I know I may be subjectively biaised in thinking that the Beolab 4500 is probably the most beautiful B&O speaker ever built, but  I am sure that there are many more candidates out there. Am I right?

The HH1 ?

Martin

I love the Beolab 4500, but my favorites are the Beolab 8000... (I do own both ;-)

I think we're all subjective when it comes to beauty! I think my MS150s are beautiful (especially when they've got their clothes off!) but I know others have said they're no oil painting (SWMBO and a high profile Beoworld moderator included...) 

I think most people would agree that the Beolab 4000s has a certain je ne sais quoi about them...

Cheers

Nigel

I would agree, i think for looks the 4000 is a beautiful speaker!

Beovox 2500 cubes

Easy winner

The BeoLab 4000s have always struck me as truly beautiful speakers, but my personal faves in terms of sheer looks have always been Red Lines. I have no idea why, but they just speak to me.

For me:

Nr 1: BeoLab 5000

Nr 2: BeoLab 8000

For me it is:

Nr 1: Beolab 8000

Nr 2: Beloab 5000

/Peter

TripEnglish:

The BeoLab 4000s have always struck me as truly beautiful speakers...

Trip, just out of interest, how do the 4000s perform in your opinion? Compared to the BL3s? I'm in the market for some new speakers and would like some compact bookshelf speakers.

I agree with Trip ( had to happen eventually )

I also think Blab4000 are, on balance, the best small active speaker for most installations - perhaps not as techy as Blab 3's  but they always sound superb ( particularly Mk1's ) and seem to blend in with most styles of decor.

I have installed them into cottages, lofts and everything in between.

I thought the answer to this would come to me quite quickly but I am struggling to decide really!

I think the best answer I can give it that just about any B&O speaker can look as good as the other depending on its location!

The 8000's are undoubtedly stunning speakers but the Lab5000's are in themselves a work of art, more so than the 4500's IMO.

I also agree the Redlines look ready to deliver something special (but don't really live up to their looks).

I also like the lab3's and 9's.

See the more I think about this the less I am likely to pick any one speaker out above the others!

moxxey:

TripEnglish:

The BeoLab 4000s have always struck me as truly beautiful speakers...

Trip, just out of interest, how do the 4000s perform in your opinion? Compared to the BL3s? I'm in the market for some new speakers and would like some compact bookshelf speakers.

I think you'd be happy with either one. The BeoLab 4000 is smooth and powerful and, I believe, a very underrated speaker in the current lineup. I personally prefer the BeoLab 3, but they're not as well suited to an actual bookshelf application as the more traditional design of the 4000s. If you can give them room to breath on either floor stands or on a piece of furniture, they're truly stunning. The spaciousness of the sound is rare at their price point. 

TripEnglish:

I think you'd be happy with either one. The BeoLab 4000 is smooth and powerful and, I believe, a very underrated speaker in the current lineup. I personally prefer the BeoLab 3, but they're not as well suited to an actual bookshelf application as the more traditional design of the 4000s. If you can give them room to breath on either floor stands or on a piece of furniture, they're truly stunning. The spaciousness of the sound is rare at their price point. 

This is something I assumed, thanks. That the BL3s need more space. My current BL3s are in my office and are free standing. Impressed with the audio, but I want some cheaper speakers to use "now and again" in another room. BL4000s might be perfect for this.

Back on topic - my favourite speakers are the BL3 for their design, compact nature and their awesome sound, considering the size. Well priced, too. I've owned the BL5s, BL9s and BL3s and the BL3s are the only speaker that consistently gets a mention by other music lovers. The audio quality defies their size.

For me:

1) Beolab 5000

2) Beolab 1

3) Beolab 5

4) Beolab 9

5) Beolab 8000

For me:

First place by far: BeoLab 8000

Than: Beolab 5, Beovox 2500 cubes, and the rising ALT speaker in cars.

Suddenly I realize I have a parallel with music instruments!!

Regards, Robert

Can't choose one, so two has to share;

Beolab 5000/Beolab 8000.

Let's see...

1. Beovox 2500 cubes
2. Rondstraler
3. Beolab 5000
4. Beolab 8000
5. Beolab 5

my turn:

1. Beolab 5

2. Beolab 3

3. Beolab 5000

4. Beolab 4000

5. Beolab 8000

bayerische:

Can't choose one, so two has to share;

Beolab 5000/Beolab 8000.

stop the poll and discussions, he is right!

Beolab 1 ahead of the Penta's.

Looks like the great days of the tall column speakers are over...

moxxey:

The audio quality defies their size.

This is always a big selling feature for BeoLab 3s. BeoLab 5s & 9s are great, but in a way they do just what you expect them to do. 

If I show someone the BeoLab 5s, quote their price, and maybe mention their power and then ask the client how he thinks they'll sound... well the answer is obvious. To a lesser extent this works for the BeoLab 9s as well. Over $10k. Over 1,000 watts. Of course they sound great. 

But the BeoLab 3s are the size of musk melons and don't cost a lot when you factor in their amps. But when you play them in a room with the right setup they absolutely defy any expectation that their size, price, or power could have set. 

1. Beolab 5000

2. Beolab Penta

3. Beolab 5

4. Beolab 1

5. Beolab 8000 (Do not like the sound quality though...)