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
We all understand there is something magical about B&O design. For me, the sound is not perfect but it is a compromise with the aesthetic side, and I will choose beauty over other things :P
My question, if you have to choose something to replace B&O, what would you choose?
BL8000, BL10, BL4000, BL2, BL3 (Sold), Beocentre 2 (Sold), Beosystem 3, LG C8
B&W if cost was no object. Paradigm if I cared to be thriftier. But there are lots of great loudspeaker manufacturers out there. GoldenEsr is another that I read wonderful things about but haven’t heard myself.
Currently: BeoLab 17, BeoLab 18, BeoSound Core, Beosound Level, Beosound A1 2nd Gen, BeoPlay S8 Connection Hub, Halo, Essence Remote
Previously: BeoSound 1 non-GVA
B&W 800 series is really nice sounding and looking, but they are also power hungry and needs a lot of amps, (if not mono block). So their setup may not look the same as B&O,
I have had many systems before,
But after having a beovision as the center of my entertainment I hope never to settle for anything else.
The issues I have had with a bunch of remotes, and CEC trouble is countless, and even a universal remote did not help IMO.
Beovision Harmony 77" 2nd Gen, Beolab 5, Beolab 17, Beosound 1, Beoplay M3, Beoplay Portal, Beoplay Earset, Beoliving Intelligence
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
Exactly, I have complain for my B&O system here and there, but at the end of day I am very happy with my setup. I never got bored with its look for the past 13 years.
My original plan was to upgrade to the new sound centre/Eclipse Mk2 but somehow it did not meet my exact requirement. But let's leave that debate somewhere else. So I have been thinking if I have to switch away from B&O, what would I get? A nice 5.1/7.1 channel plus amplifier? Nah, too complicated. A soundbar? Nah, sound is only decent and I am sure I will dislike its look in a years time. The fact is, there simply is no replacement for B&O.....Maybe, just maybe, until Apple comes up with a premium HT setup.
I've given up on watching TV a couple of years ago. As far as Audio is concerned I would be looking at wireless speaker systems and for a non B&O system I'd probably choose a Naim Mu-so. I like the looks of the Master & Dynamic MA770 as well, but it seems a little short on specs.
Vähintään yhdeksänkymmentä prosenttia suomalainen!
OlivierC:IMO there are many, depending on the market segment. B&W, Bose, Sennheiser, Dali and Sonos for what concerns home systems/soundbars. Dali, Geneva Labs, Sony, Sennheiser, Bose, Tivoli Audio, B&W for personal/portable audio. I’m listing these companies as competitors in similar segments, of course each of them has his pros and cons. I’m sure I’ve left many out of this list, these are just a few that come to my mind where I can find some sort of affinity, hence I understand it is highly debatable. I don’t think there’s anything comparable in terms of tv’s but IMHO the more the time passes, the more I find hard to justify the increasing gap between a BV and a high end tv (Harmony excluded as it is in a league of its own). Regards. Olivier
B&W, Bose, Sennheiser, Dali and Sonos for what concerns home systems/soundbars.
Dali, Geneva Labs, Sony, Sennheiser, Bose, Tivoli Audio, B&W for personal/portable audio.
I’m listing these companies as competitors in similar segments, of course each of them has his pros and cons.
I’m sure I’ve left many out of this list, these are just a few that come to my mind where I can find some sort of affinity, hence I understand it is highly debatable.
I don’t think there’s anything comparable in terms of tv’s but IMHO the more the time passes, the more I find hard to justify the increasing gap between a BV and a high end tv (Harmony excluded as it is in a league of its own).
Regards.
Olivier
But none of the soundbar looks anywhere as nice as the Stage nor the Eclipse. I think there is a difference between minimalist design vs B&O design
beocool: I've given up on watching TV a couple of years ago. As far as Audio is concerned I would be looking at wireless speaker systems and for a non B&O system I'd probably choose a Naim Mu-so. I like the looks of the Master & Dynamic MA770 as well, but it seems a little short on specs.
I am 90% TV/Movie/Netflix and 10% music, so sound centre is important to me. If purely 2.0 for music, I like B&W Formation Duo.
Chris Townsend:DEFINITELY
Watch what you're posting mate. It's 2020, not 1978.
