General Forum

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

TheMajor — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:14:10 GMT

They would be fantastic for me. I am current considering a set of speakers at the moment. I was going to get a set of 6000s second hand for 200,000 yen but I am thinking that new is the best option. I am sick of upgrading TV/stereo every year or two. That is why I love B&O, I am thinking about getting beolab 3's new instead as the difference in the new price is quite minimal (for B&O anyway). Knowing where to buy this stuff from would be a great help, but saying that, my dealer is pretty good. When I bought my beosound 1 they got me the manual in English especially for me.

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

SWISS_2 — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:45:02 GMT

100 Kanji is quite good !

Romaji is very easy. Hiragana, and Katakana starts the serious studying periods. I had a problem with Kanji until I took it up an hour each day with a Sumi-e brush and a paper pad. If you can make it, and say it, you can learn it.

It seemed to me that we had some members here from, or living in Japan. Perhaps they can provide some additional B&O sources for you there.

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

TheMajor — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:18:21 GMT

はい　ありがとうごさいます。　スウィスさん　まった　れいしゅね

As you can see I don't know too much kanji. Just a hundred or so.

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

SWISS_2 — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:28:06 GMT

Gokurosama de, Sensei !

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

TheMajor — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:00:36 GMT

SWISS 2:
If you don't mind sharing with us, what are you working on in your assignment to Japan ?

Fresh out of a British uni, I jumped on the first plane. I am a teacher at the moment. But hopefully, once my Japanese is better, I will get a real job. On a teacher salary, there is much space for B&O.

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

SWISS_2 — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:38:12 GMT

I lived in Takodanobaba when I was there as a Grad student. B&O, and a great deal more then was off my radar financially.

I've been back for business and a few class reunions ( Waseda Daigaku ) and returned with electronics from most of those trips. Your observations about the B&O store are something new, as I found them more organized when there. The comment about cleanliness is particularly striking, given the societal mores in Japan. Too bad.

If you don't mind sharing with us, what are you working on in your assignment to Japan ?

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

TheMajor — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:52:43 GMT

SWISS 2:
Glad to hear you are planning out your stay in Japan.
You will be NTSC-M region, and B&O is well received in Japan too. You will also be.in DVD Region 2, and will need a multi-region DVD player if you are going to take European or North American DVDs to enjoy.
If you don't purchase this ahead of your trip, spend some time in Akihabara, just west of Shinjuku. This is where the majority of electronic appliance stores are located, and you can see what new technology Japan is introducing there also, a few years in advance.

I am already here, I have been for a while but the stay was only for 6 months. I have been here for just shy of two years now. Anyidea where all the pre-owned B&O is? I can only find it on Yahoo auction, some prices are ok. One guy called English_in_Japan has a lot of stuff but the prices are a little high. 5000 pound for a AV9000 (TV only) and 2500 pound for a BV1 (LS maybe). I would buy the BV1 if the price was reasonable.

People that know B&O love it. But B&O sales not only via their own dealers but also via high class superstores. Which IS a bad thing, my dealer is a B&O store but in Shinjuku they have the B&O section in a state and a half. Beosound 1 is always dirty, no beolink on display, they didn't know what a Beo5 was and cables showing everywhere.

I am going to look it to a beosystem one now. I am just considering sticking with my Sony 40X and go for the system and pick up a new plasma after I buy a house in a few years.

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

Klas — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:47:30 GMT

if you already have the 1080p screen - why not considering a US Beosystem 1 (which sells really cheap these days) or a European/US Beosystem 3? It certainly has more features than you might be looking for...but you get to use your BEO4, gives great picture and surrond sound.....

I just upgraded to a European BS3 from my previous US BS1....extremely pleased.....

Klas

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

SWISS_2 — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:04:06 GMT

Glad to hear you are planning out your stay in Japan.

You will be NTSC-M region, and B&O is well received in Japan too. You will also be.in DVD Region 2, and will need a multi-region DVD player if you are going to take European or North American DVDs to enjoy.

If you don't purchase this ahead of your trip, spend some time in Akihabara, just west of Shinjuku. This is where the majority of electronic appliance stores are located, and you can see what new technology Japan is introducing there also, a few years in advance.

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

beo-ap — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:36:55 GMT

I can't imagine the shipping fee. BV8 looks promising for us NTSC types, but I man I wish it were the BV6.

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

TheMajor — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:10:03 GMT

I will keep an eye out but the avant is a big TV and the shipping costs will be quite high. I think I really want a beovision 6. While I am saving I will consider the avant and possibly a BV8 if it is released in Japan.

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

beo-ap — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:27:12 GMT

Ebay has had some amazing Avant bargains. They don't come up a lot, but their prices have really come down.

I think for $2,000 an Avant is still worth it.

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

TheMajor — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:47:52 GMT

I haven't seen any cheap avants in the US. Yet! But I currently have a Sony 1080p and going back to SDTV doesn't sound good to me as I love movies and have a few blu-ray but I would like Beo connectivity. I will speak to me dealer about changing the tuner to a Japanese spec but I don't think the avant was released here.

Have a PAL version isn't a big deal as I am heading back to the EU in a few years so hence a small beovision 6.

If the beovision 8 is coming out or if anyone has any info please let me know as my dealer doesn't know anything about it yet.

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

Keith Saunders — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:21:31 GMT

Japan and the US use NTSC-M and so it will be best to purchase a US variation of the product you want if you cannot get it in Japan.

I am surprised that you cannot get what you want in Japan because they are a technology throwaway society meaning they keep a product a while, then want to get the newest version when they can.

I don't think you can consider a Beovision 6 because it was never made for the US or Japanese market, however there is a lot of opportunities with AVANT's which in my view were the best CRT TV made.

I actually think the STB controller will be less of a problem for you because if, say you purchase a US AVANT, for a small cost ($70) you can change the STB controller chip which should provide most STB's available in Japan.

Re: PAL TV in a NTSC zone

beo-ap — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:33:19 GMT

Or you could consider buying an Avant in the USA. One recently sold on ebay for about $2,000! This will be NTSC all the way, and while it may not control a Japanese cable box, you can use a Lintronic to handle the conversion.