Iown a loudspeaker combination 2x BL8000+BL2 sub-woofer. Can somebody tell me if it is worth to change the mentioned combination with two BeoLabs 9? Will I still ned a sub-woofer with BL9 or do they deliver enough bass?

BeoLab 2 delivers a lot more power/ bass than a pair of BeoLab 9, so if you still wants that "kick" when you hear loud music or a film, you will need a subwoofer. If its was me i would keep my BL8000 and the BL2 and forget about BeoLab 9.

Oh, I see. For me BL8000 is the best designed B&O speaker ever. But reading about BL9 performance I have tought about this change. As I see now, BL9 would not bring any big change to the music I listen to and there would not be any sub-woofer effect then. The shape of BL9 aslo can not be compared to the perfect shape of BL8000 which is timeless.

I would disagree with the audio output side.  Aesthetically the BL8000s are excellent but I would personally prefer to listen to a pair of BL9s than a pair of BL8000s with a BL2.  Try them out - everyone has a personal opinion!

Brian

I have alreday listened to a pair of BL9 but they do not give so much bass and woofer efect than BL2. But otherwise sound better than BL8000, because of the lens.

I am also thinking about design of BL9 if this design suites BS 9000, here they dissapoint me very much as BL9 s are so small. The only part in aluminium by BL9 is the lens, this is not so beautiful than polished aluminimum housing of BL 8000.

The decision is very hard, as I would have to sell BL8000 with BL2 and pay another 4.000,-€ more just to have a pair of BL9s.

Would prefer BL5 but price for me is to high at this time.

BL9 is more hifi than Beolab8000s coupled with BL2. As you know the BL9s have more radiating surfaces ( drive unit area) to reproduce the bass region which really translates to better dynamics/ precision and lower distortion in the bass region than the BL2. Having more bass doesn't mean having better bass quality. Ask any audiophile and they will suggest that you get the Bl9s instead of the Bl2. You get more bang for your buck with the BL9s. For the BL9s you get a dedicated mid range unit which you don't get with the Beolab8000s and you also get more uniform sound dispersion characteristics. If you want to listen to a truer sound, go for the Bl9s but if you prefer more boom and tizz then maybe not. 

But I suggest you keep the Beolab 8000s and Beolab 2 for other purposes instead cos you are not getting their values worth. You were going to pay 4000 euros extra for the Beolab9s? That's crazy. 

avus17:

Iown a loudspeaker combination 2x BL8000+BL2 sub-woofer. Can somebody tell me if it is worth to change the mentioned combination with two BeoLabs 9? Will I still ned a sub-woofer with BL9 or do they deliver enough bass?

Trust me, you don't need the BL2 with the BL9s. I did have this combo for a while, but it had a slightly negative effect on my movie experience. I found the sound more 'clean' when I removed the BL2. Sold it a few months later.

you have a nother choise. Sell your BL8000, keep the BL2 and buy a pair of BL3.

The BL3 has a better sound in the top than a pair of BL9 and with your sub you also get a better buttom, more powerfull bass.

I had a setup like yours, but sold it at got me a pair of BL5 + 4*BL3. Have also lissent alot to BL9 but dident like the sound in the top or midrange, compared to BL3.

One of BL9 biggest flaw is the hight of the speaker. The lens is spreading the sound to the sides, not op and down, that means that when you stand or sit in a chair the speaker is way to low and you dont get the hole sound fraom the top. 

You dont have that problem with BL3, when you hang the speakers on the wall. But dont hang them under 1 meter over the floor.

You could also sell your BL8000+ 2 and buy my BL5

I completely disliked the BL3 + BL2 combo. The BL2 couldn't keep up with vaguely fast electronic music. The BL3s - for audio playback - are way better on their own.

However, if you're only going to use this combo for movies (BL3/BL2), it's far more effective.

Im a big fan of the 9's. Listened to all combos in my home (B&O brought them all out- thanks David JOnes, Elizabeth St!) and the 9's were the most dynamic. They gave a much better integration of sound.. the 2 was too boomy and not accurate enough for music.

