I have to make a decision - today - on whether to bother upgrading my BV7-40 MKIII to a MKIV. Apart from price concerns, the only other concern I have is over the specs. For example, can anyone 'in the know' confirm whether the internal Blu-ray drive will be able to decode the HD audio and pass to the BS3 as PCM, much like the PS3?

If it can't, and can only understand the standard Dolby Digital 5.1, there's little point having an internal Blu-ray drive that's worse than the PS3. One key advantage of Blu-ray is the uncompressed HD audio.

The only details I have are from an email from my dealer, sparse to sat the least, but here goes...

<snip>

Visually the television remains the same but with 2 important upgrades:

Blu-Ray Player
The DVD player has been replaced with an integrated Blu-Ray player.
Bang & Olufsen are one of very few manufacturers able to offer a television with an integrated Blu-Ray player.

The mechanism chosen also offers access to the ‘BD Live’ feature (version 2.0) which offers a range of on-line interactive features including additional film material and film trailers. If the customer would like to use ‘BD Live’ the television would require a fixed ethernet connection. It cannot be connected wirelessly to access these features.

100 Hz Screen

The screen is upgraded to include 100Hz technology which ensures a clear, judder free image on fast moving pictures.

</snip>

Hope this helps, I doubt it tho...

I was talking to him yesterday, and decided to against the upgrade, as I thought £3700 was just a bit too much to pay to trade up to the MKIV.

Just a note to say I've made the decision and taken the upgrade before the 10% price increase kicks in.

moxxey:

Just a note to say I've made the decision and taken the upgrade before the 10% price increase kicks in.

BD upgrade or part Ex??

What do you mean by "upgrade"? Trade in the MK III for a MK IV?

Upgraded the panel from my MKIII to the MKIV for a far better price than I had anticipated. Quite pleased. BV7-40 MKIV should be here within 10 days.

Are the specs of the Blu-Ray player known ? In particular, which disk and file formats it can read, in addition to normal DVDs and Blu-Ray discs?

Thanks,

Jean

I made the same decision, to take it based on the same text that my dealer read out to me.

I too wanted to beat any price increases - but I had no trade-in to factor into my calculations.

No ETA yet.

I'v Ordered also with a px as well,the price and px were good,so went ahead.

I worked mine out on how much it would be on average to add the new sound board to my Mk3 then how much the Blu-ray would be to add,also based on the prices thats been going around to do this,the brighter screen is a bonus and the diffarance going from the non blu-ray to the blu-ray verson is a big jump in cost + the 10% be even worse but my deal was worth it.

Nice one,Moxxey,sounds like you done well too!

Im wondering if it if the new set has the new Sound board  in it? as it has the Blu-ray,so must be able to decode the new sound formats!

Joc,what set were you going to px? was it a Bv7 Mk1,2 or 3?

Bv7Mk3:

Nice one,Moxxey,sounds like you done well too!

Im wondering if it if the new set has the new Sound board  in it? as it has the Blu-ray,so must be able to decode the new sound formats!

Thanks.

Not sure if the new sound board will need to decode the HD audio. It might just do what the PS3 does, which is send it as a PCM stream which the BS3 can understand.

I've seen the new BV8-40 playing the Casino Royale Blu-ray (which I've seen on my BV7-40 MKIII, a few times) DVD. I was impressed. It's definitely a step up from my current BV7-40 MKIII. The movement was handled well, thanks to the 100Hz screen. Seemed more natural. I think it should be a slight step up again on the forthcoming BV7-40 MKIV.

If what you say is true,it Sounds good..We will both have wait and see

The Bv7-40 MKIII is a great set but as you say Moxxey,(Definitely a step up) as they will have to go somewhat to notice the difference between the old MKIII and the New BV7-40 MKIV.

I have been told by some dealers,that the Panel is brighter and not shure on this next bit but that the screen does 120Hz in normal standard def mode and 100Hz when doing 1080? Hmmmmm.

When running a Projector from the Projector out at the back of the set,I wonder if the picture is improved also?,As im running a Jvc HD1. 1080P Projector  om my BV7-40 MkKIII and this time will be easyer to set with the  new tv as I now know the right settings.

