Hi Jon
Im actually not sure if the answer is so straight forward.
The Beolab 9s are beautiful, to look at and they sound great... most of the time. I have a pair in my home.
What I would say in determining your speakers you need to consider where they will be placed and what music sources and types you listen to. I actually find my beolab 9s tiring to listen to at times. I'll explain:
- They are in a room with polished wooden floors and over five metres of glass (floor to ceiling) on one side
- Im minimal in my design aesthetic..no pictures on the walls.. its quite bare
- I listen to alot of mp3s and digital music - often i cant find the track in anything more than 320 bit
- Ive changed the settings many times from wall to free to corner etc... only minimal difference
- Treble turned right down
In this situation my sound is often quite 'shrill'. The acoustic lenses always sound to me as if they are turned up louder than anything else.
Playing a CD they sound better, but again do not excel with dance music, everything again sounds a bit shrill and top end. (A function of my room, the acoustic lenses and the recordings or digital music source). If Im listening to a nice Jazz CD or classical they are beautiful.. the sound is crisp, clear and breathtaking.
I dont know this for a fact, but I suspect beolab 8000s/02 may sound a bit warmer given the music I listen to.
I'm a bit frustrated with my sound system given all of the above... I have a couple of options I guess: get carpet! Dont listen to mp3s (which is un realistc as i cant get the tracks I want at a higher bit rate or on Cd), or move to beolab5s or 8000s????
I dont wish to confuse your decision, but there are a number of factors that I believe you need to consider. In the right room though, any of the acoustic lens speakers are lovely. If you're a normal person you probably have 'stuff' in your room and carpet.. so they'd probably sound great. Email me directly if i can assist further?
Best Wishes
David