Hello,

I am wondering what people think would be the better sounding speaker, the BL8000 or the BL3 with a 7.4 speaker? I think i remember seeing people say that its better not to mix ALT with non-ALT?

Thanks

Tim

Speakers are a very individual choice - I prefer the sound of BL3s and the looks of BL8000s! I therefore have BL3s! You need to have a listen yourself.

Thanks Peter, so techincally it doesnt matter what my centre speaker is when it comes to choosing between these two?

I'm in the same boat as Peter. Listen for yourself, although personally I'm a BeoLab 3 fan...

If you don't have one already and are looking at getting a BeoLab 2, then you may actually prefer not to and simply get BeoLab 9s, which eliminate the need for a subwoofer...

timhanna:

Thanks Peter, so techincally it doesnt matter what my centre speaker is when it comes to choosing between these two?

Yes, as all speakers have different 'sonic characters', and ideally all the speakers in a surround sound setup would sound identical. Non-ALT and ALT speakers do have a very different sounding high-end, which can make a large difference to the sound. BeoLab 8000s either side of a 7-4 centre channel sounds good, but does do some strange things when sound effects pan across the front (cars driving past etc...) and the 7-4 just seems to 'stick out' a bit...

Thanks Alex...

Ive set myself the goal of getting the BL5 by next year. So, the less I can splash now the better! hehe. Also, I could easily use the BL3 as rears. The BL9 would be sinful to use as rears... I would be eating from tins for years to come if i had BL5 and BL9s. :)

(Also im not convinced about the BL9s looks tbh as well)

But i see where youre coming from

Alex:

timhanna:

Thanks Peter, so techincally it doesnt matter what my centre speaker is when it comes to choosing between these two?

Yes, as all speakers have different 'sonic characters', and ideally all the speakers in a surround sound setup would sound identical. Non-ALT and ALT speakers do have a very different sounding high-end, which can make a large difference to the sound. BeoLab 8000s either side of a 7-4 centre channel sounds good, but does do some strange things when sound effects pan across the front (cars driving past etc...) and the 7-4 just seems to 'stick out' a bit...

I see exactly what you mean... that was what I was worrying about. The good thing about the BL3s are that they are small and easy to transport (I seem to move alot!) also, my fireplace is black, and the side of my b+o cabinet is black... this would give me a good opportunity to hide the bl3s, which i think would impress anyone since they wouldnt immediatlely figure out where the sound is coming from!!

I had 3s in the past and bl8000s. Shame they were at different times!

In that case, BeoLab 3s sound like the right choice. Great as rear speakers with other ALT speakers, and great as mains too...

Thanks Alex... Ill wait to see what other people say as well until I can demo them at my local.

There are lots of influencing factors as noted. Budget, room style, future plans...

Having heard a myriad or different speakers in seperate locations I'm not convinced it matters much, they are all pretty good.  I'm sure if you have a control room and tried several different speaker it differentiation would be easier.

I'd start with the ALT (BL3) if that it where you will head with BL5's or BL9's in the future. IMO They do look a little strange on floor stands next to a BV7 or BV4 though...

beoaus.

I was always told keep the ALT speakers together. I'm genuinely surprised by my BL3's. Indeed, I think/thought that they were more effective in a small room than my BL9's. I had to move the BL9's to the sitting room, although they are superb for movies. The BL3's are now used in combo with a BS4 in a small office and sound superb. Much better than I'd have expected and much better than the older 6000's I used to own. The other benefit of the BL3's is that they don't need much room - you can hang them from the wall, for example.

Alex:

I'm in the same boat as Peter. Listen for yourself, although personally I'm a BeoLab 3 fan...

If you don't have one already and are looking at getting a BeoLab 2, then you may actually prefer not to and simply get BeoLab 9s, which eliminate the need for a subwoofer...

This boat is getting crowded. I'm in as well!

For me, the choice between BL3 and BL8000 was not that obvious. I think you really need to compare them at your dealer's. For movies, I would prefer the BL3, but for music, I prefer the warmer sound of the BL8000, that's why I bought BL8000. I once asked my dealer if he would recommand to mix ALT and non-ALT speakers, and he said that B&O never gave any recommandations on that issue. But I wouldn't get a non-ALT speaker if the center-speaker already is an ALT.

timhanna:

Hello,

I am wondering what people think would be the better sounding speaker, the BL8000 or the BL3 with a 7.4 speaker? I think i remember seeing people say that its better not to mix ALT with non-ALT?

Thanks

Tim

Well, i have the BL7.4 as center and 4 BL8000's and a BL2, and i am very happy with the sound, i have never noticed any "wrongness" in the sound image when watching movies. I think the issue is to calibrate the speakerlevel and distance perfectly.

I heard the BL3 and BL8000 before i made my choice, and it was obvious to me, the BL3 sounds great in a clear-sound kind of way, but thay cave in when listening to loud music. Loud music is also not BL8000's favourite, but the cave in later than the BL3 in my opinion.

I would have no second thoughts about mixing non-ALT and ALT.

 

/Weebyx

I have the same setup as Weebyx and for movies no complaints. As for music I sometimes feel there's something "missing", I think mostly in the tweeter-range.

Imo the looks of the BL8000 is also far better than those of the BL3 on stands.