Mikipidia wrote:

No it’s not, it’s an upscaler like TrueImage is. You can technically have Atmos with 1 speaker or 4 or 3 or what ever combo. I was confused about this too until Henrik enlightened us on the podcast a while ago. Besides this to be able to implement it you have to meet certain parameters Dolby sets for it to be accreditted as such. Secondly they haven’t figured out a way yet to run two upscalers on the same chip at the same time yet. If I am not mistaken Geoff also said something similar with his interview he did with Henrik on his BOTF channel.

Secondly the cost, for PL/WiSa they’d need to implement a DSSE board like you find in the eclipse/harmony and the bare cost of that board without psu etc was around €900 pre chip shortage so I imagine that price to make has gone up considerably.

That would mean a “super” stage would be atleast €1500 more than the current one if they don’t change a heck of a lot more to fit it all and or do nicer cable management and or have potential stand option.

If they were to do something like a fully built “super” stage I easily see it being €5000 ex panel or anything else. New: Beovision Harmony, Beolab 50's, Beolab 18's, Beolab 17's, Beolab 3's, Beosound 9000 mk3, Beosound Stage & LG, Beosound 2, Beoplay M3, Beoplay A1, Beoplay H4 gen 2, Beoplay E8 3.0

Mikipedia on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Mikipedia

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Old: Beovision Eclipse, Beolab 1's, Beolab 2, Beovision 10-46, Overture 2300, beolab 8000's, Beolab 4000's, Beovision avant 32" etc. etc.

Sony STR-DH790 have Atmos licence and it is around 300e here for a new unit. It must have some really unique and sophisticated hardware inside to beat B&O soundcenters.😁 And all other receivers have had Atmos approx since 2014 at least midrange.

Edit: I think if current Stage would have left without Atmos it would not be selling as much at all. All the competition have Atmos and it is standard already in soundbar market. Beovisions won't have direct competition at all. You have so much integration with your other B&O stuff, design, high quality sound/center channel function etc. So few of potential customers (like me) are really missing the Atmos capability. It just would be divine equipment if it just had all the bells and whistles. That price I would really want the best performance available in my home cinema.

Not sure what I wouldn't....lost track at this stage!

Anyway, I won't get too excited for a centre speaker / system 5 product - its far from clear to me anything is in the works, and even then a year away at a minimum.

Personally I'm hoping my BV12 lasts until they produce a BV in a different form factor.  Not a fan of either the Eclipse nor the Harmony, given my wall mounting fussiness. And for choice, I'd rather not have a two piece setup - LG plus Stage (2) for example - they look pretty ordinary in the end. The current Stage + LG combination looks far too mainstream, has no great wow factor, and doesn't scream B&O.  

So if circumstances dictate, a Stage 2 + LG Gallery will have to do, absent a new BV (which I dont expect for many years). 

But hey, we each have our own particular weirdness!

Mikipidia wrote:

Sandeep wouldn’t😎

 

Don’t forget that we’re no longer talking “stage” as we know it at this point. Especially if it has all the b&o goodies we’d expect of it and that’s where my price guidance comes from. I’d be happy to be wrong and see it lower. But it’s not as easy as just shoving a DSSE board in there and calling it a day, they’re rather large.

 

Besides at 5 grand it would be around €1750 less than just the soundcenter of an Eclipse iirc.

 

 

With any of these features it’s no longer an entry level product, but more like a beosystem 5 with an insane center speaker attached.

Not knowing whether there will be a Stage MK2 or not.

Maybe we should think differently about this - and not get lost in the hope for a Sound Center in the shape of a (Stage) soundbar.

Which options - e.g. the possibility of connecting wireless surround speakers (whatever those might be) or a subwoofer (for those who can’t get enough bas….and who want to fiddle with the placement of a sub in the room) could make it worth making a MK2 version?

What really could improve the Stage without turning it into a Sound Center……….and sellable at a reasonable pricepoint?

MM

Mikipidia wrote:

Well everyone says a subwoofer, i don’t think it needs it honestly, but b&o would have to make a cheaper sub then first. Because I doubt people would love buying a 19 with a stage as then you’re as close as could be to 5 grand again😎

True that. Sonos sub is €850,- :D So probably they are not going that route... 

I would say they go for the option to connect your Balance or Emerge as surround speakers. Not sure if you would buy 2 extra balance for L+R channel but could be possible. 1 Balance is more expensive than the Stage alone. So a 3.0 kit would set you back just below €6k. 

Mikipidia wrote:

Well everyone says a subwoofer, i don’t think it needs it honestly, but b&o would have to make a cheaper sub then first. Because I doubt people would love buying a 19 with a stage as then you’re as close as could be to 5 grand again😎

Like you I don’t believe in a Stage MK2 with features that would match those of a current Sound Center.

If - and if at all - this would have to work differently.

Though only guesswork, one may imagine the use of the Mozart platform for a MK2 version….and for connected speakers.

This would exclude the BL19 anyway.

In order to realize this a new sub would be needed…..how about a bundle of two speakers as surrounds and a sub?

Just speculating - that is what every other ‘soundbar company’ do..

But it would be the only way to do this without compromizing the bigger Sound Center based setups - and also to stay at a competitive pricepoint.

And they have made bundles before - think Beoplay S8/Beolab14…

Well - honestly I don’t really believe in this.

And - as you say - is this all needed….the Stage is pretty good as is.

MM

IMO the things we want from the stage mk2 it’s what the speaker of the eclipse has , And you can buy it And mount it in your tv as far as i know

Chris Townsend wrote:

Back to Europe today on my travels, and it appears a new stage with optional surround speakers and maybe sub are on the way post March time. All I know unfortunately!

I told the board about this in January 2021, Chris!

My dealer told me a Stage MK2 was coming and it would allow for connecting to surround speakers, but could be almost double the price of the existing Stage. Based on the Eclipse speaker.

It's taken a LONG time.