I have two.  I like them.  One had the control panel replaced under warranty.  Now, one works fine, and the one works except I cannot set the time - I'm don't remember which is which so I don't know if it is the newer one (without the replaced panel) or the older one (with the replaced panel).  If it gets any worse, I might experiment with some of the repair advice you can find on this site.  I use one for an alarm clock and the other gets dragged around the house/yard when I want some music in an area I don't have wired with ML.  

I'd saying buying one today is a bit of a gamble, but if it does what you need, then I'd spend ~$100-ish.  I think my A1 sounds better, and the battery seems to last about as long (impressive to me for a much smaller device).  The antenna is definitely cool.  Also, it doesn't understand > 2GB SD cards (if you're planning to use the feature).

Stan

Hi,

Thank you all for your valuable feedback. Well, reading your comments and based on my need which is simply to have a simple system it follow me also on rooms or garage or outside where no ML network available (and do not want to expand it) I think the BS1 system seems adequate for that usage. I guess more powerful, still play CD a lot (I do not used SD card...), have the radio so.... Less portable and bigger than the bs3 but I think we can carry it easily.

So if some of you have this BS1 please feedback what do you think about it.

Thanks

Franck

I have an interesting story about the one I owned.  Like many of you I suppose, I occasionally browse Craigslist for used B&O gear in my area.  Quite some time ago I spotted a listing for a Beosound 3 for a very reasonable price.  I didn't really need one but I couldn't resist - it was pocket change, maybe $100.  So I set up an appointment with the seller (who turned out to be the secretary of the seller) to visit his location in downtown Manhattan.  It turned out to be an office building and I went up in the elevator and proceeded to the office suite, which turned out to be Studio Libeskind.  Yep, I bought my BS3 from its owner - Daniel Libeskind, who won the competition to be the master plan architect for the reconstruction of the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan.  

There is a certain similarity…

The Beosound 3 is still beautiful and its sound is okay - not as good as the ugly looking A1 but okay. I have two BS3 and both are defective. Both are positiioned in a bath room, working as a clock and one of them works as a radio with fixed low volume. I don't care anymore if the Beosound 3 get's really wet during showering and the Beosound 3 doesn't seem to care, too. It keeps its state and works with its flaws even if the water is flowing down.

The Beosound 3 was the final device where B&O changed my wife's mind as a customer. Since then she thinks that Bang & Olufsen is just overpriced design but no quality, arguing that a Panasonic mini Hifi system of her works fine after 20 years (and had half of the price). What can you say against this? ;-)

B&O should repair the BS3 as long as spare parts are availabe for free to keep their customers in a good mood and help maintaining a good reputation for B&O but they don't seem to care about reputation.

The original Beosound 1 has a much bigger sound than the Beosound 3 and is easy to carry around due to the integrated handle. Unfortunately the CD-Player of my Beosound 1 died and yes, it's again a con argument against B&O as it's not too easy to maintain my love to B&O when I see so many things failing while other companies stuff - especially if it is much cheaper - still works like on the first day. I think the Beosound 3 and Beosound 1 have a good advantage over nowadays A1 or A2: They have some kind of a more natural sound compared to full DSP based Beoplay products. The sound fits to their size while A1 and A2 sound bigger but not more natural. A1 and A2 do sound really good for their size, don't get me wrong, but they sound "different".

The Beosound 1 is still such a beauty and works superb as a speaker or radio. Due to the AUX-In you can connect it to Beolink converters or other sources (Bluetooth...)  I would never buy an ugly replacement like the Beoplay A6 as it doesn't look like and doesn't have the spirit of real Bang & Olufsen style.

If you can get a cheap Beosound 3 that is working: Get it.
If you can find a Beosound 1 in full working order: Get it, too. 😁

I have to say that the BeoSound 3 was for me, one of the neatest little devices that B&O have ever produced so I was very excited to buy one. It screamed B&O to me in form and function. Like many others, my BS3 suffered the known problems with the top keypad and was replaced 4 times under warranty. In the end and after the 4th fix I promptly sold it and concluded that it was a defunct product. It was such a shame because I always felt B&O were quality through and through. In recent years though, as many have experienced, quality is simply not what it used to be in many of their products and reliability issues are now serious considerations prior to any purchases. Aside from poor build quality, the sound was really impressive and of course the automatic aerial was a great touch; the red LEDs through the mesh casing giving it the perfect finish. If it was released again with no issues I would buy it immediately. I have the A1 which is a great device but would still choose a working BS3 design wise over it. Based on experience, I wouldn't recommend buying one unless you fix it yourself and find the needed spare part, which would be a challenge these days. Simon. 

, Hi all

Again thanks for interesting feedback and yes the "ressemblance" with to Towers is true, like it.

Well for sure if I could found both bs3 and bs1 in working condition I would most probably ... Buy it.

I'm still disappointed about those two products and their low level of reliability.

I still have the following devices and all is working like the first day and sound is very impressive even now. Other people, even if cons against B&O cannot say too much when I push sound level ;-)

I have, purchased new, with our first job pay my wife and myself even to have other furniture in house !

Beosound 9000 ML linked with AV9000 and Penta. Sound still great and I connect my iPad on av9000 no issues to watch iTunes movies. Ok screen quality low compared to now....

In second hand:

Ouverture with beolab 12.2 : critstal clear sound, some says lack of bass but installed in correct position on the wall I found bass level more than acceptable.

Ouverture with bl6000 and subwoofer bl2 : really a great combination very clear and deap sound

ML one of the Ouverture with a bl3500 ok so far so good in the kitchen.

BV7-40 with bl7.1 :  now screen resolution over but the sound still very nice.

And finally for fun a Beolit 505.

All is working simply perfectly, even the audio and Video cassette !

I do not like that much the new AirPlay series, first because they are no longer made in DK. Bl15 made in China Sorry but I found the built quality is under what I have with my old devices.... And for that I think I will not probably buy anymore new models....

Based on my good experience I have with a few number of devices it is a pity that bs1 and 3 suffer such bad quality. But even knowing that I still look for some at the good price to buy.

I found a bs3 with very nice condition like new but cannot guarantee that I can trust when saying it is working fine. Price is Euros 490....