albertwang Posted September 9, 2006 Share #1 Posted September 9, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) I accidentally came upon the new Bang and Olufsen store here in downtown SLC. Very impressive sound quality, (Bose is dead) with audiophile quality. In fact, I am willing to bet Leicaphiles will be at home here with higher end equipment... Picking up a catalog and looks like I will add the Beosound 2 to my collection of gadgets fairly soon ... Sweet. Plus some good computer speakers too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 9, 2006 Posted September 9, 2006 Hi albertwang, Take a look here OT: Bang and Olufsen Store in Salt Lake. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
leicanewbie Posted September 9, 2006 Share #2 Posted September 9, 2006 B&O has an excellent reputation ( both design and technical ) and a devoted following. One thing they claim unique about themselves is that their audio equipment is tested and finetuned by trained 'listeners' and audiophiles. What's interesting is that just like Leica, some of their more modern components are produced by someone else -- their plasma TVs for example. They tried selling TVs of their own a few years ago, but for 8500 a pop ( 32" CRT ), and 1000 for a DVD player that would *only* work with their own TV set. They've since learned their lesson, to some extent, but they are on the high end. Their latest system, BeoSound 4, is truly a design work of art. Oh, and did I mention how expensive their stuff is? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted September 9, 2006 Share #3 Posted September 9, 2006 Cripes you guys. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertwang Posted September 9, 2006 Author Share #4 Posted September 9, 2006 No doubt... plus their stuff is even more expensive than Leica's! I couldn't believe it. But everything looks so sexy in their shoppe that I was jumping from left to rite. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christer Posted September 9, 2006 Share #5 Posted September 9, 2006 I have a coupe of TVs, the oldest one is more than 20 years old, the others are recent and have been bought to replace ten-year old ones. The oldest one is the best. It is a B&O. I recently bought a Beosound 1 on eBay for my wife. It is the only hi-tech item she really likes. And regarding the sound, as the first poster said "Bose is dead." Not to speak of the design. (Is the Bose designer still alive?) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinb Posted September 9, 2006 Share #6 Posted September 9, 2006 Albert, Well, if you want to go for the best sound quality don't buy B&O. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
harmsr Posted September 9, 2006 Share #7 Posted September 9, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Albert, The B&O stuff is "cool" looking because of its unique/super slim styling. However, I have to agree with Martin on the sound quality. It is higher end for consumer level equipment, but is definetly not high end audiophile equipment. Best, Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertwang Posted September 9, 2006 Author Share #8 Posted September 9, 2006 true... it may not be the finest sound quality in history, but do looks count much? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveallen007 Posted September 9, 2006 Share #9 Posted September 9, 2006 Despite people saying that B & O is not up there with the best, some of their kit is - Look at the BeoLab 5's. Well worth listening too. I listened to many mixes of setups, speakers etc. I love the LCD and plasma TV's. Prefer them to any other I have tried. I selected B&O. I am happy with my B & O kit, very happy. It is a mixture of style and quality. Some one is not quite correct in saying that B&O don't manufacture there own kit. B&O don't manufature their own screens. they purchase AAA rated screens from companies such as Samsung, and place the screens into frames and eelectronics of their own. To conclude, every person is different, eyes, ears style likes and dislikes etc. I like B&O style, quality, service and after service. I like the way they look, function and sound. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
haris Posted September 9, 2006 Share #10 Posted September 9, 2006 No doubt... plus their stuff is even more expensive than Leica's! I couldn't believe it. But everything looks so sexy in their shoppe that I was jumping from left to rite. They are expencive. One of reasons (beside design) is that their stuff is made in Denmark by European workers, not in Asia by underpayed, rightless, workers... Atleast that was the case earlier, don'tt know today... To make more clear for those who don't know. For example in Germany VAT (TAX) is 17,8% (and it seems it would go up to 20%). In Denmark VAT is almost 50%. That why prices in Denmark or things made in Denmark (as in all European north countries like Sweden, Norway, Finland...) are expencive. Benefit of that is great social security system, best on planet... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandokan Posted September 9, 2006 Share #11 Posted September 9, 2006 I got my B&O system 12 years ago. It was not the best sounding system I heard when choosing - but it looked good and had a remote control (it seems that adding a remote system to anything audio, immediately drops it down in quality to newbie amateur - ooohh just like an autofocus camera). Anyway, today I am unable to easily tell the differences between good and top of the range, when it is installed in my house (with carpets, furniture, children ... ) and so love my B&O system and have no regrets about spending (at the time) 4 months of disposable income. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimF Posted September 9, 2006 Share #12 Posted September 9, 2006 true... it may not be the finest sound quality in history, but do looks count much? Each to their own, but I'd prefer a Hi-Fi that looks like the back of a bus and sounds great to one that's beautiful and sounds like a less than £100 cheapo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christer Posted September 9, 2006 Share #13 Posted September 9, 2006 in Germany VAT (TAX) is 17,8% (and it seems it would go up to 20%). In Denmark VAT is almost 50% Well, I think you got your figs wrong. Maybe the Danes have 50% on cars, but the general rate there is more like half of what you quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
