Hi, Anybody have any thoughts on which one of the above is the best to buy. I am looking to replace my Avant 32 with one of these but am unsure what one,both have similar 2nd hand prices. I have an average sized room with full surround sound set up. Will these TV's still be good and useable in say 5 years time with the like of HD becoming more popular should I go for something with HD capabilities. Any help or advice welcome.

 

John.

I would get the BV5 Mk4 (HD) as this is a B&O design classic with HD ability. It gives a good picture and is beautiful both on and off. If I was looking to replace my Avant now, that is what I would get - the only set that B&O make that might tempt me otherwise would be the BV9 but I prefer the BV5.

Agree with Peter, but I choose a BV5 which I rebuild to be used with the Beosystem 3.

Now I have the most beautiful TV ever made with full HD possibilities and beyond because BS3 is still improving.

Hi Peter I cannot stretch to the HD Beovision 5 do you still think its a good set without HD capabilities. I hear about burns in plasma sets is this true.

 

John

I would go for BV5, now it is really great bargain.

And BV5 is beautiful set, picture and sound is outstanding !!!

Same boat as me really! I would keep your Avant! The thought of a BV5 with BS3 technology interests me!!

Hi Peter, are you saying dont bother with the BV5 and keep the Avant or buy the BV5 and also keep the Avant for a 2nd set.

 

John.

It is like chasing your tail IMHO - if you go for the HD option, then you will probably want better than 720p (BV7 MK1 & 2) which put you into MK3 territory and inflated prices.  BV5 was bought on the strength of the image and sound and some people thought it so impressive they shelled out 13 big ones for one.  No reliability issues, still as good today as they were a few years ago.  My advice is to buy one and to enjoy it.

johncollyer:

Hi Peter, are you saying dont bother with the BV5 and keep the Avant or buy the BV5 and also keep the Avant for a 2nd set.

 

John.

If you cannot afford the HD BV5, I would simply keep the Avant. The Mk4 BV5 has the 720p screen and is the best though the pictures with SD signals are actually pretty good with all of them - a lot better than the early LCDs.  The problem you have is that this is really an Avant chassis played with to support a plasma screen. I must confess to being tempted at times though!

BV5, a design icon. I put it in the same bag as the BLab5's and BSound 9000. Exceptional!

 

It's hopefully my next TV. I'm going to buy a used one, cause I don't care about TV too much, but still it would be nice with a BV5. 

bayerische:

BV5, a design icon. I put it in the same bag as the BLab5's and BSound 9000. Exceptional!

It's exactly this combination (together with more stuff, of course ... ) I went for and for the quoted reason. What I can say is I'm happy I went for the BV5 more than 4 1/2 years ago (long time of your life if you think about it ...), enjoying it immensely since, not being tempted at all by the new TVs, so far. Today I understand your dilemma …

Though B&O is very expensive and I agree with KingofSnakes that it often seems like "chasing your own tail", it also gives you possibility to plan for long term, which other manufactures are not able to offer. Indeed, using a lot of money on anything deserves careful consideration and planning – to begin with. 

That said, getting back to the original question, much will depend on your personal circumstances/plans etc.: eg I had guessed that I'd for years to come use only (2) digital STBs as my source of TV, with HD being offered by both platforms a distant and rather limited possibility – exactly that happened. Last, but not least I have many hundreds of DVDs which the whole family enjoys. (We only press the 'TV' button by accident). In other words, I knew this set would for years to come take on the role of the main source of entertainment ...

Secondly, in a market that moves so fast it would be nonsensical to expect the second-hand price of such sets will stay attractive (in a sense that I bought the set new), so I will use it one day in a link room. BUT, in a link room with a dedicated DVD player, because with a good DVD disc, indeed, you get the best out of a (non)BV5 there - for many years to come and the bigger your DVD collection the longer. (Good it can play in stereo mode, too!) Does it make sense to have two entertainment centres in your home? Yes, if you have kids, eg

Third, I really do think that 42” gives you much better experience than 32”, even if BV5 needs a separate DVD player  … Do you? Etc. etc.

Enjoying BV5 for years, I feel I can only give you hints (even Peter has only/even ‘stayed tempted’ on this one – and for some time now!), the rest has to be up to you.