BeoLab 12.3 are the best !!

vox wrote:

 

Hello,

I want to buy new speakers, which need not be connected to a television.

In my selection are the Beolab 3 or Beolab 12-3 in connect with the Playmaker.

Which Speaker have better Sound ?

Has anyone of you heard the two speakers have a direct comparison?

This to me was unfortunately not possible with any of the vendors.

I like doing both.

I want the speakers on the floor stand (20cm - 30cm away from the wall) place.

Wall mounting is not possible.

On paper, yes should the Beolab 12-3 (pure data to) be better.

 

Would be nice if I could be your buying decisions to help.

 

Thanks in advance

 

With respect to measurements, the 12-3 would have to be significantly ahead to make an audible difference.

On the other hand, as you are intending to free stand the speakers, IMV the spherical shape of the Beolab 3 will offer an distinct advantage in terms of being free of a flat baffle, which in the case of the 12-3 will add standing waves reflecting off the baffle to sum with the direct sound output of the main drivers, which will increase the coloration/distortion overall; you would most likely expect a considerably more spacious sound from the Lab 3's with better sound-staging and imaging, simply because of the cabinet shape and the way you intend using it - free standing - as against wall placement where the advantage of the sphere would be ameliorated to a degree by the proximity to the wall.

So, IMHO if you were wall mounting, I'd go the 12-3, but for free space/stand mounting, I would go for the Lab 3.

But as always, things such as the aesthetic look etc will come into it; either way they are both excellent active speakers and I can't imagine many people being unhappy with either of them.

Hope this helps & good luck with the decision

Kind Regards

John... 

Well actually the Beolab 12-3 in theory will have a more seamless sound transition between the midrange unit to the treble. A 2 inch driver has way better sound dispersion to match the ALT lenses plus the baffle of the Lab12-3s aren't exactly flat so... What really worries me is the sound transition from the midrange to the bass. I suspect a very high crossover is set between the midrange and rear woofers. Clarity wise in theory the Beolab 12-3 will beat the Beolab 3s for sure. The new ice modules plus a genuine three way design along with four amplifiers? And lets not forget the Beolab 12-3 bass alignment is of the sealed type along with dual 6 inch drivers so bass accuracy and distortion characteristics will be way better than the Beolab 3s.  That is why I think the Beolab3s are sure to be phased out soon I hope with a proper bookshelf replacements. BTW I have the Beolab3s but only out of practicality since I use them as computer speakers. 

I guess you can extrapolate from here that the treble lenses are not the easiest things to work around with and IMHO not worth it at all. I like the Beolab12-3 solely for the design as for the Beolab12-1..... Ewww.... Ewww.. and Ewww... lol 

BeoBoy68 wrote:

BeoLab 12.3 are the best !!

Really? You have heard them? I am so very tempted to buy but the connectivity issue plus the rear facing bass drivers..... Sigh... I shall wait for new freestanding Beolab loudspeakers. The Lab9s and 5s IMHO.... Not very fresh anymore. 

MartinW wrote:

I can't see the BeoLab 3's leaving the range for a very long time - they are hugely successful, very popular, sellin extremely well and loved by most people who listen to them - as is Acoustic Lens technology in general, though according to Wonderful Electric everything is due to be replaced soon - i guess that opinion us due to his complete lack of any form of commercial or human understanding.

Well I definitely have no access to B&O's sales records and have no idea that the lab 3s are flying out the doors. But I really wonder logically if the Beolab12-2 or the Beolab12-3 loudspeakers are performing way better than the Beolab 3s then what's the point for it to stay in the range? And the new Ice modules make a huge leap in sound quality IMHO. The Beolab3s have been around for nearly a decade I think. 

( Complete lack) lol Is that even possible for anything or anyone to have a complete lack of anything. Explain to me... 

In short, WonElec can't absorb why people would like small speakers which can be placed almost anywhere you want without having to drill them into a wall. Speakers on a bookshelf or desk? The ability to move them easily if need be?  No, that's way too practical for his imagination. Not to mention not wanting to have some oblong tv-centric "plates" on the wall. No, we can't have that. By the same token, why even have a telly when you can have a 4k (resolution, not price) projector?

Oops, I missed this part:

wonderfulelectric wrote:

The Beolab3s have been around for nearly a decade I think. 

So freaking what?  Very seldomly are speaker technology going through a revolution. Going  solid state instead of tube amplification was a revolution, and to a lesser extent, going active was also a revolution, whereas introducing the ALT lens was even lesser of a revolution. In fact, I don't consider that latter part a revolution - more of jump ahead in evolutionary terms. 

However, just like microphones, it's not exactly an area where revolutions happens these days. It's more a matter of small steps ahead. They (mics and speakers alike) are working in the physical world and there's only so much you can do when you have to deal with physics.

wonderfulelectric wrote:

Explain to me...