Normally, my wife has been very supportive of my B&O habit.  I've recently gotten an itch for some BeoLab 9s to replace my old friends, the BL8000s and BL2.  I casually pointed them out the other day, and mentioned I might like to get a pair, and she shot me down (even before we got to the price).  She said "they so small, I don't like their look, they don't look impressive - I like your speakers now, they're impressive". 

I do like my current setup, but the weak spots are bothering me more and more... mostly, it's the low end of the power cords found in classic rock music that I find lacking.  No growl.  The mids and highs, I still like, and the BL2 works fine for most of the music I listen to (a wide spectrum of rock, classical and a little jazz).  I rarely find it boomy or slow like many here...  it's that part of the music between the BL2 and the BL8000's upper bass that has been bothering me.  I've always heard this, but only recently has it bothered me...  not sure why.

I'm starting to think maybe Beolab 1's are the solution, but I've never really heard them, and they aren't exactly universally loved.  Since there's no 2nd hand B&O stores in the States, auditioning them would be problematic.  I also think they're a bit too "impressive" for my tastes (possibly for the wife's as well).  I make it a point not to listen to speakers I cannot afford, and I couldn't afford these back when B&O was selling them.

Maybe I should start showing her non-B&O speakers...  and she'll better appreciate the BL9s ...  anybody have any tips for talking the significant other into BL9s?

Stan

Keep an eye out for second hand BeoLab 5's. Look impressive! Sound impressive! Will be worked in and cheaper than new BL5's and slightly more expensive than new BL9's.

May be time to update the wife??

"She said "they so small, I don't like their look, they don't look impressive - I like your speakers now, they're impressive".  "

Now, that's unusual. 
Doesn't sound like the kind of wife, I would replace.

Martin

Oh guys, the BL8000 are such beautiful designs and iconic.   BL5/9s are more like 'things'  I certainly wouldn't want them in my house!

Jonathan:

May be time to update the wife??

But be aware: this can cause other issues LINK

Ralf

kallasr:

Jonathan:

May be time to update the wife??

 

But be aware: this can cause other issues LINK

Ralf

My wife just loves the 8000s, also Bvox 3/5000 is accepted, a big problem is the s45s, s3702, she wants too place nice small nippets on them to make them look "nice", women

 

Jonathan:

May be time to update the wife??

I should have known this would come up and said up front that this is not an option... Note the first sentence "Normally, my wife has been very supportive of my B&O habit".  In my experience, this is an uncommon trait that must not be taken for granted

I just remembered another line from this exchange... I said "but they sound much better", and she says dismissively "you're the only one that cares about that!"

With all due respect to the BL5s, I don't see those ever landing in my home (at least as long as I'm married, and it's been a very good 18 yrs so I don't see this changing any time soon).  To my wife, I think she would think they're impressive in all the wrong ways ... not to mention that they're very, very rare 2nd hand in the States (most of the time I've seen them for sale, it looked very much like a scam - "cash-only and meet me in the alley for pickup"). 

I'm starting to lean toward the BL1's... maybe they're not as good as the BL9s, but that doesn't matter if the 9s are not allowed in the house.  I've always felt they were a bit "over the top" design wise (in fact, I kind of prefer the BL9s because they are less showy, but clearly SWMBO thinks differently), but I could probably get used to them... especially if they sound better.

Does anybody know if the BL1's can be "broken down" for shipping?  That is, do they come apart, or are they each a single (huge) piece.

Stan

I have a similar "problem" in as much as i had budgeted for a Beovision 8-40, SHE decided she didn't like it and we ended up with 7-40, Beolab 6000,8000 and then insisted we buy a Beolab 2! All this because they didn't have a any Beolab 5's(which she is looking for as i speak). If she had a "special" friend my world would be complete

Have you shown your wife the Penta? The Penta and 8000 are close relatives to many people here and have been compared frequetly.

I would love some BL9s or 5s, but there is no way my wife would let me get them either.  She barely put up with the BL3s I have in one room, and thins the BL8000s look like rockets.  Maybe if I had a space ship theme....

If she really does not like the 9s´ I would also go for the 5s´. 

I am soo glad that there is no need to have that kind of discussion at my home.

I'm with your wife and Paul Winn on this. We can talk about quality of construction and sound and vision and integration and all of that techie stuff but surely the real reason we own B&O stuff is that we want to be different. BL8000s are the very definition of B&O - elegant, striking, real conversation pieces - and I have my wife's approval to say this ;-)

"Does anybody know if the BL1's can be "broken down" for shipping? That is, do they come apart, or are they each a single (huge) piece.

Stan"

The bases can be removed very easily.

The base ring can be removed and is rather heavy. The rest of the unit is a solid unit not really designed to be taken apart for transport.

If BL5 are out of the question too bad, but go and listen to BL1! I definitely prefer them to BL9 and also (slightly)to my lovely penta's. Both are great in fact. Anyway, if you already would have BL2, you will have a great system. Btw, my wife agreed for complete new set-up in 2013 when we build our house. Fortunately, she has no problem with BL5, she calls them "the mars men"!