General Forum

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

Flappo The Grate — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:55:21 GMT

the new ceo certainly seems to be putting his stamp on things very quickly

bno have been through more recessions than most of us have had hot dinners , somehow i think they'll get through this one just fine

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

symmes — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:51:31 GMT

Why can't B&O use the Apple Tablet as a video streamer through wireless HDMI? Ooops, that's next week. I will go back under my rock.

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

tournedos — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:41:15 GMT

dilznik:

What were we talking about with "SAVE" B&O? I pretty much just figured the question meant they were running out of money and if they didn't do something then they'd be out of business. Reading half the posts (the half that aren't unintelligible doggy poo) over, did the "save" part mean "how do we get B&O to make products we like once more?"

Well, remember the thread was started more than a year ago and the context was quite different from today. B&O had only recently switched the CEO so apparently they themselves saw problems, the financial reports were bad, and the global economy was going downhill to depths nobody could predict.

It doesn't look nearly as grim now and many of the new products are very promising, so we can get back to the usual bitching and whining about HDMI ports and why the entire world still doesn't revolve around ipods

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

j0hnbarker — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:23:23 GMT

dilznik:

As long as they stay in business they can do what they want. I'll either buy it or I won't.

Here endeth the sermon? Amen to that.

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

dilznik — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:21:34 GMT

Here's my intentional 2nd post since it is a different flavor as the last one. Like, not a rant.

Trip and everyone else posting about the differences in EU and US customers:

You guys are totally onto something. I bought everything in the EU where B&O appears to not be targeted for the types of people who just want to flaunt their wealth at people (read: wankers) but rather the middle class with disposable income. People like me. Sure, they have high end stuff that you'd have to be quite well to do to get but they don't even push that stuff. In fact, the store I always went to in Munich didn't even display BL5. They had some downstairs.

I know quite a few people like myself in Germany that have B&O but it's not in your face. You wouldn't even notice if you weren't a fan and knew what you were looking at, that's how well B&O stuff disappears into a standard Euro apartment. Not the BL5 obviously, but BL4000 or 6000 or BL3 or so. The middle class equipment.

Basically, I'm really happy with the BS4 since it does everything I want it to. More than the other systems. The speakers I have are good and I'm satisfied with them, too. Basically, I'm a happy customer.

I would, however, like to be able to get equipment from somewhere other than in Perth. It's clear they have the only shop from here to Singapore. It was better in Munich where there were at least 3 B&O stores and at least one high end dealer who also sold B&O.

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

dilznik — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:10:14 GMT

So I'm rereading the thread (actually I'm rereading the emails I get from the thread while on the train since I forgot my headphones) and I now have to wonder...

What were we talking about with "SAVE" B&O? I pretty much just figured the question meant they were running out of money and if they didn't do something then they'd be out of business. Reading half the posts (the half that aren't unintelligible doggy poo) over, did the "save" part mean "how do we get B&O to make products we like once more?"

Because, frankly, the stuff in my price range (see next post, yes I'm already planning in advance to double post) is really good for people like me. The stuff that's higher up either makes me really want it, like a pair of 9's, or doesn't interest me in the slightest though other people love them, like the TVs. Of course there's the stuff higher up that looks lame like the BS5 but if other people like it then good for them. The stuff below my price range is also nice but I have no need for them, like the BS1. There are things I find asinine like BS4 being sold as computer speakers for $1k but if other people like it then great.

My list applied to if the question was "how does B&O make money and not go out of business"? And my list would work 100%. But if it was the other thing about if they're making the right products or not then let me answer that one:

What are you complaining about? They have TVs in every normal size from 26" to 103", in plasma or LCD if you have a preference with various looks and features. They have little sound systems that favor the "modern middle class" like the BS4 and they have the old favorites like the 9000 and the 3200. They have state of the art and they have devices that let you send music from your computer to any room in the house. They have little budget speakers like the BL4 and they have outrageous budget speakers like the BL5. And everything in between! Their stuff is made well and if you're boohooing that some of it is made in CZ then quit whining because you didn't know the difference anyway.

As long as they stay in business they can do what they want. I'll either buy it or I won't.

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

DrDimitris — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:13:08 GMT

Affineur:

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I admit, you have a point here....

