Niveau:

Beolab,

I don't agree with you : -) What sounds "nice and smooth" is subjective i agree. I would always meassure on the speakers abillity to get close to recording.

The BL8000 just don't do the job for me ! I had problems with the BL9's also.. missing midrange... But they still outperform the 8000 by miles...

The Dane

Sound is very subjective- if one likes the sound thats all that matters.Its a largely unchanged poorly techically executed product from 18 years ago.

The BL8000 have poorly designed amplifiers with a lot of harminc distortion that should have been upgraded years ago- no mainstream manufacturer could get away with that today- matched to poor quality paper drivers- the only reason why they sell is beacuse they look pretty! One can indeed find a speaker that can easlily outperform the BL8000 for a 10th of the price.

 Of course B& O realise that they have to produce more serious speakers- something with drivers bigger than one would expect in a clock radio- so the BL9 comes along- actually more difficult to find a speaker that offers that performance for less than half the price.

Its open to debate if one likes the BL9 or not but facts are facts and in pure ability they are light years away from bl8000.

 355f couldn't agree more... All the nonsense about purity in BL8000 don't make sense. Yes they are beautyfull... Full Stop !

 The Dane

I think we're being a bit harsh here! The BeoLab 8000s are very good speakers, and can perform to a very high standard and while you may well be able to get speakers which perform better for a much lower cost, you won't find anything out there which looks as good and sounds as good at the same time! They really do sound very good considering what they are.

I agree about BeoLab 9s + purity though, while you could prefer the BeoLab 8000s (which is highly unlikely), there is such a thing as a technically 'good' sound. The BeoLab 9s are an example of technically stunning sound (although very good to listen to as well).

I'd like to see something with the same kind of focus the BeoLab 9 has on sound but lower down in the range.

Alex,

We need to be harsh to get the discussion started. The BL8000 are truly perfection from the designpoint. However people confuse me when they state they actually perform to high standard. Have you ever compared them to new speakers from this century?

PS: I had a pair which I recently swapped to BL9.. I loved my BL8000... but not for the sound though.

The Dane

Haven't compared them directly to other speakers (other than those in the B&O range), but I know exactly what you're talking about! I have a pair of B&Ws myself, which I would say easily outperform the BeoLab 8000s (used with my BeoMaster 6500), and I know the current B&W range very well too.

That doesn't mean BeoLab 8000s aren't an impressive pair of speakers. For a speaker of that size, nothing out there produces a sound like it. I know it could be improved, but it's not what I'd call a 'bad' sound, just a mediocre sound considering the cost, but a good sound considering the limitations of the design (which is part of the reason for their popularity, a lot of people want good sound but really don't want their lounge to be taken over by boxes).

BeoLab 3s and 9s are much more impressive IMO though...

It doesnt sound that the BL 8000s is worth the money among some in here!

I think that B&O need's to focus more on the sound in their future line up, rather than the look couse that's something they already have!

Even if some people (like me) are in love with their design im sure that we wont bring B&O in our life if

they doesnt start to compare their self with other brands..

Take B&W for an example, is there anyone in here who actually has listen to their model XT4, it has the look & sound. For less money.............

B&O cant afford to follow the same path that they for so long have travelled,, they need a new path.

"IMO no, and it's not the lack of bass. There are some great speakers out there with a 'lack of bass', but they still sound fantastic. BeoLab 6000s just sound very dull and boring overall. They're seriously impressive for their size though, and make great surround sound speakers as long as they aren't firing into the back of a sofa (which they usually end up doing)."

I do not agree. Soundwise the 6000 is the most balanced one of the 4000, 6000 and 8000. You may find that "sounding boring" but I think it means that the 6000 does not stress high, middle or low frequencies. I agree they do lack a bit of power in the low end, but a good sub (like REL Quake) improves a lot.

Thank's everyone for your replies....

//mAtHiAs