For music, Arcam SA30 amp and pair of vintage Scanspeak(Scansonic P45) speakers.Any tv with latest technology.
Beogram 6500 MMC2,Beosound Ouverture,2xBeolab 8000,2xBelolab 4000,Beolab 2,Beolab 7.2,Beo4 navi, 2xBeocom2,Serene,Beosystem 3 mk3,H6 2nd gen,Earphones E8,A8,A9 keyring,Beoplay A1,Bottle opener,Beoplay A2 active(thanks Botty)Wine Set(thanks Botty),4Ktv Samsung 55'',Beolab 7.1 with 42''Panasonic plasma,,Oppo udp-203, LinTronic.
chickenceo:But none of the soundbar looks anywhere as nice as the Stage nor the Eclipse. I think there is a difference between minimalist design vs B&O design BL8000, BL10, BL4000, BL2, BL3 (Sold), Beocentre 2, Beosystem 3, LG C8
OlivierC: chickenceo: But none of the soundbar looks anywhere as nice as the Stage nor the Eclipse. I think there is a difference between minimalist design vs B&O design BL8000, BL10, BL4000, BL2, BL3 (Sold), Beocentre 2, Beosystem 3, LG C8 I was just trying to list some alternatives, each with its specific pros and cons. I do agree B&O looks better than the competitors in most (if not all) of the cases. Olivier
chickenceo: But none of the soundbar looks anywhere as nice as the Stage nor the Eclipse. I think there is a difference between minimalist design vs B&O design BL8000, BL10, BL4000, BL2, BL3 (Sold), Beocentre 2, Beosystem 3, LG C8
BL8000, BL10, BL4000, BL2, BL3 (Sold), Beocentre 2, Beosystem 3, LG C8
I was just trying to list some alternatives, each with its specific pros and cons.
I do agree B&O looks better than the competitors in most (if not all) of the cases.
Yes I agreed with you that each system, brand, has its pros and cons and I keep reminding myself it is all about compromise to a certain extent.
For music, i have bought the Nad M33 with piega loudspeakers
moxxey:Watch what you're posting mate. It's 2020, not 1978.
I prefer B&O, however if it was no more, I would choose Loewe. A TV is a centre piece for me as I watch more TV than listen to music. I don't even listen to music on my 18s or 3s funnily enough, maybe when Chiltrax is on. I generally listen to the A9 for music or my H8.
I also like Devialet from a design and acouistic point.
People say BOSE is Buy Other Sound Equipment, but I like it. I have owned a Wave radio for a long time and had an acoustimas system linked to an AV receiver (which i sold when i bought the B&O), but it was bullet proof and it never not worked, and it never had software / hardware issues. That to me is an important factor.
Michael has taken the words right out of my mouth! I am with you on all fronts and if you hadn’t of posted first I would have listed exactly the same products!
By the way, great thread OP! Very good topic and one I have often thought about.
I was first drawn to B&O 40 years ago now for the unique design of their products so I am 100% about aesthetics and nothing has changed. For this reason alone it would be almost impossible for me to replace B&O since nobody else does what they do.
Loewe would have been the closest but unless someone tells me otherwise, I thought they went bust a few years ago? I also read on another thread on this forum that someone who owns a Loewe hates it, so that didn’t paint a great picture as I always thought they were of a high quality, specially being a German brand. I think they said the menu system was terrible and they were having all sorts of other problems too. Design wise I sort of liked them but they didn’t really captivate me. With B&O, particularly the 70s-90s era, it was a love affair and I was totally captivated. Nobody else has ever made me feel that way towards or about their product. Kudos to B&O for a second time for that! They have some incredible achievements to be proud of and have set the bar very high many times. Love them for that.
Simon.
B&O products are V1-32, BS2, H95, E8 and an Essence remote.11-46 now replaced with Sony A90J 65”, Sony HT-A9, Sony UBP-X800M2 and Sony SRS-NS7.
Hi Simon
Their website is still up and running and their latest TVs run a customised UI / OS
How does the 800series ex.802d3 compare to the Beolab 50s?
lawrencejmcook:Hooters is very much alive and kicking in 2020.
I wouldn't replace a brand with another brand. But If I would get rid of B&O:
- To replace my Beovisions, to me all TVs are the same today, almost. So I would go for Sony or LG, probably.
