Hello all,I am sorting through some stuff and felt like sharing 30 years of design technology with you.Having these things side by side, it is quite spectacular how well these speakers all go together despite them spanning four decaeds. For the uninitiated It is nearly impossible to discern which design is the oldest and the newest. A remarkable feat of design ingenuity and consistency over the ages.I can think of no other brand like Bang & Olufsen. Login to view image Login to view imageHowever:While it remains a sheer delight to behold and listen to these icons of industrial design, I find that it has become increasingly difficult to appraise the brand for the values that have hitherto defined it: namely seamless integration and ease-of-use. Those days, sadly, are long gone.I don't know, if you agree, but perhaps we could discuss. I have been an almost lifelong admirer of B&O, to the point that I consider myself a fanatic, an evangelist, an acolyte. I outright love B&O. But I have gradually arrived at a crossroads where I find it difficult to praise the brand unequivocally.The early nineties for me represent the pinnacle of Bang & Olufsen ingenuity, luxury and superiority. We have come along way from the days when a Masterlink setup just worked once it was setup. While the speakers have likely never been better, B&O are falling short on everything that used to identify the brand. The days of a user-friendly seamless integration that just worked are long gone. Will they ever come back?A B&O experience today offers little guarantee of a hassle-free music or viewing experience. It has gradually become an inelegant, mangled affair of work-arounds and third-party applications. Things reboot or must be rebooted. Network Link is a long shout away from the simplicity of Masterlink, and it requires an enthusiastic owner to accept that things sometime work and sometimes don't, without any clear-cut answer to why. Timers don't go off, etc. One could have hoped that a dedicated effort to boost the software department could have brought everything "back to normal", as it seems that the hardware is state-of-the-art, and user experience today is largely down to software. But just when it couldn't get worse, it now appears that all new products must be activated via a Google account! ![Broken Heart]()
Even if there will be no usage of Google services, the devices are dead before you register them with Google. This counts for the Edge, the Stage and the Beosound 1 and 2. Maybe more. Even activating bluetooth is impossible, and key Beolink functions are disabled.What is the point? Why is a B&O consumer not able to use a premium product that advertises its own sophisticated multiroom technology without enabling that of Google? And if one chooses to opt out of Google, by turning off the microphones on the product, why must your B&O product loudly announce that the microphone is turned off every time you turn it on? And constantly remind you visually with four red dots that serve no purpose? It is, simply put, neither refined nor elegant. Such a shame. I could go on, and maybe I will. I could talk of the greatness of the Sonos app and its wide array of sources vis-à-vis the crippling limitations of the B&O app, but. I digress.The point was actually to share with you these lovely, never-aging steely-grey cousins. It is hard not to be enthusiastic about design.And at least the design and the sound is still enjoyable, even if the experience has become sub-par.Happy New Year. May it be a good one for Bang & Olufsen and the rest of us!-StKong
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17 replies
The Google sign in drives me mad.
My A9 and BS2 are pre-Google sign in versions, but its a massive turn off.
Thankfully I have these two already, and no need to change them for another 5/10 years.
A new BV TV may well require a google sign in, I'm not familiar with webOS enough, and I'd accept it on a BV TV reluctantly, but not for my speakers.
I understand that some want GA, be they younger types or not, but I'm sure there are plenty that dont.
Its a horrible choice that is being foisted upon us.
The Google sign in drives me mad.
My A9 and BS2 are pre-Google sign in versions, but its a massive turn off.
Thankfully I have these two already, and no need to change them for another 5/10 years.
A new BV TV may well require a google sign in, I'm not familiar with webOS enough, and I'd accept it on a BV TV reluctantly, but not for my speakers.
I understand that some want GA, be they younger types or not, but I'm sure there are plenty that dont.
Its a horrible choice that is being foisted upon us.
I agree completely. Google integration is fine for those who want it, and should be available as an opt-in, just like Airplay, Bluetooth and DNLA. We all have our different use cases.
BUT:
An NL Multiroom user should be able to use the products as B&O products within the B&O ecosystem without hassle or impediments.
