Best woofer in the house ?

19 replies
EL
Offline
elephant
BronzeFounder
Posted April 14, 2015 at 22:54 GMT
#2039455

This is a serious question about (sub-)woofers and not dogs.

Aussie Michael has got his BL19 but we have yet to hear (lol) from hm on its audio characteristics eg music audio versus AV.  I am on tenterhooks for feedback as I am trying to decide whether the BL19 is the right buy for me at the moment.

We all know the BL2's reputation for being great for AV explosions but flabby for music- maybe in some situations all it ever needed was playing around with switch settings.

Yesterday I again reorganized rooms and brought our BL11 back to the BV8-40 prior to me pulling the trigger on the BL19.  I was surprised at how good it was this time -- it seemed more present, where as there were times previously when it seemed invisible/inaudible.

Admittedly I was testing using Netflix movies -- just playing a few title sequences to see their special effects.

When I played music I actually had a few tracks (I think it was the "All Angels") where the BL11 detracted from their singing by adding orchestral reverberations I had not previously heard.

(it maybe that this was due to the position setting not being adjusted FYI this room is 3.7m X 5.5M with the listening arc being on the shorter axis)

None the less I was left thinking "this BL11 is pretty d* good !" and "maybe I don't need a BL19 after all".

So I then looked at their specs (oh you audiofool you):

  • BL11
    • 1 X 200W D class amp
    • 2 X 6 1/2" drivers
    • 33 - 300 Hz (high end; adjustable)
  • BL19
    • 2 X 160W D class amps
    • 2 x 8" drivers
    •  ?? - ??? Hz
  • BL2
    • 1 X 850W D class amp
    • 3 X 10" drivers (or is it 2 X 230mm ?)
    • 23 - 120 Hz (high end; adjustable)

So based on your audio and AV experiences which do you think is the better woofer sonically and which is the dog 😁

B(
Offline
BeoMegaMan (archived2)
Bronze
Posted April 15, 2015 at 03:06 GMT
#2039456
I would consider a S8/BL14 sub only over a BL11/BL2 any day. I do love the design of the BL11 however.
EL
Offline
elephant
BronzeFounder
Posted April 15, 2015 at 06:28 GMT
#2039457
BeoMegaMan wrote:

I would consider a S8/BL14 sub only over a BL11/BL2 any day. I do love the design of the BL11 however. Ah, you know... A little B&O here, a little there

I forgot about those options !
Millemis
Offline
Millemis
Bronze
Posted April 15, 2015 at 08:00 GMT
#2039458

The room, the size and the acoustics of the room is very important, when we talk about 'which' sub is the best.

Some people seem to neglect that - and focus on specs too much.

And then there are the personal tastes - want to listen loud, or not?

More for movies (with multichannel audio) or just for music - which kind of music.......

MM

Location: Flensborg————Danmark

EL
Offline
elephant
BronzeFounder
Posted April 15, 2015 at 08:46 GMT
#2039459
I gave the size of the room.

I neglected to say it has 3 x 2 people couches, carpet, curtains, 4 large bookcases, and so other items - all wooden.

I mentioned two classes of music: opera et al singing (specifically "All Angels"), and the other being Jazz.

I might try some Beethoven etc tonight.

Still interested in hearing others' opinions -- especially those who have been lucky to have had two or more BeoWoofers
AK
Offline
Alex Killpartrick
Bronze
Posted April 15, 2015 at 20:21 GMT
#2039460

The BeoLab 2 uses passive radiators, which have a significant impact on group delay, not easily quantifiable in published tech specs, but group delay seriously impacts our perception of the bottom end.

 

Group delay means certain frequencies are delayed in proportion to others, or are reproduced later than others.

C(
Offline
Chris (archived2)
Bronze
Posted April 15, 2015 at 21:01 GMT
#2039461

No doubt BL19 but...

I found placement in the room is critical for music. Bass was very tight, clean sounding with great fast attack on my first set up (Mac mini with Audirvana+), now after replacing this setup with the Moment I'm still on the slide with the woofer to find again that specific tight punchy transient sound. I felt shifting the woofer by a couple of inches more or less to the wall or corner gives a different spectrum.  It's all very much up to personal preference and genre.

EL
Offline
elephant
BronzeFounder
Posted April 15, 2015 at 23:07 GMT
#2039462
Killyp wrote:

The BeoLab 2 uses passive radiators, which have a significant impact on group delay, not easily quantifiable in published tech specs, but group delay seriously impacts our perception of the bottom end.

Group delay means certain frequencies are delayed in proportion to others, or are reproduced later than others.

Best technical explanation ever for the often heard "complaint" about the BL2
Millemis
Offline
Millemis
Bronze
Posted April 15, 2015 at 23:13 GMT
#2039463

elephant wrote:

Best technical explanation ever for the often heard "complaint" about the BL2

🤒

MM

Location: Flensborg————Danmark

EL
Offline
elephant
BronzeFounder
Posted April 15, 2015 at 23:13 GMT
#2039464
Chris wrote:

No doubt BL19 but...

I found placement in the room is critical for music. Bass was very tight, clean sounding with great fast attack on my first set up (Mac mini with Audirvana+), now after replacing this setup with the Moment I'm still on the slide with the woofer to find again that specific tight punchy transient sound. I felt shifting the woofer by a couple of inches more or less to the wall or corner gives a different spectrum. It's all very much up to personal preference and genre.

" Believe nothing you read and only half of what you see, let your ears tell you the truth. "

Thanks Chris

I think that's the difference between my two usages of the BL11 with the BV8.

First iteration was roughly the same position but on carpet and in front of the cupboard that the BV8 sits on.

Now it's to the side of the cupboard, on floorboards (laid in 1879), and in an "alcove" U made from the BV8 cupboard, bookcase, and another cupboard of DVDs. I think those are the factors for the BV11 becoming more audible and omnipresent.

Still interested in how much of a difference the BV19 would make.
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