V12V Bang & Olufsen...

[wokkadriver]

So how many V12V were fitted with the B&O audio? A quick scan of the classifieds would suggest not many!

[Zod]

Difficult to see the point of it in a V12V.

[IanV12VR]

Agree - very seldom have my audio on as prefer to listen to the exhaust note. Saw little point in speccing the B&O for the additional cost - and couldn't afford the extra space it took up in the roadster

[wokkadriver]

I know it was an expensive option, but having put up with the misery of the Linn in my DB9, some long motorway hauls just need a tune or two! That said, I thought the 700w Alpine system was pretty good...

[AdamV12V]

wokkadriver said:

I know it was an expensive option, but having put up with the misery of the Linn in my DB9, some long motorway hauls just need a tune or two! That said, I thought the 700w Alpine system was pretty good...

Search back through the postings on the forum a little more and you will find that some people have posted to say that the 700W Alpine sounds every bit as good as the B&W and it has more flexibility in the setup options.

There is no doubt however that the B&O system looks better - but £4500 better?

[wokkadriver]

Couldn't agree more - I have listened to both in the DBS and felt the B&O system was just a little deeper and crisper. It would be a stony heart indeed that couldn't get excited about those pop-up tweeters…

That said, in the second hand market someone else has taken that hit...

[Mac355]

I haven't heard the B&O, but I am seriously into my hi-Fi and I think the quality of the premium set up is superb.
Also as has been stated in the roadster it uses up less precious boot space...
A

[V12woollie]

Mac355 said:

I haven't heard the B&O, but I am seriously into my hi-Fi and I think the quality of the premium set up is theuperb.
Also as has been stated in the roadster it uses up less precious boot space...
A

I've spent more money than I'd like to admit on equipment and anyone seriously into hi-fi wouldn't have B&O anywhere near the top of the list. Great design, mediocre performance. There is significantly better quality at less cost. I definitely wouldn't pay over £4K to have B&O rather then the premium audio.

[wokkadriver]

Veering slightly off thread here - I'm not asking for a critique of the qualities of the B&O vs Alpine vs anything else, just wondering how many had it fitted!

[wokkadriver]

V12woollie said:

I've spent more money than I'd like to admit on equipment and anyone seriously into hi-fi wouldn't have B&O anywhere near the top of the list. Great design, mediocre performance. There is significantly better quality at less cost. I definitely wouldn't pay over £4K to have B&O rather then the premium audio.

I'm inclined to agree, there is a lot of 'premium' paid to have a B&O logo stuck on a Phillips box. I think only Bose come close in the marketing/PR vs quality of product department.

Given a limitless choice, I'd have something else, but as with so many things in life, you get what you are given...

[JohnG1]

wokkadriver said:

So how many V12V were fitted with the B&O audio? A quick scan of the classifieds would suggest not many!

Mine has it.

Many of the original dealer specified cars had it.

Maybe a bit of a banal point, but I have seen a lot of adverts that cut and paste the AML specification sheet. They don't cut and paste properly and therefore miss out the optional extras. So I found that some car adverts stated the default stereo but instead had the B&O.

My view (unasked, but what the hell) carbon fibre seats and B&O are wise options to have. The rest, much of a muchness. I had carbon fibre strakes added since I like them, but I have kept the chromed zinc strakes - must put them on ebay at some point...

[sukh_m]

V12woollie said:

Mac355 said:

I haven't heard the B&O, but I am seriously into my hi-Fi and I think the quality of the premium set up is theuperb.
Also as has been stated in the roadster it uses up less precious boot space...
A

Great design, mediocre performance. There is significantly better quality at less cost. I definitely wouldn't pay over £4K to have B&O rather then the premium audio.

+1

You always pay for the design and name. Bose for example, are ok but nothing special imo - but for the same price (or less) you can get something better.

[Zod]

The high end B&O hifi speakers are good, but at the price there are other options that probably sound better. THe rest of the kit is all about design. The sound is fine, but nothing special. TO buy one of the TVs, you really have to want the design. The panels are obviously nothing to do with B&O.

BOSE is in another category entirely: turd rolled in glitter.

[AdamV12V]

JohnG1 said:

My view (unasked, but what the hell) carbon fibre seats and B&O are wise options to have. The rest, much of a muchness.

I would certainly agree with your comments on the cf bucket seats, but I would go further to say they are a must have, unless the size of your derrier rules them out. These in a V12V are a match made in heaven - I wouldn't buy another without them.

Plus they are less than half the cost of the B&O as an option, which makes them a relative bargain!

[CatalystV12V]

I have B&O in my car... love the pop-up lenses. However from a sound perspective I preferred the Premium sound that I had in the V8....

[Henry M]

My 2012.5 Carbon Edition V12 Vantage has the B&O option. The car was specced by AM North America. I would not have paid the extra for it had I ordered the car. The premium system in my 2007 V8 Vantage was excellent. However, I have to admit that it's nice to have and does sound good when I can hear it over the roar of the engine. What a car...

Henry