Bang & Olufsen's BeoSystem 3 HD "stage manager"

Call it what they will, this new BeoSystem 3 from Bang & Olufsen looks a lot like a silver slab on top of a black blob to us. B&O's stab at HD overkill takes the form of a souped up receiver with plenty of ins, outs and processing power. The system acts as a hub for shuttling your video and audio to multiple sources, and seems to do a pretty good job at it. There are dual DVI outputs, four HDMI inputs, and enough sound outputs to manage two separate 5.1 sound stages, or a 7.1 setup with dual subwoofers. Pictures are digitally optimised on the fly when pumped through the BeoSystem, and the device can even adjust picture contrast for the amount of ambient light in the room, or just hit the lights with included home automation controls. The system is almost assuredly overkill for someone who has no plans for juggling dual HD setups (such as a projector and a plasma) and/or isn't willing to pay an ungodly price for the privilege. You can currently find the BeoSystem 3 in select stores, for an estimated retail price of $7,700, and availability should be spreading now that it's "officially" released.

[Thanks, Alex C.]

[Squee @ Aug 10th 2006 6:53PM]

First Comment,, and it has to be...

I, for one, welcome our overpriced overlords.


Sorry, but it had to be done. You have to wonder, at the end of the day, is it really worth all that money $£€ for B&O products. Yeah, theyre good, but are they that good?

[Eric @ Aug 10th 2006 6:55PM]

Sometimes I wonder how B&O stay in business...I guess there are a whole bunch of rich people out there. I think charity would be better. I.E. give me either the plasma or the projector. (beggars can't be choosers)

7.1 surround sound with dual woofers = 7.2 surround sound.

[Adam @ Aug 10th 2006 7:30PM]

As the information for both subs are identicle, it is still 7.1.

[skoochy @ Aug 10th 2006 8:00PM]

Well, as a user of B&O stuff in the US (my is really style-conscience), I would say you are paying for styling because other than that, it's no better than H/K or Sony. So is it really worth it? Well, yes, if someone likes the way it looks (she wouldn't get a new phone until the 8801 was available).

I was looking at building out our new theatre setup and this would work perfectly, except that I am in the US and DVB-T ain't gonna help. I bet an ATSC version never comes out. I am surprised they even came out with the TVs, that already took years.

[dogarms @ Aug 10th 2006 8:28PM]

"...(she wouldn't get a new phone until the 8801 was available)..."

ouch. just ouch. i've often thought that B&O gear was only in the realm of the rich hen-pecked husband - now I know.

[Ryan Murphy @ Aug 10th 2006 9:25PM]

skoochy, this will control an external ATSC tuner (they threw them in with the previous model). It will also control your cable PVR etc through the B&O remote.

[DB @ Aug 10th 2006 11:20PM]

As usual, B&O doesn't like to call a spade a spade. Though, I guess you can't sell a home theatre processor with proprietary pre-amp outs for $7700 without some kind of magic.

Then again, this is the same company that sells a $460 Shuffle, minus the built in storage.

God, built in storage violates the design so much.

[KAveh @ Aug 11th 2006 1:35AM]

great idea, looks like a great B @ o product as always, but as much as my third car was.

[Amaury Fernandez @ Aug 11th 2006 7:20AM]

i have the beosystem 1 and i love it it really make my plasma look great
i will go to store to see it
and if it is what it says i will buy it

[JD @ Aug 11th 2006 8:35AM]

True, $7700 is a lot of scratch, but does any company make anything comparable, with 4 HDMI in and 2 DVI out and dual 5.1 output? A Gefen 4x2 hdmi/dvi switcher alone would set you back nearly a grand, and is ugly as sin.

Does anyone make anything with similar specs for south of $4K? For the aparment dweller who wants to access the same DVR, DVD changer and HTPC from two rooms, say the living room and the master bedroom, with minimal hassle, this looks like a winner, even if it does cost more than a used civic.

