I too am very satisfied. For me very versatile and a nice design. I will not keep it linked to my BL5000 panels, it will probably move to a 10-46 set-up if the Avant blows up :-). Time will tell. With normal placement it will be difficult to source the position. Even with the BL5000's hanging 3 meters up in the gallery and the BL11 on the ground it added spectrum without becoming too dominant (I have not listened to Rammstein yet :-), so it will probably depend on the CD). I forgot that I would loose the function of the displays, but I suppose i will have to live with that for the time being (I hope this cant break the displays?) In white it looks super next to my white BS9000. I think a typical B&O product - design that puts a smile to my face.

BeoNut1 wrote:

I've got another BL-11 question for the group:

In talking with one of the B&O dealerships on this side of the pond, I get the impression that B&O is marketing the BL-11 as a good sub for the BL-4s and BL-6000 class of speakers, and suggesting that the BL-3s probably deserve the more powerful BL-2.  Thoughts?  I'd been thinking about getting a BL-11 to go with BL-3s, but now I'm questioning this decision.

M

Hi Mark,

as Trip implies, the BL-11 has yet to appear in stores on our side of the pond, a situation which will begin to change this week.  As such, I can't really offer an opinion just yet, but I am really looking forward to the chance.  For music, the BL-3's will, because of placement among other considerations, offer a much more convincing soundstage than the 7-6, with a cleaner, more detailed sound to boot.  the BL-11 brings total power even with the 7-6, and should give the 3's the freedom to really 'sing' while it provides the support they need.

I have only heard the 11 in a rather large, open room paired with 6000's (which is what I have), and I am convinced.

Russ

I can't help to think that people getting a subwoofer made by B&O now are making serious compromises for design.  The specs on this (33-300Hz???, 6.5" drivers, 200W) are strange, and performance is probably blown away by subs 1/4 of the cost.  

macjonny1 wrote:

I can't help to think that people getting a subwoofer made by B&O now are making serious compromises for design.  The specs on this (33-300Hz???, 6.5" drivers, 200W) are strange, and performance is probably blown away by subs 1/4 of the cost.  

Maybe, but can you stand watching them day after day? And there's always BL2 if you want to live in a disco... BL11 seems more suited (and targeted) to adding some extra depth to watching TV without a full blown home theatre setup.

macjonny1 wrote:

I can't help to think that people getting a subwoofer made by B&O now are making serious compromises for design.  The specs on this (33-300Hz???, 6.5" drivers, 200W) are strange, and performance is probably blown away by subs 1/4 of the cost.  

Volume isn't about everything. I was planning on fairly soon buying a pair of 7" subwoofers with 150w amps to augment my monitor speakers.

You should never 'hear' a subwoofer; they only exist to make up for the shortcomings in your full-range speakers. There are many speakers which simply don't need a subwoofer because they go so low (the BeoLab 5 being an example).

When you add in a sub, it should 'integrate' with the main speakers, simply helping them along, not booming away constantly. If you can actually hear your subwoofer, the system is set up wrong.

I had a listen to BeoLab 4000s + BeoLab 11 back in the Bath store the other day and I was really quite impressed - it's very well controlled, it's smooth, it's subtle (which all music subwoofers should be) and it surprisingly compact. If they made it bigger, they would've been able to get more volume out of it, but I tested it out with some Erykah Badu at a decent volume, and it sounded fantastic! Really allowed the 4000s to open up.

Oh and 33Hz is plenty deep enough for almost any kind of music.

Yes I would agree that the BL11 is well suited to augment a 2-ch stereo setup or a setup where you don't want the full theater effect.

However, B&O doesn't make a good-at-everything subwoofer!  The BL11 doesn't give you that deep base and power that you need for a full surround system. 

The BL2 is reportedly a bit slow for rapid music beats and such.  Lots of power, good for home theater use, etc.

Compromise on both models.

There are lots of other manufacturers of subwoofers that make great all around units that are fast and powerful.  Take a number of models by B&W, for example, and you see some great-looking models with awesome specs.

Not to forget Velodyne.

They have a sub with room correction for 500 euro's.

But... does it look like Sonny Crockett's vision of a Dutch tulip? NO WAY! So, no competition 😐.

Sorry, couldn't resist. After a week or two I'm still completely in love with the thing and realise it's the best addition I could have ever made. And it's got a huge WAF as well.

Regarding its 'rumbling qualities' for a full home theatre setup: it might be just perfect for those (like me) who don't live in free standing mansions. Home theatre while staying friends with the neighbours! Let's call it the NAF 😎.

macjonny1 wrote:

However, B&O doesn't make a good-at-everything subwoofer!  The BL11 doesn't give you that deep base and power that you need for a full surround system. 

The BL2 is reportedly a bit slow for rapid music beats and such.  Lots of power, good for home theater use, etc.

Compromise on both models.

Every speaker design is a compromise. The 'specs' of subwoofers really do mean very little. Just because a subwoofer says it goes down to 20 Hz doesn't mean it's accurate when you get it that low. I've heard some awful B&W subwoofers (and some great ones).

Designing a system which can put it's hand to anything and do it well is very costly, as the BeoLab 5s demonstrate (great for both movies and music), and then you encounter other pitfalls (such as size/cabinet volume).

OK, our display unit just arrived and we have it running now...serendipitously enough we are using the BeoLab 3's, not the suggested 4000's.

My initial reaction is positive.  At low volumes the difference is apparent but not gob-smacking.  At higher volumes the difference is quite startling.  The in-store display allows for near-instant switching, so there is no problem with 'hearing memory'.  I'll need some time to listen to a reasonable variety of music, and I will be really curious as to the difference it makes with the 6000's.

Russ