I don't know about you. But lately, I have become really bored with B&O. Really bored. I have a feeling they are knackered.

This is one tough thread to read.

Kalle, you did a wonderful job. Lets hope in the 4 months you are still around, you can get this kid on the right track.

Evan wrote:

This is one tough thread to read.

Kalle, you did a wonderful job. Lets hope in the 4 months you are still around, you can get this kid on the right track.

Well, I'm not despairing. This is a deeply schizophrenic company, capable of delivering the world's best car audio and the BL5s, and able to put out mobile phones you'd think were designed in the dark, for people who hate to make calls or text. You get the elegance of BeoCenter 2 (admit it, you liked seeing those wings open and close), and you get the inanity of BeoSound 4 (which could have played DVDs, had surround, stored lossless ...).

They are from Jutland, and are usually very down-to-earth people. They don't really want to mix with the Louis Vuitton crowd ... Let's see what they choose.

Sad news indeed. I try not to think about what the future holds for Bang & Olufsen too much although I still have faith in the latest product range and would be a customer if I could afford it. It is quite sad that the BS9K, BS3200 etc are ending production although I realise nothing lasts forever. 

Probably not commercially viable although I sense there would be some market for it - I would like to see B&O release a bespoke "classic" product range containing 'vox 2500 cubes, Beolab 5000/6000 quad/8000 system, Beosound 9000 etc and some dare I say it turntables, hand built with modern touches for integration with home networking etc as well as uncompromising attention to detail in terms of build quality (ie, better than original). 

Similar to the Mercedes "Classic" range I suppose.

I worked for B&O when Kalle came into power and I remember how excited and positive everybody was at the time. He seems to have done a good job, there have certainly been some interesting products released since he became CEO. I can't really see why he is being replaced.

Poor guy.

Being outside of the whole thing, there's obviously alot more to the story that none of us know...

That being said, Mr. Nielsen looks quite sad to be going. His facial expressions and overall demeanor give me the impression that he was one of a very few people who really cared about the company he worked for, and put some wholehearted effort into saving it. I could be wrong of course, but that's what it seems like.

My family and I are struggling along financially right now, so I'm sure B&O couldn't care less about me, not being a prospective customer whatsoever (not of my own will, of course). But, my take is this, and I hope they see it:

I remember reading in the 'Beosound 8 being made in China' thread, that many didn't care if B&O is made in China or wherever else. BUT IT DOES MATTER. Why? Because Chinese people are inferior somehow? No! Of course not. You're an idiot if you think that. It matters because Bang and Olufsen is a DANISH company. Everything should be put together, and roll off an assembly line there at home. Source some parts from the East, go ahead. It's been that way for a long time anyway, way before the BS8. However, irrespective of all else, having the product assembled and shipped out of Denmark, by actual Danes, working for a Danish company with rich heritage is an inexorable part of the romantic feeling of a Bang and Olufsen product. "This is different, this is unique, this is special!" Yes, being screwed together in Denmark matters. Unequivocally so.

People scoff at romanticism - the bottom line always comes down to numbers and money. Bear this in mind however; it's obvious to all when someone doesn't care about the product they sell, or believe in what they do. Sure, in 1925, Mr. Bang and Mr. Olufsen wanted to build a profitable business. But they built that business on what their interest was...what their passion was. They believed in what they did, and did it to please themselves, not just a bunch of shareholders. That allowed B&O to be special.

There will always be a fine line to straddle between pursuing passion and excellence, and keeping a company afloat. I hope the new CEO really cares about Bang and Olufsen as much as we do, and doesn't treat his job simply as another stepping stone to bigger and better things. Regardless of my wallet, I'll always be a Beofan (even if not of the future products, always the classics), and I hope the company is around for...ever, really.

Jon

Mr10Percent wrote:

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/beonews/New_CEO.wmv

 

 

I don’t normally comment on these issues but looking at Kalle’s eyes, he is not a happy bunny. I also suspect…and it is easy to doomsay, but this new CEO does not look like good news to me. Triumph Motorcycles?? Really. The UK’s long-running answer to “plod and chrome” Harley’s?

 

I suspect were going to see a cold hard approach to the business rather than technical innovation.

 

A drive for Shareholder value

A drive for integration with Apple Products (or the most fashionable tech out there)

A pure economic move to Chinese manufacturing (based on the success of the BS8)

A drive for “features” which will keep the attention span of under-40’s engaged for more than 5 minutes.

 

 

 

10

Just a thought

Triumph > Harley Davidson

B&O>Bose???

Oh my God!!! That is the new path. Hopefully not.

It's rumored that Apple are working on a range of OLED tv's with the new super advanced Light Peak connection technology.

Well , when they come out , it's game over for B&O .

Harley Davidson is legendary, Triumph is a legend.  Ian Anderson gave props to both...

He once owned a Harley Davidson and a Triumph Bonneville.
Counted his friends in burned-out spark plugs
and prays that he always will.
But he's the last of the blue blood greaser boys
all of his mates are doing time:
married with three kids up by the ring road
sold their souls straight down the line.
And some of them own little sports cars
and meet at the tennis club do's.
For drinks on a Sunday --- work on Monday.
They've thrown away their blue suede shoes.

Now they're too old to Rock'n'Roll and they're too young to die. 

Flappo wrote:

It's rumored that Apple are working on a range of OLED tv's with the new super advanced Light Peak connection technology.

Well , when they come out , it's game over for B&O .

When Apple comes out with a computer it's game over for HP, Lenovo, Packard Bell, Dell, Acer, Toshiba, and Samsung.

When Apple comes out with a display it's game over for ViewSonic, Toshiba, Samsung, and AOC.

When Apple comes out with a tablet it's game over for HP, Dell, and Samsung.

When Apple comes out with a car, it's game over for Audi.