A6 opinion on BeoPhile

BeoGreg:

Keep some arguments for the S3, don't put it all on the A6 !

What was the last product that everybody applaud on a B&O forum ?

Most is like the BL19 !

Or did you mean just the photo gallery votes ?

I remember being excited by the Essence's table top remote ... and now I have one I am still happy !

My Century was made of plastic and fabric and I was the happiest man in the world when I bought it.

It was 1.380 € and made in Denmark, in 1995.

Got home with a Century and a B&O 1995 catalog, catalog I kept reading for years.

In 1996 got a Beocom 2400 than a MX, in 1997 a VX and LC2, in 1998 an Ouverture/lab 2500...

So I believe that today's "plastic" products can do the same effect.

Regarding the A6, some of us are saying that it's made in china.

Maybe, but maybe not. The back looks like the back of the A9 and the A9 is not made in china (CZ). A6 could come from the same factory.

I'm one of the "made in denmark" die hard fans and I really think B&O could do a serious poll on that, easy with internet.

A few "made in Denmark" products in the range (for me and the one like me) won't hurt.

Rolls Royce did a poll to their existing customers (will you juy our car if we make it like that...) and it worked.

Could be : would you buy a product 30 % (or whatever) more expensive if it as a "made in Denmark" sticker ? So they'll know how much products to make and if it's profitable or not.

Where a product comes from does add to perceptions. The Rolls Royce English content is pretty much to coach-build a BMW seven series in Sussex and people are happy it's English. I spoke to a family member of the Alessi kitchenware etc makers and he told me they continue to produce in Italy if it doesn't cost 30% more than another source (China generally))

BeoGreg:

I'm one of the "made in denmark" die hard fans and I really think B&O could do a serious poll on that, easy with internet.

Yes, a poll of some sort should be done (not here on this forum, but a real poll) since it's difficult to know how important the country of manufacture REALLY is.

It's obviously very important to some of you (nothing wrong with that, of course!), and not at all to others. It's not THAT important to me - the percieved build quality is more important to me - and not to most of the prospective buyers I know either. Could that be because we're scandinavian and that there is nothing exotic about Denmark to us at all? I like that it is designed in Denmark, but it's not that important to me that it's also built there. On the other hand, there are probably also scandinavians that would never buy b&o that is made in China. ...and how will the pricing affect their/our opinions?

So I don't think that we (us beoworld members) can conclude whether country of manufacture affects b&o global sales and profit, I think it's impossible to draw any conclusions without doing massive market research. ...and maybe that's what b&o have done?

Personally I am happy that the Danish heritage and DNA is clearly there. I don't require B&O products to be made in Denmark. The Scandinavian design comes through loud and clear and build quality seems fine for the things I've bought in the last 12 months (BL18, A2, H2, H3).

But the fact that the important stuff still happens in Struer is significant.

Just my opinion I fully appreciate others will disagree!

Duels:

Personally I am happy that the Danish heritage and DNA is clearly there. I don't require B&O products to be made in Denmark.

 

That's how I feel as well, and I know that many of us feel that way.

Duels:

Personally I am happy that the Danish heritage and DNA is clearly there. I don't require B&O products to be made in Denmark. The Scandinavian design comes through loud and clear and build quality seems fine for the things I've bought in the last 12 months (BL18, A2, H2, H3).

 

 

But the fact that the important stuff still happens in Struer is significant.

 

 

Just my opinion I fully appreciate others will disagree!

Scandinavian Design with the heritage  of David Lewis who I believe studied at the Central School of Art in London? Things look different when looked at through the "where was it made?" Filter. He had an understanding of the Form-Follows-Function aesthetic partly from model making. The Beo4 was obviously a lathe turned piece originally whereas the A6 is likely to be from Alias or similar software.

I like the look but have too see it in the real. Would have been nice to have a small display for track,time ect.

