All

I turn to you for some expert advice. I have been offered a used BV7 at a price that is difficult to refuse, from a very trustworthy source. However I will need to sell my BV3 32" and BC2 to pay for it. It will mean listening to the radio through Freeview, but otherwise it shouldn't cause any real inconvenience.

I'm wondering what you might do given the same situation. The last thing I want to do is regret the change. I love the setup I have but I'm aware that a BV3 will one day in the not too distant future become obsolete, and I will have to change to an LCD screen anyway.

I had planned to hold out for as long as possible before I went down the LCD route because I don't really think the picture comes near a tube TV for quality, but this BV7 has come along at such a good price it is difficult to turn down.

Any thoughts?

Play:

I turn to you for some expert advice. I have been offered a used BV7 at a price that is difficult to refuse, from a very trustworthy source. However I will need to sell my BV3 32" and BC2 to pay for it. It will mean listening to the radio through Freeview, but otherwise it shouldn't cause any real inconvenience.

Any thoughts?

Ask for a Beoport and installation. You do have a PC or Mac don't you?
With the Beoport you can get thousands of radio stations with reasonable sound quality.

With this extra Beoport a radio becomes obsolete...

Play:

 I love the setup I have but I'm aware that a BV3 will one day in the not too distant future become obsolete, and I will have to change to an LCD screen anyway.

I had planned to hold out for as long as possible before I went down the LCD route because I don't really think the picture comes near a tube TV for quality, but this BV7 has come along at such a good price it is difficult to turn down.

Any thoughts?

Don't do it!! The picture on a BV3 -32 is better than the BV7, especially the model not based on the BS3. Why do you think LCD will be any better than CRT? The BV3 and Avant are 'obsolete' but still produce a superb picture. The BV7 will either need a DVB-T module (£500!!!!) or will be no more useful than the BV3 as far as digital broadcasts are concerned. Until flat screens show some real advantages, I will stick with CRT. If you want a bigger screen, consider a projector.

Sound advice thanks Peter. It does seem daft to 'upgrade' just for the sake of it, especially when in terms of picture quality it actually appears to be taking a backward step.

Out of interest, how long do think I can stick it out with CRT before progress forces me to take the plunge?

I don't really see that you will have to change in the near future. The picture is very good. At some stage, mainstream TV will be broadcast in HD and then you may wish to use an HD screen. The CRT will of course still work though! I certainly will not be swapping until I am happy it is an upgrade.

Is it a Beovion 7-32 or 7-40 that is offered to you?

If it is a 32 inch, I would not do it. If it is a 40 inch, you get at least a bigger screen format which has it 's impact with a lot of programs and films.

I really don't know an awful lot about TVs, as this post will clearly demonstrate..... although I do go a bit  very weak at the knees (because of the prices) whenever I look at the current range in my local B&O dealership..... but that has never stopped me expressing an opinion before

I would agree entirely with Peter - especially if the vast majority of one's viewing is off-air terrestrial broadcasts, I really can't see the point (ie I can't see any improvement in performance - the opposite in fact) of Plasma or LCD. If your viewing is from a high def source, then I can maybe start to see the attraction, especially if space is at a premium. 

I too will stick with my CRT for the time being - I would love to do a blind test between the model I use and an Avant to see if I could see any difference in quality. I suspect not - every time I watch it I always catch myself thinking that the picture quality is absolutely stunning. It's a 36" Sony KV-36HQ100, bought for £250, 6 months ago. I'm hoping to get at least 5 years out of it! 

Cheers

Nigel

 

 

As a very happy BV3-32 owner I would say NO. Stick with the BV3. Myself I don't see the need to go for a flatscreen. To get the best you need one that is HD ready, and at the moment I dont think there are enough HD channels anyway. You would notice straight away the picture was not as good as you BV3, I think you would soon regret it.

 

 

Craig

I totally agree with Peter, add to this that a BV7 has become really outdated now and will not satisfy you as much as your current system. The flatscreen technology only starts to be interresting (in comparison with a CRT) with the newest models (latest Loewe Individual Compose, *D3000 serie from Sony or the "project Kuro" line from Pioneer and maybe the BS3 based BV7), so if you buy an earlier generation LCD like this BV7, you will get something not mature technically (the maturity age of flatpanels TV is still some years ahead, but we are getting closer everyday!!).

