ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
I'm pretty shocked..
Just went to order a new complete power supply a BeoSound 5 Encore from 2012 as the previous owner lost it in a house move.. and I've been told by our engineer they are discontinued?!!!!!
I repeat, you cannot get the complete power supply for a product which was being sold in B&O dealers last year - only the main PCB inside. So, if you've lost your power supply or it gets damaged irreparably - you're on your own, you've got a lovely BeoSound 5 Encore that you can only use as a doorstop.
He's approached B&O and we're waiting for a reply - but as of now, they're obsolete... end of story.
This isn't right. Really...
Lee
Well, I'm as much of a B&O fanboy as anyone, and defend them on a lot of issues, but on this one you are absolutely right! That's insane to orphan a recent product so quickly and completely. Not being able to get metal for something like Beovox/lab 3000/4500/5000 wall speakers, disappointing but understandable as it's been decades since they were built, but something sold last year?
I take it the PS is different for the BS5?
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
I haven't seen one and so don't know, but - couls it be because it is a generic type power supply, available from elsewhere?
Ban boring signatures!
It's a totally separate power supply for the Encore - the BS5 is powered by the BeoMaster 5 which has a standard Fig-8 plug connection...
The Encore has a black box, into which is fed one end of the power lead which supplies the Encore - which has a pretty unique looking connector on the other end. We removed the cover to see where the Encore unit lead connects to the box - but i've not seen that before.
Some poor quality images attached...
The other side. Note we've taken off the lead which goes to the Encore head unit to expose the connections..
A fig-8 power lead goes in the other end which goes to the mains.
.... and finally a close up of the connections
Nope! - that's pretty unique!!
I would demand a refund on the entire product if they couldn't supply a replacement power supply after such a short time! What length warranty are these things sold with?
Completely unacceptable... No off the shelf solution for replacement, so at gunpoint I would just buy the spare PCB and house it in a generic enclosure. The real problem then is the connector at the main unit end, if it is something funny.
I consulted the service manual, and the 7V is a stand by supply. The 30V line comes on when commanded by the main unit.
--mika
I know the Encore wasn't a massive hit, but this doesn't fill you with a lot of confidence does it!
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
we tend to forget there is more to design than designing.
There are B&O service centers in Europe who keeps those obsolete parts in stock
Brengen & Ophalen
Secondlife:I have one (boxed) for sale if needed.
PM me with a price - you may well have a buyer!
I also need more of them if any dealers are reading this. After this news I've just counted the stock from a batch of Encores I bought from a number of closed down dealers - and I'm five short..
I just can't believe the part is obsolete. I'm sure it's one which slipped through the net, but someone actually made this decision and signed it off...
I thought the power supply was also quite unique. When i purchased the encore the power supply did not come wired, so in the box were instructions to wire the power supply myself - which I found most odd. I have never had to wire a power supply before, for anything.
It's odd that B&O don't stock the part, but maybe the response from B&O (when it comes through) that yes we do stock it. I hope so.
w5bno123:I am also fortunate enough to have a spare Encore PSU, it comes with a complimentary BeoSound 5 Encore
....
So I just pay the RRP for the PSU and I get the Encore free????
x:________________________
I guess the only good thing is that the voltages and current requirements are listed in plain view so it is possible to build one if you were backed into a corner.
A joke. I guess there are going to be some difficult conversations to be had with some angry Encore owners out there.
Suddenly the alternatives are looking more like alternatives!
Somebody with an electronics background can probably produce some aftermarket kit for these.
BeoLab 5, BeoVision 7-55 MK2, BeoSound 5 Encore, BeoSound 9000, BeoLab Penta III, BeoLab 8000, BeoLab 6000, BeoLab 2, BeoLab 7-6, BeoSound 8, BeoTime (analog clock), Beo 4 remote.
From their web site: "We deliver spare parts in a considerable period after a product has ceased to be manufactured."
Case closed...
MediaBobNY: From their web site: "We deliver spare parts in a considerable period after a product has ceased to be manufactured." con·sid·er·a·ble kənˈsidər(ə)bəl,-ˈsidrəbəl/ adjective notably large in size, amount, or extent. "a position of considerable influence" synonyms: sizable, substantial, appreciable, significant Case closed...
Good link!
More specifically:
"On average, a Bang & Olufsen product has a lifetime of 10-15 years without any loss of audio or video quality. Products are exhaustively mechanically tested before they are released for production, to ensure high-quality throughout their lifetime. They are tested to ensure they can withstand cold, heat, vibrations, sunlight, dust, etc.In the unlikely event that a product has a fault during its lifetime, it can of course be repaired. We deliver spare parts in a considerable period after a product has ceased to be manufactured. We also have mechanical spare parts - for example front and back panels, if a unit becoming scratched or damaged."
So, advertised average lifetime of 10 to 15 years at original output quality, and faults can be repaired in that lifetime using the spares available after manufacturing ceases.
