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This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Hi to you all,
I have a bit of an interesting situation, so any help and advice is greatly appreciated. At the moment I have the option of buying either:
1. B&O Beolab 7-6 with a wall mount.
2. B&O Beovision 7-55 MK2 with a wall mount, remote and a B&O Beolab 10.
Both for pretty much the same price. So, here is how my dilemma goes. The original idea was to only get the Beolab 7-6 and use a trigger kit to use it with a 65 inch Sony X950H. However, after finding the Beovision 7-55 MK2 with the Beolab 10 for an extra $45, I thought I could get that instead to replace a basic 40 inch Hisense TV in another room. However, I am not sure if the BeoVision 7-55 is worth it towards the end of 2021. I know they were considered great TVs a while back, but it is nearly 10 years old now. The Hisense is connected to a Google Chrome cast, and if I get the B&O TV it will be used for watching Netflix, Disney, ETC. If I do get the B&O TV, I would like to get a floor stand, since the studs with in the wall where I would like to mount it are not in the best position. If getting one of the floor stands is very difficult nowadays, I should just give up before I get started, perhaps I could just passed the TV altogether. Getting the speaker and TV together is unfortunately not an option.
Any assistance with this is greatly appreciated. Also, apologies for any layout and visual issues with the text. I use a screen reader, so making sure the text looks perfect is not an option.
Hi
I own a 7 55 mk2 for a long time now, I won't replace it with any new actual tv oled or not. I have recently looked at the tv offer in store and it is still a wonderful tv if you don't need a 4K display.
I use it with a beolab 10 and 4 bl5. Don't choose the blend 7.6, the 7.2 has the best sound of the 3.
The bl10 is for me above as there is a lens and for dialogue it is for me very important. The bass is also good on it. To my ears nothing will replace the acoustic lens.
I have recently bought also a pair of deviatet gold speaker, and could compare with bl9 and bl5, always the same conclusion, the acoustic lens effect is just magic.
4 beolab 5, beolab 9, beolab 10, beolab 5000, beolab 8000 mk2, beolab 6002, beolab 3500, beovision 7 55 mk2, 2 beovision 11 46 mk4, beotime, beosound ouverture, beosound essence, beoplay A8, beomaster 900 RG de luxe and the collection continues...
Hi and welcome to the forum.
Thanks for posting this as I find it a fascinating question and dilemma to face in 2021 going into 2022. I am excited to add my thoughts for several reasons.
I love the 7-55 as will many others on this forum. The Mk2 is a very significant factor because if it were the Mk1 then everything that follows would not apply and I would say skip it in a heartbeat. There was a huge difference between the second version and the first and that was 512 backlit dimming zones; the most ever produced on a TV at the time, or at least published. Sony were very reluctant to post how many dimming zones their top tier sets had although I am pretty sure a Z series available at the time was thought to have over 600, maybe as much 650 zones but nobody really knew for sure. Maybe someone that replies to this post will have further information and can clarify. Either way, 512 dimming zones produced an incredible picture that as Olvisab points out above, is still exceptional in 2021 for a full HD 1080p picture. I agree with him on all the points he makes. Having said that, my personal observations, thoughts and recommendations follow:
1. If you want near perfect blacks (to my eyes they are perfect) then I would choose any OLED tv from any year and any manufacturer (all OLED panels are LG sourced anyway) over the 7-55. However, (the interesting part and why I love this question) the blacks on the 7-55 Mk2 are still incredible due to the amount of dimming zones. Incredible means (by my definition) around 90% black if not slightly higher. The colour black probably does by all accounts actually look black and not dark grey as with all edge lit tv sets and even some backlit ones with less dimming zones regardless of age. Case in point, I currently own an 11-46 and while it is a later tv that was produced in 2012 and Mk4 (the final version) the earlier 7-55 Mk2 makes mine look pretty inferior picture wise when compared side to side playing the same content. The 11-46 edge lit panel is not great, not even close. Blacks are very noticeably dark grey and maybe only very slightly darker than the BV9 (plasma panel) that it replaced. The edge lights are so annoying and blatantly obvious when watching any kind of content, especially in a dark setting. I have got used to it of course but that isn’t a positive point. The 7-55 Mk2 therefore wins by miles.
2. General picture quality aside from the black levels discussed above is outstanding. Again, a far superior picture compared not just against my BV11 but most other LCD/LED sets still being produced today.
3. The only LCD/LED tv that is going to beat a 7-55 Mk2 today will be one with at least the same amount of dimming zones or more as that’s the only way you can do it. Although I am not up to date with current LCD panels as my interest is solely OLED now I am quite sure that there will be a tv out there somewhere that is better; but only ‘technically’ better, that’s all. Meaning that in real world viewing with available content in HD whether on disc or by stream, are you honestly going to notice much of a difference between the two? I am guessing not. So again, for me the 7-55 Mk2 is the winner though not by miles on this particular point.
4. The 7-55 Mk2 has a built in Blu-Ray player which is a fantastic plus point assuming it all works perfectly still.
5. The 7-55 Mk2 supports 3D which is useful too since 3D is rarely produced these days. Even if you don’t use it, at least you have it on such a top tier tv.
6. The 7-55 Mk2 has unparalleled sound quality with the speakers you mention and the BeoLab 10 was made with this tv in mind.
