It's much better. More modern. Looks more like their catalogue, which is a good thing. It's not a massive departure from the previous site though.

I was only thinking the other day that the B&O website has had the same design for years. I'm glad they've given it a makeover.

As for feedback, it's very slow at the moment, so I've only seen the frontpage (and now it's almost unusable).

The page is down now but I had a look at the front page before it went down. I think it is a bit to big on the screen. I have a 24" screen at work and it feels tight even there. 

I also don't like the three product boxes, it feels a bit cheap but perhaps it is a good thing anyway. 

Don't like the categories, just three? And why is Car audio one of them? Don't make sense but it probably looks better when it works like it should :) Also the font is too big. 

I hope they discarded all flash-media, on the old page all products with the light coming down from above was flash-based. 

All in all it looks very good, but as always a few problems in the beginning. Car audio is one of them. Even if that is a big deal for B&O I honestly think that Car audio should be under audio or something like that. 

I look forward to look at the product pages but I am a bit scared that they have worked on using the whole screen as many other pages. It looks very nice but makes it harder for the viewer to concentrate and take in all the information. 

Very happy that B&O are working hard with their website and I trust that the page will be very good and I really just want to congratulate them, even if I am picky :)

Michael wrote:

The page is down now but I had a look at the front page before it went down. I think it is a bit to big on the screen. I have a 24" screen at work and it feels tight even there. 

Yes, it's 1180px wide, which is about 180px than we'd recommend (1000px max).

Site is back up. I'm liking it. People don't generally like change too much, so most first reactions are nearly always negative. But my first reaction is that it's better, which is good. Cleaner.

It is up again and looking on the pages I just have one thing to say: WOW. 

It is so great! but some pages have the wrong font, as on Beovision 7 some text is georgia or something like that.

I still think Car audio is very miss-placed. Car audio IS sound. 

It seems to be down again. I wonder what CMS they are using. Looks like WordPress :)

moxxey wrote:

Yes, it's 1180px wide, which is about 180px than we'd recommend (1000px max).

Site is back up. I'm liking it. People don't generally like change too much, so most first reactions are nearly always negative. But my first reaction is that it's better, which is good. Cleaner.

It was up :) and will probably be back soon again. I agree with you and most reactions in the beginning is, as you say, negative. 

One thing I notice is all the white color which makes my eyes hurt since it takes up a lot of screen. 

White on a paper is not a problem since it doesnt throw light at you, but on a screen you have a big lamp pushing white at you :) 

The old black page was easier on the eyes in that way. 

Well, the site isn't up for me to look at yet completely, I did see some basic structure a moment ago.

In the meantime, I'll jump into the car audio discussion. Regarding its prominent place on the home page, I am torn on my stance. While it is a large part of their business and income, it is very different than their residential product lines. The car audio section would be more at home in a 'business-to-business' section of the website for manufacturers and the like to browse through. This could be combined with their automotive aluminum manufacturing operations. However, you can see other companies doing this the same way - Dynaudio, for example.

The tinkering motor-head side of me wishes that B&O would sell separates and components for generic automotive applications!

Evan wrote:

In the meantime, I'll jump into the car audio discussion. Regarding its prominent place on the home page, I am torn on my stance. While it is a large part of their business and income, it is very different than their residential product lines. The car audio section would be more at home in a 'business-to-business' section of the website for manufacturers and the like to browse through. This could be combined with their automotive aluminum manufacturing operations. However, you can see other companies doing this the same way - Dynaudio, for example.

I agree strongly with you. And I don't think we should look at other companies. It takes focus from what B&O does, to promote something else. 

Just as you say it would work on a business-to-business page. I think it is the car manufacturer who should be pushing the B&O audio marketing harder not the other way around. It is a luxury accessory to a car, not something you can buy on your own from B&O.

And by the way, why "CAR" audio? Boats, planes, busses, limousines, cars and many other vehicles could benefit from B&O customized speakers, multimedia systems and screens. Remove the Car audio and put some notice about B&O tailored solutions under the audio category or something. 

I think they should stick to car audio. B&O themselves have realized that their customers don't spend as much time listening to their music at home as they do in their car these days. People don't really listen to music while on a boat, limo, bus. People are far too distracted in these environments for proper listening.

That isn't to say people aren't distracted when driving themselves around town or cross country but significantly less so than in those other scenarios. People are alone in their cars 99% of the time anyway and that time they spend on their way to work or errands is likely the best listening time they will get all day.

Evan wrote:

I think they should stick to car audio. B&O themselves have realized that their customers don't spend as much time listening to their music at home as they do in their car these days. People don't really listen to music while on a boat, limo, bus. People are far too distracted in these environments for proper listening.

You are probably right. We consume music differently now than before. But car audio is not more special than headphones or home audio for me. Car audio could be under Sound at least.