Ok. I've done it!

Dave:

Must be getting cold down in Melbourne now ;)

Not cold - it's an English summer' day with blue skies and faint cloud

paolomariano:

I am considering to add a bl19 as well to my setup: bv10-40, two bl12-3 as front

I have as above in an apartment and Im using a bl2 . I find the bl2 really makes a big difference but I do have it adjusted to not shake the house down.

If there were any sound issues with neighbours I would have heard by now as 70's apartments had zero sound insulation.... 

It looks very good Michael. 

Congratulations  ;) 

Thank you

I have written a war and peace piece on my avant and bl19 when I was on the plane.

Do you guys want me to post it?

Just the peace piece

MM

Millemissen:

Just the peace piece

MM

There is a tv - and there is a BV.

But I always prefer war

Ok then - as long as peace comes after war.

MM

Aussie Michael:

Thank you

I have written a war and peace piece on my avant and bl19 when I was on the plane.

Do you guys want me to post it?

Yes please.

The BL19 and Avant Story: War & Peace lol

This is my little story about how my journey thus far with my BeoVision Avant and BeoLab 19 Subwoofer

Since purchasing the BeoVision Avant, the standard "inbuilt" speakers are by no means standard. I find them more crisp and detailed that the BeoLab 3's prior to the inclusion of the BL19.

I first started with a number of different speaker groups:

> TV, which was the 3 speakers as centre

> Movies, which was the TV speakers as L,C,R with BL3s as rears

> Music, which was the BL3s as fronts

The TV speaker group changed from 3 speakers as centre, to L,R,C with no rears.

I watch a few movies, probably just as much as music, but i normally listen to music with headphones on for a number of reasons so it's rare and although i want to belt it out with music through the Avant or my BL3s.

I was on the couch and hired a movie and the Dolby promo came on, and this was the first movie that I watched on the Avant whereby there was no rumble. I thought, oh , didn't the Avant have a built in subwoofer. I hadn't tinkered with any settings at all, and thought, that needs to change.

I went to the closest B&O dealer where i originally purchased the Encore and Lab 3s, and was speaking with the dealer there and said that I would like to discuss SW options. I had in my mind S8, 11 and 19. Although I loved the 19 i thought that it would not be appropriate because of the size of the unit, and I also loved the 11 but that would mean cables, as would the S8. I also love the design of the S8, but the 19 more so.

I was under strict instructions at home that i was not to at all get that "vertical ashtray", even though i said it would sort of hide behind the pole. Someone like a child hiding behind a tree which you can always tell its' there.

Had always thought the 11 was really discrete and it looked so good mounted on the wall, but i'm not entirely sure that i wanted something that permanent incase i wanted to change things, or even move or pull the house down and rebuild, or whatever... They also come in so many lovely colours and although silver is my choice, I am never afraid of colour. For example silver would work in this room because it's more mono; however, my front room is dramatic, where I would want something like red or blue to create a visual angst.

Different rooms have different purposes and different feels and they should. As does music and movies when you play them in different rooms.

That left the 19 and I was also conscious of budget. I didn't want to spend a fortune and the last time i had a price list from B&O as they dont even produce price lists any more for them to hand out, was in 2010 and the BL2 was over 5 grand. That's too much for me for a subby, especially considering I could have a great holiday, get in a plane, go to the beach and do whatever for that same. I do regularly assess the opportunity costs.

Discussing with the dealer, he was advising that the 11 wouldn't really be strong enough for movies, although he had sold 2 to a customer so that there would be enough bass, it sort of belies me that B&O would use the 11 in catalogues pictured with TVs. I think it would have been very much so suitable for movies. Afterall i didn't want anything as loud visually as the BL2, to me "the alien". I thought at the time, that I could discretely hide the cables, and was suggested in my house that perhaps I can put it on the base of the avant. To which my "are you bloody-stupid-or-what" face revealed itself. That sort of reminds me of game shows where they reveal the 'showcase' on a lazy susan behind curtains. But where would the model/s go waving their product placement hands? They could come in handy...

He showed me the S8, and I discussed at home that it would be really good, because you even get 2 additional speakers and i could mount those on the wall and THEY COULD actually work quite well. Answer was no way. hmmmph! So this really left the choice between the 11 and 19. A lot of people on the Forum said how they think it's the ducks nuts and also that it really is suitable, well priced, well equipped to do what i actually want.

The dealer was explaining with the 19 it was designed in a way that really it could go anywhere in a room, it could go next to the TV, next to your chair, that it compensates in a way that the subbys before it by B&O could do, but not as well. I do love the design and i had worried that it would be too much visually, but a part of me also thought that because the TV has to really stick out from the wall quite a bit because of the turning mechanism, it could sort of fit.

