While a lot of manufactures are engaging in a price battle for the TV market, Bang & Olufsen continues to appeal to our hunger for luxury. That’ especially evident in the new BeoVision 11 TV.
The company’s first Smart TV, BeoVision 11, will arrive in U.S. showrooms in Oct. 2012. The company says the TV “sets new standards in the marketplace with its rich sound, design perfection, full connectivity and best-in-class video experience.”
“We want to provide our customers the same premium experience no matter whether they are watching TV, downloading a film, using the internet or trying out the latest video game,” says Bang & Olufsen CEO Tue Mantoni. “BeoVision 11 has been designed to keep up with everyone in the family – and to keep them amazed, with nothing between them and their content – as technology continues to evolve in new directions.”
The TV features six speakers built into BeoVision 11’s slim interior, and powers each of them with its own dedicated 32 watt ICEpower amplifier. Their enclosure is supported with rubber bushings to wipe out vibrations in the rest of the TV. A digital signal-processing algorithm switches between dedicated sound modes when it detects music, sports, drama, movies, etc.
BeoVision 11 offers a digital surround sound decoder module that delivers up to 12 audio channels using Bang & Olufsen’s TrueImage processor, which handles up-and down-mixing of audio signals to match the number of audio channels in the incoming signal with the available loudspeakers.
At the heart of BeoVision 11 is a video engine that drives the 240Hz LED-based LCD screen, with glare polarizer, in either 2D or 3D. The two-sided LED backlight features 1.5 D local dimming to improve contrast in 2D viewing.
Among the new image improvement features of the display are:
• 360 degree Automatic Picture Control that senses ambient light not only in front of the screen, but also behind it and to both sides, to continuously adjust brightness and contrast for optimal viewing comfort.
• Adaptive Contrast that reveals detail in very dark scenes even when bright sunlight floods the screen.
• Dedicated picture modes for film and gaming
BeoVision 11 is the first television to feature a Bang & Olufsen Smart TV, a new platform that switches between television channels and the internet. There is also a Picture and Picture function where the viewer can watch both at the same time. Internet connections are hardwired or wireless. Page navigation can be handled with the dedicated remote (Beo4 or Beo6) by Bang & Olufsen, or an iPad or Android tablet with the BeoRemote app to take advantage of QWERTY keyboards.
The display is a DLNA TV that can stream music from a smart phone and to watch a film stored on a NAS drive. In addition it provides connectivity via 2.4 or 5 GHz wireless networks, an Ethernet connection for software updates, two USB ports, three control outlets for control of up to six connected devices, and six HDMI sockets. Additionally, there is a dedicated space inside the cabinet for Apple TV.
The TV comes in six front fabric colors, (blue, black, white, silver, red, and dark gray), a front frame in silver or black, and rear cabinet in black or white.
It has four stand options, including a motorized floor stand or the new motorized wall bracket. A wall bracket with manual turn and an easel stand are also available.
BeoVision 11 is available in 40-, 46- and 55-inch models. Prices begin at $5,995.