Bang and Olufsen

nybimmerfan · 07-09-2012, 10:39 AM

I finally decided to get the B&O system even if I have not heard it personally (maybe due to plain vanity). I decided based on info I have gathered from sound engineers from work (major broadcast/media company). They have explained to me that although there is no substitute from hearing the actual sound using ones ears and either liking/not liking it, B&O sound engineers will have configured and set the system through instrumentation, produced by the B&O system in such a way that 95% of listeners would find the sound generated to be superb. If I do not get the B&O system I might later on regret it -- the worst that could happen is that, the B&O would sound the same as the default sound system. It being worse than the default is highly unlikely -- so these sound engineers tell me. Anyway, since I could afford it, I just got it.

M54ccibo · 07-09-2012, 10:46 AM

I decided to pull the trigger on it as well...calling the dealer today to modify my build. Figured that for the ~$3300USD it is worth it - just for piece of mind knowing that regarding factory sound there was no better available.

dkoren · 07-09-2012, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M54ccibo

I decided to pull the trigger on it as well...calling the dealer today to modify my build. Figured that for the ~$3300USD it is worth it - just for piece of mind knowing that regarding factory sound there was no better available.

That was kinda my take on it. I'm fairly sure it's money being spent purely for peace of mind, I doubt I'll ever hear the difference. But god damn if I didn't do it I know I'd always wonder if I should have.

journeyguy · 07-09-2012, 01:46 PM

Good decision to order B&O. I can assure you will not be dissapointed

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkoren

That was kinda my take on it. I'm fairly sure it's money being spent purely for peace of mind, I doubt I'll ever hear the difference. But god damn if I didn't do it I know I'd always wonder if I should have.

cmhsam · 07-09-2012, 03:37 PM

$3700...that could pay for a new set of wheels

DrKevM5 · 07-09-2012, 05:15 PM

True...

darkrabbit · 07-09-2012, 07:09 PM

Apparently this is not available for CDN orders? I have a call into Town + Country BMW to find out for sure...

But the new order guide says no:

2013 Retail Price - 6.M6.M5

-J

nybimmerfan · 07-09-2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaym3smg

Apparently this is not available for CDN orders? I have a call into Town + Country BMW to find out for sure...

But the new order guide says no:

2013 Retail Price - 6.M6.M5

-J

Could you ask your dealer? It may not be listed but the dealer may have to enter a special code to order it.

darkrabbit · 07-09-2012, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nybimmerfan

Could you ask your dealer? It may not be listed but the dealer may have to enter a special code to order it.

Yeah I did.. just waiting to hear back

Also asked about ED and why we in Canada we get screwed on it

-J

nybimmerfan · 07-09-2012, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaym3smg

Yeah I did.. just waiting to hear back

Also asked about ED and why we in Canada we get screwed on it

-J

From what I know, the European Delivery Program is only available for the U.S. market. Its origin traces directly to the 1950s when American servicemen coming home from Europe brought with them their passion for sportier European cars that many purchased cars in Europe to ship back to the U.S. As a marketing effort European car manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volvo developed the program.

Anyway, would it be very prohibitive for a Canadian to order the car from a U.S. dealer for ED and then have it shipped to the dealer or to the PC for pick up and then driven to Canada? Of course the appropriate Canadian customs duties would have to be paid.

darkrabbit · 07-09-2012, 07:48 PM

They have ED for Canada, we just don't get a price discount. We don't pay any MORE than normal delivery, but they don't hack 6k off either

-J

nybimmerfan · 07-09-2012, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaym3smg

They have ED for Canada, we just don't get a price discount. We don't pay any MORE than normal delivery, but they don't hack 6k off either

-J

I think that is true too not only with BMW models but with other items such as Photographic equipment. Whenever my Canadian friends come over, they splurge on camera items at stores like B&H, Adorama, etc.

AGS · 07-09-2012, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaym3smg

They have ED for Canada, we just don't get a price discount. We don't pay any MORE than normal delivery, but they don't hack 6k off either

-J

I understand the difference in price is largely, if not entirely, the excise tax on new cars going from Germany to the US. With ED, the excise tax does not apply since the car is a used vehicle.

cmhsam · 07-09-2012, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGS

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaym3smg

They have ED for Canada, we just don't get a price discount. We don't pay any MORE than normal delivery, but they don't hack 6k off either

-J

I understand the difference in price is largely, if not entirely, the excise tax on new cars going from Germany to the US. With ED, the excise tax does not apply since the car is a used vehicle.