- For music it is different. I would keep my Lyngdorf TDAI (https://lyngdorf.steinwaylyngdorf.com/lyngdorf-tdai-3400/) that I already use to correct the room response with my Beolab 5 and would add passive speakers to it, something like Triangle https://www.trianglehifi.com/en/produit/hifi-floor-standing-speaker-grand-concert/ . Or maybe update the Lyngdorf for a Trinnov ST2-HIFI or Amethyst (https://www.trinnov.com/st2-hifi/) depending of the speakers setup/choice, actually it is already something I am considering with my current B&O setup
I've tried. I periodically question the $$$ I have tied up in B&O. Unfortunately for my bank account, I keep coming up with B&O.
If B&O were to disappear, I'd probably go with Sonos. Nothing to look at, but then it doesn't try to do that. From what I've read/heard from friends, it works well from a UI standpoint, and has decent audio (but nothing exceptional). It wouldn't bring me "joy", but it would free up resources to find joy in other areas. As my ears age, I think I'm getting less critical of audio...
Stan: I've tried. I periodically question the $$ I have tied up in B&O. Unfortunately for my bank account, I keep coming up with B&O. If B&O were to disappear, I'd probably go with Sonos. Nothing to look at, but then it doesn't try to do that. From what I've read/heard from friends, it works well from a UI standpoint, and has decent audio (but nothing exceptional). It wouldn't bring me "joy", but it would free up resources to find joy in other areas. As my ears age, I think I'm getting less critical of audio...
I've tried. I periodically question the $$ I have tied up in B&O. Unfortunately for my bank account, I keep coming up with B&O.
You are right, the monitor portion of our TV is a large brimless monitor with slight differences to suit our own needs. As for Sonos, I have auditioned the Arc and it is a bit bright for me. Having said that, I will be surprised if Apple don't come up with something for that particular market segment. After all, their Homepod can do stereo already. (Yes, I like the design from both B&O and Apple)
I agree with the comment that it makes more sense to replace products rather than brand. My history unfortunately is that I used to have ALL Bose products, then switched entirely to B&O - including Beovision TV, then switched entirely to Sonos and Pioneer (TV) and now I have a mixed environment with mostly B&O speakers and headphone, with Apple ecosystem and Sony TV.
In general, I like B&Os design and quality and the software to me is getting much better - to the extent, I have no complaints. Not sure I’ll ever buy a Beovision again mainly due to price/performance value for me.
B&O in my life 😊:
Aesthetically B&O would be hard to replace, sound wise there are tons of choices and it would all depend on the purpose.
Here in Miami I am running an all B&O speaker 5.1 system together with an LG Old, Marantz AVR, Clearaudio TT, and B&O Transmitter 1. Looks fantastic and sounds great, especially understanding that it is a compromise between home theatre and solid audio performance.
In our house in DC I am running an all Audionote system, with AN tube amp, AN TT 3 turntable and AN E speakers - clearly does not have anywhere near the look of B&O, but in terms of quality of sound it absolutely in a different league - but then again it is a single purpose system.
Also in DC I am running a BoseLifestyle 5.1 hometheatre system which does an excellent job and because the speakers are so small they disappear.
Net, net there are horses for courses. However, in terms of appearance nothing really comes close to Bang and Olufsen and after some initial glitches I have ( knock on wood) had no issues whatsoever!
For us, nostalgics of the late 80s & 90s, we remain at B&O and our Beocenter 9500.His design stays in ! The sound is good ! The connectivity is enough with his 3 inputs, 4 loudspeaker outpouts, 2 powerport outpouts, headspeaker.Ok, we are in 2020 and everything needs to be connected, interconnected, sofware updated every 2 weeks, bluetooth, wifi, 4G, 5G......But we think there are enough parasites in the air, so our system with a little bluetooth adapter offers enough for an iphone / ipad sound input.The loudspeakers, we tested a few years ago from Netherlands some electrostatic panels, Final Sound 300i with an english sub REL Studio, it was amazing experience : nice design, nice sound, bass at right level (neutral sounding), but those electrostat speakers are quite fragile and need every 4-5 years a cleaning or ribbon replacement.We saw also from Loewe some interesting design pieces.....If budget isn't a ''topic'', there are a lot of TV/electronics with nice design and nice quality.... but nothing from only one supplier. B&O remains forever an exceptional company !