anyone had chance to hear the modified speakers,

are they better

malcolm

malcolm welborn:

anyone had chance to hear the modified speakers,

are they better

malcolm

 

To quote Peter from a different thread, -

"Sound quality is said to be unchanged! There are other changes but all done for standardisation reasons. No RCA plugs now".

I doubt that too many have heard them yet; but that will be changing soon.  I understand the claim that the changes were made for pragmatic reasons, not audible ones; but they're doubling and quadrupling the power available, I can't imagine that there are no side effects.  But I will wait patiently to hear for myself.

The maximum Spl measurements are the same so they should be no louder. The 8000 amplifier modules were classed as having a power output of 143W per module - the 8002 is quoted as being 125W.

Now power output figures need to be taken with a pinch of salt - show me 125W going through a 3/4" tweeter and i will show you a burned out tweeter - and I would guess that the usable power is pretty similar. I am sure the reason for this upgrade is to make the speakers more efficient at stand by as much as anything. They go from 1.8W to 0.4W.

B&O themselves have said there should be no audible difference. I actually agree with Russ and think it most unlikely that there is no change but the fact it is not being trumpeted would suggest that this was the not the reason for the change.

See this link for the B&O press release

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/beolab6002-beolab8002-pr

Well they certainly do not look improved with that black dot now intruding on an otherwise seamless design... WHAT ARE THEY SMOKING??

Dave:

Well they certainly do not look improved with that black dot now intruding on an otherwise seamless design... WHAT ARE THEY SMOKING??

That dot looks awful!

I am glad they opted for the ice-power ,i did e-mail B&O technical department back in 2005!!! suggesting the change then after i bought the bv 7-32 tv and listened to the sound ,their reply was not possible to change these speakers then!!.i think i posted that letter then on the old forum!!.HHmmm may buying again and collecting bang & olufsen again

beocool:

Dave:

Well they certainly do not look improved with that black dot now intruding on an otherwise seamless design... WHAT ARE THEY SMOKING??

That dot looks awful!

 

it certanly is!!!

you should consider the ICe improvement rather than the dot :) ,I like the dot ,this little detail makes the front view more interesting... but kinda distracting in the white version...

Is there no lipstick available for changing colour?

you dont need a lipstick

if you find the black dot in white version not so good b&o will offer a button to you , to attach it !!

I still fail to see the attraction that ICE amplification seems to be responsible for. It is great for bass power as the amplifier can be smaller and the heat sinks not so prominent, but for the top and midrange, I cannot see any real advantage except economy of production. Experience so far reveals, to me at least, that ICE power does not guarantee better sound. the other speaker to have been so transformed is the Beolab 4000 - interestingly not called the 4002 - I wonder if they will reconsider - and I would venture that this is simply not quite as good as the earlier Class AB model. I would possibly be more excited by the fitting of an ALT in the speakers - possible I would have thought with the column designs, but this would have necessitated a rather more radical change to the internal structure of the speakers.

I welcome the first A/B trial!

Doctor:

I still fail to see the attraction that ICE amplification seems to be responsible for. It is great for bass power as the amplifier can be smaller and the heat sinks not so prominent, but for the top and midrange, I cannot see any real advantage except economy of production. Experience so far reveals, to me at least, that ICE power does not guarantee better sound. the other speaker to have been so transformed is the Beolab 4000 - interestingly not called the 4002 - I wonder if they will reconsider - and I would venture that this is simply not quite as good as the earlier Class AB model. I would possibly be more excited by the fitting of an ALT in the speakers - possible I would have thought with the column designs, but this would have necessitated a rather more radical change to the internal structure of the speakers.

I welcome the first A/B trial!

I agree about ICE - it has a lot more technical issues to solve than class a AB execution to attain a good performance - it is somewhat impressive that you can even achieve a good performance at the higher frequencies at all! It's major advantages are in power density, efficiency, weight & cost to manufacture.

It is interesting that B&O have made no attempt to claim even a small peformance benefit from the change - in which case all we can expect is that they are the same, at best.

I too look forward to th first (hopefully blind) A/B test.

Well we all know how the "new" beolab 4000's with ICE turned out... They certainly weren't an improvement. BOO B&O. I have no reason to buy new beolabs from new.

I wouldn't wish to denigrate them without listening - I suppose I am just a bit sceptical especially as B&O are not claiming any sound improvements. The good news is that the price is not going up!

Doctor:

I wouldn't wish to denigrate them without listening - I suppose I am just a bit sceptical especially as B&O are not claiming any sound improvements. The good news is that the price is not going up!

Agree, as they also mention new drivers. All I ask is an unbiased review, one way or the other.

It is interesting that the bass response is lowered to 48hz instead of 52 for the older version, mk2.  Question is, is this difference going to be spectacularly audible?  I guess dealers aren't going to have both sets (BL8000 mk2 and BL8002)to switch between to audition.

JontyL:

It is interesting that the bass response is lowered to 48hz instead of 52 for the older version, mk2.  Question is, is this difference going to be spectacularly audible?  I guess dealers aren't going to have both sets (BL8000 mk2 and BL8002)to switch between to audition.

 

Don't worry to much about the quoted numbers - they don't mention how many dB they are down at the particular frequency and so are meaningless.

Puncher:

JontyL:

It is interesting that the bass response is lowered to 48hz instead of 52 for the older version, mk2.  Question is, is this difference going to be spectacularly audible?  I guess dealers aren't going to have both sets (BL8000 mk2 and BL8002)to switch between to audition.

 

Don't worry to much about the quoted numbers - they don't mention how many dB they are down at the particular frequency and so are meaningless.

-10dB down on the 8002, so a rather pointless measurement. Specifications always have been rather meaningless when it comes to hifi speakers and studio monitors!

Doctor:

I still fail to see the attraction that ICE amplification seems to be responsible for. It is great for bass power as the amplifier can be smaller and the heat sinks not so prominent, but for the top and midrange, I cannot see any real advantage except economy of production. Experience so far reveals, to me at least, that ICE power does not guarantee better sound. the other speaker to have been so transformed is the Beolab 4000 - interestingly not called the 4002 - I wonder if they will reconsider - and I would venture that this is simply not quite as good as the earlier Class AB model. I would possibly be more excited by the fitting of an ALT in the speakers - possible I would have thought with the column designs, but this would have necessitated a rather more radical change to the internal structure of the speakers.

I welcome the first A/B trial!

I believe that the BeoLab 9 demonstrates this. It is a hybrid of A/B and D class amplifiers. AB for tweeter and mid, D for bass.

True, but this is because the BL9 is based around the chassis of the BL1 which was just the same. Could well have been done for economical reasons as well as so not to impinge on the BL5.

Puncher:

I agree about ICE - it has a lot more technical issues to solve than class a AB execution to attain a good performance - it is somewhat impressive that you can even achieve a good performance at the higher frequencies at all! It's major advantages are in power density, efficiency, weight & cost to manufacture.

That said, B&O nailed the problems with the Beolab 5. And given the choice between a Beolab 8000 and Beolab 3 I would choose the Beolab 3 sonically...