First off, as a new member, I am pretty impressed with the level of information that is available from the user community and general enthusiasm for the B&O products.  I have yet to make the leap, but doing my initial research.  I have been considering the BeoSound 1, but feel that while it may meet my immediate needs, may leave me yearning for more.  I really love the looks of the BeoSound 4 and BeoSound 3200 and wanted to get some opinions from anyone that has compared the two.  Any input would be appreciated!

First off, welcome to the B&O world. Once you own the product, you will never go back. As a simple comparison aside from the obvious aesthetics factor, there are some basic features that make the two differ. The BS3200 is great if you want a simple cd storage unit of up to 396 cds. It copys cds onto its internal hard drive at almost cd quality so there is very little compression. The BS4 has the option of an SD card, which you can get up to around 4gb last time I check. That will give you 1000 songs of storage, probably really compressed. However, you can have multiple SD cards to fill. They both have FM, BS4 does not have AM. They both play cds and can be connected to an Ipod so to speak. You can also spend $500 and get the BeoPort so if you have a computer filled with music, you can listen to all of them through the BS3200 or the BS4. The best part is, you have full control over your music library through the Beo4 remote. If you go this way, get the BS4 since you dont need the internal hard drive and it has a nice digital screen layout so you can see what song and artist you are listening to from you PC or MAC. Hope this helps.

 

Joe 

The BS4 is the way to go in my opinion. The HDD in the 3200 is not that big and you have to physically name all the CDs manually on the system, which is simply mind numbing! The finish of the BS4 is in my opinion better and the SD cards are wonderful for storing different types of music on. The BS4 also has DAB radio which if available to you in the region in which you live offers a vast number of stations. Probably best if in the UK!!

The display on the BS4 is the same as that in the Beocenter 2 and allows for detailed browsing of music on your computer if properly connected.

But go and have a look! And a play! That is half the fun. I actually have a BC2 but would have considered a BS4 if had been out. Or a BS9000!! Still desire one of these really!! 

I own a BS4 and a BS Ouverture (same design as BS 3200). In terms of design I think the both are very unique and can't really say which one I like more (that's why I own both ).

With respect to the functionality, I would mention the following:

- No significant difference in terms of sound when playing CDs or FM radio between BS4 and Ouverture

- No significant difference in the sound quality between DAB and FM (at least in the area where I live). Here you can save some money if you opt for the FM version only of BS4.

- A "plus" for BS4 is the SD card recording and playback facility.

- A "plus" for BS4 is a large display.

- A "minus" for BS4 is that cables can't be put inside the floor stand (if you are going to use a floor stand).

But you should try the both at the shop and make your own opinion.

Tomas;

The Beosound 3200 is an classic model, 25 years vintage design using a CD play / recording platform. As mentioned above is can record sound to it's own Hard Drive, AM/FM, and connects to Beoport and Masterlink speakers.

The Beosound 4 is a new design, quite different and exciting, using a Secure Data stick recording platform. The other BS 4 merits are well listed above.

One thing you may wish to consider is what you want your system to be doing for you currently, and in the future. The CD will be around with us for awhile longer, but is going the way of the LP and Cassette. However, you may find a BS 3200 at a substantial discount today, compared with previous prices for the unit.

I have a BS 3200 among other components, and use it daily, but if I look at what is coming the BS 4 offers much more to the owner. Multiple SD sticks, more storage, for auto, Mp3 players, phones, etc. You might read Lee's interview posting with Mr. T.B. Sorensen describing where B & O is headed in the coming years. 

Some thoughts as you enjoy your forthcoming Canadian Thanksgiving holiday!

The magical word here is...

Hello and welcome to the forum.

 
I personally would choose the Beosound 3200.

It is that lovely classical design with the real Bang & Olufsen Quality!

The Beosound 4 seems to be a typcial modern product with typical erros and so on.

Beosound 3200 still looks great and decent and in terms of quality you should realy go with that one!

I have a Beosound 3000 (the same but without Harddisk) and I still love it.
If it fails I will buy a Beosound 3200 without thinking about it!

The Beosound 5 seems to become an option but this takes some time ...

I'm sorry but I just don't agree. The BeoSound 4 is much more 'B&O' to me than the BeoSound 3200.

I don't see what you're saying about 'errors', to me it's pretty much flawless, although the timer function could be improved with an option to time recordings from the radio, plus an option to speed up recording from CD to SD card. Build quality is as close to flawless as it actually gets IMO!

The BeoSound 3200's HDD recorder is somewhat limited sadly. It's a neat idea, but it can't work with the 3200's limited interface/inability to access CD track listing off the internet.

Also bear in mind that the BeoSound 4 has greater link capability. With the BeoSound 3200, if you're listening to CD in the main room, you can't then listen to Radio or the HDD in another room, both the main room and link rooms must be playing the same source. However, the BeoSound 4 can pipe one source round your house into link rooms, whilst playing a different source from the speaker connections. For example, listening to CD in the main room, whilst listening to radio or the SD card in another. Very clever!

The BeoSound 4 is also easier to use, as you don't have to bend or crouch down in order to reach it when on the floor stand. One of the things I don't like about the BeoSound 3200 is that in comparison to the 4, it's at completely the wrong angle when on the floor stand. It's easiest to use when mounted high up on a wall, but this isn't always possible! The BeoSound 4 works fantastically when on a table, floor stand or mounted on the wall, as it's angled accordingly.

On a personal note, I also prefer the BeoSound 4's design hugely over the 3200's, and as you can mount the BeoSound 4 on a BeoCenter 2 or BeoSound 3200 floor stand as Sykes (www.stbbrackets.co.uk) make an adapter.