Slightly used vehicle

darkrabbit · 07-10-2012, 06:33 PM

Well, got some answers.

Bang and Olufsen sound system: Available through special order for CA: $5900 + $400.00 ZSP Special Order fee. Lol wtf? $6300 for a sound system? Please...

To summarize the other items I asked them:

- Frozen paint is $5400, unless you want white which is $6900. And only 2 / month are available worldwide.
- ED is still available for Canada apparently.

So yeah, I'd have to think pretty hard before dropping $6300 on a sound system in a car.

-J

nybimmerfan · 07-10-2012, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaym3smg

Well, got some answers.

Bang and Olufsen sound system: Available through special order for CA: $5900 + $400.00 ZSP Special Order fee. Lol wtf? $6300 for a sound system? Please...

To summarize the other items I asked them:

- Frozen paint is $5400, unless you want white which is $6900. And only 2 / month are available worldwide.
- ED is still available for Canada apparently.

So yeah, I'd have to think pretty hard before dropping $6300 on a sound system in a car.

-J

So I guess the $3700 MSRP here in the U.S. for the B&O system is a bargain! Could it be that taxes attached to the cost could be jacking up the price. I know that when I bought a ski hat in Whistler/Blackcomb, on the receipt were 3 kinds of sales tax, one of which was some sort of "Provincial Tax".

remmib · 07-11-2012, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nybimmerfan

So I guess the $3700 MSRP here in the U.S. for the B&O system is a bargain! Could it be that taxes attached to the cost could be jacking up the price. I know that when I bought a ski hat in Whistler/Blackcomb, on the receipt were 3 kinds of sales tax, one of which was some sort of "Provincial Tax".

Of course, I bet it's the cheapest in the world.

In UK it's £3750 = $5800, in Germany 3960 euro = $4800, and here in Norway 43700 NOK = over $7100... Just saying.

emmfive · 07-11-2012, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remmib

Of course, I bet it's the cheapest in the world.

In UK it's £3750 = $5800, in Germany 3960 euro = $4800, and here in Norway 43700 NOK = over $7100... Just saying.

Ouch that sucks. I see the pricing on the B&O system in a whole new light now - its like we US buyers have a 50% off coupon lol.

pyramid · 07-11-2012, 10:16 AM

B&O has always been about advance mechanical engineering, they are top notch. That doesn't mean it sounded bad, it just not as good as its price (same case with Bose). No, I don't hate them, in fact I love them since 1995 with Beolab penta and Beomaster 5500 as my first B&O audio system.

I do believe their much needed sound quality will improve drastically in the near future with the arrival of Lars Goller on their team. This guy is an acoustic genius.

journeyguy · 07-11-2012, 10:18 AM

It's a steal for $3700....LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisratz

Ouch that sucks. I see the pricing on the B&O system in a whole new light now - its like we US buyers have a 50% off coupon lol.

darkrabbit · 07-11-2012, 10:57 AM

Plus there's no way you'll get the full potential of an audio system in a moving car. A car is an awful acoustic environment and no stock system, I don't care how good it is, is going to compensate for the environment without a lot of signal processing.

That's what makes the B&O system hard to swallow for me. I will want to try it out ON THE ROAD not in the showroom. Showroom testing doesn't mean anything because that's NOT where you'll be using it, and on the road it all changes.

We'll see how it holds up to some Spanish Harlem at 120kph

-J

jeff4598 · 07-11-2012, 07:52 PM

As a long time music lover and audiophile I can tell you that B+O is at the utter bottom pf anyone's list of good sounding home audio. They have always been and remain strictly about visual design for people with nice homes who want something "snazzy" but care not a wit what it sounds like. They are utterly unqualified as a company to produce ANYTHING that SOUNDS good. I challenge you to find their products in any high end audio store or review magazine.