Graham
All Encore-owner should now write BeoCare to ask if this can be true!
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
I'm surprised this made the news. The BeoSound 5 Encore was one of the fastest discontinues for B&O behind the A3 and BeoLab 12. It was received horribly by the market (price if you ask me) and very few were sold globally (especially US). It has been known for sometime that the power supplies were the first to go. The power supply is modular and can be easily be rebuilt by a qualified technician. Newer products to market will not receive the same known 12 year support. I believe it has been cut down to 6 years if I recall right. Of course you can call different service centers to find said parts after the cutoff point. They'll be around, you'll just have to look. :)
Ah, you know... A little B&O here, a little there
BeoSound Encore power supply is still available.
Part number : 8004477 for Europe version.
Order now delivery 8 of august.
Kind Regards,
Marcel
BeoLogic:BeoSound Encore power supply is still available. Part number : 8004477 for Europe version. Order now delivery 8 of august. Kind Regards,Marcel
BeoMegaMan:fastest discontinues for B&O behind the A3 and BeoLab 12
BeoLab 12 ???
Since when - they still have pride of place on the walls of Australia stores and are on the website . . .
BeoNut since '75
elephant:BeoLab 12 ??? Since when - they still have pride of place on the walls of Australia stores and are on the website . . . The Essence of B&O is discretion in design and life
where i can order this ?
I always troll eBay and Craigslist for B&O to see if I can find good deals. Obviously, products there are usually older items. This gives me pause and makes me reconsider my window shopping and go for only current products, knowing that there's security if something goes wrong, even beyond the warranty period.
I know two-fifths of nothing about electronics or electrics....
But would a generic power adaptor like this or whatever the definitive specification is do?
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/product/6689236/?grossPrice=Y&cm_mmc=UK%7CShopping-_-Google+PLA-_-EOS%7CPlug+In+Power+Supply-_-6689236&kpid=&kpid=6689236&istCompanyId=f7e7b05b-2daf-4c0e-8825-3633baf8113b&istItemId=xwilrmqia&istBid=tzit&gclid=CMz8x7vLucUCFfMZtAodaywA9w
I would imagine B&O Service Depts would know how to get around this? Can you imagine the response.....
B&O Service: Sorry sir, you power supply card has failed.
Customer: Well please replace it for me. Its only a year out of warranty
B&O Service: Well I'm afraid the part is obsolete and we no longer stock those items. You will have to buy something new from our Sales team if you still want B&O.
Customer: Well what a good idea. I'll buy two Moments. One now and one in 2 years tome to break for parts......
I suspect that for a part that's failed you would have a good case for exchange/repair/refund for up to (and I believe this is correct) 6 or 7 years from date of sale.
This is in addition to the standard 1 or 2 year warranty.
I know this as a nice customer of mine who happened to be a member of a 'consumer rights' group , actually took me to court over a swimsuit that they had for nearly two years, that had been pulled apart by an oversized wearer :-) (combined with the effects of chlorine
Now we all know that swimsuits degrade quite quickly when used in swimming pools due to the chlorine, thats just a fact of life, a season tops if you are lucky - regular swimmers are replacing theirs very regularly. However it appears that as a supplier one is liable for 'failure' for whatever reason for a much longer period than the standard warranty, so sadly I was deemed a nasty supplier of dodgy gear, despite the fact we have sold many thousands over the years with not one issue!
Anyway, what I'm getting at is that a call to trading standards regarding a failed power supply might well agree that they should be supporting it (or refunding/repairing at their choice)
Obviously going that route isn't what most normal people do but armed with that information it may well encourage B&O to re think their decision to not supply parts/repairs.
Thats not going to help you I think for a 2nd user item but an original owner might well have a case for redress.
I seem to remember a trading standards person telling me that its even more relevant for things like tvs etc which might be expected to have a longer serve life than a swimsuit.
DJ
Dave Hutton: I suspect that for a part that's failed you would have a good case for exchange/repair/refund for up to (and I believe this is correct) 6 or 7 years from date of sale. This is in addition to the standard 1 or 2 year warranty.
This is quite correct but open to interpretation and abuse by retailers/manufacturers. There are numerous reports about the rights of consumers available online and in the press, such as this one:
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2006/mar/25/consumernews.howtocomplain
and this one:
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/apr/17/consumer-rights-refunds
and consumer advice:
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/shropshire/con1item.cgi?file=*adv0043-1011.txt
So things don't have to last six years but a consumer has a 6 year window to take legal action for redress.
I think the non-repair of expensive electronic items such as the Encore should count and B&O should hang their heads in shame.
Dave.
If someone sends me a PSU I can design a case and 3D print clones for new/replacement PSUs to utilize a fresh PCB.
I can already think of a cable engineer who could help us with the connections.
If there's one thing I know about BeoWorld, its that the members always love a challenge!
Beo4 'til I die!
here is the PCB in all its rare glory.