The Beocenter 6 TV in europe has the surround option for less then 500 Euros I believe. I think this is why some people are so heated about it. And BC6 is not availble in US neither is BV 7 32.

TripEnglish:

But my troubles didn't stop there! Yesterday I found myself on Rue Saint Honoré in Paris and thought I'd stop into Goyard for a new suitcase. I've always loved their designs and the quality of their trunks and leather goods is among the very best in the world. But HOLY MOLY! When I saw the prices of the luggage I realized that I could only afford a wallet (which was $500 all by itself! The nerve!). So I purchased one and went on my way, but when I got back to my hotel room and started packing for my flight home I realized I could barely get a dress sock into my wallet let alone all my shirts and trousers! I went back to Goyard and told them about my problem. You should have seen the looks they gave me! I explained that their trunks were way too expensive and didn't hold luggage any better than a Samsonite, but I wanted one anyway, so if they would just please sell me a wallet that I could fit all of my clothing in I would happily be on my way.

Goyard says:

"...our smaller pieces such as overnight luggage and briefcases do not come with handles because our designers have determined that customers at that level do not require handles on their luggage. We call those occasional pieces. They are to be used only for short trips, not for real 'round the world trips for the serious traveler. In fact we don't even offer handles as an option. If you want handles, purchase one of the big trunks."
 

OK guys, I'll bring us back on topic, I just received a return call from B&O and they assure me that the ability to turn off the TV's speakers by using "Sound 2" doesn't exist on the BV8.  They are adamant about this.  They even say that they tested it at their US headquarters in Chicago and the BV8 can't turn off the center channel via "Sound 2" as it doesn't have a BS3.  They say that the best you can do is turn down the "center volume" (which becomes an option when you connect speakers to the PL socket).

Could it be that the BV8 in the USA operates differently than you guys in Europe?  Or, are some of the BV8 owners responding to this thread in the USA?

Mark 

I think they are looking at the reference guide. It doesn't mention that function.  The user manual does.

 The speaker adjustment it seems is done on the Beo4. Press List until you see speaker, then 1 to 3 followed by exit.

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/web2/members/guides/guide_doc/BeoVision8/beovision8_userguide_english.pdf

Page 9 

jk1002,

I appreciate the info you're giving me, and I certainly hope it correct.  Do you have a BV8?  Is it a USA model?  And, have you tried this with the speakers?

That actually sounded like I was trying to be a smartass, but I wasn't, I'm literally asking as I have no way to test this myself and I live too far from a B&O shop (if I get a BV8, it'll be shipped to me).

Mark D 

I am in the US and in the middle of buying. I will try this out over the weekend, I live a 20 minutes walk from a dealer. I am pretty sure though, they made the same mistake that I initiallly made, just browsing the reference guide and not the user manual. There is nothing in the menus of the TV, its just a Beo 4 function.

If you read carefully, you are asking for turnining the speakers of via the sound function. We are talking about the different speaker modes. 2 different things. Speaker is the function you want to use.

Will provide update.

JK 

I tested my BV8/26, European version when I first got it.

Attached a pair of BL3s to it, using PL.

SPEAKER 1 gave me the television speakers only.

SPEAKER 2 gave me the BL3s only.

SPEAKER 3 gave me all the speakers.

As is known to most B&O users, you just add SPEAKERS to your LIST. Then just select LIST>SPEAKERS, GO, NUMBER 1,2 or 3 -- for the various setups. (The dealer should try it! )
 

"As is known to most B&O users, you just add SPEAKERS to your LIST. Then just select LIST>SPEAKERS, GO, NUMBER 1,2 or 3 -- for the various setups. (The dealer should try it! )"

 I agree, Soundproof. I think we should take a break from critiquing the products and critique the dealers! Some of the stories I've heard on here make me smack my forehead with disbelief!

For once soundproof and I agree completely! 

US spec BV-8,  Speaker 2  works exactly as it ought to.

Russ

TripEnglish:

"As is known to most B&O users, you just add SPEAKERS to your LIST. Then just select LIST>SPEAKERS, GO, NUMBER 1,2 or 3 -- for the various setups. (The dealer should try it! )"

 I agree, Soundproof. I think we should take a break from critiquing the products and critique the dealers! Some of the stories I've heard on here make me smack my forehead with disbelief!