It was also mentioned by the dealer about how technically superior the 19 is to other subbys and it can go hard if i wanted it too, but also be more appropriate for residential living, such as where i live. Plus it's wireless so you can move it where ever, etc.

He also explained that really there is not much more price wise between the two and because i didn't even know how much each of them are because of the lack of price lists, i was taking this all with the yeah yeah, grain of salt. And really there wasn't THAT much between the two.

I went home and measured up and thought of different positions, next to the TV, underneath my table where my lamp and BL3 is and said. OK, it's the right one for this room.

Bit the bullet! Went back to the store and said "lets do this..."

It took a few months for the 19 to arrive, and it arrives in a box with 2 carry handles either side. It's a heavy unit . You could lift it by yourself but its sort of a bit awkward, so its easy for 2 to grab either end and walk. The handles with straps are positioned in a good way so you don't have to walk like a crab.

Opening the box, it is very well protected by polystyrene packaging and after revealing the top layer, there is a protective sheet covering the 19. The instructions are generally easy to follow, however, I did get a bit lost about the set up for a TV over a music centre, and had to read the description of what each switch meant on the bottom, so i think i have set it up OK ( i hope).

When you purchase a B&O product, what I think would be good is if the dealer provides you an email after your purchase with a version of the manual in electronic format. Although I know that you can download one, but it would be a nice touch - what do they call that *scratches head*.... oh yeah... value add. Costs nothing but is a nice touch. A customer could say no if they dont want it. But the manuals are one thing i read cover to cover, just like my car magazines each month.

Pairing with the Avant is a very easy process and the TV found the 19 with no problem. Once you turn the 19 on it starts flashing, which isn't dissimilar to any product that needs pairing, so it's familiar territory for anyone that has used Bluetooth or whatever. And it's quick.

Once it was paired the light on the front turns off and i was getting worried "oh no not another product that's not going to work from the start"... and then i changed all my speaker groups to now include the 19 as the SW. On the Avant there are so many different subwoofer settings to choose SW front, left right, so i just picked the standard SUBWOOFER.

With the Avant on and no light on, i put my ear close to the 19 and i couldn't hear anything, nor feel anything: GOOD GOD WHAT COULD IT BE! So then i thought.. Ah, Alicia Keys has a lot of Bass in her CD, so I'll try that.

But before that, when you are assigning the SW in the Avant you get the "cshshhshshsh" white noise sound so you know what output is where, and I could hear all other speakers except the subby. The volume was being turned up by someone else at this stage and i didn't realise. I was under the TV at and i panicked and held the Avant speakers because i thought there was an earthquake haha. It was on volume 80, so i thought WOOHOO it works.

Then the elation kicked in! The designers have done good in turning off the light because like most people they would place their 19 at the front of the room and dont want a light on when they are watching a movie in the darkness.

Alicia Keys was promptly turned on and this is now the good bit , if i hadn't already bored you with my goings on...

For music, i found that i have fallen in love with the Lab 3s again. They certainly are a different speaker sound wise to the Avant speakers. I always loved my Lab4s for music , i thought they are just so crisp and accurate. Maybe my ears havent been trained yet. But the last hearing test I did at a clinic said that my hearing is really good. I can actually hear things that not many people can, in terms of accuracy so I have always thought i was good at hearing, but maybe not understanding music with different speakers. I picked the 3s solely on look to be honest!

I'm not an audiophile by any means, and I dont know what MHz or GHz, cross overs, swap overs, or even cross dressers ?>?>!@ mean, but i know what is good when i hear it (to me).

Music through the 3s now that the 19 has been added is what i would describe as mellifluous. They are just so beautiful sounding. I dont listen to classical, but i do listen to Jazz through Radio Abalone in France and my music which most of was purchased online or my own CD rips.

I put on Avatar Blu Ray to test the speakers now with the 19 in situ and full operational mode and all i can say is WOW. I thought the Avant speakers were good before! But this actually takes it to a whole other level. I dont know what B&O did and frankly I dont really care, but I know I like it. The bass is accurate (if that's the right word) and it's not boomy. I didn't want boomy. Its subtle, but if you want to turn it up, get ready to #raisetheroof

One thing I have found is that with the 19 on all speaker groups that when i watch the news i have to turn the volume up way more than i had to before so that I can hear the speakers. Which maybe means, should I make another speaker group without the SW or take it out of my TV setting. First world problems huh! haha

When you press the power button on the Avant to turn off the TV, it goes back to its home position on the motorised stand and then the 19 goes red to show its turning off. Then the light on the 19 goes blank so it's not on all night. This is a nice touch.