07-09-2012, 10:39 AM	#45
nybimmerfan Lieutenant 39 Rep 430 Posts Drives: 6-Spd Manual MCB M5 Join Date: May 2012 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	I finally decided to get the B&O system even if I have not heard it personally (maybe due to plain vanity). I decided based on info I have gathered from sound engineers from work (major broadcast/media company). They have explained to me that although there is no substitute from hearing the actual sound using ones ears and either liking/not liking it, B&O sound engineers will have configured and set the system through instrumentation, produced by the B&O system in such a way that 95% of listeners would find the sound generated to be superb. If I do not get the B&O system I might later on regret it -- the worst that could happen is that, the B&O would sound the same as the default sound system. It being worse than the default is highly unlikely -- so these sound engineers tell me. Anyway, since I could afford it, I just got it.
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07-09-2012, 10:46 AM	#46
M54ccibo Major 85 Rep 1,489 Posts Drives: '16 GT4 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	I decided to pull the trigger on it as well...calling the dealer today to modify my build. Figured that for the ~$3300USD it is worth it - just for piece of mind knowing that regarding factory sound there was no better available.
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07-09-2012, 03:37 PM	#49
cmhsam Major 100 Rep 1,312 Posts Drives: 2018 F90 M5 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	$3700...that could pay for a new set of wheels
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07-09-2012, 05:15 PM	#50
DrKevM5 Colonel 2281 Rep 2,516 Posts Drives: G05 X5, F87 M2 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Western NY iTrader: (7)	True... __________________ ?16 M2 Long Beach Blue/Black, 6MT '22 X5 4.0 M Sport Black Sapphire/Tartufo ?22 Tesla Model Y Performance Midnight Silver/White
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07-09-2012, 07:09 PM	#51
darkrabbit Private First Class 20 Rep 105 Posts Drives: '19 F36 440i GC, '03 E46 M3 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Puslinch, ON iTrader: (0)	Apparently this is not available for CDN orders? I have a call into Town + Country BMW to find out for sure... But the new order guide says no: 2013 Retail Price - 6.M6.M5 -J
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07-09-2012, 07:48 PM	#55
darkrabbit Private First Class 20 Rep 105 Posts Drives: '19 F36 440i GC, '03 E46 M3 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Puslinch, ON iTrader: (0)	They have ED for Canada, we just don't get a price discount. We don't pay any MORE than normal delivery, but they don't hack 6k off either -J
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07-10-2012, 06:33 PM	#59
darkrabbit Private First Class 20 Rep 105 Posts Drives: '19 F36 440i GC, '03 E46 M3 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Puslinch, ON iTrader: (0)	Well, got some answers. Bang and Olufsen sound system: Available through special order for CA: $5900 + $400.00 ZSP Special Order fee. Lol wtf? $6300 for a sound system? Please... To summarize the other items I asked them: - Frozen paint is $5400, unless you want white which is $6900. And only 2 / month are available worldwide. - ED is still available for Canada apparently. So yeah, I'd have to think pretty hard before dropping $6300 on a sound system in a car. -J
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-11-2012, 10:16 AM	#63
pyramid Private First Class 4 Rep 164 Posts Drives: Serpent S966 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: INA iTrader: (0) Garage List Various Various [0.00]	B&O has always been about advance mechanical engineering, they are top notch. That doesn't mean it sounded bad, it just not as good as its price (same case with Bose). No, I don't hate them, in fact I love them since 1995 with Beolab penta and Beomaster 5500 as my first B&O audio system. I do believe their much needed sound quality will improve drastically in the near future with the arrival of Lars Goller on their team. This guy is an acoustic genius.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-11-2012, 10:57 AM	#65
darkrabbit Private First Class 20 Rep 105 Posts Drives: '19 F36 440i GC, '03 E46 M3 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Puslinch, ON iTrader: (0)	Plus there's no way you'll get the full potential of an audio system in a moving car. A car is an awful acoustic environment and no stock system, I don't care how good it is, is going to compensate for the environment without a lot of signal processing. That's what makes the B&O system hard to swallow for me. I will want to try it out ON THE ROAD not in the showroom. Showroom testing doesn't mean anything because that's NOT where you'll be using it, and on the road it all changes. We'll see how it holds up to some Spanish Harlem at 120kph -J
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07-11-2012, 07:52 PM	#66
jeff4598 Captain 172 Rep 676 Posts Drives: 2019 M2C HS, DCT, much Dinan Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: new jersey iTrader: (0)	As a long time music lover and audiophile I can tell you that B+O is at the utter bottom pf anyone's list of good sounding home audio. They have always been and remain strictly about visual design for people with nice homes who want something "snazzy" but care not a wit what it sounds like. They are utterly unqualified as a company to produce ANYTHING that SOUNDS good. I challenge you to find their products in any high end audio store or review magazine.
	Appreciate 0 Quote