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Hi all,
I'm looking fo thoughts and opinions on the idea below and a few questions:
I had a great B&O set up then I moved back to the UK from Japan. I sold the TV there due to the size and brought back my Beosystem 7000 with beolab 4000s.
Unfortunately, the Beosystem didn't survive the trip but the beolabs did. I've had to get a car and house so I just can't afford to go out and buy a new B&O tv and as a rule I don't borrow money or finance B&O as its an extreme luxury in my opinion.
I have a non-B&O tv at the moment but it's a tad big. Basically, I am now in the position to start buying some toys. As the money isn't there for a new Beovision this year I made a quick list of bits I'd like to buy to tide me over until 2017 or 2018 when I'll have the cash saved (hopefully).
I want:
a DVD player
a surround amp with preout to run my beolab 4000s or another Beosystem 6500 or 7000
a new TV stand
I was bored on eBay browsing and noticed that the Beovision 7 32" maybe a good patch for a couple of years There are downsides as if I get the mk3 it's 720p. I don't actually have my tv hooked up to an aerial, just an Apple TV 2 that runs only at 720p and I like it. I feel no need to upgrade to the newer Apple TVs as I have never really noticed poor quality picture at all.
My question is, does that make sense or am I shoe-horn'ing in reasons to get a new B&O toy? Also how does the audio work on the Beovision 7 mk3 32" as it only has DVI (so no audio)?
Can anybody offer any advice about the Beovision 7s? I'd be going for a motorised stand and beolab 7.1 as my girlfriend as expressed concern about the ugly long pole so we may switch to a table top motorised stand if she doesn't come around to the idea. Any advice would be appreciated.
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
I love my 7 32" MKIII...... personally I'm not into big TV screens so this size ticks all my boxes; good picture quality, great sound, looks good and mine too is hooked up to apple TV.
Like Chris I have spotted more MKIV's coming onto the market place but have questioned to myself is the price difference worth the HDMI when for a little more you could go to the BV10 32" as its as easy to transfer your DVD collection to iTunes and play through Apple TV ?
we tend to forget there is more to design than designing.
sorry for second post as I can't edit at present.
I would not get too hung up on picture quality at this size, although they may not cope with the use of some black colours it still beats hands down the brand new small Samsung I bought for the bedroom. The huge selling point to my wife was the motorised table stand for practicality the only down side in my eyes is the on screen menus ie TV guide .
Although you mention you just use Apple TV I would recommend you make sure the 7 32" comes with Freeview, it's just a good thing to have.
Happy hunting and let us know what you get and really sad to hear about your 7000.
Mark that is a really great piece of advice - the BV10-32. I'm sure TheMajor's girlfriend would love that design!
The beauty of using Apple TV only is that at present, if you do not watch 'live' TV in the UK, you do not need to fund the BBC with a TV licence. It does seem disgraceful funding the BBC after all of the taxes that we all pay especially with wonderful choice now from Netflix, Amazon, Vimeo, YouTube, iTunes.
Thanks for the advice.
i will add freeview to list just incase. Out of interest, how long have you had yours?
I'm the same, I hate a big TV in the room. Are you using the DVI slot? Am I correct in assuming it just a phono slot on the side?
Ive been using the AppleTV for a long time by just screw sharing from my phone or iPad. It's super easy I don't even need to use the apple remote.
Is is there anything I should look out for while searching?
I've had my BV 7 32" for about 3-4 years and enjoyed every minute of viewing, for the past year I have been drip feeding my wife that we should buy the BV10 32"... I also upgraded my kitchen BeoCenter 1 recently to a BV6 26" with HDMI on a motorised floor stand and Apple TV and must say it's a little gem with a better user menu than the 7, but the screen size maybe a little too small to really enjoy films and there's no fantastic sound bar.
Yes I run the Apple TV through the DVI port and personally have little issue with the drop in picture quality and none of my friends have ever commented about it and I know that they would have a dig at any oppurtunity (thats not to say the 40 & 55 are not superior)
I suppose with most B&O TV's try and get ones with the latest firmware and lowest day used count, which can be easily accessed from the main service menu.
Maybe others can offer any more advice what to look out for.
Hey Major,
I have a BV7-32 and I think it is smashing. The picture is in my opinion far better than many newer LEDs. Also the DVD is perfect. If you go to your dealer, they should be able to sort you out so you can watch all regions on it.
I have a computer connected to the DVI, and the sound in to the the scart. One of those scarts with RCA in. Then in the menu I have setup for DVI as AV4 and that automatically connects the scart as well. I have programmed my Beo4 with the PC option in the List-button, and this turns on the DVI.
I have heard that you need to first connect a center speaker to be able to use any other speakers at all. But the Mk3 has DTS and the soundprocessor is very nice
Someone has probably already told you this. I just wrote this without having read any other comments yet.