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

Affineur — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:15:55 GMT

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Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

TripEnglish — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:09:08 GMT

Again, spot on.

In "my world" HDMI count is the least of the issues. Throw in an expander or matrix switcher and you're done. It's the scope of the project and operational narratives that we focus on.

And I'd say that the terms "comfort zone" and "rut" are interchangeable.

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

jk1002 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:57:50 GMT

>>Seems many dealers are still allergic to these concepts, however.<<

I am thinking because it pushes them out of their comfort zone. If I look at myself, suddenly the question is not how many HDMIs does that thing have but how big of a construction job will it be and how can it look once it's done.

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

TripEnglish — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:40:38 GMT

Let me also add quickly that B&O has a distinct advantage in the custom arena as most of their competitors don't have showrooms and clients & designers/architects alike prefer to see something work and get a feel for it before buying. Having working lighting control, entryway management, closed circuit cameras, etc. in the showroom means that 3rd party reps send leads to you before your competitors because you have stronger tools to close the sale. Seems many dealers are still allergic to these concepts, however.

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

TripEnglish — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:38:19 GMT

jk1002,

You're absolutely right. Some stores, mine included, have manipulated their showrooms to showcase custom concepts even on the showroom & window displays, but I agree that a genuine store concept change is called for.

The BeoLiving room is great, but it doesn't really communicate all the concepts that go into making a room like that. There are several ways to encapsulate lighting control, HVAC control, entry-way management, etc. into their own display and thereby strengthen the value of the concept as a whole.

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

linder — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:34:00 GMT

There are Beoliving type B&O stores in the US. Here's information about the store in Salt Lake City which is about 1000 miles away from me.

Bang & Olufsen, the international maker of exclusive, high quality audio and video products, and Lifestyle Electronics, a Utah-based electronics provider, jointly unveiled a new Bang & Olufsen showroom in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 13, 2006. The latest showroom is significant because it is both the largest Bang & Olufsen showroom located in the United States, spanning over 5500 square feet, in addition to one of the first showrooms to showcase the new BeoLiving concept - a completely integrated way of living with customized audio and video products that can converge with lighting, draperies and various atmosphere control modules to better suit each and every customer's lifestyle.

The new BeoLiving rooms will showcase a full surround sound set up with powerful, technologically advanced loudspeakers, impeccable viewing displays - on 65 inch plasma as well as a larger projector screen for both intimate and home cinema viewing modes. Additionally, the rooms will feature sophisticated, rich, mahogany wood concepts, sleek Danish lighting, and contemporary home furnishings. The new showroom will be more like a benchmark for other B&O showrooms in the US which will be refurbished to embody the new, all inclusive home theater rooms.

http://beostores.bang-olufsen.com/saltlakecity-gateway/welcome

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

jk1002 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:03:39 GMT

That is to some extent what I figured. At least for the US, I think their marketing is off base. They should put more emphasize on the installations they have done. If you walk by a store all you see is expensive products in the window, unless you walk in and unless there is a proper Beoliving installation.

For example, when they have a BV7 running it should show a video showcasing these high end installations. I can see that in Europe the market is different, maybe that is why they are not really pushing into this direction.

I remember at some point they made an effort with Beoliving but that seems be tapering off again, now it's hidden somewhere under home integration on their website - just like a product.

Maybe it is too difficult for some dealers to run these projects.

Re: How to save Bang & Olufsen

TripEnglish — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:22:49 GMT

jk1002:

Can you spill the beans trip? Who buys the beoliving installations? I know I will at some point invest in that in a couple of years - I do want a small TV with that though.

I'm assuming you're not asking for actual names!

But if you mean a "profile," I can try, but the clientele are very diverse.

It seems that the one major characteristic (aside from pockets deep enough!) is that they're all extremely busy. They have very demanding careers, and generally have several homes, most of which are managed. In this sort of lifestyle, their free time is very valuable and they have extremely high demands for their down time. They're almost never interested in the inner workings and they trust, and judge, exclusively with their own senses. They demand things be pared down to the essential and get frustrated easily with novelty. They value aesthetics very highly as well as a good relationship with the dealer. In these situation we often work only partially with the end user and handle the logistics through a house manager or other intermediary.

So I could go on and on about unique cases, but that's the typical BeoLiving client in my market.