[Sandyb]

Ordered my Theatre today, and 77 inch LG G2.

Will wall mount the basic 55 Theatre with wood lamellas (above my floating cabinet), and separately wall / flush mount the LG G2 77, with some separation between the two. Will live with it for a while, and then see if any extension / widening wings are needed to improve the aesthetics of the setup.

No additional parts required – i.e no Theatre VESA interface, not floor stand, so just the price of the 2 separate elements. While that configuration may not suit all, its what I’ve always wanted (configuration wise), and saves quite a lot vs other configuration options. The VESA interface / motorised stands are expensive and really raise the piece of those types of setups.

Elsewhere, the lack of HDMI Matrix integration is far from ideal. The workaround is liveable though – by using the one matrix output that arrives in my living room for my main matrix connected source, SKY Q set top box, I can use the BR1 to control the SKY box through the Theatre, as that single matrix connection will carry PUC commands back to the matrix. This direct matrix connection will go into the Theatre HDM 2, plus a PUC connection.

The lack of Matrix integration means that any other sources need to be local. I will put an ATV 4K locally now connected into Theatre HDMI 3, and a PUC between them will also allow the BR1 to control it.

That covers 85% of my use cases by source. On the odd occasion when I want to use the BR player or PS5, it will require using the matrix iPhone app to switch sources sent down the pipe to the Theatre, and no BR1 control is then possible (obviously not an issue with my PS5).

Anyway, forgive the long post, but at least (subject to wood lamellas colour choice to come), I’m now done – for my living room, where the BV12-65 will get replaced by the above. Next year, I will change my bedroom Avant 55 to a Theatre 55.

 

[Sandyb]

One of the UK websites has pricing options and some transparency.

55 Theatre 5390 GBP

77 Theatre 6190 GBP

so 800 GBP difference for the larger version

Same as the wood cover (vs the grey cloth) – an extra 800 GBP.

 

[Sandyb]

hmm not clear – my guess is that if you ordered a 77 inch version, you’d get one package / box for the standard Theatre, and that would include the small 55 inch wings….and a separate package containing the 77 inch wings. Thats my best guess.

That said the spec sheet suggests not (though we know spec sheets are often not 100% correct)

The spec sheet says

WHAT IS IN THE BOX:

Beosound Theatre including 55” or 65” or 77” Side Wings

Can interpret that spec sheet wording in different ways, but my guess is as above….you get the 55 wings whatever size you order, and in addition the 65 / 77 wings in a separate box if that what was specified at time of purchase.

 

 

[Sandyb]

Apologies you’re right, having watched again more closely!

[Sandyb]

That IR plaster end was the end that sits (usually taped / fixed) to the peripheral unit i.e Sky box, Blu Ray player etc….the other end, that goes in the Theatre, is the usual PUC cable end. Business as usual.

[Sandyb]

Regarding 50s or 90s, I listened to both at my dealer.

Though the 90s were never a realistic option for me, just a touch too big for my living room.

They’re a different beast to the 50s of course, and simply incredible. But the 50s, whilst different, are also pretty special.

For me, I wanted speakers that would allow me to wallow in music properly, and much better than the 18s that I had before (which were in themselves, and with other rear speakers etc) very good for movies. But my focus is more on music now, and whilst 50s too were a lot of money, I wanted something which would be my last ever speakers. So in that context, zero regrets.

I love that with both 50s and 90s, I could very easily let them share duties with my Beovison, because of the various / multiple connection options. My BV is connected to the 50s for tv / movies via usual power link connections. But my music chain (Linn streamer/DAC and turntable) are connected directly to the 50s, bypassing the Beovison, via RCA.

Its a best of both worlds setup, and I wouldnt have any other way.

If I had a larger living space, I probably would have opted for the 90s though – not only for sonic reasons, but also their design in more distinctive. The 50s design isn’t as strong, but with the aluminium fronts and smoked oak frets, they can be dressed up to look pretty fancy too.

You’d be very happy with either to be honest.

[Sandyb]

So that should break down something like this no?

