To make a rather lengthy story brief, I used to be a serious B&O fanatic, and actually, my uncle still is (he has B&O everything, practically). But now, I clearly understand the inner-workings of B&O. My first clue-in to their non-audiophile products was my purchase of the very classy-looking, but horribly sounding (worse than the Koss 'phones) A8 earphones, that I laid down $160 for without hesitation (because I was very fond of B&O at the time).
Also, I talked to a previous employee at B&O (he engineered the Beo4 Remote Control- actually very incredible remote- but a rip-off nonetheless. He works for Audio Reality now). This previous employee, whose name I have forgotten, told me that B&O was "a design company only, not a company that is aimed at quality sound reproduction;" he told me this and a few other facts about B&O.
Now, as many of you might have guessed already, I am NOT a B&O fanatic anymore!! I have moved on and have a much better pair of headphones that shame the B&O's to an extent that is near unspeakable.
NOW, ABOUT THE BEO2:
About 7 months ago, I was still a B&O fanatic, and I knew about this product then as result of an inside scoop. BTW, B&O very likely does not have plans to post anything about the Beo2 officially on their site until they have released it to the press, or are soon to release it.
WHAT I THINK OF THE BEO2 CONCEPT:
Well, when I was ignorant and not into good sound but rather cool looks, I was attracted to purchase an expensive looking, very stylish B&O earphone, I though that I would have the ultimate headphone. BOY, WAS I SO VERY WRONG! THE A8 was a serious rip-off that was design oriented only, and this will be true for the Beo2.
The Beo2 is VERY STYLISH and very executive looking and makes a good partner of the A8's, making a nice coupe of the two, the Beo2 is nonetheless a serious rip-off. I guarantee right off the bat that a portable player that costs 80,000 Yen or $625 U.S. dollars that only plays AAC, WMA and MP3 will be a HORRIBLE, I repeat- HORRIBLE pruchase. Don't go there. MP3 and WMA are not very good decoders and are far from CD quality, and are NOT worth paying $625 for!
I hope I made my point clear. Perhaps none of you were planning on buying this, but I had to make sure! It would be a tragedy if you did!
B&O, unless it is thought of as solely a design company (for which they excel- I LOVE their telephones, I have one), but in regards to the sound their products make, it is not even close to worth the money in most cases.
