Very well said. I agree with you on the Lab 4 comment.🙂

If comparing the original cost of the BL4 and 2500, yes they both are/were the Beolab entry level... but their sound characteristics couldn't be more opposite. 

The BL 2500 are warm and organic sounding with soft highs while the BL4 have no warmth but great transparency and sharp highs.

They sound as different as they look, two worlds apart 😕

As stated above, the specifications mean nothing! I get to use lots of different studio monitors, Genelec, Adam, Mackie etc. In many ways, the speakers which don't measure out the best often sound the best.

Genelec for instance spend a lot of their time fine-tuning their speakers in an anechoic chamber/scientific lab, whilst Adam do a lot of tuning by ear. I know which I'd rather listen to (and I use both on a daily basis), and which are better at their job; the Adams every time!

The same goes for B&O's speakers. Specifications can lie. Is the SPL of both speakers calculated, or actually measured? What's the %THD at those SPLs? What about the frequency response - are they both measured within the same tolerances (ie, -3dB, -6dB, -10dB)?

Most importantly, wattage doesn't mean anything!!

Questions should be "What makes the BL2500 superior to BL4000"!!!

I`ve had the BL2500 together with the BS2300 for more then 10 years placed on the wall. Maybe it was a top setup, but there was not a single day I was dissapointed (sound and style). I only have had the chance to compare BL2500 next to BL4000 in a B&O shop and of cause it was years ago. I think, I was not very impressed.

You could never ever compare the BL2500 to the tiny PC BL4.

The BL2500 is a killer (budget, style) if you place it together with a BS2300/3000/3200.

It was my first and my best B&O equipment. Shame on me I`ve sold it.

I would not hasitate a single moment if there is a "new" BL2500/BS3200.

I would rate the BL2500 over BL4000, if you owe a BS2300/3000/3200, have limited space/money regarding sound and style.

I would have thought BL4000 would sound better due to more volume in the cabinet etc. Also the ability as previously commented to place them wherever you want a create a large soundstage. They look better than than the 2500 when on their stands either side of a BC3000 etc. 

However I don't agree that they are the best speaker in terms of value for money. I bought some S60's off ebay and an MCL2P, about £100 in total - this totally, imho, outperforms the BL4000's in terms of bass, clearness etc. But then it is all subjective and what one person likes another may not. To make matters worst the S60's hooked up to a BC7700 sound even better than they do through the MCL2P - I don't know if it is because they are being fed from an Avant. The BL4000 are used as rear speakers now with the S60's as front. All four of them on for Music actually sounds quite good.  

Why should the markII beolab 4000 sound worse than the mark I?

Compared to the recent make-over of the beolab 6000 -> 6002 the sound is descibed as improved. Same sort of make-over isn't it?

ajames wrote:

I would have thought BL4000 would sound better due to more volume in the cabinet etc. Also the ability as previously commented to place them wherever you want a create a large soundstage. They look better than than the 2500 when on their stands either side of a BC3000 etc. 

However I don't agree that they are the best speaker in terms of value for money. I bought some S60's off ebay and an MCL2P, about £100 in total - this totally, imho, outperforms the BL4000's in terms of bass, clearness etc. But then it is all subjective and what one person likes another may not. To make matters worst the S60's hooked up to a BC7700 sound even better than they do through the MCL2P - I don't know if it is because they are being fed from an Avant. The BL4000 are used as rear speakers now with the S60's as front. All four of them on for Music actually sounds quite good.  

The amplifier in the 7700 is better than the MCL2P. The 7700 really is a superb machine - in some ways it can be regarded as a music centre 8000 system.

I think speakers are very individual choices - I too like S60s - lots of detail and plenty of bass. I agree that they out perform 4000s. I think with the right amplifier that they outperform 8000s as well ....