I like the recent products - I think the A9 shows an interesting take on a stand alone speaker and the Beolit is design wise a true throwback  - better if it had better wireless though. The V1 is clearly not in the same league as the BV7 in terms of materials but the picture and sound seem jolly good. As it is an MX alternative, I think B&O have done a good job. Clearly it will not appeal to everyone but it would be odd if it did!

jkhamler wrote:

You say that smugly as if it is an irrefutable scientific fact rather your own (blunt) opinion.

I admire them for at lease trying something original rather than churning out an another iteration of a brushed aluminium and glass status symbol of willy-waving wealth, which obviously wouldn't be viable to sit in the V1 price bracket anyway.

Well said. I agree with you completely.

You want a "Apple speaker" in rectangular shape with aluminum foot? Just look at a Geneva : that's it, and it is just awful. The A9 is a true BeoPlay product : a different way of thinking design, fresh, fashionable. B&O is there for timeless product with "B&O look" (like the BV11), but there is room for something like the V1.

Flappo wrote:

I agree .

In the old days bno looked different but amazing , the new stuff looks different but in an awful way.

Breeze block radios , kick drum speakers and tvs that look like a box of corn flakes.

David Lewis must be spinning in his grave. No disrespect to a great man intended.

I am still waiting for my unit to arrive by Feb.

How bad can the design be when it won the IF? 

Razlaw wrote:

jkhamler wrote:

You say that smugly as if it is an irrefutable scientific fact rather your own (blunt) opinion.

I admire them for at lease trying something original rather than churning out an another iteration of a brushed aluminium and glass status symbol of willy-waving wealth, which obviously wouldn't be viable to sit in the V1 price bracket anyway.

Well said. I agree with you completely.

 

+1

The v1 and its ikea like flat pack back is an atrocious bit of design.

I have to agree with flappo,regarding the v1,picture and sound quality aside,it looks cheap and is a copy of loewe connect.

I understand the v1 is a entry model, like the mx and beovision1 and 3 were,but at least they looked crafted and built to last ,and looked classy with their full glass fronted screen,which you get on the beovision 7 etc.

,Thats one of the things I loved on beovisions was the ease of cleaning and elegant looks of a one piece glass front,which is the only thing I dislike about my bv5,the screen is a nightmare to clean.

Personally I think a B&o product should have aluminium and glass as part of the design,especially aluminium,as its part of there design history and sets  them apart from the rest ,with theire silver plastic built tvs.

I know I mentioned avants alot,but at the time they were truly worth there price tag,with the aluminium rotating base,bmw car paint ,full glass fronted contrast screen,the list goes on.It was streets ahead of the competition,in sound,picture and build quality.Along with most of the product line during this time.

I never liked the beovision 8 design either,looked cheap.I think beovisions should have a full glass front like avant,bv6,bv7,bv11 etc.They should have kept the beovision/beocenter 6 in the range and made 32/40" versions.

I understand why the beoplay range has been added,but personally only like the a8 which I have,which has more of a b&o mainline design to it,as it was originally designed as a beosound product .

Jacob jenson and god rest his soul david lewis,have designed the best products,and have put b&o were they are today in design terms,with icons being in the range for years and still holding there own in this day and age.

B&o need another designer with the same design principles of these great men,but also a budget to allow the use of better materials,like the good old days.

Just my humble opinion

I agree with butch and I feel the same way that Apple are going as well.

The old virtues of quality and control seem to be going down the plughole of consumer demand.

I fear for the future of design integrity

It's worth remembering that the V1 is part of the BeoPlay range - which was intended to be completely separate from the 'upmarket' Bang & Olufsen items.

I fear that this hasn't really gone to plan, with visitors to Bang & Olufsen dealers simply viewing the V1 as a cheap and nasty low-end version of the pricier BeoVision products. 

I also still think should have smaller screen sizes available,not 32" being the entry screen size.There were loads of 21" mx 4002 sold for bedrooms,kitchens etc linked to a large masterset like beovision 5s,then came the beovision 6s which sometimes replaced the mxs.

Alot of people dont want a larger tv for kitchen,bedroom,study etc as it dominates the room,but still want the b&0 experience.I use my beocenter 1 probably more than my other b&o tvs and its the smallest and oldest,its just an ideal size for the bedroom and fantastic picture when watching the news or listening to some music before I nod off.

Look at the days when you had the mx range bv1,bv3 avant,bv4 and 5,there was a style,size and pricepoint that would suit everyone,and the designs were all unique, but had the same design philosophy that made them famous.

Now bv7,11 and gigantic overpriced tvs is your choice.and the plastic beoplay v1.I personally dont like the route b&o are taking,they are alienating the old school customers,to gain new ones from a generation who would rather use a laptop to watch movies and listen to mp3.

I am also a big LINN fan,and they have not strayed from their routes to please a generation,and still have a loyal following ,and think outside of the box and dont follow trends,there ds systems are a revolution to the audio market.There goal in the 70s until present day was to get better sound whatever the cost,and that doesnt include sound degrading mp3s.

B&o should have stuck with their plan of fantastic picture,sound,ease of use,timeless design,with no compromise on build and materials that are built to last.

Instead they are designing, and making products for the throw away generation,when its broke replace it.I dont care about the price of their products,if its well built and looks good people will pay whatever price,look at other luxury brands in furniture,watches,clothes etc.

B&o stop cutting corners to gain more customers from the younger generation,stick to being the brand you started off being,people will pay for iconic danish design,just look at fritz hansen,and other danish design.