Over the past year (even 6 months maybe) there have been a lot of these kinds of comparisons.

Alex is a very knowledgeable contributor to these - try searching for posts by Alex, and you will find the threads for sure.

If your only would like to obtain deeper frequencies and release your BL3, a subwoofer would be a option. But I would choose sub`s like PV1 from B&W or microvee from velodyne before BL11. Or go for a BL2 (but only if you are using the DSS of a BV, otherwise you are not able to adjust it proper).

I bought the BL8002 because they sounded better for me than the BL3 (warmer, not so technic) and upgraded a view weeks later with a BL2. I did not choose the BL11, because I was not convinced of its pressure. A view weeks later I traded the BL8002/BL2 combo for a new pair of BL9.

I can tell you, that the BL9 is so much better than the BL8002/BL2 combo. If the BL9 is 100%, I would rate BL8002/BL2 only approx. 65%. And because for me the BL8002/BL2 sounded better than the BL3/BL11, I would only rate it 50%.

So, to make a short story long: Adding a sub to your BL3 is much better than listening without any sub. But you will not even come close to the "sight distance" of the BL9, even by adding a BL11 to your BL3.

But always keep in mind, that you always have to hear every speaker at your home.

Thanks.  That is exactly the type of comment I was looking for.  My problem is that I have the BL3s and the BL11 would fit in the room perfectly.  On the other hand, if I go all the way to the BL9s I will have to rearrange all furniture and am not yet sure how to do it (and that's before talking to my wife...).  It's a dilemma!

A very nice dilemma though..  😕

Lee

🙂

PS - Rearrange the furniture and go for the 9's.. they're brilliant.

Afcintra, I`ve had the same sort of discussion with my wife too. A man has to do what a man has to do!

But believe me, the BL9 do not need that much of space. My living room is only something like 23 m2. Take a closer look.

http://forum.beoworld.org/forums/t/32101.aspx?PageIndex=40

Interesting comparison IMO! The BeoLab 3 + 11 combo gives you a little more flexibility of placement, and visually I prefer it (I love the BeoLab 3 in appearance).

Both are excellent sounding setups, and I've heard both. BeoLab 9s are ultimately better, but the BeoLab 11 is arguably a little tighter down in the lowest frequencies (even if it can't push out as much of them). BeoLab 3s are also a little bigger in the lower-mids than the BeoLab 9 IMHO so if you like your vocals to have a nice warm presence, the BeoLab 3s will tend to accentuate this, especially when placed near a wall.

Just my 2c. The BeoLab 9 is undeniably better all round than the 3 + 11 combo, but they're both excellent sounding setups! What are you driving them with?

elephant wrote:

Over the past year (even 6 months maybe) there have been a lot of these kinds of comparisons.

Alex is a very knowledgeable contributor to these - try searching for posts by Alex, and you will find the threads for sure.

I've gone all red! 😂 How very kind of you!

Afcintra,

ask your local dealer for a BL9-demo at home. The difference is so uge to other speakers, you will not let the BL9 go.

Take a closer look to the link below. Normally they will try to shoot any B&O product down in flames.

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/Userfiles/File/Press/Lab-report_BeoLab9.pdf

Alex,

I am driving them with a Quad 99 CDP, which is a cd player that also works as a preamp.  I use it to listen do CDs and Apple lossless files through an IPOD and a Wadia 170i.  This set up sounds great with the BL3s but as I said I would like to have some more presence and I believe that a subwoofer might to the trick.

Try it with the BeoLab 11 then! I know a lot of people have recommended the Velodynes etc... but I really do think the BeoLab 11 is a fantastic subwoofer. Very, very discrete, tight and musical! Okay it's not going to put any cracks in your plaster, but you can't really push BeoLab 3s loud enough to make a big powerful sub worthwhile.

BeoLab 3 + BeoLab 11 is a match made in heaven!