How much better-- if any-- is the BL7.1 as a center channel than a pair of BL4000's?  Does anybody have experience with both/either?  Panel will be a BV4-50 with BL6000 fronts and BL4000 rears.

Thanks for your input~~ 

beobres:

How much better-- if any-- is the BL7.1 as a center channel than a pair of BL4000's? 

Much better.

My setup is BL7.1 center and BL4000 front speakers

When I switch between speakers the BL7.1 is preferred. Better bass, better clarity etc. etc.

[edit: the rear speakers are BL2500 flanking the BS3200]

Thanks for the quick input, Coolskin.  That's very helpful information.  Are you using 4000's as rears as well?

Hi - I swapped a pair of 4000s for a BL7.2 sitting under my BV4-65 - I was surprised by the major improvement in clairity of sound.  Problem now is that as I have decided to go for BL9s as fronts I think that a BL7.4 will be better suited to the center channel.

As above, BL7.1 is far better. Have tried BL6, BL4 and BL8's as centre just for a laugh. The BL7 is better to my ears than all the above as it is designed as a centre speaker. The closest was the BL8, but it still lacked bass response for the centre sound stage.

With a 50" screen I'd go with a BL7.2 instead. Wider and more asthetically pleasing.

Barny

Thank you all for the input.  clearly it's the BL7's for this set up.  Thanks for the suggerstion on the 7.2's, barney.  I hadn't considered them because I thought they may be too large under the 50".

i don't think the 7-2 would be to large for a 50" screen. would look very good imo

 

I never really liked the paired 4000's under the plasmas, it looked like it was just pieced together and not an intended use. 

I have a BL 7.2 under my BV4 -50 and inch and it is a perfect match, the 7.1 would have been too small.

Roger

The 7-1 looks fine with a 50" and 65" IMO...

OK this poses a dilemma for me as I have just set-up with 2 x BL4000’s, 1 either side of a 50” plasma. I was advised that these should do just as good of a job as the 7.2 would, now I will have to consider an upgrade after 1 month,,, hmmmmm.

 

Is the 7.2 really that much better?

Hi - I found the 7.2 to be a significant improvement over the 4000s - well worth the upgrade

I agree with the above I think the 7.1 / 7.2 are both better than the 4000's. I have the bl 7.4 mounted under my bv4-50, I am very pleased with the sound and particularly the look of it, although as it is a mono speaker it is only suitable in a surround sound set up. I have added a picture, although now looking at it it seems it has been stretched in the upload somehow.

Cheers

Peter