Hi Desmo, 

I do not own any of the equipment you are talking about but please keep in mind that many people at beoworld discuss the BeoLab 2 as very very powerful. Personally I would try to listen to it at your own place before buying it. Moreover have you had a look at the BeoLab 11, it is not as powerfull as the BeoLab2 and might be another option. 

Cheers, 

Lars

Hello Desmo,

I own both combinations, Beolab8000+Beolab2 and Beolab1+Beolab2. It depends what you mainly use the speakers for. Do you listen to music are do you watch movies? If you mainly listen to music in a not too big room I would prefer the combination Beolab8000+Beolab2. Set the settings switch to position 2 and beolab2 will match perfectly the beolab8000. I you prefer watching movies and you decide to upgrade to Beolab1 I think you still will need the Beolab2. Allthough the bass of the BeoLab1 has quite impressive specifications, it doesn't sound very clear and rather weak in my opinion.

hfat

I do not know how old your BL8000s are but the BL1s are not produced any more; so be aware not getting speakers that are older than yours... I would not buy any electronic device which has already been replaced by something new (except BS 9000 and BS 3200 ;-) ); the only reason would be a very very good price;

I do not know about the pros and cons of a BL2 -  you can read often that it produces very impressive lows...and that many prefer the BL11 that seems to fit more harmonic with the BL8000 (listenting to music not Surround); but I can understand your thought because my BL8000 MkII also lack of bass; I thought about level up to at least BL9 or better BL5 

regards Elmar

Hi Desmo,

I understand what you mean by "there is something missing" occasionally on the BL8000. I have a couple of the 2nd generation BL8000 and 1st gen. BL6000 and when adding a subwoofer the sound gets absolutely amazing, not only because of the the bass being "snappier", deeper and more powerful, but it also sort of gives more depth to the midrange. I agree that the BL2 might be too powerful (and in my opinion, not very good looking in a living room) and also expensive..

I got a Canton ASF SC subwoofer, which looks like a ugly wooden box, but its flat so it's easy to hide under a sofa. It sounds perfectly and fits amazingly well with the Beo-setup and its easy to calibrate it exactly as you like it.

Highly recommended and at a fraction of the price of a Beo sub..

/P

Have had the combo BL8002 + BL2 (startet with BL8002) for only a couple of weeks, before traded it for a pair of BL9. There is such a big differnce while listening to music (for video I have to admit, the BL2 is a very good option). But kicked myself in the a.. because I bured some money with BL8002 + BL2. If BL5 is 100%, BL9 is approx. 90% and the combo BL8000 + BL2 is only approx. 60%.

BL9 is the successor of BL1. If you have the money go for a pair of BL9, otherwise a used pair of BL1. Maybe there is a chance for you to hear BL8000 + BL2 vs BL9 in your living room. There is not a single moment you will prefer BL8000/BL2, believe me.

Thanks for your replies!

My beolab 8000's are MK1 from 2001, so upgrading to beolab 1 will not mean having older speakers.

Unfortunetely my budget at this moment will not allow me to upgrade to beolab 9 or beolab 5, so this is not an option at the time.

I think my music / movie ratio is 50/50.

The comparison also is what to upgrade first?

Add a beolab 2 to the 8000's and maybe later upgrade to beolab 1 with 2 or 9 only (which I do not like the design).

Or trade the 8000's for a Beolab 1 and maybe later upgrade with a beolab 2.

So what will be the best option for this moment?

8000+BL2. I did it and my BL8000's ''breathed'' happily. Totally better experience. Also in music which i don't find slow at all and definetely on movies. The placement of the BL2 will be crucial though. And as for BL11 with BL8000's...IMHO the change will be same as adding a zero in front of any number.

I love the Beolab 1 speakers; but in my opinion they also need the BL2 to show the best performance. Therefore I would first add a BL2 and then leave the option of an upgrage to the BL1 open.

Bieele

I have had BL8000 + BL2 for many years (bought the BL8000 around ~2000/2001, and the BL2 shortly after it was introduced).  Adding a BL2 to a BL8000, in my experience, offers a tremendous improvement, but there is still something missing (to my ears).  Therefore, I bought a pair of BL1s a few months ago (BL9s too expensive and wife didn't like them), and feel these are quite superior to the BL8000 + BL2 combination.  I don't understand people who say they like BL8000 or BL8000 + BL2 better than BL1.  I have heard that the BL1s need a large room to really sing.  My room is not that large, but it does have a very high ceiling so maybe this helps, because they sing beautifully.  

I've been trying to figure out whether I like the BL1 + BL2 or prefer to keep the BL2 paired with the BL8000s.  I hear a subtle improvement to the bass of BL1s with the BL2 (but also hear a bit more sharpness in the higher frequencies), but now the BL8000s (moved to my office) sound a bit weak without the BL2. 

I think it depends on the price of the BL1s vs BL2.  If the BL1s are not that much more than the BL2, I'd go with them (I paid about 1000USD more for my BL1s than I see BL2s go for on eBay which I thought was an amazing price).  With the BL2, you have a smaller price, but your end result will not be quite as good (but it could be good enough for you, I was quite happy with this combination for many years).  The BL1s are better, but perhaps for TV they really would miss something without the BL2.  I guess I'm with Biele - assuming the BL1 prices is not fabulous, go with the BL2 - you can always buy the BL1s later...

I wouldn't worry about that fact that they are no longer in production.  People still rave on about the BL5000s or Pentas and these have not been available for many years.  My BL1s were manufactured in 2000 (I've opened them up and seen the tags).  The drivers still look brand new.

I listen to music 100% of the time.

Stan