Idea for A9 add ons

85 replies
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I was just thinking since the A9 might look a little plain jane with it's big plain face and all why not offer an okay priced clip on clock movement on it? Say $700?  I am sure that will offer a touch of modern whimsy to it. Functional too!

As for the fact that the fabulous grill needing to be covered by fabric because of its poor finish why not offer an aluminum grill stick on grill that matches the fibonacci pattern? Oh it will make it look so much like a decoration piece! The clip on clock movement with the stick on metal grill! Bravissimo! 

What you guys think? 

I think an aluminum grill might look too "industrial" and would definitely require metal legs. Seems to run counter to the more "organic" design language of the A9, and would raise the price too much for something that is supposedly "budget".

Not so keen on the clock idea.

I guess I'm from the school of buying into a design as designed by the designer vs "personalization".

Stan

  Aluminium color Cover will be nice. And Metal or Aluminium leg's too. Shame that B&O forget his aluminium heritage. Crazy ! 😝

BeoBoy68 wrote:

  Aluminium color Cover will be nice. And Metal or Aluminium leg's too. Shame that B&O forget his aluminium heritage. Crazy ! 😝

Actually aluminum legs will make it look like the speakers from a B&W spin off brand. www.podspeakers.dk .... so not a good idea

I think the clock movement with a bright colored aluminum cover with the matching fibonacci pattern that clicks on the existing plastic grill will make it look like an Objet d'Art from Ikepod or Gerarld Genta. Clock movement must not be one of those conventional types of course. Skeletal movement with patterned arms (perhaps designed on the basis of sound waves) will be appropriate. 

Total add on with be $1500 i guess to be profitable? But that will definitely make the A9 serve a double purpose. And imagine if the A9 is wall hung with that. People's first reaction will be like what nice big clock you have....... then OMG it's a music system. 

Regarding whether the system is to be budget or not...... the grill and clock are entirely optional so... for the more design-centric individuals they can just add those on later. Plus really you will be paying for another item -  a designer clock.

Instead of letting B&O compete in the highly competitive market of either lifestyle or tech or both. It can establish itself entirely as a luxury brand on its own terms. Less neither here nor there approach. 

duplicate

Not sure if it needs any changes, except some funjpky covers...

I say this because its a BeoPlay product - it's more industrial/loft and lower end. I would never use it in the main part of my house (several B&O pieces) - which has a richer finish, but have it in my home office area, which looks looks more like a loft space - it fits right in. I like the simplicity - I think if you did anything more the design would seem too cluttered...metal legs would look cheap as well in my setup... Just saying,..

Yeah I like the wooden legs with metal ring contrast way better than metal on metal. I think the clock idea will just simply be making the A9 serve double duty. Plus it's optional.... so.... On it's stand the clock design will look very abstract. On the wall it will look super luxurious. Laser perforated metal fibonacci pattern on the background of a skeletal clock? It practically sells itself! Plus what great publicity! Plus maybe this can probably give them an opportunity to launch two versions of the A9. Like there's the normal usual A9 and A9SE (Special Edition) like what Shure did to their 535 in ears. Skeletal clock comes as standard on the special edition but optional on the A9 and with the Special Edition they can probably charge double or triple (or 2.5 times) to bring it to reference performance. Trust me people can command a lot in premium for bold/ show-off designs. Maximalism or minimalism. It's very current to mix the both! 

Great as a secondary or even primary system for the very discriminating consumers/audiophiles in SE edition. I think this approach will make the A9 a must have like the old Beocenter 2300.  Do the current generation have or even have the need for head units anymore? 

You can always do funky printed grill cloths but what B&O need to do with that concept is to partner with luxury label designers to create a series of different looks. What B&O lacks a lot IMHO is the true luxury label approach. B&O has a dealer network exactly like a luxury label so..... Why not go all the way? Ever since the introduction of the lenses or the performance approach to marketing have you noticed a kinda decline brand wise?.... Or is it just me?... 

I truly think this approach will make the A9 look a lot more complete. But I dunno whether the old B&O consumers will be ready to embrace this.... Then again.... Well it's just an idea. So B&O don't forget me if you are going to use this idea. It will be a nice addition to my portfolio. 

BeoPlay or the Core Line... Who cares? I mean there's Miu Miu vs Prada.... Totally different styles. More freedom thus less old fashioned. 

It's like you ask people which is better Givenchy or Lanvin? Totally different styles where do you begin to compare? 

Or like B&B or Cassina? Well you don't see Karl Lagerfeld participating in boring B&B. Branding is so so important when you are global and when there are tons of imitators. 

I'm sorry but I buy B&O because it's B&O, I have absolutely no interest in dressing it up with pretentious Prada or "insert any designer name here" covers. They may as well sell coat hangers!

B&O need to promote their own identity not somone else's! The day they fit Jimmy Choo's to the wooden legs will be the day B&O and I part company!

Puncher wrote:

I'm sorry but I buy B&O because it's B&O, I have absolutely no interest in dressing it up with pretentious Prada or "insert any designer name here" covers. They may as well sell coat hangers!

B&O need to promote their own identity not somone else's! The day they fit Jimmy Choo's to the wooden legs will be the day B&O and I part company!

Well Baccarat partnered with Phillipe Stark so did Kartell.... How well they did!!!!!

And then there's Franz Ceramic with Alber Elbaz. Cross collaboration is huge.  Plus B&O will be promoting their own identity if they are collaborating with big designers... Erm... Wasn't that the B&O's way when it was big? 

I dunno isn't B&O suppose to be premium for design and branding? 

We know that Dali deigned for Cartier and BD Barcelona.

What B&O doesn't exactly have is a celebrity creative director... So cross collaboration is fine.... B&O is corporate just like how Cassina, Franz, Baccarat and Kartell are. Original founders are dead for goodness sake. 

There's Lagy Gaga for Beats. Monster has collaborated with so many musicians.... You don;t see their sales plummeting or brand losing image. 

'Celebrity Directors' are just that...... they are celebrities. There are celebrities in all walks of life who just take credit for the work of others.

Just take celebrity Sir Norman Foster, Architect, as an example. He was soaking up the plaudits for his Millenium Bridge over the Thames until it developed that famous wobble. SIr Norman immediately blamed the engineering consultancy Arup who had really designed the bridge, and then took a very low profile until the engineers had provided a solution. No, celebrities are not the way forward!

 

Graham

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