Apologies to be posting about this, but I've looked around the forum and I can't work out what the differences are between Beolab 4 and Beolab 4 PC. From what I can glean the only difference is that the PC version does not have Powerlink. Can this really equate to the difference in price? Can the PC version be used with B&O equipment via RCA or 3.5mm jack instead of Powerlink and would there be a loss of quality?

Thanks,

Steve

Steve,

you are correct in identifying the difference!! I've used PC versions before connected with a powerlink to mini jack cable and they worked perfectly. No difference at all and I've had both!!

Not really the most amazing speakers though

Not horrible either. Good as rears in a surround setup, or in a small room...

The other difference is that BeoLab 4PC doesn't have the position switch with free/wall/corner placement, and therefore B&O do not recommend any of the stands/brackets for the PC version, as it is designed to be positioned close to the user and on the same level as the PC screen.

I have them at the office and the volume is always set between 0 and 2 on BeoPlayer..!They do provide great sound when they are less than 1 meter from your ears and 80 cm apart from each other, and none of the ugly conventional PC speakers will ever get back on my desk..shame they are not shielded though, because whenever a cell phone is about to ring, you can hear the typical interference sound...which gives you time to pick up the cell phone

Thanks for the replies, guys. Very helpful. Does the swtcheable thing make a lot of difference to the sound when placed on stands etc?

Thanks,

Steve

jldmelb:

Not horrible either. Good as rears in a surround setup, or in a small room...

Like a shoe box?

hehe no it's just thsat i cannot not understand why anyone would want these speakers when you can get a pair of second life BeoLab 4000's which sound REALLY good, for less money.

I have the lab4 in my kitchen wall mounted and I am quite satisfied with them. Before I had a pair of lab 3 at the same spot, hoewever, belive me or not, the lab 4 sound nicer for casual listening in that room. the lab4000 are quite to big (I tried them before as I see the same point "value" for money)

So overall not to bad, but a little bit to expensive... 

Stevenp;

To get back to your original question, there is no loss in quality between a mini-jack PC connection versus the Powerlink BL 4 Full connection. You are creating more connection points with the mini-jack PC, but if a quick set-up for laptop or Beosound 6 is desired, it works well enough. That was the intention.

The above comments regarding the sound of the BL 4 in small rooms being better are true. Sonically, they will sound somewhat better when mounted upside down directly to a ceiling ( masonry or interior stud ), but then again so will any speaker mounted onto a resonating platform.

As are the comments about the BL 4000, which is a very good, all around power speaker, with more bass and treble. I did try a pair of BL 4000 around a laptop one time, which was interesting. I could hear the birds signing outside again, after a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the info. I was thinking of getting a Beosound 4, and want to listen to it in a room about 4.5m x 4.5m with 4m ceiling height.

I listen to mostly classical instrumental and chamber, radio 3 and occasionally rock, chillout, and electronica.

What's the opinion on the BL4s for such a setup?

Thanks,

Steve.

Stevnp:

1. I changed my BL 4000 from Gold to Blue alu. ( not an easy job ) and substituted the BL 4000 with a pair of BL 4 during the work. This is the BL 4 full  model, not the PC., although I have the B&O RCA to DIN powerlink cables. The pair were connected via standard powerlink to our BeoSound 3200.

The sound difference was noticed: Automatically, we kept turning the volume up with the Beo 4.  Radio and N.RADIO were fine. But things were missing, especially when watching SAT TV., DVD, or CD.

The night I finished,  I could not get the new black grille covers on the Bl 4000 fast enough.  Returning with the BL 4000, the sound had depth, bass and clarity again.

( By the way, there is a method to retain the old gold anodized covers and tops without destroying them: Use a heated knife for the glue like surgeon ).

2.  The BL 4 then went from black to blue covers, and being 110-240 V capable was packed down to a vacation home in another country. The walls there are thick masonry, with more than a little echo, and the TV/STEREO wall cabinet is very close (3.5 m ) to the viewer.

Here the BL 4 excels.  It functions with a direct mini-plug to a SAT TV, with a junction box for a Beosound 6. The speakers we found were best positioned on the top of the wall unit, which allows the sound to spread forward and up to the ceiling.

The density of the masonry accentuates the sound, yet there is no skip or multi-reverb effect. Classical or Chamber music is fine, as is the TV. I even had VIRUS SHAKE on the N.MUSIC a few times ( to wake up and get going in the morning ) and the techno bass was indeed pulsating.

Up to you, but I think your setup would do just fine with the BL 4. Go for it !

Many thanks for your detailed and thoughtful post.

I think it's time to book an A/B demo using a BS4 and BL4s/BL4000s.

Best wishes,

Steve.