Beolab test in the showroom

10 replies

It seems that any Beolab speakers below BL9 would benefit from the addition of a sub in order to perform really well in a 40sqm room for music at low/moderate volume. I would like to test several alternatives before buying, but my dealer is reluctant to install several speaker/sub combinations that are not already displayed in the showroom. Therefore, I will need to focus only on a few.

Before I go back to the dealer, could you please help me ranking the following alternatives and tell me whether in your opinion they are worth installing for testing in the showroom:
- BL4000 without sub
- BL4 + BL11 (any better than e.g. CX100 + Cona?)
- BL6000 + BL11
- BL3 without sub

Thanks!

js,

IMO BL6000 + BL 11πŸ˜•

Regards.

Alen

My advice would be to buy from a dealer who isn't reluctant to install several speaker/sub combinations for you to compare!

Puncher wrote:

My advice would be to buy from a dealer who isn't reluctant to install several speaker/sub combinations for you to compare!

Hi

Totally agree with Puncher here. That was exactly how it was when we made our purchase. I bought actually from a non B&O specialist and have no regrets about that.

Good luck

Clakke

Clakke wrote:

Puncher wrote:

My advice would be to buy from a dealer who isn't reluctant to install several speaker/sub combinations for you to compare!

Hi

Totally agree with Puncher here. That was exactly how it was when we made our purchase. I bought actually from a non B&O specialist and have no regrets about that.

Good luck

Clakke

My first thought was, "Wow, find a different dealer."

My second thought was, "That dealer must not be feeling the effects of the worldwide recession to be telling a serious, knowledgeable customer he isn't willing to accomodate his auditioning requests."

My third thought was, "Wow, find a different dealer."

As I type this, my fourth thought is, "Surely this dealer would be willing to meet you off-hours and accomodate all the listening you'd want to do."  Failing that, surely you can find another dealer who would.

I tried and then bought the BL3 without sub. I never missed a sub - but I also never tried one (my wife would not like another appliance in the living room).

I further have BL6000 in my office connected to the Beoport. They are great for lower volumes but miss a SUB for bigger rooms. The sound is very warm.

OK guys, I agree with you regarding the dealer attitude, but I don't have many options for a listening test nearby. Therefore, I would like to focus the discussion on the original question and I would welcome your input/ranking for the abovementioned alternatives:

- BL4000 without sub

- BL4 + BL11 (any better than e.g. CX100 + Cona?)

- BL6000 + BL11

- BL3 without sub

Thanks for your input, that will be much appreciated.

Kind regards, js

Puncher wrote:

My advice would be to buy from a dealer who isn't reluctant to install several speaker/sub combinations for you to compare!

Good point Puncher.

As a dealer, we would always recommend a home demonstration. Then you could audition the set up with your own choice of music in your own accoustic enviroment, in your own time.

Bang & Olufsen still have some great products that sell themselves, all we have to do as a dealer is to provide as good a service as we can.

 

 

Hi,

Still think you should try another dealer. Close to Brussels is a dealer (Hope this is not the one, else I'll have a word......PM me if needed, @Kortenberg approx. 20 minutes from centre of Brussels) I am sure they would be willing to help you. (might need to have an appointment, maybe even get a demo at home)

Back to the ranking….

I do have about 40sqm as well, the BL6000 with subwoofer (BL11) might just be enough. (although I did not like them with BL2, bass was all over the place) They sound great on their own in a smaller room though(12-16 sqm).

BL4000 only, great bass and that in such a small package, better than the 6000's without sub, but never tried them in a room that size.

BL4 + BL11... must admit I have only heard these in a shop not to keen on having them in my living room, with or without sub.

BL3, can't help you with that, although I am quite impressed with the acoustic lens in my current BL9s and other people's reviews, they are on my wish list to accompany my bv10 in the bedroom.

Anyway, if you look at the responses you probably realise it is very difficult to say what the best option is, it is also a bit of a personal opinion ( I might get bitten with this statement...), some people love the BL4000, others are impressed with the BL3. The BL6000 lacks some bass which should be complemented by the BL11, however if you speak to the missus she prefers the 6000's as they are not so 'in your face'  (I am allowed to quote her πŸ˜• )

And ( I know it sounds like a broken record), to come back to the other replies, if the dealer cannot provide you with the setup you prefer to listen to (I mean whatever is technically possible) you should walk away and look somewhere else, it is too expensive to get it wrong. Once you have listened to them in the shop and made your choice, try and get them installed in your own house, any dealer who provides that service sees their customer come back.

 

Good luck

Marc

 

 

Could you please give some more info about your setup? Would be much easier to give some advice.. how will the setup be used? Sure, you want to listen to it, but what kind of music mainly, more background/diner music? Classical? Jazz? Is it your mainroom? Is it just for audio, or will it be part of a video- maybe surround setup?

I`m wondering why the most classical setup: BL8000 / BL2 is missing on your list..? I love it, and maybe not the most expensive setup if purchased as second life.

Soundwise I like BL4000 and they sound great also without sub.πŸ™‚

Better forget about BL4....πŸ‘ Btw, I like The CX100/Cona setup very much. I have it in a linkroom powered by a BM7000. It`s just for music and it sounds great.

I never liked BL6000 much, but with BL11 and maybe wallmounted they are great. I`m thinking about this setup for my bedroom.

BL3 are great speakers I think, but they sound a bit "boomy" in the low midrange/bass. If you add a BL2 it`s a really great setup.

Or get BL5, and you don`t need to think about speakers for the rest of your life...

Stefan

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