Hello,

I just buy a all new set of Beolab 8000... and I don't know if I not preferred in fact, a  pair of beolab 1 (so beautiful). Is there anyone about comparison between Beolab 8000 and Beolab 1 ?

 

Thank You 

The BL1 are IMO without any doubt superior to BL8000, but the sound difference is not the same as the price difference. IMO, BL8000 is better value for money, but I have only had the occasion to compare them at my dealer...

Beolab 1s tend to polarise opinions. They have a superb top end which can appear quite cold and clinical and despite their size, lack ultimate bass despite having 400W powering the bass speakers. They are also huge! If offered a pair for a similar price to 8000s, I would snap them up. they were too expensive new. The Beolab 9 uses the same basic electronic chassis but has a much bigger bass drive unit.

Personnally, I prefer BeoLab 8000 to BeoLab 1, I listened to them a couple of times in the same setups, and can't accept to pay such a high price for the sound of BeoLab 1, that I find extremely cold, metallic and surgical, with almost no bass despite the same amplifiers as in BeoLab 9. I find BeoLab 8000 much warmer and as powerful at normal listening levels, not to mention the design that is in my opinion one of the best ever (with BeoLab 5000!). If you have the budget for BeoLab 1, I would suggest BeoLab 9 or BeoLab 8000+ subwoofer, that would be way better on the whole frequency range.

I think the 1s are huge and if they are not going to fit into the rest of the home then avoid them, regardless of sound quality. For me B&O is more about interior design and matching over the sound quality. At least, that's why I personally buy into the brand but many others will have different reasons. The 8000s are superb speakers and I think the sound from them is pretty much spot on. For most people's homes they would be the perfect choice. The 9s which are obviously more money are a better speaker and I was very impressed by them when I first heard them, but I was possibly more impressed by the 3s because the sound those things produce given their size is amazing. It had a definite edge over the 8000s and a noticeable one. This is where B&O come into their own with speakers, you just can't make a wrong choice because the whole speaker range is fantastic in my opinion, apart from the 4s - the PC speakers but you wouldn't consider those for this kind of setup anyway. I have heard the 1s several times over the years and I don't like them for the same reasons mentioned above. They are a bit tinny and empty sounding and lack some punch. But speakers really are personal preference because many people like that kind of sound and I have heard that they sound fantastic with a BeoLab 2 subwoofer (I have never heard them with this) so you really do have a lot of options. Since I owned the 8000s for about several years I know how much I loved those and most people would be more than satisified with the sound they produce. Let me just say that if you can accomodate the 1s and the design integrates well and looks good in your home; and if you like their sound (with or without the sub) then definitly do consider them because the design is still lovely and makes a hell of a statement, but I am guessing that at that size they'd stick out like a sore thumb in many people's homes.

All the best.

Simon.

Time to nail my colours to the mast!

I think all column speakers are a compromise. I think if you want the best sound quality,  you need to look elsewhere. That goes for all the small volume columns including the Beolab 1, 8000, 6000 and I dare say the Penta. The Penta does have more volume but still has small bass units, all be it 4 of them. The Beolab 5 and 9 are far better though I do have reservations about the 9. This is possibly due to the way it has been demonstrated to me .

Small speakers are also a compromise but a more honest one. The 4000 is a small speaker but which performs well in relation to its size. It does not pretend to be anything but a small speaker though. I like small speakers - I am not a fan of lots of bass for most listening and the loudness extension inflicted by most Beolab speakers does little for me. (4000s included). I tend to use passive speakers and a good amplifier because then I know that I am in control of what I am listening to.

For serious listening, I use either my M100s (rarely at present!) or my BBC LS3/5as with AB1 sub-woofers. These have the advantage of small speaker sound with bass extension provided by the AB1s in a linear fashion. Would still be regarded as relatively bass light by most people. The midrange and abilities with vocal performances put my Beolabs to shame.  

The only exception to this would be my Beolab 3s which at the volumes I listen to are wonderful. I use CX100s for gentle listening as well but don't regard them as Hi-Fi either! Due to good placement they give good imaging though and, as said before, I like the lack of bass!