The dealers!  Oh, some of the stories about some of the dealers!  Trip is right.  Don't get me started....  But that is a rant for another thread.

Just to clarify the question referring to the US VERSION of BV8..

they assure me that the ability to turn off the TV's speakers by using "Sound 2" doesn't exist on the BV8.  They are adamant about this.  They even say that they tested it at their US headquarters in Chicago and the BV8 can't turn off the center channel via "Sound 2" as it doesn't have a BS3.  They say that the best you can do is turn down the "center volume" (which becomes an option when you connect speakers to the PL socket).

The preceding statement is DEAD WRONG.    As Soundproof and RussR said, Speaker 2 works perfectly with BV8 and BL speakers.  Shame on somebody for starting that one.....

Ray

Soundproof and Russ,   Thank you for your insight - this is very reassuring.

jk1002,   Thank you for your investigative work.  Let me know if your findings concur.

Ray,   I didn't start this thread, but I may have inadvertently deviated the group away from the original question (concerning reviewing the BV8) with my questions about the speakers.  For the record, I certainly didn't mean to mislead with the info I was given by my B&O dealer as well as their guys in the Chicago headquarters; what I was relaying to the group was a very factual representation of what I'd been told.  I'm very happy to find that this is wrong.

One other question for you guys that have acquired a USA version of the BV8:  Does the TV carry the codes for common cable boxes (like the Motorola box I use from Comcast) and the Apple TV?  If so, does the Beo 4 do control these other devices easily / well?

TIA,

Mark 

BeoNut, my public apology for coming across harshly.  As a fellow Southerner, I should have acted better.  I hammered the point, not at you, but at any B&O person who would allow a potential client to be so misled.  Please forgive.

Ray

Ray,

Apology un-necessary but appreciated.

I did have the owner of the store that I'd posed the question to personally email me back and apologize for the mis-information.  He read an email that I'd sent to one of his employees with a link to this thread, and he took the time to test this out on the BV8 in his store.  He confirmed what all of y'all are saying - i.e. that "Sound 2" (via the Beo 4) turns off the TV's speakers and leaves it to the PL connected speakers.  He did mention, though, that the TV goes in to "Sound 3" as a default.  I'd rather that you could set the default yourself as I'd prefer that the TV act like a more conventional TV when turned on (i.e. "Sound 1").

Mark D 

I tried it out just now. I had the BL3s hooked up, it worked like a charm.

In fact, I switched from BL3 only with muddy speech to Bl3 with center and later to center only and it is a huge huge difference when it comes to clarity of speech. Awesome. In fact the clarity that the center adds is so good that I can for myself justify the 4K price tag. Watching DVDs is always a bit of a problem for me, as I am in the US but not a native speaker and I have to translate everything - which is tricky with a non surround system since sometimes the speech can be very hard to understand.

The launch documentation says, they are using the same STB technology as BS3, the same upgrade & design software MK2 is supposed to be used to program it. But dealer is checking with his technician on the Apple TV and I am still waiting for the answer from Beocare.

I am guessing it will work. 

So in a nutshell, I consider it a very good option if you have already B&O for music and don't want the clutter of a separated surround sound system. While you can argue about the picture compared to Sony and friends, in regards to sound this can not be easily beat if you plan on using Beolabs without buying one of the bigger B&O TVs.

@mark, the launch document I got mentions that the 25 most common devices are included. Your dealer can use the same software that is used for the BV7 to create own controls, so worst case you would have to send your cable box to him.

 Cheers

JK 

JK,

Thanks a million.  I'm going to order a BV8 on Monday.  I'm also going to send you my email address (via PM) as I'd greatly appreciate you letting me know what you find out about Apple TV codes.

Mark 

Hi,

I got your PM and will definitely  keep you in the loop.

I would warn you to buy the BV8 without getting the cable box and A-TV situation sorted. You can't configure the Set Top Box controller yourself. Your dealer needs to that. So make sure you get at least the cable box compatibility confirmed. 

 I will probably buy mine next weekend if everything goes well.

Cheers

JK 

Quick question... Does anyone know if the Beovision 8 plays nicely with a TiVO HD? Is it in the list of compatible STBs for the US Model?

Thanks!

Plus... anyone know how much the $ will increase in September for the BV8?

-Sal