I have to agree at 100% with your post, Roger. But I don't think that B&O really cares about young people as costumers.

Like Roger I´m also a little surprised that they launch a new landline phone. Fewer and fewer are using landline phones in Denmark. I hope and believe they will launch additional new products this season. But, of course, Kalle H. Nielsen need to release his plans for the future. What direction will Beo go?

I think land lines still have their place as they often beat the sound quality of mobile phones. All I think will happen is that it is switched to IP.

Since they focus on Audio & Video again going forward, I would think this is not much more a leftover that was too far in the development cycle to cancel it.

Its unrealistic that BeoCom 6000 is on the way out. Why did they update it recently then?

I think its a replacement for the old BeoCom 2500 ( but of course not with a wire)

Here in France there is a good equipement in landline phones as most ISPs give free and unlimited IP phone (which works for free for more than a hundred countries, you just need to pay if you call mobile phones) with the internet service.
There are a lot of differences between countries concerning phone. But I admit that the general move around the world is to have a mobile only. But on this market, B&O can only sell Earset 2/3 for other brand phones, as the technology moves too quickly for them.

9 LEE:

So you haven't heard of Mr I. Gessitt, the man in charge of 'New Product Launch Dates' then?

 

Ask your sheeps, you have that account.

A moderator who has a dubble account

How can they increase the price for speakers etc. again? Are they a little bit mad? ;)


Beosound 5:

 I think it will be VERY hard to beat the combination Apple iPod Touch / Apple iPhone with Apple TV /Mac in case of usability for music and 2 way remote - seems to be impossible.

 

Who needs another crappy mobile phone from B&O? They should stay with their VERY GOOD landline phones, audio and videogear and speakers.

Back to the good old quality MADE IN DENMARK and not Made in China for high prices and low quality :)

 

Can anybody confirm the price DROP on things like Beosound 3?

 

Thanks
 

Tom:

I have to agree at 100% with your post, Roger. But I don't think that B&O really cares about young people as costumers.

B&O really cares about the young people as costumers, an article in a newspaper here in Denmark, it was stated that fewer and fewer young people are buying B&O because of the lack of technology and the high prices. And since a B&O tv has an excpected lifespan of about 10 years, thay have to get the younger generation to buy to keep up the flow of tv's running.

 I believe they are really really thinking about how they can change this.

/Weebyx

Last time I visited the factory I saw a lot of products being made. The factory was situated in Struer, Denmark, not China!!

I think that BS5 will beat Apple! At the moment I`m really second tired about all the fuzz about Apple products!!

Beofan2:

Last time I visited the factory I saw a lot of products being made. The factory was situated in Struer, Denmark, not China!!

I think that BS5 will beat Apple! At the moment I`m really second tired about all the fuzz about Apple products!!

 

I love B&O BUT have you use iPhone/iPod to pilot iTunes?

If not try it and you understand the hype about Apple 

Thinking that the BS5 will beat Apple is like thinking that a new model of Lamborghini will be able to beat the Toyota Corolla (history best seller car...)

Sinergy between the two brands should be the right way...

Beofan2:

Last time I visited the factory I saw a lot of products being made. The factory was situated in Struer, Denmark, not China!!

I think that BS5 will beat Apple! At the moment I`m really second tired about all the fuzz about Apple products!!

Thats about to change- China made products already in the pipeline.

Actually other than speaker production B&O willbe forced to move most production there to keep margins up or make the pricing more suited to todays market.

Look at the euopean brands- most have given up!- where is the Ipod and apple made- all china

Yes. The BeoSound 3 will drop in price. 

Weebyx:

Tom:

I have to agree at 100% with your post, Roger. But I don't think that B&O really cares about young people as costumers.

B&O really cares about the young people as costumers, an article in a newspaper here in Denmark, it was stated that fewer and fewer young people are buying B&O because of the lack of technology and the high prices. And since a B&O tv has an excpected lifespan of about 10 years, thay have to get the younger generation to buy to keep up the flow of tv's running.

 I believe they are really really thinking about how they can change this.

/Weebyx

Ok, so that's why they are going to build a 103" plasma and increase the prices of speakers?! 

The 103" Plasma isn't aimed at younger people.

B&O can aim it's product portfolio at more than one group of people. There are BeoVisions available in sizes other than 103"

Tom:

Weebyx:

Tom:

I have to agree at 100% with your post, Roger. But I don't think that B&O really cares about young people as costumers.

B&O really cares about the young people as costumers, an article in a newspaper here in Denmark, it was stated that fewer and fewer young people are buying B&O because of the lack of technology and the high prices. And since a B&O tv has an excpected lifespan of about 10 years, thay have to get the younger generation to buy to keep up the flow of tv's running.

 I believe they are really really thinking about how they can change this.

/Weebyx

Ok, so that's why they are going to build a 103" plasma and increase the prices of speakers?! 

The 103" because they can :) And the speaker price raise because they need the money :)

/Weebyx

What about the BV7-40 without DVD-player;

can anyone confirm that it will be available by the end of the year ?

 

355f:

Beofan2:

Last time I visited the factory I saw a lot of products being made. The factory was situated in Struer, Denmark, not China!!

I think that BS5 will beat Apple! At the moment I`m really second tired about all the fuzz about Apple products!!

Thats about to change- China made products already in the pipeline.

Actually other than speaker production B&O willbe forced to move most production there to keep margins up or make the pricing more suited to todays market.

