I use MC120.2s with my BM6000, and Beovox Pentas with my BM8000. All units are in A1 condition. For day to day listening at moderate volumes, I prefer the MC120.2s. However, when I want to listen seriously at decent volumes (that might disturb the neighbours) I would always go for the Pentas and BM8000 - there's no comparison in my opinion.

As you know I got both connected to a Beomaster 6000. Recently rebuild as well.

To get a fresh mind I've just pushed PH on the system and the Beogram 6006 plays ZZ top Afterburner side A.

The S80.2 on their own have a lower output and a bit more highend compared to the MC120.2

The S120 (in my case) are louder. The bass a few db louder owerall and to me most of the times not a perfectly balanced speaker.

Combined using a flat eq setting on the Beomaster they even out giving my Beolab 8000 system hard competition in sounds.

The Beolab 8000 system can match the sound of the pair of Beovox S with Beovox M150's alone but lack a bit of owerall volume. The M150 on their own are the most balanced speakers I've had to date. I don't have space for more Beovox's at present but I do know that the MS series are just taller than M150 and I'm fine with that. I know a second pair on the Beolab 8000 system would show the system as the king of the two but I'm happy so far.

I have MC120.2's too - refoamed & recapped and I prefer them in my living room where I used to have penta's. I run mine through a system 5500 and they are just excellent with that beomaster.

I have moved my penta's into my conservatory and attached them to my system 7000 where they perform brilliantly. I am however half way through refurbishing some mint rosewood MS150's and attached the first completed one to the beomaster 7000 and I may have to rethink whether I really want to keep the penta's now! The only problem with the MS150's is the wife test - she hates the size of them 🙁

In conclusion I personally think it is all horses for courses and I absolutely love all 3 of the speakers I've mentioned but for different reasons.

Chris.

Pentas really are good but I think for normal "quiet" listening the MC120's seem to have them beat. That may change as the volume increases but I'm not sure. Bl6000's and Bl8000's definatley have not impressed me as much as the mc120's. As you say though, women tend to prefer the prettier speakers over big old wooden boxes and can imagine more than a few wives being a bit miffed if a pair of M150's turned up.

Oh and if any one has some stands for a pair of MC120's, please let me know. I have some wall brackets but strapping them to the wall would, I expect, not leave me in someones good books!!