haris Posted September 9, 2006 Share #14 Posted September 9, 2006 Christer, you are right, VAT in Scandinavia is between 22 and 25 %, higher taxes are exception... But, for Denmark is 38 to 59% TAX on individual income, Sweden is 30 to 55%, etc... (Source: Tax rates around the world - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Findus Posted September 9, 2006 Share #15 Posted September 9, 2006 From what I gather B&O is a design brand, much more look quality than the actual sound quality. As for income taxes, register in south africa (having a SA passport will help) and live in germany 80% of the time. Registering in Isreal (and living in germany) is apparantly better but I think you need to be jewish to gain the full set of perks ... My husband is SA-can, has a practice in Capetown and an affiliate practice in Germany, we actually live in Germany most of the time and pay 12% income tax, all perfectly legal, me .. I work out of my office in Capetown in Germany, Austria and France, reside in a beautifull village at the foot of the alps officially declared as a summer and winter residence and pay minimal taxes. Mind you can't make use of things like unemployment benefits, health care, social housing schemes and stuff like that but it looks like I will not be needing that soon anyway....... Get a good accountant and have it checked out, well worth it. And by now some of you folk will be thinking that I am making misuse of the excellent German social environment, scamming myself out at the misfortunes of others blablabla .... well "suck my left tit" thats all I have to say Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfage Posted September 10, 2006 Share #16 Posted September 10, 2006 You know what? If you want some nice sounding gear (for very little money) look at used Quad. One can modify an old quad with new cable and connectors... maybe repalce the power caps. An old 303 or 405 can sound bloody amazing. Better than B+O, I can assure you... and for a tenth of the money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinb Posted September 10, 2006 Share #17 Posted September 10, 2006 I agree that the Beolab 5's are pretty good. Would be nice to hear them with a really good source and a nice pre amp. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted September 10, 2006 Share #18 Posted September 10, 2006 You know what? If you want some nice sounding gear (for very little money) look at used Quad. One can modify an old quad with new cable and connectors... maybe repalce the power caps. An old 303 or 405 can sound bloody amazing. Better than B+O, I can assure you... and for a tenth of the money. I bought a complete set of Quad valve gear - pre-amp, tuner and power amps for £100 a few years ago. The power amps are excellent. I used to have a 405 but sold it when I got the EAR valve gear. I agree excellent value for money provided the speakers aren't too difficult to drive. B&O has always looked very cool, but not of the highest rank from an audio point of view. More of a lifestyle choice than serious audio, but if that's what someone wants then that's fine by me :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted September 10, 2006 Share #19 Posted September 10, 2006 All I can think is there are a few tin ears i here. You'd look pretty stupid saying one lens is the ducks guts for everthing in all aspects of photography. Anyway, isn't this a photo forum? I mean there are sausages up at the local butcher some here would equate to Leica by some feeble stretch of logic. Do I tell everyone about em? Maybe a new thread...yea that's the go. Whats the Leica of pork pies and mushy peas? Where's the Leica of pornography? Where's the al la carte of tin siding? I need a new filling....hmmm..What would be the Leica of oral procedure...Hmmmmmmm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted September 10, 2006 Share #20 Posted September 10, 2006 I agree about B&O gear - the best is very good in audio terms, but you also pay a premium for the (gorgeous) design. In purely audio terms, you can get the same quality for less money, or better quality for the same money. Quad has always been excellent - based on sound engineering rather than "emperor's new clothes" nonsense and snake oil mysticism. The second-hand valve gear can be really excellent, but there is no doubt that capacitors go off with age: not just the power electolytics, but also some of the earlier non-polarised types physically degrade, and should really be replaced. (Note that I am NOT thereby getting into any discussion about the sound" of capacitors!!!). Also, modern resistors have a far better noise performance than the earlier cracked carbon types, and replacement in certain circuit positions can be beneficial - again, this is for good engineering design reasons, and not anything mysterious. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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