BeoLab 2 Crossover question (setup switch)

Hi all,

I have searched high and low for more information before posting this question but I'm at a loss... I (think) i'm experiencing an audible gap between MKII BL4000's with the BL2, which I was previously using BL3, with no noticeable gap.

It sounds like the 4000's are missing some mid-low frequencies, and I've tried fiddling around with the switches as well as the bass setting on the BeoSound unit but I can't seem to get it to sound "right"

Does anyone else have this experience ? I thought perhaps it would be more appropriate to have the sub on setup 3 with the MKII BL4000 because they are very low powered (I still don't get why B&O did that) compared to the MKI.

My initial theory was that the setup switch would give the speakers it's connected to more lower frequency on setup 1 compared to higher frequency on setup 3.... but my experience is that the sub is simply A LOT quieter at setup 3.

It is this just an eternal mystery I should give up trying to solve?

Hi Dave,

Sorry if this is a silly answer, but are you sure that the bass drivers in the 4000s are working correctly please?  It could be worth plugging in a phone or laptop to the Aux socket of the Beosound and playing an audio test track with specific frequencies of sound (available via a quick YouTube search) to see if all the drivers are giving sound.

The 4000s should go almost as low as the Beolab 3s, so there shouldn't be a major difference if everything is working.

Kind regards, Steve.

When I had a BL2 and BL8000s, I did some tests and verification (RTA) during set up.

The wall, free, corner only adjust some notching filters, not the output cutoff. 1,2,3 switch simply adjusts the relative volume, not the cutoff.

Probably the 4000s in your particular environment are not a good match - sounds like they're deficient in the low mids.

iirc the (non-adjustable) cutoff is like 90hz or something.

Why 'downgrade' from BL3 to BL4000s?

Thank you for the reply Steve and Davidr, yes the BL4000's are working perfectly it seems and sound lovely otherwise, there's just this little difference.

Perhaps my ears just need to adjust, and likely it is the physical placement of the BL2 and BL4000's - it is a very small room and the BL2 is in an alcove under my desk. Thank you for confirming that the setup switch is just changing the volume, that's what I thought when I was changing it. In relation to downgrading, I think sound is subjective and I have preferred the 4000's over all other beolabs except BL5 ever since I was bitten by the beovirus. The 4000's have a stunningly accurate tonal quality to a musicians ears that I haven't found in other beolabs - this is my 3rd pair of 4000's but it's the first time i've owned the MKII and I have to say the build quality isn't the same - oh well. The BL3 to my ears definitely do not have a natural tone to me despite their brilliant sound staging and frequency response range... tonally they really only sound 'good' to my ears with certain music and vocal audio so after 5 years I was fed up with that compromise and moved the BL3's to the television which works well!

Why not just the BL2 to the tv with the BL3’s?

Seems that you like that combination - and that you like the 4000’s on their own, too.

Placing a sub in a small room is always a challenge.

MM

I agree with MM; and the Beolab 3 and Beolab 2 are an aesthetically matched team. If you do try this, please let us know how they work for you.