Hi

I had firstly a mk2 pair and wasn't impressed at all. Recently I bought a mk1 pair for a low price and was astonished by the quality of highs and mediums.

i didn't know the technical difference mentioned by beocentral, that's interesting and to my ears they sound finally pretty good if you don't ask them too much bass.

they are from 1995 and work perfectly. 

Buy a pair of Mk1's and turn the bass up on your music source one notch. Hey presto - 'bass enhanced' !! ❓

The Mk2 are newer... to my ears, that's it. 

I hear lots of 8000's - and you do get the odd pair which just sound 'better' than the others, Mk1 or Mk2, but I've no idea why.

Lee

I bought a pair of used BL 8000 in 2004, serial No. 15xxxxx should be year 2001, dont know if this is MK1 or 2, but as Lee mentions a little more Bass and they sound very good, depending on your source, I drive them with my BS 3000 bought new 2002, Some CDs needs fiddling with the sound others not, radio stations blare out a lot of bass to the delight of people with ear buds or bad car stereos. I love this set up as do my wife, used only for CDs and radio.

Hi. 

Thank you for you posts. It is kind of a dillemma. Sound quality or newer speakers. But as far as i Can tell buying unseen from auctions is maybe to riskey no matter what mrk i choose.

mogens 

Hi. 

Thank you all for you posts. It is kind of a dillemma. Sound quality or newer speakers. But as far as i Can tell buying unseen from auctions is maybe to riskey no matter what mrk i choose.

mogens 

I unfortunately can't compare. I only have one pair of MK 1 8000s, which I'm very happy with. However, what I can state is that Pentas seem to vary quite a bit. Only my 4th pair was up to expectations and this one's also one of the older MK 2 pairs.

Greetings,

Kai

If I were you I wouldn't worry about Mark 1 or Mark 2. Buy on condition, and on what sort of life they've had.

So many people get wound up on what year something was made, or what Mark they are. Buy the older mint pair over the newer scratched pair. Buy the one's used by a little old lady over the ones used in a teenager's bedroom.

Differences between Mark 1 and Mark 2 speakers are often negligable, and you probably wouldn't know there was a difference if no one told you!

I think what I would say here is let your own ears decide. It is always subjective asking for speaker advice, everyone hears differently and has different expectations. The lab 8000 is not an audiophile speaker but In the right conditions and set up can be a very accomplished speaker none the less. Set yourself a maximum budget and within that  go and listen to mk 1 and 2's if you can. 

Graeme

9 LEE wrote:

I hear lots of 8000's - and you do get the odd pair which just sound 'better' than the others, Mk1 or Mk2, but I've no idea why.