I have an open post on Becentral on this theme but I'll ask again here (with added insight).

 My missus is willing to upgrade my RL60's to something more modern (to go with my (original - nearly - Beosystem 5000)). I had thought BL8000's but the first suggestion was Pentas (which are taller than her and we both find unsuitable for a small room). Bearing in mine (a womans) aesthetics are all that counts I am currently toying with BL8000's or BL3's.The speakers need to work either side (closely) to a chimney "outcrop" (rather than br**st which seems to be banned) - I'm looking for advice.

I'm attracted to the BL3's because of their broad stereo image and switchable bass response (given their location) but open to advice from the great and good (unless the advice is "ugly"). They must be floor mounted and she has taken a (unhealthy) dislike to BL9's and I can't afford (and couldn't house) BL5's.

 

In your situation I would get 3s. They can be set up to be wall mounted where the 8000s have only one setting and so will tend to be a bit bassy close to a corner. The 8000s are very beautiful though. They are also better at high volumes unless you get a 2 for the 3s. I have 3s!

Get the 8000s!!

Either speaker when paired with a lab2 will be excellent so its really down to wether you like the warmer sound of the 8000s than the more "clinical" lab3.

I would probably have lab1s with a lab2 but they are just too big! so quite happy with my lab8000 and 2 combo.

The 8000s are still stunning, is there really a better looking speaker out there at the moment? Elegant and contemporary with the performance to match which will push the 8s over the 3s everytime for me.

 

If you wanted, I could lend you the 3s for a long week end - I use them as computer speakers but have CX100s as back up.

 

Peter:

If you wanted, I could lend you the 3s for a long week end - I use them as computer speakers but have CX100s as back up.

 

 

Thanks for the offer I think we're off to look at speakers "up close and personal" this weekend and so I'll wait to hear the preferences of the light of my life before deciding whether to take you up on your kind offer.

Right - just got back from my dealers and after a short listen (20 mins or so) with unfamliar CD (Dire Straits) my initial prefernece was for the BL8000's (seemd to have somewhat more "sparkle" - a technical term I know). Will undoubtedly have to return with my own tunes for a better listen but a potential problem was highlighted during my visit, namely how to get a volume cotrolled line line signal from the Beomaster 5000 since speakerlink was introduced until the BM5500. After speaking to the installation Engineer it seems there is a cable available from B&O (B&O part no. 6270595) to accomplish just this by tapping a signal from the main speaker outs but it is only 1.65m long and the engineer believes increasing the length of this cable is problematic and introduces hum into the system. I would need one lead to be ~ 5m long.

Does anyone have any knowledge/experience of this that could help me (I assume I will have the same issue with the BL3's).

If I can solve the cable issue then they are willing to bring the speakers to me to try in situ in order to decide properly.

I would try and use this as an excuse to upgrade the beomaster if possible??!!?

Puncher:

Peter:

If you wanted, I could lend you the 3s for a long week end - I use them as computer speakers but have CX100s as back up.

 

 

Thanks for the offer I think we're off to look at speakers "up close and personal" this weekend and so I'll wait to hear the preferences of the light of my life before deciding whether to take you up on your kind offer.

Just out of curiosity, does SWMBO know about the light of your life and vice-versa?

Andy T.

I wouldn't use BL3s in this situation - they will definitely hum! I didn't realise you still had a 5000. Not sure what I would do!

Using my new found Jedi powers I have downloaded the manual for my BM5000 (the original is up in the loft somewhere) and it appears there are a pair of phono sockets on the rear panel labelled "pre amp out" , apparently for use feeding a remote power amp. Does anyone know if these are controlled by the volume control or are they constant line level?

 Alternatively would a B&O code convertor solve my problem (if I could find one)?

If they are like the ones on the Beocenter 9000  then they are controlled by the Volume.

 

Craig 

Are those the ones with a pair of metal U links in them. The problem with these are that you lose any power amplifier output and MCL . may not be a problem.

Peter:

Are those the ones with a pair of metal U links in them. The problem with these are that you lose any power amplifier output and MCL . may not be a problem.

No ................... these are a pair of phono sockets at the top right of the connection part of the rear panel.

(whoops attached the wrong picture in the previous post and we still can't edit posts - Moderator please delete previous post)

 

Worth a try! I seem to recall that the 5000 does have proper pre-amp out sockets whereas some of the later ones simply had an attenuated power amp out - which was not the same at all!  I see the picture now - is it the Line in and out that are connected?

Peter:

Worth a try! I seem to recall that the 5000 does have proper pre-amp out sockets whereas some of the later ones simply had an attenuated power amp out - which was not the same at all!  I see the picture now - is it the Line in and out that are connected?

I'm hoping the pair marked "preamp" will work, the point being that they need to be volume controlled. I believe the remainder of the line level connections are constant amplitude. I did discuss breaking into the "equaliser/line out" sockets (u-shaped links) with the installation engineer yesterday and he seemed to think that as well as losing some functionality (as you highlighted previously) he seemed to recall that it also skewed the frequency response in some way (although he couldn't remeber exactly).

It shouldn't do - it was designed so you could fit a graphic equaliser to the set up - should that be something one should want! However the pre-amp out should be the ticket.

Andy have you not got a amp you could connect to the Pre Out's to try them? On my old BC9000 I had them connected to a BM2000 in the bedroom as I had no MCL software fitted.

 

Craig 

I will probably bring a 'scope home on Monday and measure what comes out while using test tones.

I am now happy that the BM5000 will provide a suitable signal to drive active speakers via the line in connection (BL8000 or BL3) after having found this diagram in the Service Manual (Oh the joys of being a Gold Member)

 However the question regarding introducing hum over a 5 mtr cable length remains. Has anyone any knowledge/experience driving these speakers from their line in connection??

Hello

 I had a pair of Beolab 3's in a small room, with no Beolab 2, and they were certainly clear, but no matter how I changewd bass, loudness, adjusted speaker setting, I was not happy with the sound. Even adding a Beolab 2 didn't help, as they sounded muffled, and I was struggling to hear the midrange. i swapped the Beolab 3's for 8000's and am really happy with the result.

 Hope this helps.

 Regards

 Martin