Every B&O dealer is supposed to offer home trials of the equipment. I would suggest that you get your new dealer to set up a pair of BL9s in your listening room.

When they're in place, do try moving them about to find the best position. It could be that the ones you listened to were set up wrong -- or it could be that the BL9s can't deliver to your musical taste! But the best place to decide is at home.

And speaker placement is crucial. Don't go for aesthetics, go for the sound. I had a dip in bass performance in my BL5s from 65Hz-80Hz. Everything else was registering just fine from 13Hz-200Hz, but I had that dip - in spite of calibration. I moved the speakers 60cm back, along a diagonal from my listening position, and suddenly that dip was gone and everything was fine again. 

I've noticed that the mids on the BeoLab 9s can sound a bit 'closed in' at times, but I think this is just when they haven't been used much (ie, they need to be 'worn in').

Give them a lot of playing, and they'll sound wonderful. They really are a fantastic pair of speakers when set up correctly (which they're quite sensitive to it seems).

Although as Peter says, if you can find a pair of second hand BeoLab 5s, you'll really appreciate the difference. The BeoLab 9s are stunningly good speakers, but the 5s take it to a whole new level...

I think it would be prudent not to recommend BL5s for every occasion. 😁

Consider the kind of music you'd be using them for, and where you'll be using them.

BL5s need space to breathe and be effective - Dave Moulton recommends at least a meter to any back or side wall. The BL9s are quite excellent if you don't have that kind of space - OR - if your musical taste runs in lines that don't require the extraordinary power of the 5s: Jazz, chamber music, small ensembles. If you're looking for speakers that will make your action movies truly boom, symphony orchestras and choral works stand out and rock music pound, then the 5s are the ticket.

I agree with Peter, the BeoLab 5s are just 'invisible'. When listening to them they just seem to disappear, and the bass is only there when it's needed.

The mids are notably more open on the 5s, it's noticeable on almost any kind of music involving vocals.

I see that my post above could be a little more nuanced. My comment was mostly in response to the fact that quite a few inquiries here concerning "What speakers should I buy?" tend to end up with "Get BeoLab 5s!"

Totally agree on the ability of the 5s to create a soundstage that is not anchored in two L/R sources (the speakers). When the recording is good, they create an amazing soundstage with depth and breadth that is quite astounding.

My comment re. the power was that there are kinds of music where this is required, and which the 5s can deliver. There are also kinds of music where it isn't required, and where they would be overkill. I also think that one should carefully consider available space when deciding on speakers. I have seen BL5s in nooks and crannies where they definitely did not belong.

That said, I'm very pleased with my BL5s, but also get a lot of enjoyment out of the BL3s and BL4000s.