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
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
BeoPhile mentions there review and said they gave it 4 stars overall and 5 stars for performance and rated it a best buy...is that right? That doesn't sound bad for a review but as you say it gets tiresome to read the adjectives you mention consistently applied to Beo stuff.
For a high performance small speaker that needs no amps I don't think they are unreasonable.
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
Small bit of the review
http://beophile.com/?p=21057
Beovision Harmony 77" 2nd Gen, Beolab 5, Beolab 17, Beosound 1, Beoplay M3, Beoplay Portal, Beoplay Earset, Beoliving Intelligence
we tend to forget there is more to design than designing.
Chris Townsend: It's a perspective that had to be changed as it will directly effect the footfall on every shop. But why does my local shopping centre have shops full of Rolex/Breitling etc, and a public content with spending £5,000 on a tiny watch. But not on a 50 kg Beovision!
It's a perspective that had to be changed as it will directly effect the footfall on every shop. But why does my local shopping centre have shops full of Rolex/Breitling etc, and a public content with spending £5,000 on a tiny watch. But not on a 50 kg Beovision!
There's a hell of a lot of precious (small) jewels, rare metals and work goes in to making those 'tiny watches'. I'm a collector :)
And besides, buy the right watch, you can wear it and often it goes UP in price. There's a different there. You collect....for a reason.
I agree with all of that, and i wish i could have one. But my point is why are people prepared to go into the MetroCentre and spend £5,000 on a watch, but the same folk would never consider going into the B&O shop.
What do they perceive about B&O that makes it not for them, or just for other types of people? It can't be the "My Samsung does the same thing", well my sons Casio ultimately does the same thing as the Rolex!
I say it again, if these Beolabs were Linn/B&W etc, the remarks about price would never surface.
I think the big difference is that jewelry is something for life, and b&o is just a tv, that will be of zero value within a couple of years. I like both by the way.
BeoVision 11-55, BeoLab 8000, BeoRemote One BT, AppleTV 4, 2x BeoPlay A2, BeoPlay A1
Chris Townsend: What do they perceive about B&O that makes it not for them, or just for other types of people? It can't be the "My Samsung does the same thing", well my sons Casio ultimately does the same thing as the Rolex!
Yes, understand your point, don't worry. I just think people see watches as jewellery that can hold value. The perception of electronics is that they devaluate to nothing. Often you can't give the stuff away after a couple of years. So, it's just about perception.
As I've said many times, B&O really need to place more emphasis on the fact you can trade in old kit against new models. I don't think potential customers are aware of this, so they see B&O as expensive electronics which will devalue to almost nothing, over a few years.
What they don't understand is that your B&O TV is still worth a fair amount of cash, even after years of use. You can then often use this against a brand new model.
And yes, I've heard loads of times that a £20 Casio does what any of my watches will do, but those watches are worth more than I paid for them, years later. Buy the right Panerai or Rolex for £7000 six years ago, wear it, now I'd get the same amount, if not slightly more, six years later. On the whole, I'm about 10% up on my watch purchases, despite wearing them daily. There aren't many objects that you can attribute the same value.
Chris Townsend: I agree with all of that, and i wish i could have one. But my point is why are people prepared to go into the MetroCentre and spend £5,000 on a watch, but the same folk would never consider going into the B&O shop. What do they perceive about B&O that makes it not for them, or just for other types of people? It can't be the "My Samsung does the same thing", well my sons Casio ultimately does the same thing as the Rolex!
I guess an important difference is that a watch as well as a car are both things that you can take outside and show off to reflect your wealth and sense of luxury and/or design. Both objects - watch and car - are also more universally understood in terms of value both with money and practical value. If you drive a Ferrari everybody is automatically interested and impressed. Not so much when you tell them about that super expensive TV of yours that you can't even show if you are not inviting people over...
Getting back on track...
http://www.tonmeister.ca/wordpress/2014/02/05/bang-olufsen-beolab-17-reviews/
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Millemissen: Getting back on track...
It is on track. You don't need to only talk Beolab 17 to have a discussion. It's a thread following the comments in the review - ie. wealth and people's perception of expensive speakers.
I did only refer to the title of the thread.
Feel free to talk watches and wealth if you like.
I bought a casio for £4.99 from amazon , never let me down yet
Not likely to get mugged for it either :)
Flappo: I bought a casio for £4.99 from amazon , never let me down yet Not likely to get mugged for it either :)
And you can buy a £20 speaker from Argos and can hear your tunes through it.
Unlikely to get stolen, either :)
I do find it funny how B&O users - who a prepared to spend thousands on a TV - don't understand that buying watches and similar products is an investment. The irony gets me every time.
