Hi all,

I've just stumbled upon these speakers and they got me thinking.

The thing is that I've been contemplating buying a new set of speakers for my apartment. At first, I was planing on getting the BeoLab 4 PC, which would be great for just plugging in my mac. But then a friend of mine gave me his huge collection of CDs, which are i.e. mostly compilations of FLAC files burned on a CD. And since iTunes doesn't play FLAC and I really don't want to rip them all, I'm "stuck" with a closet full of CDs. Not that I'm complaining : )

So after this the idea was to get a BeoSound 1 and an AirPort Express for streaming my iTunes library ( which is getting smaller anyway ) to it. While I almost did just that, I realised that I could probably get a BeoSound 3000 with BeoLab 4000's from Lee for about the same price and just connect it through AUX to the mac with those B&O > Mini Jack cables.

Now I found these FH007's and I must admit I'm very tempted. They cost around £400 in the UK and I've sent an email to our Slovenian dealer regarding the price, but I don't expect them to cost than 600€ here. Well, with the subwoofer it's around 1000€ - the same as a pair of 4000's at Lee.

Essentially what I'm saying here is, that I hope some of you have heard them and can compare them to the BeoLab 4000's, BeoLab 4 PC and BeoSound 1. Would I need the subwoofer ( FH008 ) too?

PS. I've just noticed that they have the Phono plugs, not just the mini-jack, so is there a way ( an adapter ) to connect them to the BS3000. That would probably be the best of both worlds for me.

If they cost the same as Beolab 4000s, I would take the 4000s - 16W a channel is not going to set the place alight and if you get the sub-woofer, you will have 6 boxes - 4 satellites. a sub-woofer and the amplifier to fit around the room. Not sure how the volume will work either. They do look very different though! The reviews seem a little mixed - the FH001 is clearly in another class!

gorissek:

And since iTunes doesn't play FLAC and I really don't want to rip them all, I'm "stuck" with a closet full of CDs. Not that I'm complaining : )

Did you try Fluke yet: http://cubicfruit.com/fluke/ ?

As the speakers are concerned.....go for the Beolab 4000!!

Ralf

I haven't tried it, but I know it exists. It does have some issues though, as do most of these things, so I just hope Apple will officially implement FLAC support soon.

As for the speakers, I really hope someone has heard them, as well as BL4000's, because I'm looking for an objective comparison. This being a B&O forum we tend to be somewhat subjective at times, I know I am : ) And like Peter said, the reviews are a bit mixed and from what I've read now the subwoofer is almost a necessity.

And can someone explain that phono-lead to BeoSound 3000 option? Is it possible? And if, how?

  

I'd be seriously dubious of a speaker horn that shape. Highs should be distributed on a more 90ºx40º (horizontal x vertical) axis, or on the extreme, the Acoustic Lens which is 180ºx30º (not 100% sure of the vertical distribution).

These seem to be the complete opposite. That looks to be around 30ºx90º or possibly even more, which means a large proportion of the high frequencies are going to be thrown up to your ceiling and down onto your desk, which is going to cause a lot of unwanted reflections. These are essentially doing the exact reverse of the Acoustic Lens found on BeoLab 3s, 9s and 5s - sending all the sound to the places you're never going to be.

I would strongly recommend the BeoLab 4000s over these.

Also RE the FLAC files, there is a piece of software I use to convert FLAC into AIFF, called xACT - works very well. If you convert from FLAC to AIFF, and then import this into iTunes and convert into Apple Lossless, there will be zero data loss and as a result, zero sound degradation.

Hi There

 

I have heard these speakers.  I found them underwhelming to be honest.  The manufacturer also made reference to these being "tuned" for more classical music  - which i found suprising.

Is the bs-5 compatible with flac?

Thanks to everybody for their input. I'm a bit sceptical, especially after Alex's explanation, which definitely makes sense to me.

From what I've read in reviews ( and they are all basically the same in this way ) they're supposed to be more suited to classical and jazz and do not perform very well with electronic/rock/bass heavy music. But just after reading that, I saw a news piece on Ferguson Hill webpage, saying that they've updated them with larger neodymium magnets, which are supposed to make them more dynamic and therefore better suited to "indy or rock" music.

I also called our Slovenian dealer and she said they cost around 1000€ alone, without the subwoofer, which is another 400€. But the moment I explained that 1000€ is normally what you would pay for both, she said they could probably let them go for 1100€ : )

Anyway, I would really like to hear the improved ones, but sadly, they don't have them in their dealership. I'll ask and see if they can order a pair, so I can listen to them.

I was just about to get BeoLab 4000s, but am now about 50/50 between BeoLab 4000s and these improved ones - should they perform, of course.