P.Guerra's FLeX 4.2 HTPC packs B&O and Core 2 Duo

Check it Mini-ITX fans, we've got the FLeX 4.2 home theater PC for you straight from Italy's P.Guerra. On one side of the folding chassis, we've got 400W RMS ICEpower audio amplifiers from Bang & Olufsen which work just fine without turning the PC-side of this HTCP on. A special IR receiver and software developed by P.Guerra allows the Flex 4.2 to be integrated into other B&O A/V systems. On the other side of the chassis then, we've got an Intel Core 2 Duo Mini-ITX motherboard with choice of up to a 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo T7600 processor; 3.5-inch vibration-damped SATA disk offering up to 750GB of storage at 7200rpm; up to 2GB DDR2 667 memory; Intel GMA950 graphics; choice of satellite, cable, or terrestrial DVB tuners; WiFi; 7.1ch analog audio or TosLink digital; dual-layer DVD±R±RW writer; Gigabit Ethernet; a slew of Firewire and USB; and DVI, VGA, Component, S-Video, and Composite video outputs. They claim that HD DVD, Blu-ray, and Vista are on the way. Until then, a fully spec'd kit will set you back about £2,342 or $4,569.

Gallery: P.Guerra's FLeX 4.2 HTPC packs B&O and Core 2 Duo

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[Via Mini-ITX.com]

[ph @ Feb 14th 2007 11:32AM]

Sweet....but no hdmi? And how good are those amplifiers? Seems to me you'd do better to simply by a pc and amp seperately...

[Wonderboy @ Feb 14th 2007 11:40AM]

you would be better off going that route, but this is Bang & Olufsen... their stuff is super-expensive, ultra-modern, and 75% style, 25% utility. People who are extra nit-picky about style (not necessarily people who are into efficiency or super nit-picky about quality) are their main market.

[Terry @ Feb 14th 2007 12:21PM]

I agree. B&O's stuff looks stuff but sounds like garbage. Go with Bose.

[Mike @ Feb 14th 2007 2:02PM]

Polk Audio all the way...as for the HTPC, I've seen better for cheaper...

[Nick Rearden @ Feb 14th 2007 2:07PM]

I would never dream of making comments without actually listening but I can't help thinking that Audi (with the A8 and forthcoming R8), Bower & Wilkins and Rotel wouldn't be using Bang & Olufsen ICEpower amps if they were just about style and sounded "like garbage". Eh?

[PreGHz @ Feb 14th 2007 3:27PM]

I tend to concern myself with audio quality more than the next guy (thought by no means an snobbish audiophile), and in my opinion, B&O actually sounds great.

I shopped around for awhile, but still haven't found something that sounds better, while still maintaining good aesthetics. Two little speakers with discreet mounting fill up my living room with distortion-less sound, lots of highs, and with another unit, lots of lows.

I feel that B&O gets a bad rap because their units are high priced without (to some) that much of a noticeable sound difference. To me though, a properly set up system does sound better than average, work better than average, and definitely look better than average.

Money is a concern, yes, but don't let that be the basis of bashing a system that others enjoy very much.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Feb 14th 2007 5:53PM]

I have had components by B&O, Klipsch, Infinity, Bose, Yamaha, Pioneer, and Sony. Right now I run Infinity speakers off a Pioneer Elite receiver. I am not a crazy audiophile, but I am pickier than most people. I have to say B&O makes some great-sounding gear. People who say otherwise are either just dismissing it out of had because they can't afford it, or are disenchanted because their equipment tends to be short on features for the price. Yeah, their stuff is expensive and largely priced based on styling, but poor sound quality isn't a failing of theirs. In fact, I would say they make some of the fullest-sounding speakers out there. If I had the money, I would trade my Infinities for B&O speakers in a heartbeat.

[LordJohnWhorfin @ Feb 14th 2007 6:08PM]

Agreed. B&O's stuff looks beautiful but sounds like garbage. Unlike Bose, which looks like garbage and also sounds like garbage. You can get much better sounding equipment at a fraction of a price if you shop smart and spend some time doing comparative listening. Read a few magazines and go to audio stores. Stay away from the large chain stores (Best Buy, Circuit City, etc...) where the salespeople only recommend products that carry a huge mark-up (like Monster Cable and... Bose!).