Beocenter-2300, Beocenter Ouverture, Beolab-2500, Beolab-8000, Beolab-Penta Mk3, Beolab-7.1, Beovision-7, Beovision-6, Remotes. And Feauture Beolab90 owner. The Speakers with the sound of smooth whipped butter made out of diamonds [L]
Paul W: The beauty of using Apple TV only is that at present, if you do not watch 'live' TV in the UK, you do not need to fund the BBC with a TV licence. It does seem disgraceful funding the BBC after all of the taxes that we all pay especially with wonderful choice now from Netflix, Amazon, Vimeo, YouTube, iTunes.
Off topic I know - but out of interest:
Do you still have that old licence model in the UK?
I thought it had been replaced by some sort of broadcasting levy on all households - means, that you would pay regardless of how you receive the BBC programs.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Hi MM,
Yes at present and it's very out of date isn't it. With so much choice from so many platforms and providers, the BBC licence should be optional, it's much much like Rupert Murdoch making everyone who owns a TV subscribe to SKY or he'll take you to a court. The whole thing needs sorting out.
It's rather weird, if you have a TV then you need to purchase a licence on a yearly basis, if you stream or use a catch-up service at present you do not need a licence. Whether the licence is necessary is a deep discussion, I like a lot of the BBC productions especially their natural history, history documentaries and music programmes, my son uses their website and kids TV channel which is excellent. I also use BBC iPlayer and listen to a few of their radio channels so I feel it's good value. What I enjoy about the BBC is the lack of advertisement intrusion and quality of programmes that are not geared for the mass market so are not always driven on viewing figures when compared to say iTV etc,.
The only time it gets expensive is when you couple in the cost of Netflex and Amazon Prime, Spotify and then the licence ...
Paul W: Hi MM, Yes at present and it's very out of date isn't it. With so much choice from so many platforms and providers, the BBC licence should be optional, it's much much like Rupert Murdoch making everyone who owns a TV subscribe to SKY or he'll take you to a court. The whole thing needs sorting out.
There are still channels using some old BBC programmes between ads and there's the new BBC content which still has to be paid for whether you stream it or view it terrestrial means. The funding thing is not going to get any easier unless the BBC make streaming viewers watch ads before they can see it free of charge.
Beo Century ,Beoplay V1, Beocenter 6, Ex-Beolit 12, Beotime , A8. Beolit 15 , Form 2i , Beolab 2000, Beoplay A3.Beosound 1
I user a BV8-32 with Apple TV and I find that more than enough - i dont pay a licence fee as I dont watch anything live because there is nothing on terrestrial TV in the uk worth watching, I would happily pay though for things i do want to watch but I can stream it.
BBC licence fee is outdated and offers very poor value for money, for the same money I can watch Netflix, Now TV and Amazon. Whilst it suits me it may not suit everyone. Between my partner and I we have 3 properties and that means 3 licence fees - with Netflix just one subscription, same with Now and same with Amazon. It's massively outdated.
I worked at the BBC for 10 years so am aware of the pro arguments, however they seem to have drifted away from the core values. There are so many BBC internet radio stations in different languages it's unreal, BBC3 a waste of time, BBC4 good but full of repeats, and the reality shows, talent contests or dumb challenge programs like bake off or whatever are a complete waste of time. At least there are no adverts, but the price of the licence just does not offer good value to me.
To make matters worst, we pay 1/5th of the costs of the eurovision song contest in order to get guaranteed entry - so 1/5th of your licence costs goes on that - and we never get anywhere with it!
I have been without terrestrial TV now for 3 years and dont miss it at all - in fact I get on and do other things and listen to music and when I want to watch it I watch something on Apple TV.
In my opinion it is another ridiculous tax, like the road tax, the technology exists for those that want it to subscribe, just as with fuel they could scrap the road tax and put it on fuel so that those that guzzle it or those heavy lorries pay for the amount of road use that they use. It would also save these lovely big old cars that are used for a few miles a week from being scrapped because the road tax is disproportionate to the value of the car.
A bit off topic, but couldn't resist a ramble
I have a BeoVision 7 32" and it does the job. However I have recently found that only having two HDMI inputs is limiting.
Bluray, Apple TV and NOW TV plus a PS3. My Sky Digital box isn't HD. Means I have to juggle. The PS3 now serves as DVD player but its frustrating that the Apple TV doesn't offer BBC iPlayer or ITV player. I have to alternate between it and NOW TV.
I need to invest in a HDMI device that allows multiple boxes to be connected.
I should also say that my set doesn't have integrated DVD hence need for an external player.
Opman
You should not put too much hope in 'an optional BBC license' - I guess.
Germany and Denmark have both left the 'old licence model'.
Now you pay per household - regardless of how you receive public tv and their services, stream or broadcast....
Same thing with a new label - but definitely not optional.
Thanks guys, I'm looking for one at the moment.