Duels:

Personally I am happy that the Danish heritage and DNA is clearly there. I don't require B&O products to be made in Denmark. The Scandinavian design comes through loud and clear and build quality seems fine for the things I've bought in the last 12 months (BL18, A2, H2, H3).

But the fact that the important stuff still happens in Struer is significant.

Just my opinion I fully appreciate others will disagree!

I also agree - to me it doesn't matter because they are manufactured to the specifications.

On the other hand, maybe for a point of difference, all of the Bang & Olufsen products could be manufactured there which would probably drive up the cost; and the Play products elsewhere? It's not only the cost of manufacturing that is cost specific, but also the currency of that country relative on the market.

But all of the current products have never been so (relatively) affordable. People say that the A6 is expensive, but isn't it way cheaper than the BS1 which is kind of its' spiritual successor?

I don't care if items have large profit margins, I just want them to be rock solid build quality, stable and give me years of use and each time i use it I want to smile and think i'm so glad i bought that, and that has nothing to do where it's made, it has lots to do with the quality thats instilled into the culture of the company - all the way through the chain.

Bringing new customers to the brand with new and different products will only help keep B&O alive.

On facebook, B&O have been saying that it is expected late October in dealerships.

Aussie Michael:

But all of the current products have never been so (relatively) affordable. People say that the A6 is expensive, but isn't it way cheaper than the BS1 which is kind of its' spiritual successor?

I see your point and I also think the A6 is not overpriced (the Moment also), But with a big B, the Beosound 1 had an alu grill, electrical antena, cd player, radio and was Struer made by nice blond ladies (correct me if I'm wrong for the later).

I hope that A6 will have a killer sound ingeniered by the tonmeister we all know...

If the A6 has an Essence built in as part of the package, then when you compare it to its nearest Sonos competitor, it's not that much more expensive when you consider what's needed to replicate its functions. But a far neater option.

BeoGreg:

was Struer made by nice blond ladies (correct me if I'm wrong for the later)...

fembots perhaps

BeoGreg:

...and was Struer made by nice blond ladies (correct me if I'm wrong for the later).

Mostly nice, yes - but not all blond.

and there were some (nice) guys too - also not all blond.

By the way - there are still a lot of ladies (and guys) working in Struer - they just don't do the assembling anymore.

As for the ladies (and/or guys) working in the czech factory, I don't know if there are blondes there 😉

MM

Playdrv4me:

benoit:

I wonder if some of the many A6 detractors own Apple devices... I hope not as they are as well China made and obviously overpriced as well...

I like Apple and the A6!

I'm so tired of this ill-informed, played out response about "Apple makes things in China so why can't B&O do it". 

Look, Apple makes a phone and a tablet that cost almost the same as every other premium phone and tablet, and in their MOST expensive guise we are still talking about a product you use every day that tops out at 1029.00 US for a 128GB 6 Plus. For the 100th and last time. Apple builds COMMODITY MARKET products, sometimes at a *slightly* higher price point than other manufacturers, and sometimes NOT (seen the price of those Galaxy craps lately?).

Bang and Olufsen make luxury products that cost *tens of thousands* of dollars. People paying that amount of money pay for the LITTLE things, like not having their new toy be made in China like everyone ELSE's new toy. Made in Denmark carried a certain weight, a history, a heritage that you can't get building like a commodity manufacturer elsewhere. 

I add a special experience to luxury and commodity:

In 2008 I was looking for a mobile phone. The new iPhone was too expensive (1,200 € for a two years contract + iPhone for only a few hundred €). I decided to save money on the luxury path and bought a discounted Serenata for 555 € and a prepaid card (30 - 45 € p.a.). I ask the owners of the 1st generation iPhone: Do you still use it? My Serenata is still in use.

But I have to admit that I own an iPad 3rd generation (30pin dock) too. When it is obsolete the next few years I still can use it with the Beoplay A3.

Aussie Michael:

fembots perhaps

Ah ah, you got me.

I really like the design. Very stylish and will fit very well in many different home styles in my view.

And it is big. Half a meter broad.