I'll be interested to see the BeoSystem 3 based BeoVision 7, as so far IMO the picture on the BeoVision 9/4 + BeoSystem 3 surpasses that of the CRTs. Still not sure about the other sets, and most certainly not the current non-BS3 based BV7!!

Alex:

I'll be interested to see the BeoSystem 3 based BeoVision 7, as so far IMO the picture on the BeoVision 9/4 + BeoSystem 3 surpasses that of the CRTs. Still not sure about the other sets, and most certainly not the current non-BS3 based BV7!!

Agree with you Alex, the BS3 based BV7 will be very intersting to see. After seeing HD versions of BV5,9 & 4 they were as good as my BV3. If not better. Does anyone know we can expect to see the new BV7 in the U.K. or as it arriveed already?

 

Craig

 

Concerning the new BS3-BV7 :
Does anybody know the type of backlight mounted on the TV? Normal fluorescent tubes/wide color gamut fluorescent tubes/LED?

no-one has mentioned the loss of your BC2.......

I wouldn't trade mine for anything, its an outstanding design in itself and I'm sticking with CRT for as long as possible..... 

Craig:

Alex:

I'll be interested to see the BeoSystem 3 based BeoVision 7, as so far IMO the picture on the BeoVision 9/4 + BeoSystem 3 surpasses that of the CRTs. Still not sure about the other sets, and most certainly not the current non-BS3 based BV7!!

Agree with you Alex, the BS3 based BV7 will be very intersting to see. After seeing HD versions of BV5,9 & 4 they were as good as my BV3. If not better. Does anyone know we can expect to see the new BV7 in the U.K. or as it arriveed already?

 

Craig

 

Can't be that long, some dealers are holding fire on new BeoVision 7s in the wait for the BS3 based one! The quiet before the storm.

I actually can't wait, as I love everything about the BeoVision 7 bar the connections (limited in terms of HD), and the picture performance. The BeoSystem 3 based one will hopefully really show off what B&O can do in terms of picture quality.

When my dealer had the first of the HD ready BV5's, I was blown away by how good the picture was. Just did not have the £13,500 price tag.

 

Craig

Thanks for all the comments - quite interesting that there is a complete absence of any preference for the BV7 over the BV3. A landslide victory for CRT!

I would have been loathed to part with the BC2 and BV3, both amazing pieces of kit, but for some bizarre reason I thought I was falling behind as technology progresses. I guess 'upgrades' are not always improvements!

 Thanks again

What you really need to see is a Beovision 3400SJ and see what the colours are like on that. Modern sets are more reliable but this one takes a lot of beating in some respects. The 8800 is another very fine set!

3400SJ, what a fantastic TV - The first colour set we had. The picture was superb and very natural.I remember it gave off a lot of heat and latterly was subject to many engineers visits. Our next one was the 8800 followed by the LX5500 which I still have. B&O's 16:9 CRT offerings did not tempt me. The Avant was too bulky and BV3 left the classic look behind. Wide screen LX (or MX) design would have been very popular I feel. LCD? Not yet for a while. David

Interesting topic! Does the current (non BSYS-3) BV7 surpass the picture quality of the earlier BV3 & BV avant?

No, not by quite a long shot, sadly.

Peter:

The 8800 is another very fine set!

 

    We used to have a Beovision 7802 in the Bedroom. Very good TV and wonderful colours, noot to forget Nicam Stereo. when new it must have been very ahead of it's time. replaced it with a Beovision L4500 and then an MX5500.

 

Craig
 

Alex:

No, not by quite a long shot, sadly.

Oh thats good news for me! The BV7 is really pricey, but we can afford an AVANT RF 32" or BV3 32"... if we can find one for sale here in Oz

This difference in picture quality would obviously make the current LCD screens, form over function would it not?  

(posted out of order, the quote function failed also) 

After owning the Avant, BV732 and BV740 I would say yes!.  Go for the BV7...

Free to air (poor signal) then No!. Free to air (good signal) Marginal, Digital free to air Yes!, DVD Yes!, PACE/Foxtel Yes!.

There are a whole lot of other aspects to consider as well. Its a pity the old site detail is gone..

Beoaus.

Alex:

No, not by quite a long shot, sadly.

Not sure I agree...  See my other post.