Paul Winn wrote:

Actually Jez, I think you've hit the nail on the head there. Yes BS8 customers with their iPhones and iPods probably would pay for some real quality headphones - top quality ones though! We shall see, I think you are onto a winner there.   PS I wish I was in Aus, Id be surfing everyday!!!

Surfing in Vic is not so comfortable at this time of year as it's freezing but up north is okay.

I just feel that B&O slept for so long with Torben at the helm of the company, being in bed with windows for so long that they missed the mark. Better late than never though. B&O have showen that portable devises are not their forte with examples such as their recent efforts in mobile phones and the BeoSound 6 MP3. Accessories are a different ball game, we all know they can do that. even if it's just for brand awareness to be sold in Apple stores or online.

Totally agree with you Jez and to think I nearly bought a Serene phone when they first launched but I pulled out last minute due to the price which I felt really bad about paying. Same with BeoSound 6 I guess its wrong to fool people by putting your name on a Samsung product - very bad management there! Mind you the same thing has happened at Aston Martin who have taken a 10k Toyota IQ tarted it up and are now charging 30K.

I have high hopes for this new CEO. Whether a new young crowd will start buying B&O outside of the BS8 i really dont know. Six months on and I havnt seen any adverts in the glossy magazines for the BS8, no ties in's with MTV, Kiss TV/FM etc.  Men's Health and GQ target a young, affluent market so maybe B&O should dominate it a little more!

Paul Winn wrote:

Totally agree with you Jez and to think I nearly bought a Serene phone when they first launched but I pulled out last minute due to the price which I felt really bad about paying. Same with BeoSound 6 I guess its wrong to fool people by putting your name on a Samsung product - very bad management there! Mind you the same thing has happened at Aston Martin who have taken a 10k Toyota IQ tarted it up and are now charging 30K.

I have high hopes for this new CEO. Whether a new young crowd will start buying B&O outside of the BS8 i really dont know. Six months on and I havnt seen any adverts in the glossy magazines for the BS8, no ties in's with MTV, Kiss TV/FM etc.  Men's Health and GQ target a young, affluent market so maybe B&O should dominate it a little more!

Perceptions are funny things, but we all have things we like and don't like, and I for one would never have bought a B&O product that was actually a Samsung, but with a B&O badge on it.  Not that there's anything necessarily wrong with Samsung products, but the brand has zero cachet in the high end market where B&O play.  

Does that make me a shallow fashion victim?  Possibly - I am well aware of how global manufacturing and marketing works, but if I am going to shell out for a so called designer gadget, I want it to be exclusive to that particular brand, even if the parts within are OEM parts from all around the world.  For example I have an Apple iPhone - yes, the parts within will be from all around the world and it is likely made in China or Taiwan - nothing wrong with that, but it is an Apple design, and there is nothing like it on the market - excepting rip off imitations of course.

Same with a Beovision 8-40 - made somewhere in Asia, not Struer I a believe (?).  That it has a Sharp, or Samsung/Sony panel and other OEM parts is of no consequence, as I know they will be of good quality; the picture engine is proprietary B&O and the styling is pure B&O also.  But if it had a B&O/Samsung badge on it?  No way... it just would not feel right.... as I say, perceptions are funny things in the way we 'see' and feel about things re consumer items.  I am sure a marketing guru/psychologist would have a lot to say on this!

I really like the idea of quality headphones for an iphone etc.  B&W first brought out their iPod dock, and then the luxury P5 headphones, which I believe are selling exceptionally well here also.  That it is a market niche that B&O could exploit and gain brand exposure is without question IMHO, as well as bringing something special to the market re quality, performance and style.

Best

John... 🙂

elephant wrote:

I came to the conclusion that the reason B&O brought out 3D at the high end is that anyone who can afford the 85" probably won't complain when they have to change/upgrade it in 18 months time 😂

I agree with you Paul that the 32" does look the best in the BV10 range. 

Speaking of new equipment, how about a new answering machine?  How do you Beoworlders record voice mail messages on your home phones at the moment (say if you have a BeoCom 5)?

Beoboiinoz wrote:

 

Same with a Beovision 8-40 - made somewhere in Asia, not Struer I a believe (?).  

 

I think it's made in the factory they set up in The Czech Republic, i'm not 100% sure on that.

I once read that B&O believed that their main customer demographic is not with the super wealthy and senior age group but with younger to middle aged people with somewhat disposable incomes? The problem in this day and age is that consumerism has become disposable too! No one expects an iPhone or iPod to last for ever or even more than a few years, even if it is a high quality product. Majority of people now buy singles and random songs rather than albums online, again a somewhat disposable culture. My point is why then don't they make more products aimed at a slightly cheaper price point? I'm not saying cheapen the brand by making throw away items and manufacture everything in China but I believe BeoVision 8, BeoTime and BeoSound 8 are big sellers. I can't imagine BV4 103" and 85" will sell like hotcakes. Smaller items like BS 8, headphones or maybe offering people who by a BV8 a speaker package! Like if you buy a BV8 you can get 4 BL4's and a BL11 sub for a package price that is far cheaper than buying them all separate.

Good comment John.

After seeing the B&O video on their website it points out that ALL of their hifi (except BS8) and ALL of the loudspeakers are now manufactured in the Czech Republic.  Looks like the only things that are now assembled in Denmark are their televisions! Call me nostalgic, but I had this concept that B&O was in the Danes blood and that generations of them worked for them in Denmark. I'm sure it used to be like that :)

I agree with Jez on pricing. Id like to buy both the BS8 and BV10-32 but id want a good price if I was buying both together!

Jez - I agree I think the 'accessories' like the iPod and iPhone, I certainly like to change them every 1 or 2 years but my B&O's I do like to keep longer. Id want a BV10 to last a good 10 years (but the way technology is moving, it would be very old hat in 10 years I guess). The BS8 is quite iconic in design and I reckon it will still look good in 10 years time due to its retro image!

Actually I do not really care if B&O products are build in Denmark or in czech republic as long as they are of good quality and are B&O. In Dk labor costs are at least 3times higher then in CZ, so it is very reasonable to produce there.

B&O is special because of Design, quality and features. Being "danish" is not a relevant product specifics for me. You also buy an iPhone because of Design, Uniquness and quality and not because it is made in USA (it is China, as we all know).

Michael wrote:

Speaking of new equipment, how about a new answering machine?  How do you Beoworlders record voice mail messages on your home phones at the moment (say if you have a BeoCom 5)?

An answering machine? Who's still using a landline? Dished mine 5y ago!

What would be innovative is making the BeoCom 5 VoIP (=100% SIP compatible) without the need of a ATA. That would be a hit! Not only in the domestic market but also on the corporate market!

Of all the B&O tv's ever, the BeoVision 9 was my all-time favorite. I was genuinely sad to see it go.

But the BeoVison 10-32 really has my attention. I love the white fret and manageable size. It seems perfect!