Still buy non-Mozart devices?

Hey,

I only have Mozart devices at this point but really love the A9 or the Beosound 1/2. I wondered if it's still a good time to buy them or if these devices will go away or will be updated in the future.

ItsJulius:

Hey,

I only have Mozart devices at this point but really love the A9 or the Beosound 1/2. I wondered if it's still a good time to buy them or if these devices will go away or will be updated in the future.

Hi,

It’s probably a relevant question and it is why I have bought a Balance instead of a Beosound 2, even if I preferred the sound signature of the Beosound 2 ever so slightly. I am not aware of any future plans for non-Mozart products but I think if they even got an update, which is a big question mark anyway, it probably wouldn’t happen very soon. What we do know now is that B&O has been working on bringing Mozart and non-Mozart products together in a BeoLink multiroom setup, which even at its current beta version has worked well for me. So to me this indicates more that non-Mozart products would most likely stay non-Mozart with the intention of making them work with Mozart, while more Mozart-based products would very likely release in the coming years.

Of course it depends on your budget if you still wish to prioritize a non-Mozart speaker, but I have got a Beosound 1 and two Balances, and can still very much recommend the BS1/2. The A9 is also a very capable and iconic speaker. I wouldn’t wait for a re-release, even if a new generation of the same design is never ruled out.

A really great and relevant question.

I would not hesitate to buy a non-Mozart product if I really liked it but would attempt to lean towards Mozart products if at all possible.

We have no information around and can only speculate on the fate of non-Mozart products. But it seems clear all the new products have been and will be Mozart. That said, the software is coming to keep non-Mozart relevant via Multiroom.

It's a crap-shoot. All else equal, I would buy Mozart. But I have yet to see a Balance I find attractive (Csaba's bespoke version aside) so I would buy a Beosound 2 happily.

Is the BL28 considered a Mozart device?

 

Yes the BL28 is Mozart. With the new "beta" software of the mozart devices. The "non" mozart like the Core or Beosound 1 are integrated in the multi room. The way I have tested it it looks, by using the multi room, you have the mozart functionality on the non mozart speakers.

In praxis I do not see much difference in the Mozart and non mozart speakers

Currently there is not much difference in terms of functionality between the Mozart products and the older products. The most notable difference is that the Mozart products can be stereo paired natively. It is unlikely that this feature will come to the older products without hardware update.

In practice, the most important difference is the potential for future updates which will be build around the Mozart platform. Think about multi channel surround by combining multiple Mozart products for example or integrations with future Beovisions or Stage.

If there is any functionalities missing that you would like in the future, then it's safer to go for a Mozart product, although you have of course no guarantee if such feature will ever be implemented. If the speakers fulfil your requirements then there is really not much difference in practice. Especially since the latest beta, both platforms integrate quite well with each other.

The A9 is one of B&O's best selling products. The current version is already the 4th revision. It is fair to assume that a fifth generation will come at some point and that it will be based on the Mozart platform. There is however no timeline on when (and if) that could happen.

Also the Beosound 2 as a well appreciated design and is still a speaker that sells quite well. I think that the design is less flexible for updates however. If I have to bet, I would guess an A9 update would appear sooner then an update to the A9.

Personally, I prefer both the A9 and Beosound 2 over the Balance, in terms of design, but also in terms of sound. The Lever on the other hand  I find quite nice.

Curly:

All else equal, I would buy Mozart. But I have yet to see a Balance I find attractive (Csaba's bespoke version aside) so I would buy a Beosound 2 happily.

Very kind of you, thank you! My gratitude also goes to B&O who were willing to make it happen.

On the theory that a BL 28 can stand-in for the Mozart platform, I’ve put together a .cvs file that compares/contrasts the BL 28 with the Core. Data points taken from the B&O website.

If anyone is interested, and can point me to instructions on how to upload a file, I’ll post it. Caveat, of course: specs of both are subject to change.