I guess we all have seen this coming for years now. It is difficult for a small Company in a World, where fewer and fewer people are buying audio systems. Where the prices of flatscreens are going down and down. Any Company can make a good looking flatscreen tv. The only reason to buy a B&O tv is that you love the brand - or because the sound is better than any other flatscreen...
But then Again - most people use external speakers, or live with the flat sound - or buy a soundbar.
The Company needs Money - and Tue has been buying some time by selling off the parts of the Company that actually made some Money, like the Automotive division etc. There is nothing more left than the core business audio/video, with a few expensive Tv models, a few audio "masters"/controllers, the BeoPlay range with with "low price" (but good quality) headphones and "portable speakers" made in China - and offcourse the Beolab speakers.
My guess is, that the buyer of Bang & Olufsen will continue with the Beolab speakers and some of the Beoplay range. Maybe they will make some cheaper TV sets. A bit like Loewe - not as cheap as most Sony, LG or Philips Tv's - and not as expensive as the Beovisions of today.

The days of Bang & Olufsen as we know it is definitely over... sad, but true.

Steffen wrote:

The days of Bang & Olufsen as we know it is definitely over... sad, but true.

Wow - already preparing for a funeral feast - I see no corpse.

MM

Millemissen wrote:

Wow - already preparing for a funeral feast - I see no corpse.

MM

There is a tv - and there is a BV.

But only yesterday I saw an advert to start your own Bang & Olufsen showroom on LinkedIn for any given part of the UK with only a 50K investment needed and financial help from B&O if needed! I was surprised to see that!

These are the times we live in unfortunately. Pretty funny a few months ago people talking about why doesn't B&O release a new turntable.... As I said then, it would be the last thing on their mind. 

Very annoying that the company is up for sale. Moving a lot of the production to China was the first step I guess. I would of thought that with clever management and their strong headphone and car audio market, they should be able to keep their heads above water.

Sadly not. 

Maybe the engineers knew this and that is why BL90 was such an engineering tour de force. Make a spectacular loud speaker using large resources and budget because once the take over happens, you won't get the opportunity again. 

Very few large independent European based companies left now in the world.

I take my hat of to Campagnolo! Still all self contained in Italy including production. This is the reason I continue to buy high end Campagnolo. 

Usually, high end company buy outs turn out bad for the purchased company when it comes to maintaining their previous quality and deign. Seen where Lancia is now? Popping out rubbish. I'm sure you can add to the list as well. There is plenty of examples. 

Sometimes it turns out good. Audi and Lamborghini's buyout by VW did both company's a world of good.

We will have to see what happens. Hopefully the terms of sale are in B&O's favour and they will be owned only in name, not in soul. 

linder wrote:

People who were planning to make major purchases of B&O products in the near future may not be inclined to buy anything.

This thread was a shock... Though, I think B&O will take care of their customers regardless of what happens. They had better! -- I've got a delivery coming in less than two weeks. he he he

Maybe they should have exchanged the top management including Tue a long time ago!

He just made the typical crap moves of managers that don't see the real world (outsourcing, firing people, selling divisions that bring in money...).

Too many mistakes and now the company is finished... which was visible a loooong time ago, too. I thought he studied economics and has experience... where is it gone!?

He missed or failed to invest in the core points of Bang & Olufsen!

So sad... 😭