Almost every spending of money is an investment. Spending money on B&O is also an investment. The question is, whether it is a good one. If you buy a new TV for 100000 probably not. If you invest in fully working vintage Beograms, more likely. I do know way to little about watches. Just never felt any excitement for watches, although I do like automatic watches. B&O causes much more excitement for me but probably is the worse investment.
Hopefully, the Beolab 17s get great reviews and find many happy consumers.
Greetings,
Kai
moxxey: I do find it funny how B&O users - who a prepared to spend thousands on a TV - don't understand that buying watches and similar products is an investment. The irony gets me every time.
In my experience, used B&O holds its value more than most used audio gear, outside of classics like old Marantz tube gear for example, but it's not an appreciating investment. Since I never plan on selling I don't care, you'll get my Beo4 from me when you pry my cold dead fingers off of it.
I also don't have experience with expensive watches, but fully believe that can be an investment. Firearms are the same, I've never lost money when selling or trading in a gun.
Jeff: Firearms are the same, I've never lost money when selling or trading in a gun.
Firearms are the same, I've never lost money when selling or trading in a gun.
Were you by chance pointing the firearm in any particular direction when not losing money?
New B&O is never going to make you money - buying second hand might, but to be honest it is far too risky. Instead buy it because you like it and want it. If you make money when you sell it, lucky you. However remember the payback you will have had for years of easy to use good sound.
I collect pens - some are clearly a good investment but these are exceptions. The majority fall in value as soon as you use them, even those from premier brands. I buy them because I like them and will continue doing so. I suggest if you want to buy something which makes money, electronics, watches and pens are probably not the best idea. I would go for property!
Peter
i buy bno not to show off but because i appreciate true value for money , not unlike my apple fetish
reliability , build quality and longevity are what real value for money is about , not a price tag
as for an investment , the only thing i'm investing in is my entertainment and enjoyment
can't put a price tag on those
Flappo: as for an investment , the only thing i'm investing in is my entertainment and enjoyment
You can apply that theory to anything. For example, I like to dress well, hence the watches, which compliment my style. The fact they increase in value is a super-added bonus. It's extremely rare to buy anything you can wear on a daily basis, that retains or potentially goes up in value. You also get reliability, build quality and longevity. More so than a TV. A watch you can keep for years. A lifetime.
Of course you can put a price tag on it. That's why the TVs and watches are so expensive. But we enjoy them, which is why we buy them. They aren't mutually exclusive, as BeoGreg rightly suggests. You don't have to choose between on or the other.
LOL......
Peter: Jeff: Firearms are the same, I've never lost money when selling or trading in a gun. Were you by chance pointing the firearm in any particular direction when not losing money? New B&O is never going to make you money - buying second hand might, but to be honest it is far too risky. Instead buy it because you like it and want it. If you make money when you sell it, lucky you. However remember the payback you will have had for years of easy to use good sound. I collect pens - some are clearly a good investment but these are exceptions. The majority fall in value as soon as you use them, even those from premier brands. I buy them because I like them and will continue doing so. I suggest if you want to buy something which makes money, electronics, watches and pens are probably not the best idea. I would go for property!
Heh...no, they volunteered to pay me, no high pressure sales tactics needed!
Looking back on my life, I have to say I've never bought anything based on what I thought someone else would think of it or if they approved or it was hip. The only thing that mattered is if I liked it and it made me happy.
Most people don't understand my B&O habit, they think it's cool looking, some think it's too modern, but none think spending that kind of money for design is something to do. But I didn't buy it for anyone else. B&O speaks to me, I appreciate it's performance and design, so I buy it.
If you look at the watch theory panerai sells because of the badge and looks,not the movement and quality,and to be honest that is why I buy B&o,because of the looks mainly.
Yes the quality and performance is their,but nothing a system at half the price could not do,just like a watch,but the snob in us all ,are seduced by the badges and looks.I have seen nice samsung tvs and seiko watches,but I still would not buy one.
You could have a 30k Patek watch and a 30k sound system that does not look as flash as a B&o setup and a Rolex at half the price.Design and demand sells,look at mercedes g wagons and defenders,old technology,hand built but icons,so they hold their money.Unfortunately it's a stigma that always comes with B&o everybody expects it to be expensive and overpriced.
Any visitors at mine always look at my B&o systems and say "that's nice I bet that's expensive" were as my linn hifi costing 5 times the price doesn't get mentioned.Wear a Rolex and people notice,but put on a glasshute and hardly anyone notices.I am sorry about going on about brands,but that's what it always boiled down to.
B&o along time ago, separated themselves from the other audio/visual companies, due mainly to their looks compared with rest,and have became successful because of it.Yes they are passionate about sound and vision,but sadly the general public will only see them as a design led company.