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We always look at the negatives as well as the positives on here, and even B&O admitted that our very vocal slating of not putting HDMI sockets in the original BeoVision 7’s was a real own-goal.
Yes, things have moved on – and to be fair B&O are pretty much on point with this kind of thing – but is there a product you look at and thing ‘Wow.. that’s pretty poor value for money if you break it down’
I suppose you could look at the TV’s with the LG screens, but you’re getting B&O design there. I think for me the worst value products have to be amongst the cheaply made earbuds and low-end headphones which are now thankfully discontinued, so….
My vote goes to the BeoSound Edge. I’ve never thought it sounded great, it’s impractical, cumbersome, easily damaged, and extremely expensive for what it is.
Your thoughts?
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You missed the window on the BS2 mp3 player. A few years ago (2014?), they were selling for silly money in Japan or China. I recall seeing a “sold” ebay listing for ~$1000.00. Alas, I didn’t bother with trying to sell mine because it was slightly damaged, and I have misplaced the dock somewhere (at some point I started using the travel charger exclusively). Lately, I’ve seen one listed for $200, but not if it was triggering any bidding action.
I have to agree on the Beosound 2 MP3 player. I have one as my wife bought me one as a Christmas present but I have never used it and it’s only ever been out of the box for me to go “oooh” and “aaah” over it. That said, i still can’t quite bring myself to sell it!
I don’t have a full overview of the B&O portfolio dating back decades so I am going to assume we are mainly discussing the current line-up and products from 1 or 2 generations ago. For me any B&O TV is crazy expensive when comparing to regular TVs but of course I do understand the craftsmanship going into them and that they are not just a TV but also speakers. A Contour is much more appealing to me than a Harmony or Eclipse but I don’t watch TV these days so I don’t care about them.
On the speaker front it is also a bit relative. Within the current line-up I think the Emerge should deliver more punch for the price. For the price, even the black one should have more performance. It is easy to overlook this colour option when the oak version is even more expensive. Comparing to the sound of the Beolit 20 it is way less powerful and I am not sure the design is so much worth a price tag that is 1.5/almost 2 times that of the Beolit 20. I do like the oak one though.
Looking at the Beosound A1 Dune edition, I seriously cannot appreciate it the way 100 people find it justified, when I feel like some of the standard options for much less are actually prettier and more balanced in their overall looks.
Personally for me it was more worth it to spend more on a Balance Bespoke, so that supports the idea of the conversation being based on personal preference.
I’m also going to compare the current Beosound 2 to itself. It is definitely less value for the money today compared to last year.
Then we’re into price increase territory…
Beosound moment hands down… Then literally every B&O speaker…
I have a pair of BeoLab20 and I hate them, really hate them because the DSP does very funny things with the bass and it depends on the genre you’re listening to.
I have couple of B&O Palatial speakers in the other room with an SVS SB-3000 subwoofer and I can assure you that they sound much better than my BL20s…
This is certainly a personal feeling, and in my case, I can list these:
Essence mk1: too expensive for what it was, few features, B&O helping it die faster
Beosound 3: expensive, heavy for a portable radio, fragile top panel
Beolab 5: far too expensive, fragile, mediocre dealer to say the least, anxiety-provoking. Here it’s the global experience, not the product alone, that has worst value for money.
I would also say the Edge,
The Beovision Contour, is a very simple Bevision compared to Eclipse and Harmony.
But they do sell a lot of them, so people are clearly interested in paying just for design.
I have to agree about the Edge in terms of recent products. It just seems like design got a bit too far ahead of utility. Although, I have never seen one in person so perhaps the beauty is overwhelming in person.
The original BS2 (mp3 player) was “crazy” expensive and <gasp!> no display, but I used mine regularly for many years so I guess it wasn’t that expensive in the long run.
The one product I sort of wish I had never bought was the BeoLink Wireless 1. Lots of frustration (worked great until it randomly decided not to), and then I doubled down and bought a couple used ones, and still couldn’t get them to work reliably. I’m afraid to sell them since they don’t work, and I guess I probably missed the window on selling them.
I think value for money is a matter of perspective.
I’ve purchased plenty of tatt (the MP3 Player Beosound 2 for instance). Beolab4s. They all have had degrees of good/bad value about them. I guess if you use them and not worry about the latest thing, they work out as well-used products that do a job and fulfil a need.
I do have concern over my Eclipse 65 MK1. I baulk at the thought of having to replace the whole thing if the panel fails.
You could also include the Beolab90. These are fantastic loudspeakers (I can barely listen to Beolab 3s in the office as their sound is so poor). These were purchased when affordability was easy (and still can be for me fortunately). However, one does worry of the cost of repair should these things start to fail. Mine now have just had their 6th birthday.
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