I'm writing way more than I would normally basically because i'm on a flight from Melbourne to Darwin, and I hope you have enjoyed my piece of War and Peace on the experience with my Avant and BL 19 thus far.

Which sort of brings me on to things that I would consider from here to enhance my experience

> A Remote One wall bracket so i dont leave it lying around

> Option to turn on the TV at 610 automatically

> Maybe another BV down the track. I have already got the BV 11 wall poster, and my current Sony 55 inch in the front room could be replaced for a 40 or a 46 BV 11 at a future point. The smaller size would look more elegant in the front room i believe as now that is a secondary TV to the Avant. Even the BL14 would work in the front room too

> BL20s but not for the back room, and there's no way I can afford them.

Over and out.

Superb use of a flight to describe the success of your setup!

thanks

Thanks SB. I usually want to write more than I can, and i hope others as well as you appreciate my thoughts as they just are, thoughts and experience :-)

Aussie Michael:

Thanks SB. I usually want to write more than I can, and i hope others as well as you appreciate my thoughts as they just are, thoughts and experience :-)

Thanks for your post, a great review of the 19. I've wanted to move the 9's to a dedicated music listening room, and have been mulling options of speaker replacements for the BV. You've given me a lot to think about.

i just wish I was in love with the looks of the 19, as a former owner of the "alien" (beolab 2) I'm drawn to it. :-)

Many thanks Michael, extensive reviews from actual owners make a world of difference for us prospective buyers.

I was also targeting a combo of Avant and BL19 and seeing your experience I get more and more convinced that might be really an excellent (but also long-term) solution for me.

Keep sharing your impressions, it is much appreciated.

'Michael's War & Peace story'

I expected a note, but not such a splendid extensive report from a very good experience with a B&O product.

Many thanks Michael, I enjoyed every word of it. Wishes to see more extensive reports like this on Beoworld.

Chris:

'Michael's War & Peace story'

I expected a note...

....but after all it was not as long as the Tolstoy story with the same name.

Thanks Michael - I enjoyed your novel  

Keep on playing - sure you'll explore more.

MM

I wasn't sure whether to post this in the 'what are you working on' thread but I thought twice and for those following my story, so here goes.

Since purchasing and living with the Avant, i purchased a new Foxtel iQ3 box and wireless being wireless, today i decided to mount my cable box on the wall behind the TV.

The cable box was becoming a little distracting and I could have installed a false wall but thought it would close the room in further and it's not a very big room. You dont see behind the TV and therefore I could go a little more "basic".

I bought two wall brackets, and to ensure that the cable box did not fall off the bracket, I made 2 holes in the cable box and with a small nut and bolt would lock it in place on the bracket.

Here are some photos for progress.

Very nice job, done with a Hermes watch on the wirst !

I know it will be very difficult, but I think you should find a better place for the sub. A better place aesthetically. It's a shame to have it in the corner hidden.

Maybe you can run the electrical cord under the carpet and place BL19 a little in front of the tv ?

that's an interesting idea so thank you BG. At the moment it seems like a good place

Otherwise I'll remove the sub and put it next to my chair

If I moved the avant to the front room I'd remove the beautiful Victorian ash TV cabinet that's out there and install a pair or 20s or 18s and put the 19 on the side

The 19 was a stretch for me because I was worried about the size so being sort of hidden is a good thing at the moment. Perhaps I should move it out and take a pic and see what you think?

Michael why not disconnect the sub and move it around while taking pictures. Then get a vote. And after the vote worry about how to resolving the wiring - including power !

From memory of prior photos I would almost favour it as a large "door stop"!to the lovely wood door (frame) you have.

Mikael,

Your allready talking about lab 20 or 18, lucky you.

If you have money for 20's why not going for an extra Moment and have a separate (fairly priced) music system so you can enjoy the tv while someone else (in your pictures) can enjoy music or vice versa.

I'm waiting for moving house in the next six months, I think I'll get an Avant and a Moment as soon as possible (from BV11 and BS9000).

Seing your pics and others I'm now ready for the Czech products !

BeoGreg:

Mikael,

Your allready talking about lab 20 or 18, lucky you.

If you have money for 20's why not going for an extra Moment and have a separate (fairly priced) music system so you can enjoy the tv while someone else (in your pictures) can enjoy music or vice versa.

I think I'm talking in fantasy and not reality lol

And that's the best part of it !