Here's a point about pricing. I would love a surround sound processor like the Beosystem 4, however they don't make a separate center channel speaker anymore, and the BS4 is, in my view, very overpriced. It doesn't have to be beautiful, my video gear is in a cabinet, but c'mon now. Video processing and surround for that price? I have a 500 dollar Oppo BR player, which has not only surround processing, but an excellent video engine/up convertor capable of cleaning up video sent to it before passing it to the screen. If the Oppo had PL outputs and an input for taking audio from my BS9000 it'd be all I need. Some of B&Os gear is not badly priced for what it is, some is just insane.

Jeff wrote:

Here's a point about pricing. I would love a surround sound processor like the Beosystem 4, however they don't make a separate center channel speaker anymore, and the BS4 is, in my view, very overpriced.

the BS4 box runs on the old software still....thankfully....

The running theme that seems to lead to some of the negativity for B&O seems to be SW and televisions. I think B&O should give up on the "Screens" portion of televisions. Focus on the strengths of sound and integration (which involves software) and re-build up a following based on quality in those respects. Trying to do everything (i.e. televisions, UX, etc) seems not to be winning proposition for the company.

Aren't they sort of doing that with the LG agreement? i.e. get them to build the TV, use their software (largely).......

Sal wrote:

The running theme that seems to lead to some of the negativity for B&O seems to be SW and televisions. I think B&O should give up on the "Screens" portion of televisions. Focus on the strengths of sound and integration (which involves software) and re-build up a following based on quality in those respects. Trying to do everything (i.e. televisions, UX, etc) seems not to be winning proposition for the company.

Excellent point! Instead of paying the premium for a B&O screen, I would much rather spend that money on a 4K BeoSystem 5 to handle all of the speaker connections and PUC and also spend the money on more B&O speakers for a Dolby Atmos home theater. I don't want the nightmare of cable management for all of my speaker and AV connections being made directly to a B&O TV. I want to hide all of that mess away in a cabinet.

Teach the unknowing.

Marketing in the US for Beoplay is a must. Bang & Olufsen who? Understand that only a small number of Americans know B&O but can tell you how amazing Bose, Beats and Sonos is....so sad (need $300 M5 like speaker fyi). With a big and correct marketing push on BEOPLAY this would bring in the customers that can afford all of B&O's product but do not know B&O and also the future generations that will be buying the BeoLab/Vision because the headphones and their first Multiroom speaker for their first place made them that life long customer (the new hire for Beoplay was a wonderful, smart and energizing move). There should also be a price drop in the Bang & Olufsen Lab/Vision- only small percentage maybe 5-10% on the current line but also bring in new entry level speakers much like the Horizon concept again to expand B&O's potential customers. All at the same time.

Bang & Olufsen will be be known as the only true choice for a high percentage of potential customers, with a precise and amazing product lineup, great software backed by fresh, smart and fun marketing.

Sal wrote:

The running theme that seems to lead to some of the negativity for B&O seems to be SW and televisions. I think B&O should give up on the "Screens" portion of televisions. Focus on the strengths of sound and integration (which involves software) and re-build up a following based on quality in those respects. Trying to do everything (i.e. televisions, UX, etc) seems not to be winning proposition for the company.

I've proposed it before. Focus on motorised soundbars on hinges or stands onto which you fix a TV by others.

Control the TV using the Beo4 via a PUC in the sound bar.

Graham

BeoNinja wrote:

Teach the unknowing.

Marketing in the US for Beoplay is a must...

Yes, but then the flipside to this is that marketing in the US is very hard, very costly and often very difficult. Knowing a lot of British brands who have tried it, many have failed (to conquer America). You can sell product over there, but making a big impact is tricky.

The US is also very regionalised. You can spend a lot of money running a promo in Miami, with a famous Miami DJ, but it's very limited to that target audience. People in Texas, a 2-hour flight from Miami, don't care or take any notice.

Remember that BeoPlay's social media isn't limited to Europe. Indeed, they spent two weeks in Palm Springs, promoting from Ace Hotel whilst Coachella was happening - but, again, I bet someone in Arizona barely even noticed this was happening :)

beojeff wrote:

Excellent point! Instead of paying the premium for a B&O screen, I would much rather spend that money on a 4K BeoSystem 5 to handle all of the speaker connections and PUC and also spend the money on more B&O speakers for a Dolby Atmos home theater. I don't want the nightmare of cable management for all of my speaker and AV connections being made directly to a B&O TV. I want to hide all of that mess away in a cabinet.