I have always desired (need sounds like such as harsh word) a BL2 - but it had always been hard to justify the $3000US or the risk of ebay.  Though I am in a mood to treat myself, I look thru all of the adds or 5.1 audio systems to connect to my TV - many of which are a fraction of the price from pretty good manufactures (Onkyo, Sony, Philips - to match my TV, not to mention Boss).  I already have a 3200 and BL8 connected which sound great, but......well it is a lot of money....

 

thoughts?

 

-michael 

Take it you mean Beolab 8000s. I have a very little experience with a Beolab 2, but having heard Ed's I would highly reccomend it.
Ask a local dealer if you can hear one in your own home. You will be gobsmacked!

Andy T.

The BeoLab 2 is very good, especially if you enjoy movies. It'll really deliver the punch and power needed for a good movie. There are other subwoofers with better performance for music, but they wouldn't be as suited to movies.

I consider an alternative upgrade to the BeoLab 2 as switching your main speakers to BeoLab 9s. Not only is the bass performance of the BeoLab 9s better than the 2 (which can be a little slow and lacking detail), but the mids and highs are streets ahead of any other B&O speaker on the 9s (with the exception of the 5s). They won't produce as much bass in terms of bringing the house down, but they'll produce far more than would be necessary to annoy any nearby neighbours. I personally think BeoLab 9s are much better value than Lab 8000s + Lab 2, despite the fact they cost slightly more.

That is the painful part - I know the BL2 is great.... from what you guys have been preaching for years.....but the price....yikes. Sure would love some BL9 or BL5.....but US$10,000 - would have to sell a kidney or my car.  Besides, I dont watch that much TV.

Since buying my new BV7, I asked them to connect up my BL2. It's *very* impressive with movies. Almost too impressive. I now end up changing the volume as any loud bang causes the floor to shake (and I have people below me ;). So, if you live in a detached house, get yourself a BL2 and ramp up the volume. You won't be disappointed.

Doesn't make a great deal of difference to regular TV, but does really improve movies.

Hi, if you mainly listen to music and have no BeoVision with 5.1 sound, I would suggest indeed buying a BeoLab 2, because it will integrate completely with your present system. The problem of Powerlink connections is that you won't find many subwoofers that you can connect to your BeoSound, then connect the BeoLabs to the sub, only BeoLab 2 can do that, and the subwoofers from the german manufacturer DeToma that have a 8 Pin DIN input/output.

Using another subwoofer with a  BeoSound would mean getting only the lowest notes that your main speakers can't play (= with BeoLab 8000, have the high pass filter on the sub set to 50 Hz), but it won't relieve the bass from the main speaker to make it perform better.

On the contrary, with a BeoVision fitted with 5.1 sound, you can use any good subwoofer and not necessarily BeoLab 2. I took one year to choose a subwoofer, and bought it 3 weeks ago! I find BeoLab 2 too expensive and really not that great with music, although I like it with movies.It seems always behind the rest of the music.

The B&W PV1 has always had excellent reviews, never had any negative comments, and has a 500W ICE amplifier in it; I was about to buy it, then B&W released a complete range of subwoofers with ICE amps, and I bought their latest ASW608 , that has a 200W ICE amplifier in it. The sound improvement with my BV3-32 , BeoLab 3s (front) and 4000s (rear) is unbelievable! It goes down to 32 Hz if you take the same measuring as B&O do, and for a bedroom like mine, is more than enough.It is also so compact that I managed to put in under the bed, because I like symetrical setups and couldn't do with a visble sub. I used to play DVDs at volume 50 on the BV3, and since the subwoofer was plugged in, I had to reduce the volume to 30 or 40! The overall improvement of the main speakers performance (BeoLab 3 in my case) is incredible! They no longer have to struggle, they are free..

I spent a lot of time looking at specs from other manufacturers, and I can tell you that many subwoofers produce bass at exactly the same level as BeoLab 8000 or 3! The manufacturers all have different measuring /tech specs, most of them show a 40 Hz bass response, but they "forget" to tell you their 40 Hz is at -10dB! And BeoLab 8000 produces 40 Hz at -8dB..
Only the B&W subwoofers can give such bass levels in such compact enclosures, thanks partly to ICE amplifiers..

I have the classic BL3 and BL2 combination. This is it. I wouldn't resist a minute buying it again. I use it mostly for music, but have to say I haven't listen to any other sub with Bl3. I did listen to BL5 though. And yes, it free's the Bl3, that is a spot on comment from Chris.

 

I know the BL2 is quite expensive, I bought mine with the BL3. They sort of offered a packaged deal when I asked if they could do something if I buy Bl2 on top of the Bl3 I was shopping for.

