Which is better sounding? The beolab 2500 is rated at 98db which should make it louder but does that make it better? Also there is some confusion as towhich beolab 4000 sounds better the one with the ice amp or the older version...

BeoLab 4000 wins every time.  Value for money - i would go for the older 4000's...

Lee

 

Agreed with Lee, the BeoLab 4000 is undoubtedly sonically superior...

The difference in sound is quite huge in my experience, the BL2500 are impressive for their size, the sheer volume and punch they put out, The 4000's are incredible. Very natural, broad and detailed sound.

Lets not forget how they look, the BL2500 are pretty ugly lets face it. 4000's are gorgeous and extremely versatile.

Wouldn't trust the BL4000's mkII with the ICE... apparently this was done for cost reasons, not to improve them - it's the same amp from BL4... 

Like the others I prefer the sound of the older Beolab 4000's. Never heard the mkII version with the ICE amps, but judging on the people who have had the opportunity to listen to them, I would avoid them.

As for the design: a Beosound 2300/2500/3000/3200 or ouverture with a Beolab 2500 on either side works very well. In that case I prefer them to the Beolab 4000's. In fact I have this setup in my small study. Trouble is of course that the speakers are placed very close to each other, but if the room is small enough it doesn't matter that much. If you can, want or need to place the speakers at greater distance, than the design of the Beolab 2500's loose their appeal. The Beolab 4000's are much more versatile in that respect.

Agree with the consensus. 4000s are the unsung stars of the B&O range. They used to make stands so they attached to the BC2500 etc and looked very good.

Peter :

Agree with the consensus. 4000s are the unsung stars of the B&O range. They used to make stands so they attached to the BC2500 etc and looked very good.

WOW really??

The comparison is easy! The Beolab 4000 has way less distortion than the Beolab 2500s. However, if you want to own a part of B&O history, I say that the Beolab 2500 is the way to go. It is the first real active loudspeakers that B&O has ever introduced. The Beolab 2500 is slimmer and does look kinda neat sitting beside the computer. Oh how I wish they still sell them now cos I lost my previous pair in the fire. Not having heard the newer version of beolab 4000, I shall not give you advice no more. 

PS. Something that you should take to account, because active loudspeakers are designed as a system ( loudspeaker units coupled with active crossovers and amplifiers), they can be voiced as a whole which means maybe the newer Beolab 4000s despite its lack of superiority in the power amplifier region can be made up with more advanced signal processing circuitry. Technology did continue to march forward since the launch of the original Beolab 4000s you know.  

thanks for all the replies! wow i didn't know that the beolab 4000's were so appreciated...i think they look amazing in person but for some reason they don't look that nice in photographs...i think that the beosound 2500's look a bit dated with the cloth material...but the later version with the metal covers looks stunning. does anybody know if this version sounds any different to the old version? Aso I'm curious...do the 2500's sound like the century speakers? If so I want a pair. I really like the way the century sounds...i have a beosound 1 but i think that the century sounds better...i don't know why.it's a personal opinion.I think the ebeosound 1 has a lot of treble and bass whereas the century sounds richer.i love the beosound 1 too. if the beosound 1 sounds like a beolab speaker which speaker would that be??

If you apreciate the rich sound, then you'll love the 4000's. It very easy. GO the 4000's!

In my opinion, beosound 1 has excellent sound potential, it is extremely sensitive to placement, but in general the BS1 is frustrating because it is weak, and doesn't like big rooms and being turned up loud. 

Dave:

If you apreciate the rich sound, then you'll love the 4000's. It very easy. GO the 4000's!

In my opinion, beosound 1 has excellent sound potential, it is extremely sensitive to placement, but in general the BS1 is frustrating because it is weak, and doesn't like big rooms and being turned up loud. 

Yeah. Besound 1 benefits greatly from close to wall placement.  

I have seen a photo of BL2500 either side of a BV8 used as a display for a computer. They looked really good as both the speakers and TV lean back at the same angle.

I agree the sound of BL4000 is better than BL2500, but both are great value for what they deliver. 

the reason why i want the beolab 2500 speakers is because  i'm thinking of buying a beosound 3200. it will look great with the bl 2500 (only the version with the metal grill covers).It's either that or  the beosound 4 with the beolab 3 speakers which i have been told are AMAZING. I don't know why i like the beosound 3200 so much i just think it looks amazing and i love the materials used : glass and metal. you are absolutely right about the beosound 1 being sensitive to placement. It sounds fantastic when used on a wall. That is the reason why i never bought the alluminum floor stand-it sounded so much better hung on a wall! i don't think it's weak though...i never put the volume higher than "54" and it sounds great. I think of the beosound 1 as the "secret" product of B&O. It has an incredible price for what's on offer...you get an active speaker,a great cd player and  great design, I think it's the perfect product for someone who isn't too  fussy. I have used it everyday for almost 6 years and it has never had a problem. great product.

Choosing between BeoLab 2500s + BeoSound 3200 versus BeoLab 3s + BeoSound 4? The 2500s are fantastic speakers, but this is BeoLab 3s we're talking about. If you can afford them, go for them!

The Beosound 3200 is a remarkable work of Bang & Olufsen engineering and design. It is well over 25 years, and  the term " timeless " certainly applies here.

I had the same thoughts when I first bought ours, noticing the canted 15 degree design of the BL 2500 would enhance the BS 3200. The salesman at the store however knows my taste in High Fidelity, and allowed me try both the BL 2500 and the new that year BL 4000  speakers, at home in comparison.

There was no contest: The BL 4000 was the clear winner for many of the reasons described above, and accordingly I ordered a pair in gold finished Alu.

I found I could achieve the same effect of the angled speakers with the BS 3200, by purchasing two small B&O black speaker stands for the 4000 series, resulting in the same canted appearance for all. The black stands blend with the 3200, and also serve to conceal the active wires very neatly.

