Looking to buy a pair of bl5 in Sweden for 85 000 sek. They are from 2012 and never serviced. Bad or good idea? I have a pair of Beolab 20 now and have been considering going to 50 or 5. A friend of mine with 50 said his older 5 had more bass but that the 50 are more defined. I do consider 50 but think they are a bit too big perhaps.What’s your take on this?The Beolab 5s are available locally and in good shape it seems. I have the thin powerlink cables now and they are hidden in the floor. So I guess it would mean I have to pull new cables as well if I change my setup.
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Beolab 5 purchase or not?
27 replies
I am assuming the BL 5 are a lot less expensive than the BL 50. If it were me, I'd pick a newer BL 50 over the BL 5 only because it will be under warranty and supported by B&O. Also, newer DSP technology probably will probably give the sound quality edge to the BL 50 as well. The BL 5's are iconic B&O speaker designs. Many people I know recognize B&O mainly from the BL5s. Either way, lucky you 🙂
Many thanks! Yes the BL50 are more defined in every way except design wise visually I think. I believe they are a bit to chubby. The 5 has a certain elegance to them and 50 looks more elephant like. There is a warranty on the 50 used but less than a year. The price is 225 000 sek so it’s much more expensive. Hopefully though my 20 are still holding a price but much less of course. I am very happy with the 20 but can feel the lack of some more punch at high levels. At the same time I do live in an apartment with people below and above me, and on my sides.I am assuming the BL 5 are a lot less expensive than the BL 50. If it were me, I'd pick a newer BL 50 over the BL 5 only because it will be under warranty and supported by B&O. Also, newer DSP technology probably will probably give the sound quality edge to the BL 50 as well. The BL 5's are iconic B&O speaker designs. Many people I know recognize B&O mainly from the BL5s. Either way, lucky you 🙂 B&O products I use by zones in my home: Platform: Apple Home (iOS/Mac, with Google Wi-fi (mesh), 100% streaming audio (Sirius XM, Apple Music, YouTube Music); TV /Office: Beolab 8002 (Red) + Beolab 2 [Sony 65A1E OLED TV, Apple TV 4K]; Living: Beoplay A9 (MK2), Bedroom: Beolab 6000 (Red) + Beolab 11 + Beosound Core [LG UST Projector directly to wall, Apple TV 4K]; Beoplay, Guest Rooms: Apple HomePods ; Dining: Beoplay M5 [previously BS Stage] ; Portable in-house: Beosound 1 with dock; Travel/bluetooth: Beoplay P6, BeoPlay H9 (3rd Gen), AirPod Pro .
Hi, how do the BL20’s lack on bass on higher levels? I have Bl18/19 combo and due to the BL19 I can crank up the volume to almost max (75-80) without loss of bass. The BL20 is holding same sub as 19 and you have 2! Do you have a BV connected to the BL’s?Regarding BL5 or 50, design wise the 5’s are out of this world and non comparable with any speaker. 50’s are huge, in prise, in design and in sound. Cannot advise you, it is what you are looking for. BL5’s are bass heavy and very very good. BL50’s outperform them easily and are very very balanced.Take into account your room acoustics, what you use to drive them (to get best sound you need an BV with their top dsp and sound settings options) and what sounds best for your ears.
