General Forum

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

thavn — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 02:53:09 GMT

Hello!

I have a surround system consisting of an Avant (centre), BL 5 and BL 4000 in the rear. In my opinion the rear speakers sound great, and you really do need them if you want to be a part of the music and/or movie. I also am considering the BV7-40...

My left rear speaker is actually about 8 meters from my ear when you sit in centre of the TV, while the right is about 3 meter. I was a bit sceptical at first but it works just fine. You adjust the distance in the setup menu.

Regards, Torbjorn

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

beobuff — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:57:16 GMT

My primary AV system (BS3 and 65" plasma) has BL5s as front speakers. I originally used a BL7-2 for the center channel, BL 6000s for side surround speakers, and BL 4000s for rear channel speakers, but was never 100% happy with the results. The BL5s had a cleaner, crisper sound profile, and the older 6000s and 4000s sounded dull in combination with them. I eventually replaced the center, side surround, and rear speakers with three pairs of BL3s and am much more satisfied with the overall results.

I have recently set up a second AV system driven by a BV7: the speakers are the BL7-2, two pairs of BL6000s for front and side speakers, and the BL4000s for rear speakers, with a BL2 subwoofer to compensate for the lack of low frequency response of the BL 6000s. The BL7-2, one pair of BL6000s, and the BL 4000s were all recycled from my primary system. These speakers all work together very nicely, although I find it desirable to run the speakers at somewhat higher levels than the primary system to compensate for the lower clarity and more limited high frequency dispersion of these older design speakers.

The bottom line for me is that it is best not to mix ALT and non-ALT speakers in one system. The BL5s are best complemented by other digital ALT models, and the older analogue designs are happier with their own kind. The BL7-2 is a digital design, but, lacking ALT, it sounds best with the older non-ALT models.

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

Alex — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:01:08 GMT

pdopeter:
Hi
Maybe you can help me. I am using 4000 as rears for my HT. I am having a problem with the auto on/off feature. During quiet scenes the speakers turn off, then turn back on when signal is sent to rears. This noise can be very annoying during movies. Do you know how to prevent this from happening?? I am currently using RCA cables for the connections.
Please help.

The RCA cables are the issue, or part of it. You need to connect them via PowerLink cables really, as these carry dedicated on/off signals, unlike RCA cables for which the BeoLab 4000s will just switch off if they detect little or no sound.

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

SWISS_2 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:57:24 GMT

They work very good as rear speakers.

I've just purchased two Beovision 8's, and experimented with a pair of BL 4000 in a large room upstairs with one BV 8 and the 4000 as rear speakers. The speakers work best for us when canted on the plastic stands made for the units. As long as there is nothing blocking the speaker ( couch, bed, or cabinet ) the 4000 is an excellent rear speaker compliment.

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

pdopeter — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:35:27 GMT

Maybe you can help me. I am using 4000 as rears for my HT. I am having a problem with the auto on/off feature. During quiet scenes the speakers turn off, then turn back on when signal is sent to rears. This noise can be very annoying during movies. Do you know how to prevent this from happening?? I am currently using RCA cables for the connections.

Please help.

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

Alex — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:49:46 GMT

I'd agree, BeoLab 3s if you can afford them, but if not, BeoLab 4000s would be your best option...

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

Christer Glatz — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:23:47 GMT

I would go for BL 3, since the rest of system uses ALT

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

soundproof — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 07:54:39 GMT

Nice diagram! (B&W must be sponsoring ...)

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

Bieele — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 07:24:58 GMT

I use a pair of BL4000 as rear speakers (bought a demo pair. Very happy with them!

For your setup try to use the DD rules found on the site www.dolby.com.

The correct setup makes a lot of difference in my experience.

Bieele

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

kkqd0298 — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 07:22:57 GMT

Sorry I should have introduced myself:

I am Harvey, long time reader....first time poster!

I have been addicted to B&O since my parents left the country and donated their avant to me. I have become addicted ever since......

Thanks for all your advice. No doubt I will need more help when my Beo5 arrives, and I have my first multiroom masterlink. I cant wait!

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

mbee — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 07:14:03 GMT

Not so sure about the 97vs 94dB issue : in real lif, the 3's seem more able to feel a big room than the 4000... Maybe it's the ABL which is set to protect more the 3's. In fact sound pressure is mostly created by the bass, and I'm not so sure that a rear speaker in a cinema setup has to generate a lot of bass.

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

Chrisreunion — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 05:52:00 GMT

To be quite accurate, the Lab 4000 goes up to 97 dB, wheareas Lab 3 goes up to 94 dB...so the 3 will saturate slightly before the 4000!

Yet, if sound balance is your concern, indeed the Lab 3 should suit better with the Lab 5 as front speakers (ALT + ICE amplifiers in both speakers).

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

mbee — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 05:00:40 GMT

Considering you have bl5 for front speaker, bl4000 for rears might be not enoughif you listen at high volume. You will have to change the front/rear balance to get an equilibrated sound at normal volume, but when turning the volume up, the 4000 might saturate...

I would consider bl3 for rears in that kind of high end setups...

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

BarryAndrew — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 03:50:55 GMT

I have just purchased a set of 4000 from Lee and I think they are ideal for the job. I was lucky in that mine included the brackets so you will have to ask Lee about that and if they are not available factor in the cost. It may be that by the time you do that there will be very little difference between the two (at Lees prices). You will have increased flexibility from the 4000 and I think they sound better anyway.

I haven't added a sub yet so my recent experiences are probably akin to where you want to go and I would say that it does make a difference, sometime a big difference, to the movie experience. As has been said before on this site this can be extended to music if you are in party mode by using speaker4 settings.

If you can go for it do so and don't worry about second hand in this context they aren't going to overwork.

Re: What rear speakers for surround sound

Chrisreunion — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:26:09 GMT

Hi, I have BeoLab 3 as front & BeoLab 4000 as rear speakers, and I find them very good for the role. Previously I had BeoLab 2500 as rears, and the difference was quite noticeable when I replaced them by the 4000s. Now I'm even thinking of replacing the 4000s by another set of BL 3 or a BeoLab 7-1, wall mounted and with twice fewer cables.

On good movies like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, and on live concert DVDs, the rear speakers change the whole experience, and on music I now use "speaker 4" all the time, the Lab 4000 as placed high above ear level, nearly on the ceiling, and the bass lifting is amazing, this shows you how placement can change things..

I think the 4000 are ideal as rear speakers if you're on tight budget, they are very versatile in placement/mounting options and the sound is very good.