MKII, does not mean better than MKI ... 

I have 8000. Problem is the size. Even the BeoLab 18 suffer from the same problems as the 8000/8002. 

They are beautiful to look at the 8000/beolab 18, prolonged listening is not tiring, but the HI-Fi is another thing.

The changes were more complicated than just a change of drive units from Mk1 to Mk2 as the crossover configuration was also altered and the speakers went from being a kind of 'two and a half' way configuration to two way.

Beocentral summarises it best:

Many thanks for the information. As mentioned my query is sourced not in upgrading an existing 8000 but rather to see whether buying a non-function pair of 8000's and repairing them with parts from ebay is viable. Looks like there may well be some pitfalls though!

Thanks again for the information.

Adam,

You have confused me with your comments regarding Mk1 to Mk2, as I thought that the change to 2-way configuration was made quite early in the production run of the speakers, (about 1995 according to the serial number quoted) and that the Mk2 came much later.

Perhaps someone could enlighten me further!

Neil wrote:

Adam,

You have confused me with your comments regarding Mk1 to Mk2, as I thought that the change to 2-way configuration was made quite early in the production run of the speakers, (about 1995 according to the serial number quoted) and that the Mk2 came much later.

Perhaps someone could enlighten me further!

 

 

I believe MK2 was around 2003.

I know that B&O did upgrades for customers a few years ago were they modified Mk1 to Mk2. I was once consider it when one of my Mk1 speakers failed and needed repair. In the end I choose not to. The reason why is because I don´t think the difference in sound between Mk1 and Mk2 are that big. I think its better to spend money on a subwoofer if its deeper bass reproduction  you are after.

I've not heard a B&O subwoofer but I note that the problem with the bass from my BL6000's is not that it is not loud enough, it's that it is rather uncontrolled and lacking in definition. I'm mystified as to how adding a sub, no matter how great, would solve this lack of definition particularly when you cannot turn down the bass response in the 6000's/8000's.

But as I said, I've not had the pleasure of listening to one in the flesh.

Puncher wrote:

I believe MK2 was around 2003.

Although I have forgotten most of this, I believe that sounds about correct. Mk.2 got the ABL system, and it was a different change from the "2.5" to two-way configuration. Mine certainly aren't with ABL, and they have the two bass drivers simply in parallel.

I believe I posted the "borderline" serial numbers of different versions somewhere in the archived forum, they are listed in the leaflet that comes with new treble speakers (with the associated protection circuit upgrade).

It would appear that the BL8000 has a complex history (not surprising given the long production run) and that it is not simply a case of a Mk1 model and a Mk2.

Going back to the original post, in upgrading a Mk1 version to Mk2 specification, it looks like there is more to it than a simple change of drive units!