valve1 wrote:

Swings and roundabouts !

Guess who has all the sunshine...... :-)

Beoboiinoz wrote:

I tend to feel that's an especially valid point for Razlaw to consider re his evalution of the 9's v's the 5's.

I have a pair of lab 9's and regard them as the not only the Best loudspeakers I've ever owned, but amongst the finest that I've ever heard - as they're new both literally, and to me, I'm still getting used to them - and have been finding that the performance is often off the scale re their diminutive size and looks, and easily exceeds my expectations of them from the showroom demos, now that I have them in my own home.

However, the fact remains that the Lab 5 is technically the better speaker, and even in my space of 5 x 4 metres, I'd have a pair and put the 9's to the rears as surrounds had I the funds to do so.

I've found the LFE abilities of the Lab 9's so prodigious, that given my past experience in HiFi, I've had recovering audiophile anxieties about the ability of the 9's as a mere 'HiFi' speaker and not high end subwoofer, to be able to deliver the sort of LFE performance that they do, and survive both mechanically and thermally.

I started a thread about how ABL works and protects the speakers, and also a couple of queries about the use of loudness compensation, and whether my setup of V1-40 + pair of Lab 9's would benefit from the addition of a dedicated Beolab 2 subwoofer, and am greatly indebted to the exceedingly helpful replies of members, and especially to Geoff Martin from B&O.

In other threads I've read of how the bass capabilities of the Lab 5's exceed the Beolab 2, but thought that the addition of a Beolab 2 would ultimately lift my setup with Lab 9's to another level - but no, it appears that even the Lab 9, is broadly as capable as a Beolab 2 in the bass, and in a stereo pair, even slightly more capable.

I would note that in an AV setup, movie LFE can go to extremely loud and at very low true infrasonic frequencies; the Dinosaur foot-stomps in Jurassic Park for instance are around 5hz, and atypically re Dolby specs, a LFE channel is expected to be able to reproduce 115db peaks - the extra 10db needed as it is mono, and to balance out the SPL levels with the main channels which are required to produce 105Db peaks as per Dolby specs.

In so called high end separates, home theatre setups, the top performance subs could be rightly be assigned to the likes of the digital drive, motional feedback Velodynes; the JL Audio Fathoms etc; - all state of the art re bass/LFE performance - yet, the Beolab 5 is able to match them in the bass re both frequency extension and output level - an absolutely stunning achievement for a so called HiFi speaker, - let alone a dedicated high end specialised sub woofer, and an achievement it's well worth mentioning, that no high end passive speaker that I'm aware of can match.

Personally, unless I was absolutely sure I would never move house; that I was going to stay in a particular dwelling until my time in this mortal world was up, and I had the necessary funds, I'd have a pair of Lab 5's over a pair of Lab 9's in a heartbeat.

Hope this helps - I'm delighted with my 9's, but the 5's are still the technically better speaker overall, and whilst they might not benefit from your present space, I would think they would still outperform the Lab 9's on movie LFE, or if you listen say to a lot of classical pipe organ, even in a smallish space - perhaps something to try out?

Kind regards

John...

Hi Razlaw

Can you notice any difference in bass level when watching movies? The BL5 goes "deeper" and has a much more powerful bass than the 9's. I.e., I still like to have the BL2 connected to my TV together with my 9's, as I like the "rumble" of the BL2 in movies.

By the way, didn't you also have the BL2 once?

beolion wrote:

Hi Razlaw

Can you notice any difference in bass level when watching movies? The BL5 goes "deeper" and has a much more powerful bass than the 9's. I.e., I still like to have the BL2 connected to my TV together with my 9's, as I like the "rumble" of the BL2 in movies.

By the way, didn't you also have the BL2 once?

The biggest difference I hear in the bass is that the 5s are much tighter, the bass starts and stops instantly. As for going lower, I know they do but the difference I hear is not that great. I have a Velodyne 12 inch sub in the room with the 9s although I have it disconnected. I find I like the bass from the pair of 9s better than what I get from one sub. I did try out a Beolab 2 in my other room with my Beolab 1s and did like it but did not buy it.

I have now turned the loudness setting to ON and am liking the 5s more. Dealer is coming to get them on the 25th so I have more time to listen to them.

I have enjoyed following your experience with the 5s.

I have a pair with 3s in the rear and LOVE them.

I use them as Speaker 2 when listening to music and they quite simply blow me away.

I have a close friend with 9s and 3s and can tell you that there is a noticeable difference that only time can reveal.

The LFE (in movies/explosions/etc) is stunning with the 5s.  I have paired the 9s with them in the rears as a demo -- - WOW

unfortunately, couldn't pull the trigger on the 9s i ended up buying a bv10 for a guest room instead..

I have a 2006 or 2007 pair and would not trade them for anything in the current lineup.  I have a beolab 2 with 8ks in another room

and enjoy it but i think the bass on it is "sloppy" when compared to the 5s.

What has been your experience with the 5 bass versus the 9 bass?? I read you thought it was tighter  . .. interesting to me. .

I have found the 5s to be much tighter in the midrage with the dedicated midrange speaker.  .the bass i have always thought

was looser in the 5s and much more of a 'punch' with the 9s?

one other thing. . .i think the 5s 'feel' louder than the 9s. . i don't know what your volume level is but when the 5s get up to about 78-82 in volume

i really 'experience' the music. . that is feel every snare in my chest. . .which i personally thoroughly enjoy. .. i'm a loud listener. . 

just my thoughts. . .thanks for sharing your experience!

Jered

I've had BL9's but i changed them(only because of looks, not quite my taste) to a pair of BL12..
The sound is very much alike, but on my BV11 i like the BL12-3 better.. I had and buzzing sound coming from the tweeter on my BL9s, that is gone on the BL12-3, also they sound a bit more detailed.. However, i tried the BL12-3 as back and BL9 as front and it worked perfectly for me :)! Though i only did it because my dealer hadn't picked up my BL9.. I would personally prefer BL12-2 as back because the BL12-3 is a tall speaker, and you don't need the bass response on back speakers so 1 bass driver should be enough 🙂 

AS wrote:

I've had BL9's but i changed them(only because of looks, not quite my taste) to a pair of BL12..
The sound is very much alike, but on my BV11 i like the BL12-3 better.. I had and buzzing sound coming from the tweeter on my BL9s, that is gone on the BL12-3, also they sound a bit more detailed.. However, i tried the BL12-3 as back and BL9 as front and it worked perfectly for me :)! Though i only did it because my dealer hadn't picked up my BL9.. I would personally prefer BL12-2 as back because the BL12-3 is a tall speaker, and you don't need the bass response on back speakers so 1 bass driver should be enough 🙂 

Thanks!  I have been thinking that if I do decide against the 5s, as I currently think I will, I will want to replace my rear 4000s with either another pair of 9s or 12s. I was thinking the 12s are the way to go, less cost  than 9s and can wall mount above the furniture. Very glad to know they work well with the 9s.

I have been demoing the 5s in my house now for 3 1/2 weeks. I have them for another week and a half. I am starting to rethink my opinion and may want a pair. Since turning "LOUDNESS" to "ON" I find I am liking the much better than before. The question is whether I like them enough better than my 9s to justify the cost.

Question: Speakers I am demoing are a 2007 pair that have been in the store since 2007. They have been moved around for in home demos etc. 

Any thoughts on buying the demos? Anything to look out for? Any changes been made since 2007 such that new ones would be different?

Thanks!