B&O - On track.... or not?

We've had the BeoLab 90's, lots of new colours, a few new products - massive screw-ups with software again (on the new Android TV's), product delays - but promises of lots of great things to come....

Personally, I deal with B&O every day (products, and dealers) so I'm in the front row, so to speak - but I'd like to know your thoughts on wether the company is going in the right direction?  A new CEO, the legacy left by the old one (Play, sell-offs etc) and a tough future in one of their bigger markets (the UK) after Brexit?

The share price has gone up, so the suits clearly think B&O are heading in the right direction - but what do suits know when it comes to the general feeling about the company from a fan/users perspective...

Over to you!

The missing part is still their televisions,

I am for one very excited to see what comes out of LG made B&O televisions.

If that goes well, I could for the first time consider a B&O television. 

 

I still hope that they will make more profit in the future. My main concern is the reliability of the product manufactured outside Denmark.

I think also this is the end of the iconic products. We will see many products with short lifetime. One replacing the other. It is a normal situation as people are searching for less expensiv items and didn't expect to keep them for a long time.

 

 

 

other more long time B&O customers will have a better view than me, as i;ve only had B&O products for a couple of years.

That said, i would look at it like this. They have a future if they can remain true to their historic values - unique and class leading design and high end performance. Whether that future is profitable enough depends on many things - they will be particularly vulnerable in a recession i suspect, even with the understanding that they are not a mass market producer. In that regard, the Play line has been very important i suspect in keeping their name in front of consumers.

People will have different views on their current product designs and form factors - some will prefer the aesthetic of old, nothing wrong with that - but by and large i still think they are well ahead on style and design (recent Beosound 1 and 2 seem to have been warmly received). But they need to continue to innovate here, as the smartphone market has shown that those with historically no design chops can eventually improve enough.

As for performance and ease of use - this is a bigger challenge to me, as the job has got a lot more complex with the proliferation of sources, difficulty in making licensing deals etc....the Android move has some logic in this regard, despite its janky initial implementation......and this will get more complex in 5-10 years time if VR / AR experiences become more mainstream.....

Anyway, despite the unease i sense on the forum, which i understand, i suspect they will still be around in 10 years time, whether independently, owned by a parent, or in lots of partnerships, who knows......but i suspect the name will still be here....

Emil Jensen:

I am for one very excited to see what comes out of LG made B&O televisions.

A good starting point could be the Loewe Bild 7 which uses a LG OLED panel and has mostly very positive reviews - decent value too for the 55".

On balance, I'm happier with the BeoPlay products than regular mainline B&O.

Beoplay range is really good, and seams to appeal to people. The quarterly reports show evidence of that. See the headphones quite a lot when I commute through Stockholm. 

I think the main issue for B&O (business wise) is the Beovision range. Think that its simply difficult to get enough people to invest in TVs in that price range, when technology move so fast. If the the Beovision / LG range does not fly I´m afraid B&O will ditch the TV-business. I hope I´m wrong.

 

Hiort:

Beoplay range is really good, and seams to appeal to people. The quarterly reports show evidence of that. See the headphones quite a lot when I commute through Stockholm.

I think the main issue for B&O (business wise) is the Beovision range. Think that its simply difficult to get enough people to invest in TVs in that price range, when technology move so fast. If the the Beovision / LG range does not fly I´m afraid B&O will ditch the TV-business. I hope I´m wrong.

So do I. It's quite literally the only thing that makes me keep coming back.

Good looking speakers or music streamers! Take your pick, it's a packed market out there much of which is cheaper.

I agree with that, justifying 5k give or take might be a difficult sell for consumers over the long term.....the Horizons have sold well, and much better than the new BV14 from what i am told, so price is a real issue......that said i expect the B&O (LG) OLEDs will seem very compelling to existing customer base, and likely be an excellent product, unless they price it at 7k or above and compromise the spec, in which case it may well struggle......

did you see the price of each new lg oled ? did you really expect it could be cheaper than 6k when b&o adds its own stuff ? 

The price will still be an issue as bang olufsen can't offer the same discount for its bv as lg or any other tv seller do each 6 months.

 

 

 

Put the LG panel in a bno frame

A la carte the bno interface processor.

Offer package pricing for the same when bought together or with (optional) center speaker (35?)

Easy Peasy

Does anyone know which LG Oled TV will be the the B&O TV?  Is it the LG signature series?

I think B&O might be doing better.  I was starting to think B&O was going to leave North America but recently a new store opened in Portland Oregon.

 

 

Not sure if it's the same with other dealers, but the one I visited on Black Friday said it was their highest number of transactions in a single day ever. They also said the Horizon has been a great seller, and they wish they could get Beosound 1 and 2's in stock because there has been a lot of interest.

Just judging from the shop's comments and the breadth of options in the shop compared to a couple of years ago gives me hope for the brand.

linder:

Does anyone know which LG Oled TV will be the the B&O TV?  Is it the LG signature series?

It's not the TV, just a partnership (like the Loewe Bild 7) where they take the OLED panel, wrap it up in a B&O frame, perhaps their own software and definitely B&O speakers.

