[stewtheking]

You pay for the name, you pay for the style, and that's where a big ol' chunk of the money goes, but these 'phones aren't bad at all. I found that they sound much much much better when listening quite quietly in a silent room, but the louder they are turned up, the less extraordinary they sound.

Maybe the sound labs at b&o are a little TOO good!

 

[MarkKLC]

I don't think there's anything wrong with the A8's... it's just like buying jewellery or clothes... it's a fashion item.

At least for $240, you get sub-iPod stock bud quality sound VS no sound (ie. earrings).

EDIT: I may have hyperbolized it a little bit

.... didn't mean to start flame wars...

 

[neilvg]

Just my two cents since I tried these buds: Im not going to comment on the phones, but I will comment on the fact that I think people not only hear very differently, they perceive very very differently too!

Having said that, I believe a <$100 pair of shure's or just about anything else above $40 would beat out these phones in performance... but we all know that good looks can be blinding!

Neil

 

[BIGtrouble77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkKLC At least for $240, you get sub-iPod stock bud quality sound VS no sound (ie. earrings).

Why do you have to be a troll? Your just gonna piss people off saying things like that. And, fyi, they don't cost anywhere near $250. I think they retail for $160.

I bought mine through ebay for $90. If people are going to throw money away and buy through the ipod store or the B&O store that's their choice. But it's a really stupid one if they don't have the money to throw away.

-BT

 

[drews]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGtrouble77 Why do you have to be a troll? Your just gonna piss people off saying things like that. And, fyi, they don't cost anywhere near $250. I think they retail for $160. I bought mine through ebay for $90. If people are going to throw money away and buy through the ipod store or the B&O store that's their choice. But it's a really stupid one if they don't have the money to throw away. -BT

Actually, I thought that quote was pretty amusing... Also, he's in Canada where the prices are higher.

BTW I bought a pair of A8s but I think of them as simply a cooler version of the stock iPod buds... To suggest that they provide a lot of "bang"-for-the buck sonically is a bit of a stretch IMHO...

Drew

 

[nabwong]

Are the EC7 the same as A8? I have the ec7 and they sound great to me. could have a little more bass for the ipod though

 

[Elephas]

Here's a Audio-Technica ATH-EC7 vs. Bang & Olufsen A8 Comparison.

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=127329

 

[technetium]

Hmm I would buy the ATH-EC7 on site if i could! Buuuttt I live in Denmark so I don´t think thats going to happen somewhere in the near future.

I got my a8 with my beosound2, so i never had an option, but I still love my a8, just as I do with all of my small children

But I can tell you this, they are the best stock buds that come with any mp3 (I know that some "jens of sweden" I think, come with some shures, but not normally)

 

[Dominode]

Quote:

The bottom line is, it is a status symbol for those who want to show their wealth.

While that may be true for other product offerings within the B&O line,I don't think that it applies to the A0-8's. I think the frame is well-designed and finished,but the sound quality,to my ears,is equivalent to stock Creative or Apple ear buds. And to many people,the "stock" offerings sound just fine,so the AO-8's offer a bit of brand cachet and a frame. Yawn....

Personally,I think the ultimate in portable conspicuous consumption or BLING BLING EXTREME (yep,worthy of all- caps as you'll agree upon reading the price)
is Futuresonics Elite line: the metals reference refers to the shell which contains the drivers,listed eye-candy is applied to the shell;a quote from their website follows:

Quote:

Elite Series: Available with platinum, yellow/white gold or sterling silver and, optionally, with diamond, ruby, emerald and other precious and semi-precious stone. Pricing starts at $4,999 through market pricing - depending on materials.

And they likely sound as good as E5's,UM2's,etc. Maybe better. Maybe worse.

 

[Dr.Sade]

You definitely have to shop around if you want the A8.
A store in Vancouver, B.C., Canada was asking $280 Canadian dollars
for them at one time!

 

[technetium]

Hmm... the prices should not vary all to much. Bang & Olufsen has a policy that means that their products should cost the same whereever you buy them! Basicly the only way you can get them cheap, is if they have a scratch or something that reduces their value.
This is also the reason why you only can buy B&O from special B&O retailers.

I have heard of those that have bought their a8 really cheap in China, ebay or something, and of those that buy the a8 cheaper than approx. 75 usd.

I find this wierd since those that work at B&O in Struer here in Denmark can´t buy tham that cheap! hmmm Wierd

 

[BIGtrouble77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by technetium Hmm... the prices should not vary all to much. Bang & Olufsen has a policy that means that their products should cost the same whereever you buy them! Basicly the only way you can get them cheap, is if they have a scratch or something that reduces their value. This is also the reason why you only can buy B&O from special B&O retailers. I have heard of those that have bought their a8 really cheap in China, ebay or something, and of those that buy the a8 cheaper than approx. 75 usd. I find this wierd since those that work at B&O in Struer here in Denmark can´t buy tham that cheap! hmmm Wierd

They sell them MUCH cheaper in asia. Some guys import them from asia and sell them via ebay. I think they sell for $60usd in china.

I plan on getting the ATH-EC7 pretty soon, myself.

 

[technetium]

I think they can only be copies or stolen if they are sold at a price of 60 usd.

Asian companies have made quite a living out of copying danish design like Poul Henningsen, B&O (Jacob Jensen is their most known designer), Børge Mogensen, Piet Hein or Arne Jacobsen to name a few.

In the past month or so, there have several times been news reports, that mentioned those dammed Chinese copy companies and how they steel design worth millions of euros

 

[BIGtrouble77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by technetium I think they can only be copies or stolen if they are sold at a price of 60 usd. Asian companies have made quite a living out of copying danish design like Poul Henningsen, B&O (Jacob Jensen is their most known designer), Børge Mogensen, Piet Hein or Arne Jacobsen to name a few. In the past month or so, there have several times been news reports, that mentioned those dammed Chinese copy companies and how they steel design worth millions of euros

I have a pair from the B&O store and one from the ebay importer (my dad bought his pair at the b&o store). They are both identical in every respect- even the packaging. I highly doubt they were stolen as the guy I ordered from had a long positive history on ebay, but anything sold on ebay could be stolen.

 

[ken36]

Just an other pretty face. Its what's inside that...You know>