Thank you for your very insightful comments. It does not make the choice easier :). I do like that my 20s are subtle and barely noticeable. Friends usually think they are small statues! The sound is good but whenever I’ve been at my friends house I notice the lack of feeling of the bass as I get at his place. It literally feels like the bass is punching you. My speakers sound well and deep but perhaps not as punchy. My date has the 18/19 combo as well and setup with a BV and thinks my 20 sound way better actually than that combo setup. So I probably don’t lack so much bass. My 20 are connected to an bv Avant 55.I think the Bl5 visually are cool but most people think they stick out a bit much, perhaps the 50 is easier to live with but at the same time I do like their pointyness as well as the black and silver color theme. 50 has as you say more refined technology and balance and I want that too. I only believe the tweeeter to look a bit more silly and cheap on 50 than on 5. Maybe I am wrong?Hi, how do the BL20’s lack on bass on higher levels? I have Bl18/19 combo and due to the BL19 I can crank up the volume to almost max (75-80) without loss of bass. The BL20 is holding same sub as 19 and you have 2! Do you have a BV connected to the BL’s? Regarding BL5 or 50, design wise the 5’s are out of this world and non comparable with any speaker. 50’s are huge, in prise, in design and in sound. Cannot advise you, it is what you are looking for. BL5’s are bass heavy and very very good. BL50’s outperform them easily and are very very balanced. Take into account your room acoustics, what you use to drive them (to get best sound you need an BV with their top dsp and sound settings options) and what sounds best for your ears. BV Eclipse 55 Brass - BL 18 Brass - BL 19 Brass - BL 3 White - BS Moment - BS 2 Brass - BV Horizon 48 - BS3000 - BS 3200 - BS Essence - BL 4000 - V1 40 Black - V1 40 White - BLC NL/ML - H6 - H4 - E8 Motion - A8 Earphone - Beolit 12 - Beolit 15 - Beoplay A1 Green - Beoplay A3 White
If the money does not matter go for BL50.If they do...go for BL5!!I love mine.They are soooo cool.BTW the seller never get 85’sek for them.I paid 55’ sek for mine🙂Beoxperten has a pair for 69’sek with 3 month warranties!
Glad to hear! I saw them in your photos and it looks beautiful. I did see that bl50 is available in all black cloth too and I actually like that configuration more than with wood. A bit more subtle.85 is a lot for 8 year old speakers but 55 sounds awesome. Where did you get that price? I would pay that in a heartbeat and then also keep my bl20 as surrounds. (Would Benedict as my areas are in opposite directions so sound would be good in more places than the couch).Money is always a question but it’s more a question of how much I’m willing to spend and invest. I think the risk is bigger with older devices but as the price increases the risk for myself does as well. Buying used 50s for the price of a small car and risking them breaking down quickly is a nightmare thought :).If the money does not matter go for BL50. If they do...go for BL5!! I love mine. They are soooo cool. BTW the seller never get 85’sek for them. I paid 55’ sek for mine Beoxperten has a pair for 69’sek with 3 month warranties! BeoVision Eclipse 55"...BeoLab 5 FRONT....BeoLab 4000 as REAR....BV5 HD....Beoplay V1-40....BV10-32....BC6-26....Beosound 9000....Beosound 1 New York edt....Beosound Stage....Beoplay S3....BeoRemote One BT....Beo6....Beo4....Beo4 Cinema....BeoLink 7000....Serene....H9i Rimowa....6 x H6....Form 1....U70...
There is a warranty on the 50 used but less than a year. The price is 225 000 sek so it’s much more expensive. Hopefully though my 20 are still holding a price but much less of course.
That seems very expensive to me. I was able to buy a pair of ex-demo Lab 50s with the full three-year guarantee for the equivalent of around 175 000 SEK. I have seen a number of other pairs sell for a similar price as ex-demo examples and one that went for even less due to the retailer closing its B&O department. Try asking around a number of dealers. If they have a demo pair that's been sitting around for a while, you may get a much better deal.
That’s a big difference. It’s easy to get blind when the sums goes up. But every coin counts. I will look a bit closer. I managed to get the price down a little and a Beosound core included. But I think I’ll continue looking. 175ksek seems much better. Thanks for your suggestions!That seems very expensive to me. I was able to buy a pair of ex-demo Lab 50s with the full three-year guarantee for the equivalent of around 175 000 SEK. I have seen a number of other pairs sell for a similar price as ex-demo examples and one that went for even less due to the retailer closing its B&O department. Try asking around a number of dealers. If they have a demo pair that's been sitting around for a while, you may get a much better deal.
Michael...search Beolab 50 on Tradera and you will find a pair for 189’ sek
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