unit with a flat frequency response. The Penta crossover is what causes the slight rise at 120Hz. Pentalabs are not active but amplified speakers.
Crossover? You sure? I'd have pegged that as a deliberate bass reflex alignment not a crossover, I would assume a low pass without any power robbing contouring circuitry in the bass drivers. You can get about any hump you want by how you tune the bass alignment.
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
You are probably correct - the amplifier itself is flat though.
I find the Beolab 2 to be only good for movies, not music; and I find the complete opposite for the Beolab 11! I'd buy a sub if B&O made one that suited movies AND music.....
x:________________________
Peter:the amplifier itself is flat though
Hmm.. I don't know but it doesn't seem to be flat, there a low pass/hi cut filter between output stage & speaker output. Maybe that's for compensating some un-linearity generated in the input stage?
Interesting, do you know the freq of the knee and slope? It could be what's occasionally used passively on some home brew speakers, often on small single full range driver ones, a baffle step correction to remove the diffraction step due to a narrow speaker baffle to the speaker doesn't sound too bright or thin.
hotknife: Veermer, if you like big b u u u u m and movies like DIE HARD, yes the BL2 is a very good subwoofer. But if you like listen to music too, the BL2 is not the first choice. In 2011 after I`ve bought the BL9 speakers, I`ve written a review in the old archive forum. I suggest you use a online translator. http://archivedarchivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/p/38092/316391.aspx#316391
Thanks. I will consider it.
Hi all, for me it is:
1. BL 5
2. BL 1
3. BL Penta.
I admit it is a close call between lab 1 and penta as pentas are very good. Lab 1 is simply the better speaker each again after listening to pentas for some months. Now they are gone another happy owner and lab 5 are in the house!