18's + 19 or 20's

4 replies
JA
Offline
jamesj
Bronze
Posted May 26, 2023 at 10:22 GMT
#1642338
Have been considering upgrading by adding a beolab 19 to my 18's. When looking, I noticed that I can probably sell the 18's and buy a pair of 20's for the same price instead.

It's solely for listening to music. Would be interested in any advice here, reviews on the 20's are mixed.

Thanks in advance!
SA
Offline
Sandyb
Bronze
Posted May 26, 2023 at 12:52 GMT
#1656720
personally, I'd got for the 20s for music listening.

I might be a bit old fashioned in my love for 2.0 music, but when I had 18s and 19, I didnt love the way music was reproduced.  Wasnt by any means bad at all, but just didn't quite seem right to my ears.
CU
Offline
Curly
Bronze
Posted May 27, 2023 at 17:28 GMT
#1656743
I once listened to 18+19 and 20, both, at a dealer. I preferred the sound of 18+19. That said, I would buy 20s, I think. They are simpler and take up less physical space and less gear is needed to run them (I.e., only the Transmitter 1 can provide bass management for the 18+19 combo, which then requires using WISA).

I have a BL19 for sale if you’re in the US and interested. See the For Sale forum.

Let us know what you choose, what you hear and what your thoughts are!
trackbeo
Offline
trackbeo
Bronze
Posted May 27, 2023 at 20:41 GMT
Edited May 28, 2023 at 17:08 GMT
#1656749
There's no substitute for listening yourself!  At a dealer (Hallandale race track, Florida) the 20s sounded more "balanced", but less "precise", pardon the silly audiophile terms.  If it's your only set, or you listen to douf-douf, maybe get the 20s.  Otherwise, add the 19, because your 18s are way more handsome than those little nuns.  Yes, beauty matters, because none of the speakers at the dealership (including 5s at that time), reproduced, e.g. the timbre of a trombone or a brass ensemble better than what I already had!  (I did succumb and buy a set of 18s later, at/for another location.)
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