Beolab 18 in the shop

I just got a demo of the freshly installed Beolab 18, the sound coming wirelessly from a BV11 with spotify.

I was there for the BV11 offer and I'm again waiting for a trade in of my BV10.

Very very good detailed sound, rich, warm and clear. The lenses really do the job.

The sound of the Tv alone (on music mode) was really crap compared to the sound with Beolab 18 only, incredible but evident.

Finish is of course superb with the green/red round light on top just at the base of the ALT.

I personnaly won't go for the wood finish but it was nice, you totally forget about it in five minutes.

Now someone needs to compare them with 8002/3/9/5...because Beolab 18 alone in a shop it's not easy to know the exact performances.

5.000 € black/white, 5.700 € wood.

Cheers,

Gregory

 

 

BeoGreg:

The sound of the Tv alone (on music mode) was really crap compared to the sound with Beolab 18 only, incredible but evident.

Thanks for the report. Interesting observation. Are you saying that the BV11's speaker(s) are turned off or do they act as a centre channel?

The sound of the tv was off automaticaly when speakers turned on.

After turning the tv on, you select spotify, than beolab 18 in a menu. The sound of the tv stops, the sleepy (no light) beolab becomes red than green than no light at all and the sound is here.

I touched the lamellas wich seems very light and soft. You can see through the lamellas but it´s ok, it´s part of the show.

When I got home and saw the 8000's, they look like a plastic bad imitation of the 18 wich is a good thing for the newer speakers.

A real true new standard aestheticaly and in built quality.

My concern is that I wasn't blown away like with the first time I heard the Pentas or the 5's (and the 9´s) but we (with the dealer) didn't heard any distortions with volume at more than 70 wich is a very good thing (my 8000 are lost after 50).

Eyes closed they almost desappeared, ALT is also a good thing.

In fact can't whait to have a new test and see the black ones !

Thanks for the review! Am hoping dealer I will be visiting this weekend will have them in.

Can you explain the layout - were you stood up or sat down and how far away?

Puncher:

Can you explain the layout - were you stood up or sat down and how far away?

Just realised this morning that I was standing and never sat.

While standing you could hear that the sound was perfectly at the good height.

I'm afraid it could not be the same while seated.

I was standing in the middle of the two speakers (4 meters from each other) at 3/4 meters, in the corner off a long (15 meters) room.

Once again very very detailed clear sound with instrumental music and also good on "bass" music with Psy Gentlemen (a B & O spotify selection).

All that with one little power wire only !

Great thread, I am to looking forward to see them in the flesh.

Regarding sound quality, we must also remember that Spotify is not the best sources for sound. I assume we would get even better quality if we stream loss-less files or a CD? 

(even though the sound is coming in through a wireless connection)

Best regards,

Martin

BeoGreg:

While standing you could hear that the sound was perfectly at the good height.

I'm afraid it could not be the same while seated.

Perfect! I was planning on standing to watch movies from now on. Luckily the new BL18 design coincides with this coincidental plan! :)

moxxey:

Perfect! I was planning on standing to watch movies from now on. Luckily the new BL18 design coincides with this coincidental plan! :)

I heard that stb brackets was planning a Bl 18 stand to tilt the speakers while sitting down...

Oh the height of the 18. I do find it so annoying that I have to sit on the floor when I want to hear my 7-4 under a 7-55 clearly, then sit in a chair when I want to hear my 9s at their best, and then stand up when I want to hear my rears at their best. (sarcasm intended)

Seriously, Geoff Martin spent a great deal of time in this forum explaining how the ALT works and its placement on the 18. His explanation must have fallen on deaf ears and so those who still do not understand choose to mock that which they do not understand.

Razlaw:

Seriously, Geoff Martin spent a great deal of time in this forum explaining how the ALT works and its placement on the 18. His explanation must have fallen on deaf ears and so those who still do not understand choose to mock that which they do not understand.

And you can't distinguish between 'mocking' and someone having a bit of a laugh. Always the same Razlaw. One moment thanking people, next biting at fellow forum members. I really hope you realise how your replies come across to other people? It's like dealing with an American B&O PR representative, with completely the wrong attitude to PR :)

I think we're very capable of understanding the ins and outs of alts. I've owned BL3s, BL9s and BL5s over the last seven years. Clearly lacking the basic understanding of how to listen to my own speakers, which is why I've kept them for so long and am interested in the BL18s.

moxxey:

Perfect! I was planning on standing to watch movies from now on. Luckily the new BL18 design coincides with this coincidental plan! :)

I was thinking of taking up some floorboards ...

Reminds me of the joke about the low bridge, the bulking donkey with tall ears, and two Irishmen ...

Razlaw:

Oh the height of the 18. I do find it so annoying that I have to sit on the floor when I want to hear my 7-4 under a 7-55 clearly, then sit in a chair when I want to hear my 9s at their best, and then stand up when I want to hear my rears at their best. (sarcasm intended)

Seriously, Geoff Martin spent a great deal of time in this forum explaining how the ALT works and its placement on the 18. His explanation must have fallen on deaf ears and so those who still do not understand choose to mock that which they do not understand.

Geoff Martin is clearly a very knowledgeable guy (as well as being very personable and patient with us). His new blog series is very interesting and informative (as are his previous articles on the same site, for those that haven't read them). His presence here is a real asset and his help to those having issues with their equipment is more than generous. However there are probably questions we shouldn't ask or at least expect him not to be able to answer, for example, what are the weak points of each speaker, how much does the layout/design of each speaker limit it's potential performance etc., I'm sure there's lots of other stuff of a similar nature.

The point is that Geoff and his team ensure that each example will have been optimised given it's design, components and materials, however you can't expect anyone to say "yeah, but it would have been much better if it was upside down, or horizontal, or hadn't been made of tinfoil etc."

deleted by Razlaw

While waiting to order my future BV11-46 today, I played with the menu of the BV11 "linked" to the beolab 18.

To change speaker it's easy. You go in "speaker group" where you can find : TV, Beolab 15+16, Beolab 18, Beolab18+beolab 19...

Just choose the sound you whant. Great.

I am hoping to see the 18s soon. Visited to B and O stores this weekend but neither had 18s in yet, only 17s.

We received ours today, and they are seriously good - considerably better than the Lab 8002.  We are running them as fronts to a 11-46 with wall mounted Lab 17s as rears and Lab 19 sub-woofer.

We are clearly biased - looking forward to getting feedback in the store tomorrow from a few coming in to compare with their current speakers....

BeoGreg:

To change speaker it's easy. You go in "speaker group" where you can find : TV, Beolab 15+16, Beolab 18, Beolab18+beolab 19...

Please note that this is only true if the Speaker Groups have been named as such by the person who set them up. 

Cheers

-geoff