Pushkin wrote:
Simon - thanks for your advice, it confirms my thoughts. Sadly this store almost put me off B&O. I have no desire to use this forum to judge dealers but the dismissive attitude and serious lack of product knowledge I have encountered in this store is something to behold. I am lucky there are a number of excellent dealers in London and will support those who are proud to represent this wonderful brand.
The the BV front, I am half tempted to go for a BV5 HD in the interim and let B&O sort out the BV range. Was really hoping the new brochure would shed some light on new products.
From what you have said we sound so similar as I absolutly loved the BV5. Let me give you the benefit of my experience over the last 2 years, in brief, which I hope will assist you making a sound decision. Basically, I loved the BV5. I loved it more than any other product in the range, either current or past. I had my mind set on it. So, with all this said I am sure you'lll be compeltly suprised (as I was) to find out that I acutally bought the BV7-40 Mark III. Now, I don't necessarily regret that decision because the advice I was given from my dealer, particularly a guy called Alex, was invaluable, and he spoke a lot of sense. He was trying to give me the best advice possible in terms of picture quality and upgradeability and by all accounts he did, so I am happy. However, there is also a part of me that wishes I had of stuck to my guns and got the BV5, even if it was inferior to the BV7, why? Because it was what my heart was set on, and at the end of the day, its like love, we don't choose who we fall in love with, it just happens. In a nutshell then, my personal advice to you, from my own predicament and experience, would be to buy the BV5, especially if you can source an HD version which I believe was late 2005 early 2006. They weren't around for long. Expect to pay up to £4,000 for one, possibly a bit more, but any more than £4,500 I think give it a miss, but thats only my personal preference and I am sure others on here will argue that you won't find one for that price but I would always disagree. You just have to look, be determined and be good at negotiating. They won't hold on to their appeal for that long, so outlets will be looking to shift them on just as much as you'll be interested to purchase, but give it a couple of years and they'll be so old they won't be worth much at all I doubt, simply because they aren't up to spec and no longer competitive in the marketplace, not because of their design which is unique. At the end of the day, you know what something is worth to you. I try not to get too caught up with money. If I like something I buy it, its as simple as that. You make the funds available when you're heart is set on something. That's something that makes sense to me and something I do but not maybe something others do. Who knows, what does it matter either way? You get the point. Buy the BV5, its gorgeous. Don't be tempted, buy it and enjoy it. I think you have the perfect attitude, exactly as I would do, which is to look at it as an interim product, because realisitically, thats all it is. But my goodness will it make a statement! And lets not kid ourselves, part of why we like B&O is ego, we love it when people say, "Wow! What on earth is that thing?" And you'll get that with a BV5 more than any other B&O product guaranteed.
On the subject of the dealer, I am sorry if my post sounded rather negative - it did - but its also basedon fact and personal experience over the years and from your reply it seems you have had the exact same experience. It makes me laugh thinking about it because its so stupid. Its as ridiculous as the BeoSound 6, a complete contradiction. I mean, come on, you don't build the worst B&O dealer in the best UK location do you? LOL! Sometimes I wonder who is running B&O. Quite mad.
Anyway, follow your heart. I always say that with B&O because its a love affair. If you like it, consider it, if you love it, BUY IT! I reckon you'd get a good 5 years at least out of an HD BV5, possibly more, which wouldn't be bbad at all for the price you pay.
You coudl get a BV7 like me, great picture but nowhere near the same design statement that the beautiful BV5 makes.
Keep me posted as would be interested to know what you decide.
Bets wishes,
Simon.
