[Sandyb]

Well I agree that the workflow of the app (at least this app type that we’ve had for the last 4-5 years) isn’t the most obvious. The landing / opening page of a product selector does just introduce more taps to get to actually starting music / controlling your device.

But plenty of us have raised this issue years ago, with zero sign of a rethink.

** All this is one of the reasons I dont use the app for music at all, and switched to a Roon setup. The music experience (selecting / browsing) is just too basic in the B&O app, though I can see why for casual users its perfectly live-able.

 

[Sandyb]

Agreed, and thats my best guess as to what they’ll do with the BL5s. Package the refurbished 5s with something and sell them for 40-50k.

We’re not far from getting the “re-imagined” BS9000, packaged with BL28s (with ltd edition curtains) for 50k. So I think we know the game now….

[Sandyb]

Another note to those who have updated webOS.

I noticed, after updating, that when using internal webOS apps the LG was passing PCM to the Theatre. Observed this using Disney+ and Apple TV+ apps.

Never seen this before – prior to the update, internal apps were always passing bitstream to the Theatre.

Never looked at the Sound settings of the LG before, but when I did (Sound/Advanced Settings / Digital Sound Output) it was showng the Digital Sound Output set as PCM. I reset it, in this menu, to Pass Through. Everything then shows as expected (DD / DD+ / Atmos etc) in the B&O app.

What surprised me was that – using an Apple TV+ Atmos show – using Pass Through and allowing the Theatre to do its thing sounded a good deal better than when the LG was set to PCM.

Not a scientific sample I grant you, but did surprise me. Not relevant to those who only use an Apple TV box

Anyway, thought I’d share.

[Sandyb]

I think, from what I have observed here and on Discord, that a good proportion of BST owners do the calibration, and subsequently will tweak the dB levels. So no need to be reticent I guess.

The distances from the room sense process seemed more or less Ok in my case, but for my rear/surrounds (17s) the process produced dB values of around -5db. I raised them both to closer to 0.

That said, most of what I watch is live sport, and even the 5.1 sports broadcasts are pretty weak on surround effects.

I guess you can boost the dB levels alot – though in that case I do question whether the overall image (including fronts and BST itself) then becomes a bit strange / compromised. So within sensible limits, no hesitation in boosting the assigned values.

[Sandyb]

Guess its the same as when you first setup a BST/LG from new.

i.e. the B&O app page for the BST has the “Enable LG/B&O app integration” type banner / message.

The difference (compared to box fresh and new) was that my LG already had the B&O webOS app installed. So, what to do?

I forced the issue a bit, by deleting the webOS app and re-installing it. The B&O app says to restart the TV when the app is installed, which I did but “integration” didnt take hold / re-establish itself. I went round this loop a couple of times, and then just rebooted the Theatre, which seemed to re-establish the integration.

I guess, once the integration had disappeared initially, I should have perhaps just rebooted the Theatre. Not sure deleting/re-installing the B&O webOS app process was necessary – but who knows.

Anyway, all good now.

[Sandyb]

Just to add….while I did update both my rooms to the new webOS, I hadn’t used my main living room Theatre/LG setup after updating.

While my standalone bedroom Theatre/LG was fine with the new webOS, my living room setup seemed to lose the LG integration – example being all the internal sources were gone from the BR1 etc etc.

So I had to re-establish the LG/B&O webOS integration – which was a bit of a messy process, took a few attempts, but back to normal now.

Bit odd, I only had to do this on one of my Theatre setups.

[Sandyb]

I updated my panels – no issues.

Like most I barely use the webOS UI – though there is now the option to have the screen timeout / screen saver as a simple information window – clock and weather.

I actually enabled this – largely as the post update wizard shows it to you, so it’s a few clicks to enable – and actually dont mind it. Just a black screen with a simple clock on it.

Otherwise, no issues with the update.

 

[Sandyb]

I agree its not ideal.

But the beta app is fine, you’re acting as if its some completely different animal than the regular / non-beta, which it isn’t.

