OMG, unless you are very wealthy, I certainly would not call the BS8 cheap!!!

Outside of home cinema is there really a market for audio?  Technics would certainly say not!

I think this is the big question. Where do you go with the audio range when the movement is towards a cloud based system? The speakers are clearly a very good start but to sell a premium audio system is tricky - all you really need is a superb DAC and a control system. And with the BL5s, the DAC is not needed.

My opinion is that they need to go to some form of voice control, but I am afraid that this will be far more likely to be a computer company success than B&O.

Paul Winn wrote:

OMG, unless you are very wealthy, I certainly would not call the BS8 cheap!!!

Outside of home cinema is there really a market for audio?  Technics would certainly say not!

Inexpensive is probably a better word to describe the Beosound 8 in the B&O range.  Yes there is a market for audio.  In this forum there are many postings about audio especially the renewed interest in vinyl and also the various ways of distributing audio through the home.  

I don't exactly have a question but wonder if the  main range of B&O products will be developed into something less than what it has been.  I thought the press release about the new category was intentionally vague to test the reaction of B&O owners and investors.  Beosound 8 is an important product and they should have more products like it.  However it is difficult to march to Apple's standards in music player market.  The Apple presentation in San Francisco on June 6th introducing new software and of course iCloud should be interesting.

I just saw Peter's comments.  I agree there should be a high quality Bang & Olufsen DAC available that is ML and Beonet enabled.  That would solve a lot of problems on my system.

Paul Winn wrote:

OMG, unless you are very wealthy, I certainly would not call the BS8 cheap!!!

Outside of home cinema is there really a market for audio?  Technics would certainly say not!

I was a little pushy on this one. my point was not to say that Apple products are not worth it. I will say it differently.

Why B&0 products are so popular? basically for multiple reasons :

- designs

- quality

- price

I will detail them now.

Design is the most evident one. Just go to an HiFi or TV shop near you, and except for B&O and Loewe, other product lack of really good design. Why? Simply, but not only, because it takes time to make a good design. The frequence of new product realease is not compatible to such time spent on Design reseach...

Quality. I often hear people saying that BL5 are not worth it, that B&0 are not comparable to super high HiFi with tube... The truth is that quality was always a major concern at B&O. And not only technical quality, but also quality in making products, quality in design, in process... quality is everywhere. When a product is release, it is the results of multiple level of quality.

Price. Nor for me, but for some people, price is a major concern when buying a product. A good product is a pricey one. Kind of lame, but that how the world works. And it is a shame for B&O because these customers are not the one that fully appreciate quality.

I leave one thing appart : integration.

Look back in time (no delorean needed ;)), but what B&O did with 2 ways remote, masterlink, ... is the future before it happens. That was a great idea : to integrate all the equipment and allow customer to have one remote with all the informations.

For those who haven't B&O products, how many remote control do you have on your table? One for TV? One for BR player? One for network player? One for STB player?... of course, all in one products exists, like Logitech. yes, but what about Design and Quality...?

So, is the future of B&O in Apple airplay integration or entry price TV? I don't think so. Future of B&O is where its success was : Design, Quality and Integration. It should continue to be autonomous and be careful to not sacrifice quality over rentability. Quality takes time and so, new products can not on a 6 months basis. What we all want it quality, and not Chinese made product.

The new Beonet protocol looks interesting. What was done with Beomaster5 and Beomedia1 using Windows XP Embedded show that B&O have software developement capabilities. the next evolution? maybe hard drive recording in TV, tework media player.

cheers,

sergio

"question about lack of CRM / communication / interaction with owner base"

Example:

 Beosound 5 which requires a registration process with email address. By default, B&O has a communication channel to a specific owner group. When is B&O starting to use this user base to communicate about the product, preferences, needs, etc. and importantly to provide heads up on upcoming sw updates? So far nothing.

Excellent argument Sergio!  I totally agree, it is the beautiful design and the way the 'product' worked which first made my Grandad buy a 1900 BeoMaster etc in 1979. I was born a few years after and B&O has been in my blood ever since I would like to see an entry level television though that is beautifully designed a reflects all what B&O stands for. Maybe that would be the product that all of the true loyal B&O customers may fall in love with too!

Guys, I think Lee is seeking direct questions, not opinions or a debate :)

How often is international pricing restructured?  For example, B&O in $AUD is quite high compared to $USD and pricing doesn't reflect this

1) As a shareholder of the company, I would like to know what you think could be done to increase shareholder value? Is there a need for strategy change, if so, how?

2) With the current global economical challenges, is it possible for a company like B&O to keep producing high end products without compromising on its pricing strategy?

3) From what you have seen from the company so far, what in your point of view, could be changed? Especially with regards to its product range.

4) B&O products are known for its beautiful design and high quality. Is it possible to not compomise on both and still be able to adapt the rapid changes of technological trends?

Thank you,

Richard