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
You can pick up a pair of used lab 4000 and a playmaker for the price of a new beoplay a8 now.What would be the better buy,sound quality etc?
ANYONE
i'd say the 4000+ playmaker combo would be better as the 4000s have larger cabinet volume and better frequency range. However i've not had any experience with the playmaker though.
For me its an EASY win; 4000 everytime...the Beoplay A8 honestly (i heard it one time only) seems to me an overpriced and overrated item;made in China maybe.
Sorry for being so drastic;but really, i love B&O stuff until the early 2000s...i know that the world has changed,but for me ,performance-wise and looking -wise the BL4000 are AWESOME.
The 4000s are great speakers ! No opinion on A8's
For me B&O is (or was) alla about shape AND materials...the BL 400 have both; honestly speaking the A8 has neither
And; i know that it's not fair comparing new products vs 2nd hand ones; but a pair of used Beolab 4000 would be even cheaper that the Beoplay A8; and for sure much better looking.
Do anybody know if the Beoplay brand is selling well - which i hope - or not ?
Here in Italy it's retail price is 1.149 EUR; which for me is near obscene for a docking station...between the A8 and the Iphone one would spend near 2.000 EUR; and you can buy an incredible REAL Hi-fi System for that price....or even less.
In the past; a B&O product was really different - in better way - comparing to other brands; but owadays a BeoPlay A8 is not diferent from a SONY or BOSE docking stations which are around 500 - 600 EUR (still a lot for a docking station IMHO; but this is subjective).
Is actually the BeoPlay brand a success for B&O ?
Mindphaser:Do anybody know if the Beoplay brand is selling well - which i hope - or not ?
I guess "well" is always relative . . . . .
When "us lucky few" were in Struer in May we found that in the entrance to the Farm's lobby there was a Beovision operating as a Beoplay sales tracker (see below).
I think then numbers are probably impressive by B&O standards (remember the BeoLit 12 was still young at tat time) but of course real success is a function of quantity, revenue and margins yielding profit !
But I think Tue's real measure of success would be the great hope that the majority of these sales are nett new customers to the B&O family ....
*groan* ultra-large picture - click & scroll to the right for the BeoLit data
BeoNut since '75
For me it's the other way! I've never ever warmed to the design of the BL4000's whereas I think the BS8 / A8 is iconic and for me, it will be a design classic in years to come!
I think the two are very very much different markets. It's like comparing an Audi A6 with a Porsche Boxster S. Both same price both so different!
FINALLY, I noticed some real attention to the A8 in the Apple stores in London last weekend. It was really nice to see kids of 15+ running up to it and very classy 25+ ladies enjoying it. I also noticed a male model buying one in Harrods (he was later in Dolce&Gabbana as I was there buying a DOLCE&GABBANA leather case for my iPhone).
BeoLit12 wasn't quite receiving as much attention though. But I think it's quite cute. Not sure about that Leather hangle though - they say it is Italian, but it didn't look that high a quality hmmmm!
The new look B&O stand in Harrods is looking incredible! I think the dealers really need to copy their layout with the B&O printed book shelves on the walls etc. A lot more contemporary!
From what I saw, certainly a young crowd buying into the B&O PLAY. demographic wise 25 - 28
I'm 27 and recently bought the BeoPlay Tv which I love
JK That's AWESOME!!! Are you enjoying it? Do you have an Apple TV box connected to it?
Thanks! I sure do. I've got it rigged up with a PS3, Apple TV 3, Humax FreeSat HD and Synology NAS putting the sounds out through the classic combo of 8000s/6000s and a 2 :)
And yes, I am really enjoying it. I love the flexibility of the audio functionality. Sometimes I will use it as a TV using the internal speakers, sometimes as a hi-fi with the screen muted and just the lab 8000s on, and for movies the full 5.1 rig.
DAMN the BL6000 & BL8000 are my FAVOURITE speakers ever! They would feature in my dream beach house! Sounds an incredible system nice!
Thanks Paul! The only thing that doesn't match so well visually are the 6000s which are in black. Does anybody fancy a swap for a chrome pair? ;)
Paul, am trying out my new Beolit 12 with Adele giving it a run for it's money
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
I own the beosound a8 and lab4000s ,but wondered if the 4000s and playmaker would sound better.I would then sell the a8 and put the 4000s in the kitchen.
The 4000s are used as rears in my spare lounge and are wasted really on the wall,and I listen to alot of music in the kitchen on my a8,which is great by the way.
How would the dac in the playmaker with seperate beolabs sound though compared to the one trick pony a8 with everything built in?
Yo Chris!
WOW You bought a BeoLit12 nIceeeeeee! Do you like it? Dude don't be so cruel playing Adele on that lovely sound system hehehe!
Hey Butchy I remember when Lee first reviewed the BS8 and he thought it was a better sounding system than the BL4000s from what I remember.
Hey Chris,
I managed to try a shed load of headphones & earphones at the weekend!
I've decided on a pair of ATOMIC FLOYD Super Dart earphones. These are getting 5 out of 5 on the Apple site by over 30 reviewers. Every review Ive read everywhere has given these 5 out of 5. The cable is Kevlar, the iPhone controller is metal not plastic & even the earphones are solid metal! Superb! The 3.5mm jack plug is outstanding as well!
I was incredibly impresed with the new B&W 3 Headphones - very clear beautiful sounding. I imagine these would be great for a slightly older person. For me, not quite fashionable enough for the street and casual wear but very nice for indoors use!
Chris do check out the atomic floyds as i'm aware that you do a lot of travelling :)
I will have a look Paul, although i get a sneeking suspicion B&O will knock something out soon. In the mean time i'm going back to my chilled out Ibiza
These are what i use at work...
http://www.luxurylaunches.com/gadgets/bose_a20_aviation_headset_performs_better.php
At the moment these are what i have had my eyes and ears on. Used by musicians and even the CIA!!!!
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/westone-4-earphones-review/
Very nice Chris!!!
Please do a review of the BeoLit 12 once youve gotten used to it!
I would do if it didn't keep loosing the wifi signal. The eleventh time in 4 hours is getting very, very boring. If you have bought a Beosound 8 recently without airplay, don't feel too hard done by!!!!!
On the 12th try now. Giving up and using my child's Sony Vita to listen to my music
Damn, that's shocking. I think i'd read on a review that it needed a real strong signal! Damn!
enjoying it. I also noticed a male model buying one in Harrods (he was later in Dolce&Gabbana as I was there buying a DOLCE&GABBANA leather case for my iPhone).
Thats another reason to sell my a8?
I am the same its doing my head in,I think itunes 10 has alot to do with it,I have to keep restarting it and I have a fantastic signal were I live.Its got to the point I just dock my phone or pad.
Hey Butchy don't knock male models! Most are very intelligent, earning heeps of money whilst studying at University for a degree or masters! :)
then they end up on the rock & roll like most graduates.
ALL of my friends are educated to at least degree level and none of us have ended up on the 'Rock and Roll'
you are part of a small percentage then,degrees this day of age are not worth the paper they are written on,so many intelligent people(on paper) out of work.Then they end up working for peanuts making other people rich,weres the intelligence in that.
I am the same age as you,but we have so different values.My dad who I admire left school early with no qualifications,and has got a successful propert portfolio,with a large house in chigwell,were as mhis brother who was privately educated and went to st andrew university is working in the city but for a firm,not for himself,he gets salary thats it.different strokes for different folks.
Hard graft and sacrifice gets you to wherever you need to be in life,not bits of paper.Thats my philosophy on the matter anyway,off topic again.