 

Regards

 

David Coyne

Sydney, Australia 

Well you may have different taste to me, the BL9's are superior in every way, the way they look really touches a nerve with me - i love the design. BL2 is the clumsiest subwoofer i've ever heard. The only thing it's good for is making lots of noise. Senseless to me!

PS i thought the BL9's top was zinc? 

Avus 17, tell us, what music do you listen to? And what do you really strive for when you listen to music through speakers? i.e. detail, depth, power, warmth, treble, bass, flat response, sound stage...? 

I mostly listen to pop an classic-pop music. For example: Alessandro Safina, Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban etc. but also Schiller, Bob Sinclair etc.

I would change to BL9 in a heartbeat. As I've mentioned before, I'm no fan of subwoofers, they rarely add anything but boomy-effect bass to music.

I can't imagine you needing the BL2 with a pair of BL9's.

 Remember the BL9 was the second speaker from B&O after the BL5 that was actually greeted within the "audiophile community". It's not something to make your decision from, but something to keep in mind?

Is there a chance that B&O update there beolab 8000 range soon??

It's still there best selling speaker imo.

avus17:

I mostly listen to pop an classic-pop music. For example: Alessandro Safina, Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban etc. but also Schiller, Bob Sinclair etc.

You will wonder how you've been living with your current set-up for so long - when you get your BL9's.  

Dave:

avus17:

I mostly listen to pop an classic-pop music. For example: Alessandro Safina, Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban etc. but also Schiller, Bob Sinclair etc.

You will wonder how you've been living with your current set-up for so long - when you get your BL9's.  

I know ! The Beolab8000s can't even handle the vocals well. When I had them, I heard severe distortion and compression during loud dynamic swings.  The 8000s are a severe compromise. B&O should really do something about them, like adding those state of the art low distortion drivers for example. 

Anyways avus17 you will be much happier with the Lab9s however, you will need to make sure that your room has lots of cushiony stuff since the acoustic lenses will not do very well in bright sounding rooms.  

Oh settle pettle. :) I didn't say they were bad speakers, i admire them and wouldn't say no to them, but they are a different product to the BL9's. The 8000's are a lifestyle product and they sound amazing for the tiny 5 litres of constraint and they will always look beautiful and expensive. BL9's are speakers for the heavt listener, who wants to be closer than ever to the real performance (bar BL5)... and i happen to adore the aesthetics of the white ones much more than 8000's.

Then please somebody put better drivers in a pair of Beolabs and prove to us all how bad B&O are at making good speakers.

come. on...

I know ! The Beolab8000s can't even handle the vocals well. When I had them, I heard severe distortion and compression during loud dynamic swings.  The 8000s are a severe compromise. B&O should really do something about them, like adding those state of the art low distortion drivers for example. 

I think you right on this one.

What i can understand is why B&O not using better drivers??

koning:

I think you right on this one.

What i can understand is why B&O not using better drivers??

 

What about the  quality of the drivers in BL5 and BL9?

We were talking about the 8000 right?

koning:

We were talking about the 8000 right?

 

Yes, I just meant that does anyone have info about the quality of the BL9, BL5 drivers?

I re read my original post, and saw it could come forward as a bit strong, sorry I did not mean it like that.

Going back to the original topic, from a personal point of view, I would much more rather have BeoLab 9s without the BeoLab 2, than say, BeoLab 9s or 8000s with a BeoLab 2.

The pros of having a BeoLab 2 with the BeoLab 9s are essentially, more bass (note more, not necessarily better). This can be a huge advantage if you're a big movie fan and your room is large. In medium to large-medium rooms, BeoLab 9s produce far more than enough bass by themselves.

The 'cons' of having a BeoLab 2 with BeoLab 9s IMO outweigh the pros. The BeoLab 2 doesn't keep up with fast basslines as well as the (incredibly fast and detailed) bass drivers in the BeoLab 9s, it produces 'lumps' in the response when used with BeoLab 9s and you also lose the benefit of stereo subwoofers which from what I've found, offer large improvements to the sound.

In short, BeoLab 9s with a BeoLab 2 = very very loud, sounds good and very punchy.
BeoLab 9s without a BeoLab 2 = very loud, sounds frankly jaw-dropping and much, much punchier.

And one million dollar question....

BL8000 do they really need sub ?