I can think of no reason what so ever that legitimises this step. But perhaps B&O have been forced into an unholy alliance. I find it most regrettable and I would consider addressing this issue with the new management. If more people feel the same, it could be done in a coordinated fashion.
I'm with you, I had thought about communicating my feelings to the company Happy to help
I agree completely. Google integration is fine for those who want it, and should be available as an opt-in, just like Airplay, Bluetooth and DNLA. We all have our different use cases.
BUT:An NL Multiroom user should be able to use the products as B&O products within the B&O ecosystem without hassle or impediments.
You are sure one can not switch Google off? I do not have the newer GA supported NL devices, but on all NL devices Google is turned off (a setup choice during the first and after a factory setup)
I think the point is relevant to the newer GA enabled devices in the main.
Firstly they require Google sign in, which some dont want or need to do.
Secondly the implementation is such that even if you disable the GA, its still bit visible / clunky, such as the red lights / voice announcement disputation described above.
There may be reasons why Google sign in is required, but I dont see why myself.
The pre-GA speakers were CC capable, but didn't require sing in to set them up, plus the other issues.
Anyway, while they are unlikely to remove GA - I believe it was decided a while ago that the primary control paradigm for B&O speakers would be GA, Alexa, and Siri - though where they are on the latter 2 I dont know. Just wish that the GA stuff wasn't so in your face, and not mandatory for set up.
I agree completely. Google integration is fine for those who want it, and should be available as an opt-in, just like Airplay, Bluetooth and DNLA. We all have our different use cases.
BUT:An NL Multiroom user should be able to use the products as B&O products within the B&O ecosystem without hassle or impediments.
You are sure one can not switch Google off? I do not have the newer GA supported NL devices, but on all NL devices Google is turned off (a setup choice during the first and after a factory setup)
Note: my NL devices have no Google active and therefor NOT signed in to Google!think the point is relevant to the newer GA enabled devices in the main.Firstly they require Google sign in, which some dont want or need to do.
Secondly the implementation is such that even if you disable the GA, its still bit visible / clunky, such as the red lights / voice announcement disputation described above.
There may be reasons why Google sign in is required, but I dont see why myself.
Note: my NL devices have no Google active and therefor NOT signed in to Google!think the point is relevant to the newer GA enabled devices in the main.Firstly they require Google sign in, which some dont want or need to do.
Secondly the implementation is such that even if you disable the GA, its still bit visible / clunky, such as the red lights / voice announcement disputation described above.
There may be reasons why Google sign in is required, but I dont see why myself.
The Edge, Stage and Beosound 1 & 2 must be set up via the Google Home App. They will not work otherwise. It is also the case on the A9 mk 4 (perhaps also mk 3). The Bang & Olufsen App identifies the product, then launches the Google Home App as a requirement. The products will not work before they are set up via Google. It is a sine qua non-situation, and in my view it severely detracts from the B&O experience.
In the case of the Beosound 1 - a fine speaker - every time it turns on, a female Google voice very loudly exclaims "By the way, the microphone is turned off". On top of the unit four red dots are constantly lit. They are not a battery indicator or serve any functional purpose. They are there to tell you that you have turned Google voice Assistant off.
Toggling the Chromecast menu you sent a picture off does not change anything. Google is ever-present.
Strange that such an interface has passed the B&O user experience quality control.
To draw the Sonos card, Sonos have just launched two identical versions of the same speaker: one with voice control and one without.
Hello all,
I am sorting through some stuff and felt like sharing 30 years of design technology with you.
Having these things side by side, it is quite spectacular how well these speakers all go together despite them spanning four decaeds. For the uninitiated It is nearly impossible to discern which design is the oldest and the newest. A remarkable feat of design ingenuity and consistency over the ages.
I can think of no other brand like Bang & Olufsen.
On a more positive note: how about that great design! I don't regularly have these different speakers so closely together, but wow!
Only thing missing in the picture is something from the 00's. Perhaps a Beolab 3, although there's not much aluminium in those.
I love how well it all fits together. Longevity and consistency are wonderful virtues of B&O.
Does not seem like these products HAVE TO be set up through Google Home App. Check the B&O support link below:
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