Alright, thanks! :) Yeah I also have read that someone put a subwoofer on a huge solid block of wood so that indeed could be an option for the BL9's as well.

I normally used to listen a lot to gothic metal, but also a lot of '80s and '90s pop/rock/metal and lots of bands of which I really wouldn't know what genre they are.
Some songs already have moments in which the bass sounds as if it resonates. (Multiple moments of the Krigsgaldr concert of Heilung. and also the :Live in Berlin's version of Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus, and let's not even get started with Goethes Erben!) Although I think in these cases it's more oversteering/clipping (more bass than the recording eqipment can handle) than actual resonance.
With my Beolab 8002's almost ALL bass quickly sounds like that! It sounds like BWOOMP! BWOOMP! BWOOMP! BWOOMP!  without any detail at all. And with warm male voices like Peter Heppner and Leonard Cohen and such it absolutely lacks warmth and emotion.
I tried using an equalizer on my computer to tweak the sound a bit, but that really only makes things worse.

I have been thinking about testing some Penta's. but they really wouldn't look right here.

I have a BeoLab 8002 paired with a BL 2 subwoofer. My connection is from my Sony TV optical out to Beosound Core, The Beosound Core has a Powerlink connection to the BL 2 and the BL 2 connects to the BL 8002 via Powerlink cables. I set the Core speaker to BL 2 and the BL 2 to the right setting for the 8002.

The sound quality is easily comparable to my neighbor across my flat who has a BL18 + BL 19. So no harshness at all. But the BL 18’s treble is more pronounced and like you mentioned, the BL 8002 has a slightly warmer sound than the BL 18. The one limitation of both the BL 18 and 8002 is the need for a subwoofer. If you don’t use Powerlink, then any subwoofer can be used. I’ve used REL’s with my Beolabs in the past.

Hey, thanks for your input!

I've discussed things with my wife and she really hates the looks of the Beolab 9's, so that's not an option.
We both also really do like the looks of the 8002's. Yeah of course the 18's look better but if we'd get those, I'd turn the treble down 3 steps, haha! :D (Which isn't even possible with our Essence.)

You use yours with the tv? Do you also listen to music with this setup?  I read stories here and on other sites that the Beolab 2 isn't very musical and is more meant for movies. Some people firmly deny this though.
The Beolab 11 supposedly is more musical but I understand it takes away the bass from other speakers and in that case I could just have bought older 8000's instead of these 8002's. Some people say the 11 takes away the bass of the 6000, but is that also the case when you combine it with other speakers? I see you to have teh Beolab 6000 + 11 combination next to the Beolab 2 so you'd be the perfect person to ask these questions to. :-)
By the way; my neighbour here has Beolab 18's and the bass there sounds MUCH better than with my 8002's, and he doesn't have a subwoofer.I still do miss some warmth in the sound there, but the bass that he does have is very nicely detailed.

In fact I do listen to more music than watch TV. Both my beolabs are connected to Beosound Core and I can adjust the bass and treble if I need to, but I find the out of the box equalization to be fine. The Core makes a significant difference IMHO and I have posted about it as well.

In terms of sub, I find the BL2 a perfect match for the BL 8002! It sounds great for music. For a while I had REL and subs B&W subs but based on many A/B tests, I decided to go with the BL2. As far as BL 11 and 2, the BL 11 is a perfect compliment to the BL 6000 and I have them in the bedroom because they are connected to an LG Ultra short throw projector (via a Core) and it looks really nice 😊

There is no comparison in bass IMHO between the BL 2 and 11. The BL 2 is a superior sub in all cases IMHO. The BL 11 fills out the low end of the BL 6000s well.

One thing that is important. When you connect a BL 2 and the  BL 8002, the BL 8002 will sound much better because it changes the crossover. The same is the case when you connect the BL 11 to the BL 6000. IMHO BL 18 is better than BL 8002, but BL Core + BL 2 + BL 8002 is at least as good as BL 18 + BL 19. At least the cost difference isn’t worth it for me. I love the looks of the BL 19, but I find the BL 2 outperforms it in every way. I have no idea why people say the BL 2 is not musical. 

I used to have a mix of gear and only recently decided to simplify with B&O and Apple ecosystem for the entire home (and car). I am generally happy with the outcome.

Maybe you can do the same as I did, make your own sub! It's a really big improvement!

/forum/general-discussion-and-questions/hoe-maak-je-een-zelfbouw-beolab-subwoofer-van-twee-oude-beolab-7-speakers

Hey thanks for your insight! I also contacted the dealer of whom I bought the 8002's and he only said that the 11's are too weak for the 8002's.

Good to hear that the Core makes such a big difference as well. I will then try ro sell the Essence again when my budget allows me to buy the Beolab 2 + core + cables. Or perhaps at  first I wil only buy the sub and then the core.
I also really love the looks of the 18, but if this setup already will sound so good, I have no reason to invest so much more in better looks. My wife and I already love these looks. In fact this looks better in our current interior than the 18. We might have to make some changes if we'd buy the 18.
Does it matter a lot wher you place the sub? I'm in doubt between in a corner next to the speakers, or behind the couch; 2 complete opposites then.

Denboef, klinkt als een Vlaamse naam? Thansk for the tip, but I just want to do things simple. :-)

I have the BL 2 in a corner slightly behind the speakers. In the case of the BL 11, I have it in front of my BL 6000s. I agree, the BL 11 makes almost no difference with the BL 8002, but works well with the BL 6000’s. Good luck!

With respect to bl2 placement, B&O always recommends placing it between your stereo speakers. Corners can enhance the bass too much. The Bl2 does have the corner/wall/free switch that will compensate to some degree. One of the benefits of B&O subs is they must not be hidden away.

If you only watched movies, I don't think the placement matters that much, but for music, you may need to experiment a bit to find the best placement.

I think I indeed will have to experiment a bit, but I already had the idea that it would be best to have them between the speakers for the best stereo image; even though people always say that you can't notice where the bass comes from, I personally do have a different opinion on that. Especially when it's behind the couch (like I asked a bit earlier about.)
People with some standard Sony 5.1 surround set are often very proud of their setup and sound quality and I always act as if I'm impressed, but I seriously hate it when the bass is behind my head and the rest is only treble and some mid-tones.
Indeed, also often when the subwoofer is in a corner I also do hear it come from that direction but in my case it might be a bit different: most of the time I am begint my computer when I listen to music. Perhaps if the sub stands behind the amethist stone here on the left, I could still get a decent sound from the speakers. The closet under the tv basically prevents putting the sub in the middle, unless I put it on top of it, but that will seriously bother me while watching tv and it will also just look wrong.
Another question; that hole on the top of the sub, how easy is it for toddlers to put toys in there? 😁 (Oh and please don't mind the cables; the anthracite cable trays that I ordered for them were out of stock.)

It's very easy for anyone (toddler, adult, cat, etc.) to put things in the hole on the top of the BL2.  It is a hole, just like it looks.  However, there is nothing in the hole.  It's not like you can access the drivers or electronics.  There's just small void to allow you fit your hand in to easily grasp and carry the speaker. 

It you want to worry about something, worry about a) holes being poked (by fingers or tools -pencil, pen, toys) in the exposed drivers or b) tipping over your BL8000s (but, as you know, the BL8000s are not tippy, but that doesn't mean one cannot worry about it 😁).  My kids never bothered with my BL2 or BL8000s much.  So far, the worst that has happened to my BL2 is my cleaning lady scuffed the lower finish by (I assume) knocking it with the vacuum cleaner.  It's obvious when you're down on the floor looking at it, but you can't really see it when sitting/standing unless you are looking for it.