In general very pleased with the performance. The BL8 is better matched to the theatre and 28’s than the 17’s. Without much effort or tweaking they are much more present to give front L and R channels a big upgrade. Beam width is different from the 28’s. Wide setting is a more open and room filling experience but I still mostly prefer narrow for music as I do with th 28’s.

the possibilities in modifying listening positions and speaker role assignment is endless and you can lose yourself trying different things. Like using the front L/R speaker groups as front is nice but you lose stereo imaging from the front BL8 as well as clarity and spaciousness without using the app to open the sound field.

for music listening with 8 +28+19 it’s a great combo too.

I can’t say I was impressed with stereo imaging of the 17’s next to the theatre as front L and R. The 8’s do this job much better. I honestly was surprised since beo remeasured all their speakers and coded their capabilities into the theatre. Either the tech has evolved or they tuned it more intensely.

I have my old pair of 17’s and seriously considering to sell them. Even though they were purchased brand new two years ago. The reason I got them was wisa connection. The 8’s can be configured as stereo setup just like the 28’s and with the preset buttons you have radio channels at your fingertips for quick access. I have different stations programmed on the 4 presets of the 28’s and the 8’s and depending on the time of day or where I sit I will switch between the paired sets.

the theatre has only one radio preset and all others to listening positions with Apple TV or ps5 or switch. And i like the physical quick access to presets I know.
you can group at will with beolink or airplay without getting the theatre involved.
with 17’s you have less options and are always streaming through the theatre…

i would suggest getting the 8’s but maybe as back if the output is stronger than the 18’s. The woofer size is bigger so I assume a punchier bass that would be good in the back as surrounds. Pitty beo doesn’t publish the frequency range (yet)

I had a listen to the Beolab 8 in our local B&O dealer today. Very impressive even just on their own as a stereo pair.

Got me thinking…. At the moment I have 18s paired with Lyngdorf subs driven by a Lyngdorf amp using its room correction, which is essential for my room. Sounds fantastic, but the whole solution is not very elegant. Would there be a way of using 8s and a 19 in a wireless B&O-only set-up, with the whole thing room corrected? I know the 8s have the ‘adaptive room compensation’ built in, but it there any way of hooking it all up and running the room compensation in such as way as to encompass a 19 as well?

As you mentioned: every room is different.

With the BL28's set up in the back there is enough bass, in my room it's better to have the BL19 in the front to complement the Theatre and the BL8's.

This spreads the larger woofers over the room in a triangle.

Also set the crossover point to 95hz rather than the 120 standard setting to push enough of the lower end to the speakers with bass management set to ON

 

I don't think there is an automated way to have a sub added to the room compensation.

The closest is having the Beosound Theatre handle all speakers and measuring the room by sweeping with the microphone for creating listening positions.

A Wisa streamer connected to a TV with smart apps or Apple TV can send the signal to all Wisa speakers like the soundsend wisa transmitter or axiim link, but those remain very manual equalizers. tried playing around with them before the Theatre was available but it's no comparison to the Theatre's flexibility and capability.

Maybe just go for the 8's for now, who knows B&O will develop a new streaming hub or device in the future to handle wisa speakers / wireless power link without integrating this functionality in a full sized soundbar...

 

you might be able to find a pair of 28's second life with fabric covers... for a tad bit more than a8's with a sub

I think 8's bass is more than enough for stero music. In most cases there is no need to add a subwoofer unless you're watching a movie

I am finally setting mine up this morning after the floor stands arrived yesterday .

I have a question :

I’ve been through eclipse settings , and beolab settings on app , and can find no setting for using the 19 sub with the 8s for music streaming .

is it possible to do this ?

or will the sub only turn on when the tv is on , and the 8s will only stream Bluetooth when tv is off ?