Forgive me if I ramble but I’ve just had a good dinner!
I’ve been a member for less than a year, and have wandered regularly around the forums (fora?) looking at bits and pieces, and thrown in a few questions (to which I have received some really helpful advice).
I have just read Lee’s thoughts on how he arrived at where he is now, and some of the responses to it, of which Nick’s comments about being at a crossroads in his life set me reflecting on B&O and life.
I have had a 40 year relationship with B&O, and like all relationships it has had its ups and downs. I have been unfaithful (regularly), and for a while deserted B&O completely. And yet I have always returned and for the last 17 years or so, I haven’t strayed at all.
Discovering Beoworld (and yes, it really does seem to be a group of people that makes a nonsense of the social and demographic stereotyping beloved of the marketing and advertising industries) and reading the Jarman brothers’ book has made me realise there are literally thousands of people who share my interest in a brand that is often criticised as either rubbish (by the sellers of Hi-Fi magazines) or as flashy, expensive and appealing only to Premier League footballers.
Yes we all know there are better sounding things out there for the money, but could you live with them - probably not. William Morris said something like ‘...have nothing in your home that is not beautiful or useful’. Well B&O is usually both!
My Beosystem 2500 is 18 years old and yet looks as good and works as well as it did when I bought it, and the Lewis design has a certain timelessness about it, although probably not quite in Jensen’s league.
I keep thinking about adding something newer - maybe some BL 4000s, BL 8000s or BL 3s to add to the BL 2500s and maybe a BC 9500 and a CDX to give me some examples of Jensen's work. But the maintenance of domestic harmony rules out ‘collecting’, at least for the moment. By the way, any tips on strategies for convincing my lady of the benefits of having a 2500, a BC9500 and a CDX gratefully received.
I have even toyed with the idea of Meridian, which I think is the only other manufacturer with a real design pedigree (anybody else remember the Lecson Pre/Power Amp and the horn loaded speakers or seen the new Soolos?).
But I have a real emotional attachment to my B&O. Like all well designed things, my 2500 makes me smile every time I use it. B&O remotes, especially my BL 1000 are ergonomically brilliant, my A8s and Earset 3 complement Apple’s products beautifully and my LX 5500 is still a magnificent television in every way after nearly 20 years, even if the number of worthwhile programmes hasn’t increased with the number of channels! I even enjoy my Beosystem 10, or at least the FM radio.
In this world where the word ‘designer’ has become a term of derision, some of B&Os products really are design classics in the truest sense of the word. They are timeless and give pleasure in their use. And there is this whole community out there who feel something similar every time they use a piece of B&O!
For putting me in touch with that community and all their expertise and enthusiasm, their altruistic interest in others and their sense of involvement, thank you Lee, Dr Peter, Andy in Clitheroe, Graham, Chris and everyone else.
Cleve