 

[Sandyb]

I dont think the new Core allows the BR1 usage / integration that you get with a Stage/Theatre + LG.

Also, the new Core can only connect a pair of BL’s, i.e not a sub in addition.

 

[Sandyb]

It’s back on the beta though. While not ideal, I wouldn’t be scared of the new beta – you get volume control back, and its not especially different in other respects from the main / non-beat release.

 

[Sandyb]

Its back, thankfully.

Also, if you long press the Sound Mode, it will bring up another screen with beam width / latency toggles….

 

[Sandyb]

I had this setup for 8 years, changed it only 12 months ago.

If you’re a film fan, the picture is still superb, inky blacks etc.

And the SW platform is super stable.

[Sandyb]

My guess is that they are just assuming that the Sound Mode toggle – which has remained on the main screen – is enough, i.e. you only need the ability to chose between Sound Modes, some of which will be narrow, some wide.

I’m ok with that I guess, but I can see that this simplified choice is not going to be enough for everyone.

[Sandyb]

I have 50s (connected to a Theatre) in a modest sized room – 6m by 4.75m.

Depending on what else you need to place in that room, 50s can take up floor space and mean compromises elsewhere. I’m willing to make that compromise, but its just me (and the dog), so I can live with their presence.

Personally, and I used to have just 18s / 3s as my attached speakers, if I were primarily a TV / Movie watcher then 50s are a bit overkill, fabulous though they sound.

But I wanted something (i.e. 50s) that were much more satisfying for music listening – I’m just addicted to a huge soundstage and very meaty presentation. I’d say the 28s do a good approximation, though the bass leanings were always not to my taste – but value wise, they’re sensible vs the 50s.

So I’d go 28s, unless (and you’d need to think carefully about this) you are sufficiently fussy about music that one day you’ll end up buying 50s. In which case, 50s are you answer.

 

[Sandyb]

someone on Discord posted that a subsequent update (5.8.1 I think) has restored the volume control for 50/90s, but not to update to it as the 5.8.1 update has a number of other issues as well.

The sorry tale goes on it seems.

[Sandyb]

Also nonsensical response from them, in that this exact problem was reported to them by numerous 50/90s owners last week.

So they are already aware of it.

 

[Sandyb]

Yes this happened last week, they are apparently on the case.

There is also no option in the app to switch off your 50s, thats also a victim of whatever unwitting change they made.

Quite staggering how these things happen.

 

[Sandyb]

The BCC product sheet says “limited control for 3rd party TVs” with BR1.

No separate / specific mention of LG.

[Sandyb]

yes, that 5% is probably accurate is some weird sense / by some highly specific calculation and assumption. How do they know or define customer base? Some estimate of existing customers +/- new purchasers? Seems a bit tenuous.

Bigger picture though, I prefer my value vs volume inference – broadly flat revenue (over recent years) adjusted buy 30% higher prices must mean volumes down by approximately 30%.

They wanted to be leaner, so I guess they’re succeeding in that at least.

[Sandyb]

Note I said risky. Some amongst the existing community assume the strategy of targeting VHNWI’s is doomed to failure, but I’ve counselled caution against that doom. (since they embarked on this re-targeting 18-24 months ago, I’ve always described it as a survival strategy).

After all there is a certain logic is shifting more of your customer base to where the vast pools of money are concentrated, those who are unaffected by global economic cycles.

The risk comes, to me at least, from holding onto customers you have targeted with scarcity / super luxury / halo status type marketing, in that they may well be more fickle and less sticky as long term customers than before.

And generally, VHWNIs (or even those who stretch to buy 20k+ speakers) have pretty high expectations of both service and performance. In both of these areas we all know B&O, for all their attractive designs, can test the boundaries of acceptability.

If one wanted to set aside these concerns, then yes there is nothing inherently wrong with making current revenues with 30% lower volumes, and their gross margin is improving. But the size of the customer base you have left then becomes both super important and your existence a bit fragile.

[Author]

Posts