We have enjoyed this combination for many years, until I purchased a 42" Plasma screen and found that the BS 3200 and Bl 4000 also make an outstanding home theatre system.

The speakers now flank the plasma screen, with the BS 3200 immediately adjacent. Thus configured, this system provides outstanding control and sound for SAT TV, multi-region DVD, CD, PC, N.MUSIC, N.RADIO, FM RADIO, and video clips on the PC.

Other than some olde B&O and Grundig tube radios constantly being repaired and serviced, we have never enjoyed a stereo system used constantly and daily over the years without having a single problem. Just the weekly feather dusting for everything.

I hope you are able to make your choice and purchase, and have the same rewards many of us have experienced with B&O for decades to come. 

thanks but even if it will cost me quite a bit more for the beolab 3's  this is a next generation speaker we are talking about...if i get the 2500's it won't be a step forward...the beosound 4 is almost a thousand euros cheaper here in greece than the 3200 which is why i could pair it with the beolab 3's...so it's a no win situation...either set up is really nice!...but the beosound 4 with the beolab 3's is a step forward... technology wise. while the 3200 with the 2500 is classic b&0...

are you sure the design of the 3200 is more or less 25 years old? i don't think so... it sort of resembles the 2500 audio system but that came out in 1991... 

Hi foamy,

I was in a similar position to you a few years ago when the BeoLab 3 was first launched. I decided to opt for an earlier model of the BeoSound 3200 and BeoLab 3. Take a look at the link:

http://forum.beoworld.org/photos/home_set-ups/picture49310.aspx

i dislike the BL3's. Very much so in fact. That's my personal preference, i like the balance of the 4000's - they aren't as crisp, but somehow they're still very detailed. The BL3's are greatly detailed with the soundstage but leave nothing to be desired in the lower register and midrange. There's no OOMPH with BL3's.

 

If sound is important, you NEED an in home demo. It' s only way you'll reach a satisfactory conclusion. I love my combination of the BS4 with BL4000's......

 

BS4 is an amazing product with substantially better sound quality than the 3200 

SWISS_2:

The Beosound 3200 is a remarkable work of Bang & Olufsen engineering and design. It is well over 25 years, and  the term " timeless " certainly applies here.

I had the same thoughts when I first bought ours, noticing the canted 15 degree design of the BL 2500 would enhance the BS 3200. The salesman at the store however knows my taste in High Fidelity, and allowed me try both the BL 2500 and the new that year BL 4000  speakers, at home in comparison.

There was no contest: The BL 4000 was the clear winner for many of the reasons described above, and accordingly I ordered a pair in gold finished Alu.

I found I could achieve the same effect of the angled speakers with the BS 3200, by purchasing two small B&O black speaker stands for the 4000 series, resulting in the same canted appearance for all. The black stands blend with the 3200, and also serve to conceal the active wires very neatly.

We have enjoyed this combination for many years, until I purchased a 42" Plasma screen and found that the BS 3200 and Bl 4000 also make an outstanding home theatre system.

The speakers now flank the plasma screen, with the BS 3200 immediately adjacent. Thus configured, this system provides outstanding control and sound for SAT TV, multi-region DVD, CD, PC, N.MUSIC, N.RADIO, FM RADIO, and video clips on the PC.

Other than some olde B&O and Grundig tube radios constantly being repaired and serviced, we have never enjoyed a stereo system used constantly and daily over the years without having a single problem. Just the weekly feather dusting for everything.

I hope you are able to make your choice and purchase, and have the same rewards many of us have experienced with B&O for decades to come. 

 

That's a really nice story by the way 'SWISS' 

I love happy endings :) This demonstrates what we beolovers love about these products :) 

Foamy;

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION: are you sure the design of the 3200 is more or less 25 years old ?

This is what I was told in Struer, 2005, by one of the B&O executives. It was repeated later again during the same year by the owner of the store in Paris.

wow i'm surprised that you don't like the beolab 3 speaker at all...i haven't heard them so i can't say if i like them however i really do think the beolab 4000 speakers sound great and it seems that they are a favourite here...so the acoustic lens technology isn't so great you think?

if the design of the 3200 is 25 years old and counting which product is it based on? the only audio system i have seen that resembles the 3200 is the audio system 2500 from 1991... 

foamywax:

wow i'm surprised that you don't like the beolab 3 speaker at all...i haven't heard them so i can't say if i like them however i really do think the beolab 4000 speakers sound great and it seems that they are a favourite here...so the acoustic lens technology isn't so great you think?

if the design of the 3200 is 25 years old and counting which product is it based on? the only audio system i have seen that resembles the 3200 is the audio system 2500 from 1991... 

the 3200's design is 17 years old actually (yes, from the BS2500), and i can't wait for it to leave the range.

 

I didn't say the ALT is not a good technology, the ALT is really the only thing i appreciate on the BL3, the detail is perfect, but the overall sound experience to me is weak and not-quite-right. 

very interesting...i will go to the closest b&o store tomorrow and listen to both the 4000's and the 3's..i'm really surprised that you dislike the 3200 i think it's really nice but i will probably be getting the BS4 because it is more modern and because it uses the sd cards....i'm surprised that you don't like the beolab 3's. you sure do sound like you know what you do and don't like!

The BS 2500 or BC 2300 and their successors are wonderful. What a design statement when launched, and still are today!

The BS 4 is in my opinion ugly. It doesn't belong in the B&O lineup. It looks like something of a B&O rip-off.

 The lab 3's are truly great. The lab 3's with the 3200 would be for me a nice second system. 

yes the 3200 and the beolab 3's are both great products but they don't look good next to eachother. They are too different design wise...