Hiya,

My local dealer had a very good offer for BV7-40 MKII screen and I have since been trying to get a BeoLab 7-1 (a 7-2 won’t fit) for it, but I haven’t found a second hand one in my price range. I have a pair of BeoLab 6000’s so my question is could I use a BeoLab 3500 as a central speaker instead?

The TV is on a table stand so a BeoLab 3500 on its own stand will look fine.

Thanks

Your first step should be here.

[MADSYSTEMES] is a member.

Their website.

Thanks for the speedy reply, so it isn't as simple as just plug it in, change the connections on the TV menu and voila central speaker.

I'll have to check the serial number as I'm not the kind of person whose happy opening up electrical things!!

Nor should you!

I know this has been done. I even found a working version in a client's home once! But it looks like a dead speaker, to me at least, with its display down and is severely underpowered for the task.

I'd put the TV on the wall and put the table stand in the closet until I could find the BeoLab 7 if I were you. The 3500 is a great and useful link speaker and I think you'd regret the switch.

Pardon my ignorance, but shouldn't a central speaker be mono?

One advice:

Don't do it!

The BL3500 isn't designed for that task and way too underpowered. I've heard the BL3500 as center, tried 2 x BL 4000 and finally sold everything and got me a BL7-4. 

In a 5.1 Setup, the voice, conversations,whatever comes from the front, the surround from the speakers surrounding you, so the voice should never disappear in all the effects, so you need a strong & powerful center, which the Beolab 3500 isn't.

Take your time, save some money, go for the right one, you won't regret it

Stephan

I agree with TripEnglish - a great (or at least a very good) link speaker. Wonderful design for what it's meant to be. I have two of these, and I think they would make a terrible center speaker. I've never tried it, but I'm convinced they would dissapoint.

I've seen a 6000 used as a center speaker. There was a small conversion made by placing a cap of sorts on the bottom. I don't remember how it was mounted. I suppose this was a more credible solution, though it was surprisinly not as attractive as I would have expected. I was surprised not to like the aesthetics of the whole set up. It was One 6000 flanked by two 8000s if I remember correctly. I saw this at the Tyson's store in Virginia.

Save up for a proper center and I think you'll be better served.

I think in a very old Beoworld forum there was a picture of an installation like that !

I thought (this was pre-BV7 and the 7.x Labs) that it looked cool ....

Thanks to everyone for their advice, it is very much appreciated - I think I'll just hold on until I find a 7-1 in my price bracket.