Alex:

Also bear in mind that the BeoSound 4 has greater link capability. With the BeoSound 3200, if you're listening to CD in the main room, you can't then listen to Radio or the HDD in another room, both the main room and link rooms must be playing the same source. However, the BeoSound 4 can pipe one source round your house into link rooms, whilst playing a different source from the speaker connections. For example, listening to CD in the main room, whilst listening to radio or the SD card in another. Very clever!

 

Do you have proof of this function ? I mean I did not find this kind of info in the current manuals ?

 

Myself I'm hesitating between the BS4 , BS 3200 linked to BM5 or just BM5+BS5 (without BS4/BS3200).

I'll also post a question on the general forum for advice on my future set up.

 

 

Does somebody knows if it is possible to record a radio-program / radio-show with the BS4 and / or BS3200?

Currently I am using the cassette recorder of my Ouverture, but I am thinking about getting an upgrade to a BS4 or BS3200.

Thank you for your help.

For me, Bang & Olufsen is all about timeless design. It makes me proud to own a music system (BS3000) in my case that was around in the early 90's and STILL looks unbelievable today - 19 years down the road! The same goes for my BL6000's (designed in 1992) and the Beovox's CX50 (what was it, 1982 or so?).  Timeless design is what makes B&O B&O.

The BS3200 has proven itself to be absolutely timeless. We'll have to see about that for the BS4. Me, I'm not so sure. Personally I don't care that much about the newest technology (if you want that, you shouldn't ever buy B&O anyway!), so I can holeheartedly recommend the BS3200.

Yikes! Talking about timeless: I just noticed I replied to a three-year old post. Oh well, never mind ;-)

Record radio program - yes you can to sd card!

I have both but find the BS4 better suits my wants!

tony

jjcox:

The BS3200 has proven itself to be absolutely timeless. We'll have to see about that for the BS4.

BS3200 with harddisk and timeless... Not sure about that..

Sold mine BS 3200 last year and bought a BC2.

More info on the display, like the BS4, plays DVD's and has also a very nice design.

 

But nevertheless, probably selling my BC2 for a BS5 in a few months. CD and DVD's are (almost) converted into digital media.

I am a fan of the classic designs, I have a large clamper overture which i love and would only swap for a bs9000!

beodim:

- A "minus" for BS4 is that cables can't be put inside the floor stand (if you are going to use a floor stand).

I don't work for Gavin hence I'm not on comission.  STB Brackets make a really neat conversion plate that allows you to position a BeoSound4 on top of a BeoSound3200 pole stand. This pole is hollow and allows cable mangement insiden the pole making the installation much neater. 

I never understood why the BeoSound4 floor stand pole is designed with no cable management.

Opman

I would comment that of course 3200 is iconic and an all time classic. However, I find the BS4 extremely easy for everyday use and frankly spoken I would vote for that. Don't forget that it does have the A.MEM with SD card which is very useful to have all favorite songs in one place available all time.

And the BeoSound 4's display really comes into its own when your system is integrated with LinkPlayer and your digital library and radio stations are displayed:

 

Timeless ?

The time just ran out on our BS 3200.

I came home from a 3 week business trip, and the CD clamper would not lift to accept a new CD. Some of the HD albums now have dropouts. So,  it went to the store for a repair estimate. Only 600 Euro.

( Now how much was that BS 4 again ? )

Yes.  Sorry to say it, but hard disks fail.  

This is why I looked high and low for our BS 3000 when we needed to upgrade from a BeoCenter 2300.  The BS 3000 was discontinued already but after some effort and with patience I found a brand new one.

Some note on the transition from our BS 3200 to a Beosound 4:

Stunning !  Major change in audio clarity, with our CD and SD recorded music. 

I have the BS 4 sitting on a German glass TV stand in between two blue/black BL 4000 speakers. It looks better than before. A slight mili-second pause in shifting to a new SD album using the Beo 4.

The question on the BS 4 multi-zoning was asked above in this thread, and I have the definitive answer from the B&O IT specialist:

Do you have proof of this function ? I mean I did not find this kind of info in the current manuals ?

The answer is  YES.  And yes, you were correct,  it is not in the manuals. I learned that both the Beosound 4 and the Beocenter 2 both have this capability. If one is multi-linked in another room, that speaker can access the original feature sound of either master unit, while the BS 4 or BC 2 ( as masters ) can switch to another source in the main room that the master is located in.

I had a few questions on the set-up and was given some helpful instructions, starting with the BEO 4 setup to Option 1. Everything rolled into place after that.

More was said regarding the Encore and 6 new products for 2011, but as I did on the Besound 5 I'm going to keep those a secret too.

Hopefully there will be no modification/new BS4 soon. Just bought a BS4 in Nov.. One of the most positive things of B&O is/was, they do not change the outfit of the product lines often. My 12 years old BS2300 roughly looks the same as latest BS3200 (exept the clamper).

Nothing worse if you bought something and only after a short period it is expired.

True, that seemed to be the case with our Beocom 1400. However, given the daily usage of our BS 3200 as an HTPC master, things were liable to wear out over time.

That unit is in for repair and a cleaning now, so we will see what and where it is used when it returns. It will probably head south to a condominium in Brasil. We're very happy with the performance and looks of our new Beosound 4, and will keep that as the new HTPC master. 

We selected the extended information option, and it is nice to see what one is listening to as we pass by the unit, even if it is in a large room. The polished alu base seems to work better with the blue BL 4000 speakers next to it.