Guys,

thank you very much for your time and your answers.

I`d like to change the currend setup BL8002/BL2 because the BL2 does not sound very good with music. I know, some guys keep smiling at the moment, thinking "hotknife you bubblehead, haven`t I told you before, the BL2 is not the ultimate one to go with music, try the PV1 from B&W instead".
Yap, you were right.

Because I have plugged the BL2 into the DSS modul of the BV8-40, I`m able to play with the adjustments incl. the 2 switches of the BL2. Incl. the new setup of the BL2 between both BL8002 speakers, the BL2 delivers a good sound (very, very good for movie, good for music). I think, if you have plugged both speakers into the BL2 instead of the DSS of the BV, you have not the options from the DSS of the Beovision and would receive a very deeply, dull sound. And yes, the BL2 is sometimes slow with music. The main focus of the BL2 is video. If you use it only with video, it is a perfect subwoofer. If you go only for music, do not even think of a BL2. Als already mentioned, we are not able to change the setup without subwoofer only for music, with subwoofer only for video. It do not understand why it is such a problem for B&O to change the software of the BV. It would solve the problem.

To make a short story long.
I started with a BV8-40 last autumn, replacing my BV8-32. After the BV8-40 arrived, I noticed the BV8-40 delivered a very very poor sound in comparision to the BV8-32. The same week I sold my BS3000 with BL2500 (I loved the combination over 10 years, it was my first B&O stuff), because the power amplier had to be replaced. So I liked the idea to use speakers both for the BV and for the BS by using the masterlink.

So I bought the new BL8002 togeher with the BS4 end of last year. Right from the beginning I was not satisfied with the bass of the BL8002. In comparision my old BL2500 deliveryed a better bass in the past, maybe they were placed straigth to the wall. After one or two weeks of decision-making procedure I went for the BL2 (again, yes I`d better bought the PV1, you are right).

Do not understand me wrong. I`m plaesed with the currend BL8002/BL2, but you know "better is the enemy of good". I listened to a pair of BL9 and was of cause exited. So I asked my local dealer for a demo at home. He told me to put a brand new pair of BL9 into my living room for 3 days beginning next Friday (he has to order them). If I`d like the sound, he will take the BL8002/BL2 from end of last year and I have to pay the difference.

If you ask yourself why I did not start with the BL9 first? Because I thought the BL8002 would meet my demand from the start. And if some guys are asking why I do not go a step further and go for the BL5 instead? Because my living room is only 22 m2 and I have to throw away my furniture because of the volume of the BL5.

That´s the whole story. So the final question would be BL9 without/with subwoofer vs BL8002/BL2. I do not want to change the speakers within the next years, so I asked for the additional subwoofer with the pair of BL9.

Take care.

Hi,

you won't miss a subwoofer for music ... for TV/Movies things look different. But i would not spend large amounts on a sub just for occasional TV/Movie-Sessions. Try to get a used Detoma sub ... for 300€ they can be found sometimes ... very good value for the money. If it doesn's suit you ... pass it on for the same money to somebody else ... no big risk.

As to your room/facility ... you might have a critical point with your floor tiles and the very sharp sound of the BL9 ... i hope for good, that it won't be an issue.

Best luck for the testing ... BL9 is an excellent speaker ... as i told you before you bought BL8002 ;-) 

Beoboiinoz wrote:

I'd also mention that in another thread here, David Moulton uses the BL2 with BL3's and feels the combination is fine for music.  I get the feeling that one or two people have felt the BL2 to be 'slow' in the bass, and that then this has translated to objective 'fact' in the forum as regards the BL2, when in fact, it could be simply due to poor placement or other reasons such as poor setup (how many members use an SPL level meter when setting up/balancing your AV system?) such that a less than optimal result gets touted as fact on the forum.

I second that. Dave Moulton states that he does not find BL2 slow for music at all. I think he is the most qualified to comment on this issue.

Rookie,

it´s your fault, because you did not mention when you delivered the BV8-40😎

O.k. if I`m not happy without the subwoofer, I`ll go for a Velodyne or Sunfire up to 2700 W. With the combination I should be able to destroy the whole block of flats😜

DrDimitris,

of cause I will listen to the BL9 with and without my BL2. If there is big improvement with BL2 (everybody tells me "N o" because the pair of BL2 in combination are much stronger, faster than a single BL2), I will keep it. Otherwise I will let the BL2 with the BL8002 go.

Have a nice weekend.

hotknife wrote:

 

Have a nice weekend.

You also my friend  🤒

I do not want to switch "movie with subwoofer", "music without subwoofer". Therefore, I`m in doubt if the BL2 is able to support the BL9 in a general setup audio/video. I think, because the lower frequencies are passed to the BL2 from the DSS and the 10" bass driver of BL9 is unchallended and you only would benif from the ALT.

But just my thoughts, I`m far away from an expert to judge.

Beoboiinoz wrote:

I am under the impression those specs are anechoic - so you could realistically expect the Lab 9's to be closer to 20 - 25 hz in room at -10db and the BL2 perhaps 15 - 18hz again at -10db ref midrange, in room, because of room gain.

Well, I don't think "The Cube" is really an anechoic chamber, so I doubt B&O's measurements reflect what the actual anechoic response would be. As far as I understand it, their frequency response specification is based on some sort of derivation of the speaker's impulse response.

Room gain is a highly dependent factor. Room size and shape, wall/floor/ceiling material and thickness, openings to other rooms, speaker placement... Too many factors to make an accurate guess. Measuring is the only real way to positively know.

To hotknife:

If you have the money to "upgrade" to BL9's and get another sub to go with it, then do it! That's great for you!

If you're not going to be satisfied with the 8002's as mains, then don't teeter on the fence, as it were, any longer.

I'm just saying, if the BL2's integration is what's bothering you, then you need to take the time, or have someone else who can, to come and set it up for you. 99% of the time when people speak of "slow" bass, or "muddy" bass, it can be fixed with fine tuning. Remember: the BL2 uses what...an 8 or 9 inch driver, with two passive radiators? In maybe a half a cubic foot of volume? I bet that voice coil is enormous and LONG!! It's basically a huge inductor. More so than your standard woofer. High self-inductance = poor response in the upper bass. A small enclosure means lots of power will be needed to achieve deep bass, and circuitry will have to compensate for the poor transient response which would otherwise result from the high system Q. It's never going to be the highest fidelity sub ever. Betcha anything the BL2 shines if you lower the Xover frequency and/or the gain, probably both.

It's always fun to have the sub turned up at first, but after listening critically to it, it sounds like garbage. You're going to have the same exact problem with BL9's and Brand X sub if you don't take the time to set it up right. Only then you'll just have 180 degree dispersion of ~2Khz and up frequencies, with some funky polar response through the X-over region when you listen way over there, haha! ;)

It's your money - if you like what you hear, go for it!

Jon

Don't forget one thing, if you buy a pair of Beolab 9, you'll have to wait for couple of month to listen real sound, especialy for bass (it's like a car).