I'm not sure anyone has seen the MKIV. Even B&O UK tech team couldn't confirm the specs or whether the Blu-ray drive would be able to decode HD audio etc etc. I don't think it's started shipping yet - next week, I think?

So, no dealers will have seen it as it's not shipped. It's bound to have a better panel though as my MKIII was made late 2007.

I've heard (from official founts) that it will be the first BV based on LED panels...

xegoon:

I've heard (from official founts) that it will be the first BV based on LED panels...

Please make sure you're get ths info correct. It will NOT be based on OLED but might be LED backlit. There's a big difference :)

I don't think it's any great secret that it is based on Samsung's recent LED backlit panels, the Samsung TV's using these (or versions of) are currently being advertised on UK TV. (I'm not sure these are exacty the ones but they do also boast a 55" panel which I assume will form the basis of the BV7-55)

Puncher:

I don't think it's any great secret that it is based on Samsung's recent LED backlit panels, the Samsung TV's using these (or versions of) are currently being advertised on UK TV. (I'm not sure these are exacty the ones but they do also boast a 55" panel which I assume will form the basis of the BV7-55)

Yes, and if they are LED backlit, this *will* make a big difference. I have my old MacBook Pro and the new LED backlit model and the older screen is really dark, gloomy and unevenly lit compared to the LED backlit model. Never really noticed though until I started using the LED backlit version then went back to the old laptop. Screen just never seemed bright enough.

Interesting indeed..........

Whos hopeing it is?

moxxey:

Puncher:

I don't think it's any great secret that it is based on Samsung's recent LED backlit panels, the Samsung TV's using these (or versions of) are currently being advertised on UK TV. (I'm not sure these are exact the ones but they do also boast a 55" panel which I assume will form the basis of the BV7-55)

Yes, and if they are LED backlit, this *will* make a big difference.

It wouldn't half be an interesting thread if it didn't

It seems more than likely that there will be a significant improvement in picture quality, due to the new panel itself, notwithstanding any further improvements B&O may have managed to eke out of their picture engine.

I really hope you enjoy your new telly and your first year of ownership is less problematic than the first year of your MKIII

Im hopeing this one will be sorted out of the box,I had two Bv7 MkIII's one the dvd failed and could not get the projector out to work as well  (was not my Projector) And after being changed over for another set,all was well.

So looking forward to this one very much as I loved my Blue Bv 7-40 MKIII.

LED backlight is not coming until BV10

rednik:

LED backlight is not coming until BV10

rednik:

LED backlight is not coming until BV10

B&O would be rather daft to include backlighting on a mid-range LCD TV before the BV7-40 (their high-end LCD). Let's wait and see.

Puncher:

I really hope you enjoy your new telly and your first year of ownership is less problematic than the first year of your MKIII

Thanks Puncher. Indeed, I'll admit to having mixed feelings - expensive upgrade, so I really do hope there's a decent improvement :) Hopefully the sw issues are all sorted now. No issues with my BV7-40 MKIII since the sw was updated to 5.04.

moxxey:

rednik:

LED backlight is not coming until BV10

B&O would be rather daft to include backlighting on a mid-range LCD TV before the BV7-40 (their high-end LCD). Let's wait and see.

Are you really saying "let's wait and see" when you've ordered the MKIV? 

It will be a cracking TV, but has someone told you there's LED backlight?  because I have seen no information to suggest they are correct.  100Hz yes, Blu Ray yes, LED Backlight?  I'm sure we'd have heard more about it if this was the case.

Also, what would be the benefit in a TV that has to be as deep as a DVD anyway?

rednik:

Are you really saying "let's wait and see" when you've ordered the MKIV? 

I think you misunderstand the discussion. I mean 'let's wait and see if it has LED backlighting or whether B&O would be stupid to launch that feature with their mid-range LCD TV first'. It's not the reason why I bought the TV. It was bought as there is a 10% price increase from today, so I didn't want to pay an additional £600 from Monday.

Read through the conversation above about LED backlighting and who suggested it might be included in the BV7-40. It wasn't me.