Given the choice, the Beolab Pentas are the ones to get. The 9500 has a relatively small amplifier - about 30W a channel (don't start me on the claimed 85W!) and the Pentas do take a bit of driving. The 5500 is a bit more powerful (55W! per channel) but the Beolab Pentas have 150W. It allows the speakers to have plenty of reserve - most of the time you will only use about 1W ! - but it is the ability to deal with transients that sets the Beolab apart.

I would use them with the Avant though. You can link the 9500 and Avant together and use it for both of course. Interestingly, they do seem to sound better attached to the 9500 than the Avant - must be something about the pre-amps.

Oh, and no displays in the Beovox Pentas.

Hi Peter

Brilliant, thanks, that's set my mind at rest and stopped me bidding on something I might regret.

Thanks again

Andrew

It is hard to drive beovox Penta best..  I have tried Beomaster 8000 to drive Beovox Penta and I am not happy at all.

Beolab Penta is the best for your choice. Both BC9500 and Beomaster 5500 is the best partner to Beolab Penta.

One last question - looking at the price of Beolab 8000's on e-bay they seem quite reasonable and the Beolab 8000 in some ways is more attactive so wondered if these would these be a better buy than the Penta 3's or should I go for Penta 3 - I really want to get a big punchy sound and have been hooked on them since I heard my friends Beovox ones.

You won't get big/punchy from BL8000 and I doubt if they will satisfy you.

If you like the warm, old fashioned "Penta" sound, you will not get it from a modern speaker, as these genarally, tend to be much colder and more clinical. 

Agree - for detail get the 8000 though be aware they get a bit shrieky at high volumes. The Beolab Penta could be described as a bit warm and veiled in comparison, but they don't shriek!

Giang Nguyen wrote:

It is hard to drive beovox Penta best..  I have tried Beomaster 8000 to drive Beovox Penta and I am not happy at all.

Beolab Penta is the best for your choice. Both BC9500 and Beomaster 5500 is the best partner to Beolab Penta.

Was your Beomaster 8000 serviced recently? I use mine with Beovox Pentas and it is a PERFECT match :)

j0hnbarker wrote:

Giang Nguyen wrote:

It is hard to drive beovox Penta best..  I have tried Beomaster 8000 to drive Beovox Penta and I am not happy at all.

Beolab Penta is the best for your choice. Both BC9500 and Beomaster 5500 is the best partner to Beolab Penta.

Was your Beomaster 8000 serviced recently? I use mine with Beovox Pentas and it is a PERFECT match :)

My Beomaster 8000 is fully serviced and working well. But in comparison the quality of sound between master 8000 + beovox penta with master 7000 + beolab penta, I think the 7000+Beolab penta is much better, the sound is more real, more accurate, more stage and more nature.

Master 8000 &Beovox Pentas is a PERFECT match. All right, but it can not reach the hiend quality sound. I am now using Beomaster 8000 + Beovox MS150, called Beolab 8000 system. It is relly perfect.