[ajames]

I use Beovox M100-2 every day as my main speakers in my main home with C30s in my study. In the other place, I use S45-2 in one room and P40s in another with MCX35 in my garage/workshop.

I’ve tried so many speakers over the past 30 years I started with Beovox 5700 which were my first B&O speakers, then RL60.2, then brand new BL8000 (which to start with I was disappointed with but grew to like), Beolab 1 followed, then BL8000 again, followed by BL4000 – the most disappointing but in retrospect, they were far too small for the size of the room – I lived in a flat and bought them as I had complaints from the upstairs neighbour about my music. Once she moved (!) I bought Beolab Penta’s MKII and they were fantastic – a friend of mine still has them and I wonder sometimes if I should have kept them. The Penta’s were followed by the M100-2 – I switched to these as I wanted to try different amplifiers and experiment a bit more – I got the hifi bug. These are the best speakers I’ve owned but really they should be in a larger room. I doubt I would ever sell them as I love them and will no doubt move them to a larger room at some point, plus since taking early retirement I can’t afford to replace them!

In terms of design BL8000 remain my absolute favourite, hmmm, no doubt when aesthetics prevails I will look again at getting another pair!

 

[ajames]

I think it very much depends on the price point and what’s driving the speakers.

For me, and it is subjective as everyone’s different my Beovox M100-2 are the best speakers I’ve owned. I have had BL8000, 6000 and 4000 – none of them sounded as good. In fact the turning point was when I bought some S60’s and they just sounded so good. Penta’s I loved too but I prefer the M100’s as I have a choice of amplifier. I used mine with a KT88 valve amp pushing out 30 Watts – this is more than enough. Driven by solid-state amps, something is missing they sound weaker. I have a Linn LP12 and the pickup (Rega Exact) goes through a valve phono preamp – when compared to my BG4002 and IfI Zen combo the sound again is much fuller and somehow vocals are more realistic, plus the Rega transmits less surface noise than the MMC20EN. I’ve driven them with QUAD 33/303 combo and that was good but not as good as the valve amp. I’ve tried B&O Receivers with them and my favourite was the BM6000 – that sounded and looked great but packed up. For streaming, i use a playmaker which to me sounds much better than anything else I’ve used. I also use Beovox S45-2, P45 (I think) and MCX speakers in other rooms and different setups. I was really disappointed with Beolab 3500 which i did use in my kitchen for a while hooked up to a BS3000 but was replaced with a B&O passive speaker amp and the MCXs.

However, I’m pretty sure that the newer more expensive active B&O speakers will outperform my M100-2s – which is why I haven’t been to listen to them!

So in summary from my own experience, it depends on price point and the quality of the rest of the system.

[ajames]

Thank you both – wow, I never would have had that down as an Akai, and, Dillen the Scanya’s or DUX i’d never heard of.

I might have to look out for the Akai.

 

[ajames]

In my experience B&O cartridges have a lower output than other makes which can make a direct a/b comparison show the B&O as performing below that of another make. If you compare with a Shure cartridge it will sound much better initially.

What RIAA stage are you using – try playing with the settings, I have mine on a high output MC setting rather than MM and it sounds very good

[ajames]

I think my first 8000’s must have been mark 1s as they were bought in the very late 1990s – they replaced RL60.2. Both used with a Beocenter 9300 – I remember not being impressed then compared to the RL60s but after a while i grew to love the sound of them and never thought they lacked bass, maybe they needed some time to wear in?

I now also use a Playmaker for streaming, i have it plugged into a Quad 303 as it drives my M100-2 speakers superbly and if i want more bass i can turn it up on the playmaker. Like you i mainly listen to vinyl (BG4002) and i find the playmaker a brilliantly simple but great quality preamp that can stream music too. The M100-2s and they are the best B&O speaker that i have owned – but bear in mind I can’t afford Beolab 5s and upwards so I cant compare them with those – but to me they are fantastic. I recapped them with a kit from Dillen and the performance now must be close to when they were new if not better.

Prior to the Playmaker/Quad combo I tried an Audio Icon valve amp with KT88 valves – the result was very involving but i found there was too much bass and slightly muddled lower end. Beolink Passive was just not powerful enough. Quad 33/303 very good but not as warm as playmaker/303, Beomaster 2200 great, Beomaster 6000 brilliant, Beomaster 6500 slightly muffled and nowhere near as open as the 6000.

I guess the thing is to experiment and find the sound you like

 

[ajames]

From my own experience my secondhand Beolab 8000s sounded awful compared to Beovox S45-2, S60 etc. However this may have been because the foam rotted. Certainly several years before when I bought some brand new ones the bass was fine and i thought they sounded amazing.

I would try the subwoofer and see how it sounds. I tried one with my 8000s and i found it just muddled the sound of music.

 

I just wonder if there is something else wrong with the way have the system connected? You say that the TV is connected via Line out – is there any way of adjusting the bass on the TV? Can you connect the speakers to the Beomaster using powerlink and see how they sound?

 

[ajames]

How about some Penta’s? Amazing sound compared to the 6 or 8000s? If you can get a good pair though.

[ajames]

I had one built into a 1200 when I bought it second hand – i worked ok but the volume can be a little low for the SP pickup. There are loads of modules around but I ended up using it with an external amp with variable output. My main concern is that you don’t know how it’s good it’s going to be until you build it. Also you have to build in some sort of power supply, which means adding a transformer and other bits into the cabinet – all of which increase the chances of hum.

I’d also be interested though if someone has built one in and it works well.

[ajames]

I would have thought you will be fine with a step up transformer of 100w if the load of each is 12W will be more than plenty. I had this the other way round for a while with the some speaker I got from Japan – I used one transformer on each to save running cables, but one one transformer for the pair should be fine.

 

[ajames]

I had a BG6002 hooked upto a Beomaster 5500 (I think) that had the preamp built in and the tape out took care of any issue with a phono preamp – you can use a remote eye I think with this receiver so it could be hidden away – you only really need to it control the Beogram and act as a phono preamp?

[ajames]

What a great way to start married life – brilliant, I never know those boxes existed

[ajames]

Wow, Robert that is a stunning setup and I love your apartment

[ajames]

Hi Guy – thanks, that is absolutely perfect for what I need – excellent, I’ve been looking for something like that for ages. Thanks again

[ajames]

I mean the pins on the Powerlink Din cable

[ajames]

Totally agree, massive thanks to Keith and everyone for bring the forum back to life.

[ajames]

Great, thanks Guy – got what I needed – I’ve bookmarked it – it’s excellent – thanks again

 

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