G7Trader, I’m a big vintage speaker fan. In fact, Iv (very opinionatedly) stayed away from speakers made beyond around 1980 or so.
I carried this idea that after the mid 1980s, the “hi-fi war” began to die, whereby the BIG speakers, BIG amps, BIG power, HIGH fidelity (get it, hi-fi) were no longer a priority, while space became more a priority, resulting in the “bookshelf” era, along with portable boom boxes. I thought the days of pursuing the best reproduction of music humanly possible had come to an end.
I recently however went through an episode of a Beovirus outbreak, along with listening to other brands actually. I also got into listening to electrostatic tweeters, and even electrostatic speakers.
I happened on some Beolab 9s which I acquired.
To be completely honest, I just wanted them because of the bargain I was getting, and just to say I own them. I have some beovox and other 70s speakers I told myself would CRUSH anything (other than maybe BL50 & BL90). B&O made after the late 80s.
I have a set of Beovox S45-2 which Iv settled with as my best speakers. Their smaller size, yet great reproduction, makes it score high on many factors.
I have to say, and I’m man enough to admit; I was wrong.
Those Beolab 9s are great.
It gets more interesting. I also happened to acquire some Beolab 8000s. (2 pairs actually. Yes, the virus had a kick.)
I say sir, you are completing wrong. The Beolab 8000s are the most impressive speakers I have ever heard (relatively speaking for their size and design) . There shouldn’t be that level of bass that comes out of those little cylinders. Now yes, it’s not a subwoofer, so I’m not going to sit here expecting subwoofer bass. It’s also not a 104 litre cabinet, with a 12 inch driver, so I’m not going to expect lose droning bass either.
Threads like this had really trained me to believe there is “thin bass” that plagued the BL8000, and that they are just designer pencils not worth considering as actual speakers. I assure you, I almost had a sort of complete dismissal of them actually, before I had even heard them. I love bass. So those BL8000s really rubbed me the wrong way, without even ever hearing them.
What’s even more interesting is that the Beosound CD player the speakers came with, had the bass compensation up to 3 or 4. I actually turned it down to zero, and boosted treble up a little to bring small metallic instruments up.
I am here as a 70s speaker fan, to be a character witness and testify that the Beolab 8000 is an EXCELLENT speaker. Like I said, it’s not a subwoofer, so I’m not going to expect 28Hz coming out of them.
Im also here to confess that I was wrong to dismiss them as nothing more than designer pencils with no sound credibility, and more so, no bass credibility.
Oh, and the BL9s and the whole acoustic lens.... well, common now. Without going electrostatic, that’s the best tweeter you’re going to get. And yes, the modern flagship speakers from B&O I reluctantly have to say, CRUSH anything 70s. I hate to say trust me.
I’m going to be getting a set of Beovox MS150s, so maybe I’ll change my mind 😎🙂