7. The 7-55 has such a unique design and talking point. Subjective I know but to my eyes its a beautiful and interesting design like no other.
Final thoughts:
Given its age the picture it produces by today’s standards means its still right up as a top end display technology. Here’s what you need to consider though and this I guess is the dilemma part:
1. How much use has the 7-55 Mk2 you are considering had? You can check the service counters using a Beo4 remote to find out this info. If its been heavily used then this is a negative point for obvious reasons as a panel only has so much of a lifetime. It’s going to be hard to find one these days with minimal use.
2. Do you need (or even want) 4K? If you do then the 7-55 Mk2 is not for you.
3. Are you happy to write off this purchase? It will be worthless when you are ready to move on but that’s no different for me with the BV11 and televisions don’t become classics - not yet anyway!
4. The size. You do need a big space for this tv. I bought it initially but after several days in my home exchanged it for the BV9 as it just looked out of place in my particular home. A shame because it had a far superior picture compared to the BV9.
Well that’s it I think! I am sure there’ll be some points I may have missed or more I could have said but hopefully others will chime in with their views to help you make a more informed decision. My conclusion in one brief sentence is this; if the set has less usage than expected for its age, all parts work with no defects, you are happy with the condition and can accommodate the size, then do it 100%.
Personally I have no interest in 4K and a full HD image is perfectly adequate and great to watch on a 46”-55” tv for me. At my stage of BV ownership over the years I personally only want OLED now going forward but that is solely because I am sick of looking at grey colours which are supposed to be black. I am not compromising any more! But note that I never had the BV7-55 (Mk2) and if I had it now I would be in no rush to change to OLED until it died. The blacks absolutely would have been good enough but all the BVs I have had to date have only ever been edge lit or older plasma technology. The 7-55 Mk2 was groundbreaking and many people would say (and some still today) that it is the best television Bang and Olufsen ever produced. How do you measure this in 2021 with B&O now moving to OLED? Tricky to answer because while the picture is undoubtedly better to many, the sacrifice is that a lot of B&O has been lost in the process, which is sad but true fact. Some are bothered by this (I am one) and others couldn’t care less, so where are you? Lol! Have fun deciding!
So you have much to weigh up but again, thanks for provoking much thought! I don’t tend to post much these days but I did enjoy this one!
All the best, 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.
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
Thanks for the feedback regarding the Beolab 10. I was not able to find much info about it on the net, so it is good to hear that it is similar if not better in some ways than the Beolab 7-1, 7-2 and 7-6 speakers. The TV will not be paired with any other speakers, and I have not been able to find any info about this, but do you know if the Beolab 10 is, or can do stereo sound? 4K is not a priority for this purchase, since the Sony can do that, plus HDR.
Thank you all for the great input. I am waiting for the dealer to get back to me with a picture of its usage counter, and depending on the hours, I will be able to make a more informed decision. As I understand it though, it didn't really see much use throughout its lifetime.
Regarding its states: mechanically, electronically and physically, it seems to be in great shape, but I am hoping to be able to have a closer look soon.
Just to put more context as to what I am hoping to get out of this purchase, here are some of my thoughts:
1. HDR and 4K are not a requirement for me since I can get those from the Sony television, and the Hisense TV that it will replace doesn't do a great job at either of them anyway. So, even though the B&O is just Full HD, it sounds like it will be an improvement.
2. I would like to improve the sound system of this particular room, but I just don't have the space to put separate speakers in it. However, the space for the TV and the Beolab 10 is available, so improving the sound system seems to be possible while also getting a better picture.
3. OLED is the holy grail, but it's not a requirement for this particular room. Adding to this, I'm not expecting to recoup the value of this particular purchase since the time that it will take for this TV to become a collector's item is still a while away.
I would love to get my hands on a floor stand, or table stand for this TV, but I am not sure if the Beolab 10 can work with any of those stands. The dealer does have another B&O Beovision 7-55 MK2 with a floor stand, but I cannot justify the price. If you guys have any thoughts on the floor stand, or table stand, I think it sounds like it is a good buy.
Hello
The beolab 10 is mono. I only use it for daily watching and never feel that something was missing. The dialogue are clear, deep and the bass are far good enough. If you don't intend to buy front speakers, maybe you should try the beolab 7.2. However you will loose the benefit of the acoustic lens.
You would rather buy a pair of beolab 3 mk2 after the beolab 10. The prices are quite reasonable now. Take mk2 because the mk1 are more fragile.
Mine is on the wall, there is an adaptor if you want to put a beolab 10 under the BeoVision on a stand.
Hope this helps
I have a bit of an update/not update, and question. Due to our current environment, I have not been able to see the TV in person, but i came across a floor stand for a B&O Beovision 8-55, and I was wondering if this motorise stand would work with the B&O Beovision 7-55 MK2?
I have also been informed that the Beovision 7-55 only comes with the digital tuner, not with the blu-ray player. I have no plans of playing any blu-rays, or DVDs, but will I loose any other functionality if the TV only has the digital tuner?
Last, if the Stand for the Beovision 8-55 works with the Beovision 7-55, is there a particular model that I should be looking for to see if the Beolab 10 can also be used?
Thank you all for the assistance.
I made a mistake in my previous post and I couldn't figure out how to edit it. I did not mean Beovision 8-55, I meant Beovision avant-55.