It makes me cringe.

I agree.

I think that the BS8 isn't simple enough design wise when you plug an iPad/iPod/iPhone into it. And no matter which iThing you plug into it, it looks proportionally all wrong.

Add to that, the functionality of the thing. As far as I know, the speakers aren't able to disconnect for imaging purposes. So what you get is a lowly boombox with no functionality of its own.

Hell, I even don't like the remote. Puck-shaped remotes or mice are evil, lol (I used to have a Mac with such a thing).

On the other hand, it doesn't look too much out of place in a garage.

I find the look of the BeoSound 8 gorgeous.  I suppose for everyone that doesn't like it; there will be someone that does.  And if it gets people talking about B&O, then that's a good thing.

I think the BS8 appeals to a younger market and is a good halo model for people to enter the brand.  B&O have long been a brand dying for a younger client base. 

BMW did the same thing with Chris Bangle.  Before all the beautiful flame surfacing, they found that their client base was not changing.  Being controversial bought in new customers.  But the one thing, whether you find bmw design ugly or beautiful, you know what the product is and you discuss it.

Electrified wrote:

I think that the BS8 isn't simple enough design wise when you plug an iPad/iPod/iPhone into it. And no matter which iThing you plug into it, it looks proportionally all wrong.

Did you ever see it live? Did you take it into your hands and touch it?I would give it a try and good design is said to need some time...

Electrified wrote:

Hell, I even don't like the remote. Puck-shaped remotes or mice are evil, lol

Did you ever try the remote. It lies perfectly in your hand, not like the puck mouse of the early iMacs!

I am also not sure if I would buy one, but it is a good statement and should be a starting point for future B&O customers. I think it is necesarry to open the brand to younger customers. And to make another "me to" speakerbox is luckly not the way of B&O.

Heribert

ojibway wrote:

I find the look of the Beosound 8 absolutely awful. I know people are enthusing about it but, just because it's B&O don't make it good!

Have to agree, BUT I've only seen it in pictures.

Suspect that if it carried, for example, the Amstrad name, many Beosound 8 enthusiasts would find its looks hideous!

Seriously cannot see it going down as a classic design by B&O, but as I'm not a designer I'm probably wrong.

Heribert wrote:

Electrified wrote:

I think that the BS8 isn't simple enough design wise when you plug an iPad/iPod/iPhone into it. And no matter which iThing you plug into it, it looks proportionally all wrong.

Did you ever see it live? Did you take it into your hands and touch it?I would give it a try and good design is said to need some time...

Yes, I've seen it live. I live in Denmark, so it wasn't hard to lay my hands on.  Yes, good design is said to need some time, but it's a logical fallacy to infer from that, that because something isn't liked from the get-go it must be good design.

Heribert wrote:

Did you ever try the remote. It lies perfectly in your hand, not like the puck mouse of the early iMacs!

Yes, I tried that too, and I disliked it just as much as I disliked the puck-mouse from Apple. Of course there are differences. For one thing, the mouse had a wire.

Heribert wrote:

I am also not sure if I would buy one, but it is a good statement and should be a starting point for future B&O customers. I think it is necesarry to open the brand to younger customers. And to make another "me to" speakerbox is luckly not the way of B&O.

But isn't that exactly what they have done: A me-too iPod dock three or five years later than most other companies?

Personally, I'm a fan. Far more beautiful than any other iPod dock I've seen. Heck even more beautiful than the BeoSound 1 (which I loved), and far, FAR superior to the Century in design (all IMO of course).

It's one of those real growers, I wasn't sure at first, but having seen it in the flesh a few times, I think it looks absolutely fantastic. Haven't seen it wall-mounted yet, but I'd be quite interested to see one!

I loved when I first saw a picture of it, loved in when I saw it in the flesh and love it now sitting on a shelf above my bed! Many years ago I had exclusively B&O products and then went away from them. This has brought me back to the brand, so it has performed a function.

The sound is excellent, better than the Denon tuner with B&O speakers I've had for years in the bedroom.

I'm not amazed by it.

The design isn't really what I would expect from B&O. But it doesn't matter if I like it or not, I'm not in need for a iPod dock. Don't have one, and will probably never need one. (maybe in my car)