I think that B&O could have a prosperous future, given that the new LG OLED Beovisions get a timeless Danish design and good built quality. I think there is a growing market for such an oled tv. We plan to replace our BV5 with this new oled TV next year - if it gets a proper B&O design ala the BV5, so that it will fit well with our BL5 and BS9000... 

moxxey:

It's not the TV, just a partnership (like the Loewe Bild 7) where they take the OLED panel, wrap it up in a B&O frame, perhaps their own software and definitely B&O speakers.

With audio (speakers and all-in-ones), I do think B&O is on track. BeoSound 1 and (especially) 2 are a delight. BeoPlay A6, A9, A1. BeoSound 35 lacks something, for me; maybe it is the form of a soundbar – there's nothing really unique about the design.

But.

I've always had a BeoVision as the central "hub" in my livingroom; everything is connected to it. Mac Mini, Apple TV, Blu-ray, and then there are the built-in sources.

For this, my BV11 works perfectly.

B&O's latest offerings – BV14, Avant NG, Horizon – just aren't worth it to me, in terms of upgrading my BV11. Downgrades in panel quality, all-Android, bugs... and I can get a B6 OLED for €2300.

BeoSound 2, and many BeoPlay products – which are wonderfully "stand-alone" solutions for digital streaming music, yet integrated because of the nature of streaming sources – work perfecly without a BeoVision.

So because of non-proprietary audio multiroom solutions, I can depart from B&O. BeoVision has always been my "raison d'etre" for an all-B&O ecosystem (for the lack of a better word). If I were to switch to LG OLED, and go for a mixed setup, there's nothing keeping me from trying the competing multi-room audio systems from Sonos, Denon HEOS, etc.

BeoVision has always – for me since 1991 – been a corner stone of my setup. When I'll let it go, there's not that much keeping me from letting go of my whole Beo-holistic way of AV life.

B&O needs the video-equivalent of Geoff Martin, the audio magician. I'm not seeing the video-magic at B&O anymore – something they truly used to have with their VisionClear concept, the human eye & the viewing panel. They perfected CRT TVs and produced stellar LCD TVs. Now, in my opinion, they are lost, the underdog, because of competition and the fast yearly advances in video tech.

So for video, B&O is not worth it anymore. Bild 7 55" costs ~5000 euros. A BV Horizon, with all its shortcomings and inferior tech, costs more. And I suspect that the OLED BV will be 2-3 times more expensive than Bild 7, and 6-8 times more expensive than LG B6 (which is considered reference level in video). Where is the added value of B&O in this picture?

I don't see it.

Maybe their collaboration with LG will turn things around, but I have my doubts. BV11 has proprietary software, BV14, Avant NG and Horizon are poor attempts at making it work on Android, and LG will bring WebOS to the mix.

TL;DR – with video, B&O is not on track. They are very far from it. And it takes a toll on the holistic B&O approach in terms of functionality, integration, brand, and value.

I wrote a lenghty post about BeoSound, BeoPlay, the nature of streaming digital content & multiroom setups, and BeoVisions.

Posted it from my iPhone, and it disappeared to cyberspace (or moderation).

Long story short, with the video department, B&O is not on track. They need a video "magician" (i.e. a professional that transcends the profession) similar to Geoff Martin in the audio realm.

 video department, B&O is not on track.

Audio department ,B&O is also not on track

koning:

Audio department ,B&O is also not on track

Do you include the speakers in that?

No, only the Moment

For a lot of people they have been let down by sub par after sales service. That stops people staying with the brand and or advocating it to new potential customers.

I think the company is headed in the right direction and there is real opportunity to get it right the first time (android) to stop post cognitive dissonance. People pay a lot of money for their B&O. I don't care whether it's small or not - the price compensates.

I think some of the right sizing of stores was needed (not in all markets) because what other smaller non mass producer has so many stores. I like the stores btw.

I was told that the android is an "experiment" which was more letting me know if I do purchase one "don't blame us if it's buggy". Well I will blame you if it's buggy. I'm your customer. Not your tester.

Great to see new products that actually got me in the store. Like with the BS1. I knew I didn't need it. But I left the store sat in the car for 2 mins and went back and said "you know what..." and purchased it because I wanted it. Not only to beat Ed and or Cliff to it .

Merry Christmas and best 2017 to B&O.

Aussie Michael:

Great to see new products that actually got me in the store. Like with the BS1. I knew I didn't need it. But I left the store sat in the car for 2 mins and went back and said "you know what..." and purchased it because I wanted it.

Hi Michael,

I agree with you. At first I was sceptical about the unusual thermos form of the BS1 & 2, but when I went this week to the shop for a paper magazine I had a good listen and this changed my mind completely.

It is a product that in the right room could be act twofold: as a nice piece of furniture, and producing some marvellous sound.

I've never been in such a hurry as you are to buy new toys, but now I'm trying to find for myself a good reason why I should not order one.

B&O just made a product that makes me thrilled again, and this has been for a long time not the case. They are on track, at least for their small music systems.

Have a jolly and blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Chris

Aussie Michael:

Not only to beat Ed and or Cliff to it .

You are just lucky I no longer work in the city

Just kidding

Enjoy