[bored @ Aug 11th 2006 9:27AM]

@JD

-- No, I doubt any company makes anything similar to this device because common sense stops them.

Rich dumb guy: "Look guys i can watch my dvd player in this room while I watch my dvr in the other!! ...and it only cost me $8,000!!!"

Not-so-stupid friend: "..hey man you could have saved $7,000 and bought components for both rooms"

[T @ Aug 11th 2006 9:32AM]

Rich dumb guy: "whatever!! look this thing lets me hookup 2 subwoofers!!"

Not so stupid friend: "yeah I got that too.. Radio shack sells y-splitters for $2"

[John Sununu @ Aug 11th 2006 12:18PM]

Rich dumb guy: "Shut the fcuk up, already!"

Not-so-stupid friend: "No, you shut up!"

[astutefool @ Aug 11th 2006 12:34PM]

Why all the B&O bashing? Whenever a post comes up about them people start procrastinating about how overpriced they are and refering to the Beosound 2 which was released 6 years ago, has such a sperior design that it has only required firmware updates - unlike our white friend which has to be purchased every year according to Jobs "if you want to have the latest and greatest", comes with much better service and support than the majority other products. It's not just design but build quality that you get with B&O but most people don't know that.If you can't afford high end don't be bitter and try a poke holes in things you don't know about. A y-splitter from Radio Shack LOL. T must definitely be an audiophile who enjoys high fidelity audio.

[T @ Aug 11th 2006 3:00PM]

@ astutefool

I was actually going to bash this B&O waste of money some more for ya, but its actually funnier to just bash this statement --

"Whenever a post comes up about them people start procrastinating about how overpriced they are"

head on over to dictionary.com and maybe you can figure out which word makes zero sense in there.. I'll give you a clue -- its the one you felt very proud of yourself for thinking of because its 5 syllables!

[JK @ Aug 11th 2006 4:37PM]

If you look at the high end home cinema market 7700$ doesn't make a big difference.

These guys pull it all together, Plasma, Projector, Screen, surround, music, lights, curtains, everything. Yes you can do that cheaper, but not from a single vendor. These guys can go all the way. See picture below. The screen supsends from above. I saw a rom like that. If you are really rich, then this is the way to go.

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/web2/professionals/pro_images/beoliving.jpg

[Andy @ Aug 11th 2006 9:37PM]

@ T:
Ouch! Nicely done!

I would say something else, B&O are even more disrespected than Bose in the audiophile community, just in case. They would be less poked fun at if they actually aimed (price-wise) to compete with their real competitors, companies like JBL and the new Polk Audio. In the case of B&O I would say not even that. Maybe they could compete with philips, or something. Sony, at the most.

[Lina @ Aug 12th 2006 3:11AM]

Wow! All special effects right there at home. The remote to control the moving of curtains is amazing and is a nice way to philander while watching horror movies. Cool man! It would be fun!

[Massimo @ Aug 12th 2006 6:08AM]

B&O make masterpiece. Probably you never heard or seen it in flesh.. the plasmas are the best plasmas ever made. Try it, see it.. Please do not talk because you read something in some audiophile bible... see it with your eyes! The digital processor of the image is the best, I repeat: you have to look at this stuff before you say something!

[Jerome @ Sep 11th 2006 2:35AM]

I once worked for B&O for some time but parted ways. I can say that in the time I was there I learnt that B&O is definitely more than just about the look. Do yourself a favour and go into a showroom and experience BS3. A Ferrari is not built and priced accordingly just because of the look, neither is a Lamborghini or a Rolex and B&O certainly isn't either. Remember that small niche companies don't have the vast recources of some enormous companies in their field and therfore must charge a premium to produce their devices. That's what makes them unique and that's why B&O is the oldest A/V company still around today!

[Sid @ Dec 8th 2006 2:35PM]

I just bought one. The thing that I do not like is I HAVE to use only B&O speakers on all zones.. if I have to use my exiting Mirages / Definitives I have to buy a $500 connector.

Anyway.. great product so far.
-Sid