Of course none of the speakers mentioned are a patch on a decent pair of headphones!

My point? Chose the speakers you like, both aurally and visually and be happy with them. I have Pentas in my main room and I like them - but I wouldn't tell anyone that they are better than another make. (Except Beolab 5000s to wind up Graham!) The only person who can choose your speakers is you and the choice will be due to lots of unique factors which others cannot predict.

 

Peter:

The only exception to this would be my Beolab 3s which at the volumes I listen to are wonderful.

I'd concur. I really like my BL3's. They sound even better than before, since I took the BL2 away from my BS4 + BL3 setup. The BL3's now sound 'cleaner' and can be pushed hard as required, for a two-bed apartment. I wouldn't really need anything more than BL3's in that environment. The other bonus is that the BL3's are relatively small, which means that you can locate them fairly conspicuously and cables go through the vertical floor stands, too.

Moved the BL2 to the BV7-40 setup and I'm forever lowering the volume in movies. BL2 for movies makes a massive difference. Too much of a difference if you have an apartment ;)

Unfortunately when these questions are asked the dialogue tends to take off with suggestions that you look at different speakers in the B&O lineup, which does not address your specific question , besides I assume you would be purchasing a pair used, so the price comparisons are not realistic.

I have both the BL 1's and the BL 8000, in different rooms and the price I paid for the closing store demo BL-1's is relatively close to the price of new BL-8000's today.

I see what some are say about the BL 1's not having the bass expected from such a large speaker, but the BL-8000's lack bass as well, and more so than the BL-1's IMO.  

I can say without a doubt the BL-1 sound better to me than the BL 8000, playing the same music and I now tend listen to the BL-1's more.  Next to the BL-8000's, I think the BL-1 is one of the best looking speakers B&O produced, but they are big, so having room for them is important.

My dealer recently let me audition a BL-2 with the BL-1's for a week and that combination really allowed the BL-1's to relax at higher volumes (or in simpler terms.... WOW!) After I taking the BL-2 back, I can still say the BL-1s sound better than the BL-8000s.  But I now want the BL-2 just to allow the BL-1's to really shine, which these silver giants already do!

Hope this helps.

 Roger

I agree with Peter on this one.

I usually tend to prefer a slightly bass light sound, and while this is what the column speakers all provide by nature, they also lack extension (being able to play deep bass) which just tends to make them sound a little lacking. I also find the upper bass a little boomy and vague on say, the 8000s.

BeoLab 3s are to my ears, much better defined speakers at all frequencies. I would personally choose BL3s over 8000s without much thought.

Peter, I know you hold some reservations against the BL9 due to bass boominess (or however you would want to describe it) and this is definitely down to how they were set up. When they've been set up correctly, the bass is beautifully smooth (although not quite the same as the 5s).

Cfap,

Sorry I failed to do so in my previous post, Welcome to Beoworld it's a great place to share your love for all things B&O..

Once again, chose what "you" prefer considering sound and design. As you can see your question is still alive yet its being diverted away from the two speakers you specifically inquired about, and in to someone elses opinion as to what "they" like, why they like it and at times it seems why you should like it too (it happens a lot on audio/video forums). Don't be afraid to have your own opinion and like what you like for the reasons important to you.   

I respect the opinions expressed here and when everyone raved about the BL-3's I was excited about hearing them. When I was ready to make a purchase I  auditioned them along with the new 8000's and BL-1's(BL-9's were not available).  Saw them, heard them, and was not overly impressed with the sound or appearance. Based on everyones glowing reviews I guess I expected too much from them and was let down. In the end, I bought what "I" liked and have never regretted it.

To all of us loyal B&O fans on Beoworld, if its B&O and its yours, its ALL good and it's ALL fun, so enjoy it!

If you go on forums outside of Beoworld be warned, they will tell you to stay away from anything B&O and try to sway you to the dark side of coffin box speakers, mono block amplifiers, solid titanium speaker wire with 18ct gold connectors and other thingamajigs as what you really need to achieve ultimate smooth, tight, warm audio nervana zzzzzzzz.

Roger