Steffen wrote:

The BL5 is quite another story.
Here the main theme was the sound (have you seen the Pictures of the 'fridge' as they called the early prototypes?) - and then Lewis had to make it look good afterwards.

I neither loved or hated the design of the BL5 when it was introduced, in fact, I didn't know what to think of it simply because there is nothing out there that resembles it. Over time, the design grew on me. I never had any doubts about the performance.

I too purchased my 8000's now 13 years ago because I loved the iconic design. But very soon I had to conclude that it is not a good speaker in terms of performance, especially at lower/normal volume levels. I regret not saving up and buying the Beolab 1 instead at the time. Very soon I started to develop a "form over function" feeling. I still love the design and I really love them as objects but I will think twice when purchasing my next speakers.

I agree with many of you, the new 8003 looks off (in a similar way that the BL9 looks off, TO ME). Taking the 8000 and slapping some things on top of it is simply a very bad mistake. I like the wood as a material but the proportions seem way off. The width of the speaker does not fit the elegant organ pipe base. They should have started from scratch. My oppinion will not change even if it sounds stunning.

The next speakers I buy will need to meet both criteria of a stunning design and solid performance, that is why the BL5 is currently at the top of my wishlist :-)

Perhaps B&O is pulling a prank on us and the real thing is yet to be revealed.

(I still think the old penta is a very good reference when evaluating the performance of a new B&O speaker)

DoubleU wrote:

imac wrote:

But why then redesign a product that is not selling anymore? Why not design a new product?😂

Okay, fair enough. But how many options do you have to design a new speaker? Another BL12 look-a-like? No thank you!

I think that there are a lot of options if you have a good designer. David Lewis proved that many times.

As I have posted in the Geoff Martin question thread:

Can the ALT unit be produced as a speaker add-on, a bit like the old 2500 cube concept?

Graham

Hero71 wrote:

I neither loved or hated the design of the BL5 when it was introduced, in fact, I didn't know what to think of it simply because there is nothing out there that resembles it. Over time, the design grew on me. I never had any doubts about the performance.

I too purchased my 8000's now 13 years ago because I loved the iconic design. But very soon I had to conclude that it is not a good speaker in terms of performance, especially at lower/normal volume levels. I regret not saving up and buying the Beolab 1 instead at the time. Very soon I started to develop a "form over function" feeling. I still love the design and I really love them as objects but I will think twice when purchasing my next speakers.

I agree with many of you, the new 8003 looks off (in a similar way that the BL9 looks off, TO ME). Taking the 8000 and slapping some things on top of it is simply a very bad mistake. I like the wood as a material but the proportions seem way off. The width of the speaker does not fit the elegant organ pipe base. They should have started from scratch. My oppinion will not change even if it sounds stunning.

The next speakers I buy will need to meet both criteria of a stunning design and solid performance, that is why the BL5 is currently at the top of my wishlist :-)

Perhaps B&O is pulling a prank on us and the real thing is yet to be revealed.

(I still think the old penta is a very good reference when evaluating the performance of a new B&O speaker)

Speaking of the BL5's.

I love my BL5's, and hopefully I'd never bee so silly to sell them, even if there was a replacement for them coming.

I wouldn't necessarily call them good design, or beautifully designed. I do like the look of them, but so many of my friends don't neither do my wife.

What is beautiful with the BL5's is besides the technical "tour de force", the balance that they have. Just look at one, it may not be beautiful, but it's a very balanced design, from any angle. 

Design is so much more than "looking good", design can be neutral. Awkward looking, but soothing to the eye.  

Then again we look at the BL8003. It isn't beautiful. It's awkward looking. Is it a tour de force? Without hearing them, I can say no. Why? It would be impossible. Wood? Well, one reason wood has made a comeback might be price reasons. Wood is much cheaper to form and work with than aluminum. Almost anyone who had woodshop lessons in high school could form those pieces of wood, now who could form those from aluminum? 

Yet to confirm this, but is the designer the same as playmaker? He should have been locked away and forgotten after the Playmaker, why o why use him!? (If that's the case) Looking at the BL8003 I see no fluidity, I see no reason, I see no balance. What I do see is a messed up design. If this is going to be a big seller, and something a guy could easily convince his wife should be in their homes. I'll eat my hat. 

bayerische wrote:

 If this is going to be a big seller, and something a guy could easily convince his wife should be in their homes. I'll eat my hat. 

 

Login to view image

Is this your hat?

😁

Ralf

bayerische wrote:

Wood is much cheaper to form and work with than aluminum.

and there is the issue of discoloration ...

kallasr wrote:

bayerische wrote:

 If this is going to be a big seller, and something a guy could easily convince his wife should be in their homes. I'll eat my hat. 

 

Is this your hat?

 

😁

Ralf

😎

Hope not! 

If the "wooden" BeoLabs will ever find their way next to my BeoVision 11, to keep the overall design of the setup somewhat consistent, B&O ought to make wooden speaker covers for the BV11... 

I cannot help but wonder for whom, and to what setups, these speakers are meant for? Only for music enthusiasts using the new wireless capabilities and these speakers separately from BeoVisions? Or is there a wooden BeoVision in the works? Perhaps the successor to BeoVision 7 will have speakers with wooden grilles? Now those would look particularly great if there was a Fireplace blu-ray playing on the screen 😂

"Do you hear something burning?" on the other hand might not be an entirely pleasant question to hear in that scenario. Are the speakers burning, or is it just the sound from the blu-ray? 😎

On a more serious note, those ALTs better be motorized. Then there would at least be a bit of good old B&O mechanical magic to these new speakers!

I'm still all *facepalm* with these "refined icons".

PS. As always, I'll reserve the right to change my facepalmed opinion upon seeing and hearing the speakers live.