Look at the euopean brands- most have given up!- where is the Ipod and apple made- all china

 

If that's true I've never buy a B&O product again! Manufacturing in China with lower quality and higher prices ... they are nothing more than BOSE then! Shame on B&O!!

There ARE enough audio-video-companies that  manufacture their products in their  home country and I think I better spend my money there if B&O jumps on the cheapo wagon!

 

 

@TWG

I think you'll find that 99/100 audio companies are manufacturing with substantial parts or whole assemblies performed in Asia, particularly China and Taiwan. Including the very small, boutique brands. (Though quite a few use B&O's ICEpower, of course.)

For instance, you'll find Pioneer DVD-players inside Goldmund's units, though Goldmund claims to be manufactured in Switzerland.

Here's an entertaining, and slightly sad thread on the topic, where numerous other products are discussed also:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/goldmund-v-s-pioneer-285743/

The drivers in my BeoLab 5 come from one source, the DACs from another, the circuit boards from a third -- but the design, the concept and the execution are uniquely B&O, with the brand also recognizing the ingeniousness of Sausalito's Acoustic Lenses.

China is also the world's maddest hifi-nation, with customers installing multiple high-end units in their homes, costing in the millions of dollars each, and the fact that a part comes from China is definitely not a negative. What the assemled component costs may be an issue, though - as the Pioneer/Goldmund thread shows.

I appreciate B&O's integrity, and the unique thinking underlying B&O technology (active loudspeakers, etc) - and as long as that holds true, I'm with the brand. (And I think they have been thoroughly punished with low sales for units where they have strayed off-brand, and that this may show them what customers are actually looking for? As I understand it, Serenata didn't do very well in the market, for instance.)

I think if a part of the production is moved to china, it's OK, but only as long as they keep assembling the TV's and stereos in Denmark. Nobody can tell me that a case of a TV produced in china is as good as one produced in Europe.

They should produce the electronic parts inside in china and do the assembly in denmark, so they can say it's made in denmark...

But the question is, are they going to reduce TV-prices or do they only want to increase their profit? 

What is the reason that they lower the prices of Serene, Serenata, BS3 and BS6 so much? Is their margin on these products so huge? 

Henry:

Well if you want some form of date for BeoSound 5, this is what ol' Torben said in an interview with The Times in early January of this year. My dealer has suggested a more believable early 2009 lauch date. I am pretty sure B&O would have already made a big hype about BeoSound 5 if it was coming before Christmas.

 "We have so many ideas, the difficulty is selecting them. The next thing we are working on is how to merge computer technology into your living room without an ugly PC in there. Within 12 months we will have a product you’ve never seen before which can navigate your entire collection of music, and you’ll hear music you’ve never heard, using neural intelligence to take you to music."

The BeoCom 5 is probably something to keep us happy in the meantime

Sounds to me like a variation of the Apple TV, Airport Express, iPod Touch concept - but at probably ten times the price! As for it being "a product you've never seen before", now that is a bold claim. As for "you’ll hear music you’ve never heard", has something been lost in the translation such as a missing word "like" in the middle?    

 

Actually I do not think there is missing a "like" in the middle. I have heard rumours that the BS5 will have some clever soft ware, that will select new music you might like.

astrauch:

I think if a part of the production is moved to china, it's OK, but only as long as they keep assembling the TV's and stereos in Denmark. Nobody can tell me that a case of a TV produced in china is as good as one produced in Europe.

They should produce the electronic parts inside in china and do the assembly in denmark, so they can say it's made in denmark...

But the question is, are they going to reduce TV-prices or do they only want to increase their profit? 

What is the reason that they lower the prices of Serene, Serenata, BS3 and BS6 so much? Is their margin on these products so huge? 

 

assembly is in China for LCD and new range of loudspeakers

I agree with Christian here.  I don't think that B&O expect an unusual leap forward in playback quality from the BS-5.  I think they expect a leap forward in the experience of exploring, re-discovering, and listening to ones music library.

 I have just read a highly favorable review (Sterophile magazine, September/08) of the SooLoos system.  The magazine dedicated an unusually large amount of space to the review, and it was amazingly positive.  Yes the technical performance was very good; but two different reviewers spent pages gushing over the fact that they listened to music which thay owned, but had forgotten, or never gotten around to before...on and on.....  The SooLoos system starts at about twice the 'expected' price of the BeoSound/BeoMaster 5, so if B&O can work their Danish magic on the user experience, and keep up current sound quality, I think that will be something to look forward to.

Russ
 

Oh dear, we are all feeling a little unkind today. Lets all be more serious about it....

 While there is a lot of speculation in this thread, which has indeed put a smile on my dial this morning, let me tell you some facts.

• The BangSound 5 is going to be a cracker.  It is an important piece of the Bang line up and the fact it has been held back underlines this fact.  There are many people making sure that this is going to be quite special.
• The BangVision 7 will be avaliable soon (ish) with no DVD player if required.
• Bang cares about you, its customers, whether in DK or otherwise, old or young. It is listening.
• Some prices may drop, some may increase.  Increases are beng fought.
• Give the CEO a bit of time.....he's new.
• China, only some (SOME) small components are pre assembled there for mass requirements. A TV is made there too....forget the one.....8 or something (But its not bad..is it?)  Bang will not be leaving Struer or DK in a hurry thank you all very much.
• Smile.