Gallery: Bang & Olufsen's drool inducing AV gear

Bang & Olufsen winter showcase gallery

Back in the 1940s during the Second World War, electronics company Bang & Olufsen fought to stay afloat when Danish Nazi sympathisers [[xref:http://www.bang-olufsen.com/graphics/bogo/reports/annualreport_2005-06_uk.pdf|destroyed its factory]] as revenge for the company's refusal to co-operate with German forces. (In fact, many of its employees were actively involved in the Danish resistance.) The company prospered despite this setback thanks to innovations in the technology market.

Today, Bang & Olufsen is still turning heads with its cutting-edge technology; and more often than not, its price tags. Here we take a look at what the latest innovations and products to come out of the B&O factory look like.
BeoLab 11 Subwoofer

Not your typical subwoofer, the BeoLab 11’s tulip-shaped housing is one you’ll want to put on display rather than stashed under the TV. The bisected champagne flute design is impressive enough for exhibiting on your wall, so B&O has given it that very ability. Vibration has been minimised on the 7kg, 30cm high sub, allowing for wall-mounting via a wall bracket. We've seen the BeoLab 11 in action and it definitely delivers on its vibration-free promise, despite being powerfully loud.

If you want a sound system that delivers visually and aurally, the BeoLab 11 is a good bet. However, the eye candy comes at a price: these little beauties will set you back over $2,500 per sub.
Beo 5 Remote Control

B&O is tapping into the concept of the ‘intelligent home’ with its integration of home entertainment systems into one single system. Enter the [[xref:http://www.bang-olufsen.com/beo5-remote-control|Beo 5]]. Basically, it's a universal remote (though not many universal remotes tout a price tag of over $1000). The Beo 5 features a square glass screen attached above a circular aluminium ball with play/pause keys and a volume wheel for use with all B&O home entertainment products. The glass displays bring up menus for easy navigation through different media and functions.
BeoLink iPhone app

B&O furthers the ‘intelligent home’ principle (and the era of laziness) with iPhone integration for its home entertainment products, via the new BeoLink application. The app connects to the local Wi-Fi home network and from there can control everything from your home entertainment system to curtains, lights and locks in the house. "You can even switch off your child's TV from another country," pointed out a B&O product manager (rather cruelly, perhaps!)

Just link up your electronics to the [[xref:http://www.bang-olufsen.com/masterlink-gateway|Master Link Gateway]] from B&O and the house can be controlled by the iPhone app or by the Beo 5 remote. Now you don’t even have to get out of bed to close the blinds when you want to stay in bed all morning.
BeoCom 2 Telephone

B&O has a history of breaking telephonic conventions with its unique take on handset design, from the stylish brick that is the [[xref:http://www.bang-olufsen.com/beocom6000|BeoCom 6000]] to the UFO styling of the [[xref:http://www.bang-olufsen.com/beocom5|BeoCom 5]]. Now it has taken the BeoCom 2, which looks more like a prop from a 1960’s sci-fi production, and re-released it in a range of new colours and lustres.
BeoCom 2 Telephone (cont.)

Bang & Olufsen's media release sates: “All seven new colours are characterised by a taut exclusive tone that signals the present - but with enough edge for long-term relevance.” Obviously B&O is very edgy and exclusive. Perhaps even edgier than U2.

For a product costing in excess of $1,500, the little extra variety in colours and tones is welcome.
B&O BeoVision TVs

[[xref:http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/302821/bang_olufsen_launches_beovision_8-40/|BeoVision]] is Bang & Olufsen’s line of high-end plasma televisions, each sporting a hefty price tag that reaches into the $100,000 range (nope, we didn't accidentally add an extra zero!)

Naturally, all BeoVision TVs provide Full HD picture quality using the latest flat screen LCD and LED technology, coupled with the company's high quality audio products. While it is yet to make the [[xref:http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/348176/samsung_vs_lg_spark_world_it_show_2010_3d/|leap into 3D]], it stretching both quality and size. Each extra inch of screen space will set you back a few thousand dollars though.
BeoVision 7-55

Almost B&O’s most expensive line of televisions (the number one spot goes to BeoVision 4 that tops the range at nearly $150,000), the 7 series has come out with a 55in screen that’ll hit your wallet for over $30,000.

To make this deal a little more appetising, the TV comes with the Beo 5 remote control with basic programming, an integrated Blu-ray player and a set of BeoLab 7 speakers (which alone go for nearly $6000). The funkiest feature, though, is the motorised floor stand. From any part of a room, users can use their Beo 5 remote to call their TV over to face them. No more getting up and moving to where the TV is facing – just kick back and let the TV get off its lazy butt instead.
BeoVision 10-46

It seems like all the TV big shots are looking to capitalise on the [[xref:http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/340061/best_lcd_plasma_televisions_watching_2010_fifa_world_cup_/|FIFA World Cup]] to sell their latest screens, and B&O is no exception. The company has recently put its latest 46in screen onto the shelves following the release of the 40in BeoVision 10 screen last year.

The TV uses an LED-based, 200/240Hz LCD panel to achieve high picture quality even in fast moving scenes “that you often experience when watching a football match,” according to the company’s release.
BeoVision speakers

Unlike small children, television speakers are typically meant to be heard rather than seen, but that isn’t quite B&O’s approach. With audio tech that goes into the tens of thousands of dollars, the company makes it a point to have its speakers look somewhat extravagant. This is a bit of a downer for the BeoVision 10 series, whose screens are outweighed by a gigantic, underlying fabric panel containing all the audio. It has a certain aesthetic charm we suppose, but also makes the TV look like a giant version of the Nintendo DS. While the sound systems are meant to produce exceptional audio, the typically sleek look of flat screen televisions is depleted by the overemphasised speakers.
For more information about B&O's extensive range of products, visit the [[xref:http://www.bang-olufsen.com/|official Bang & Olufsen Web site]].

Become a fan of [[xref: http://www.facebook.com/GoodGearGuide|GoodGearGuide on Facebook]]

Follow GoodGearGuide on Twitter: [[xref:http://twitter.com/GoodGearGuide|@GoodGearGuide|Twitter: GoodGearGuide]]

Stay up to date with the latest reviews. Sign up to [[xref: http://www.goodgearguide.com.au/user/register| GoodGearGuide’s Gear Daily newsletters| Register for GoodGearGuide’s Gear Daily newsletters]]