 

Maybe you can bundle it up with another purchase, BV8 is coming to town hint hint. Or you could ask for a demo product. Not sure if I would be comfortable with Ebay. The only time I took that risk was with a very reasonable priced BS9000 that was too cheap to pass up from a super high feedback seller (think 30k transactions).

 Maybe just pony down to the store and have a listening and let your ears guide  

 

Cheers

JK 

BL2 is the Real Thing is you need some extra bass or get a 5.1 DTS or Dolby Digital configuration.

Personally, mine does a really good job. All the bass are mainly managed by the subwoofer, then the BL8000 and BL4000 can rest and concentrate on the medium and treble. The sound is then more homogeneous.

I had the chance to get a second-hand BL2, under warranty (two years old) for 1500 euros.

Guy 

If you do want to look at getting a subwoofer instead of upgrading to BeoLab 9s, then the best bets would be a BeoLab 2, B&W PV1 or else from their range, an REL subwoofer (these are very good indeed) or a Velodyne.

+1,  Alex for the Velodyne Digital Drive Series (with room equalization). those little beasts can ramble your entire condo.
By the way, like others said, an alternative to the B&O subwoofer,  would be the B&W PV1 with ICE AMP technology at a fraction of the BL2's retail price.

Guy 

I know we have talked about these things before - but what are the good non-B&O subs that can easily hooked up to a B&O system - particularly one that can "take the load off" of my BL8000.  What are the specifics - like what do I need to buy if I am going to use non-B&O stuff??   help....

 

 

-michael

You need a subwoofer which has a 'high pass output' at line level. This means a subwoofer which cuts out all the bass it itself is covering, and passes this 'sub-bass-free' signal to the main speakers (BeoLab 8000s or whatever) so they can sing better.

This is pretty rare though, most subwoofers only do this at an amplified level, whilst you're really looking for something which does it at line-level. The BeoLab 2 does a very good job of this.

This isn't necessary however, if you're connecting the subwoofer to the surround sound output on a BeoVision/BeoCentre, as in this case, the high-pass-filter is built into the surround sound processor.

ok, so I need a sub which has a line level high pass output - who makes these? how would I connect this to my BS3200?

 or

maybe I am missing something, but B&O sends the audio signal via powerlink (or is it masterlink - never been made clear to me), but basically a line level signal - how does a nonB&O sub plug into all of this? besides "the sub" what else do I need to buy?

 

-michale

You'd two PowerLink to stereo phono cables assuming the subwoofer you'd choose will have phono connections, which it might possibly not.

As for subwoofers with a high pass filter output at line level, I'm not really sure what to suggest. I can't think of any I've come across. Subs tend to have it only on the amplified signal level.

Have you listened to the BeoLab 2? You might like it just as much as any other subwoofer out there, and IMO, it's definitely one of the best lookers. You'll also find it's more powerful than subs many times it's size, and goes much deeper than most.

I am sure I will love the BL2 - if for no other reason it sounds like most of you would get rid of your spouses before you would get rid of your BL2 - but it is expensive and I want to understand all of options.  It sounds like using anything other than B&O is a headache and probably not worth the effort?

 

 

-michael

Alex:

This isn't necessary however, if you're connecting the subwoofer to the surround sound output on a BeoVision/BeoCentre, as in this case, the high-pass-filter is built into the surround sound processor.

I didn't know this! Useful information

mfirst:

ok, so I need a sub which has a line level high pass output - who makes these? how would I connect this to my BS3200?

 or

maybe I am missing something, but B&O sends the audio signal via powerlink (or is it masterlink - never been made clear to me), but basically a line level signal - how does a nonB&O sub plug into all of this? besides "the sub" what else do I need to buy?

 

-michale

REL makes them.

BL2 is one of those that once you have tasted, theres no going back!

I do find that it struggles with certain types of music but on the whole, it does become an essential part of your setup giving that icing on the cake.

Long term investment if you ask me unless you go down the road of lab5s or even 9s. 

Hi,

So we don't need a BL2 unless we have a pair of BL9's, right ?
Is the size of the BL2's woofer bigger than the one from the BL9's ?

Cheers,

Guy 

General consensus seems to be that the lab9s are able to produce a very healthy amount of bass which can negate the use of a lab2, all depends on how much bass you want and if you are content with the sound the 9s make.

Personally, I have not heard them as yet but they are talked of in the same league as lab1 and 2 combo..

Anyone agree/disagree??

GuyHui :

Hi,

So we don't need a BL2 unless we have a pair of BL9's, right ?
Is the size of the BL2's woofer bigger than the one from the BL9's ?

Cheers,

Guy 

No, the opposite. A BeoLab 2 really adds to the sound with all the B&O speakers except the BeoLab 9s and 5s, where I personally feel it would subtract from the sound overall. BeoLab 9s and 5s are very, very fast paced and detailed. They can keep up with basslines most subwoofers and larger speakers would fumble with.