Theatre 6490

Oak Grill 1o00

77 inch wings 1000

Motorised Floor Stand 2800

VESA interface 800-1000

That I think is the broad breakdown of the elements, and gets you to around 12300, and the BR1 probably gets you to the near 13,000 euro price.

As the TV experience, i.e the setup you’ve got, its very expensive no doubt.

If one goes for the separate wall mounting option (not the motorised wall bracket), the 2800 and the 1000 interface costs are saved…..so that setup becomes more reasonable. Of course, not everyone will want / can do the latter….but just illustrates that cost can very quite a bit depending on configuration chosen.

Nice choice though, the anthracite and dark oak looks extremely nice.

[Sandyb]

Thanks for the post, and your impressions more or less match mine, when I heard the Theatre on Sunday.

I have 50s as left and right front speakers, and am used to a very wide (some would say massive) soundstage. And coming from that starting point, and desire, listening to the Theatre on its own the soundstage, while noticeably bigger than the Eclipse (for example), was not wide enough for me.

It is wide enough though, and good enough, to me that I can see that starting with the Theatre alone, the first sensual addition is for rear speakers rather than adding front l/r. That to me is the difference between the Theatre (as sound centre) and the Eclipse (or other prior BV’s) where the first addition would clearly be front l/r speakers.

But like you, music is much more important to me, so the 50s up front will remain, and will continue to be fed directly (via RCA) by my Linn streamer/DAC and turntable.

Good luck with your setup though – sounds mighty capable, whether you put your upcoming 28s besides the Theatre up front, or as rears. My experience of that setup – the triangle, with 28s as rears, and Theatre only top front, was extremely good.

[Sandyb]

it does indeed help, thanks very much.

Very well written too, and even a dumb dumb like me understood the piece!

[Sandyb]

I am curious as to whether there was any reason for the installers to have set up the whole set (theatre, 18s and 28s) as a group called TrueImage though?!? Assuming it wasnt random, and they are possibly following some guidance?

Raises the broader question about how Atmos and TrueImage play together / work with or around each other.

Pretty sure Geoff has been anticipating (fearing perhaps!) having to explain some of this, with all the best will in the world.

[Sandyb]

I dont know why, but it may have been more store specific in this case. In their small listening room I think they possibly already had the 18s wired in (their other 18s are not connected), so I wouldn’t read too much into that (I think).

Moreover one point of marketing emphasis is, as you infer, on the capability of a Theatre alone with 28s as rears ( I call it the triangle, for brevity!). It did sound pretty persuasive to me, especially for a modest living space. Personal preferences often override these considerations of course.

That said, for some perhaps like myself, who are. sticklers for a massive wide soundstage, my impression (from listening to the Theatre alone) was that (again for fusspots like myself), I would still want / need dedicated front left / rights.

I cant account for whether the Theatre and other speakers were perfectly setup / calibrated, as the sales team didnt do it – a team of installers (assuming from B&O?) came in and did it overnight last Thursday, so none of the salesman were around.

[Sandyb]

Hi there Geoff, yes in some respects the setup (having literally just been done on Thursday night at Selfridges) wasn’t ideal. In the sense that it was hard to find out to what extent the installers had set it up properly. Were all the various calibrations done, and done properly? One can only assume.

So my thoughts, caveated more fully on my Discord post, were initial impressions only. My usual dealer in London has a much more conducive listening environment, so I will revisit.

Initial impressions were pretty damn good though, and this is the product I’ve been waiting for. While I will certainly retain my BL50s as left / right fronts, and hence the following comment is less applicable to my setup, I did think the Theatre front / BL28s rears was indeed a very very good overall experience, and not one where the absence of dedicated front l/r’s was felt.

Anyway, my finger is poised to buy 2 Theatres – but I need Matrix integration to e implemented, as I (as some others still do) have a separate room / space with sources / HDMI matrix and cabling infrastructure to serve multiple BV’s in different rooms. (not your domain I strongly suspect, but mention it I must!)

Thanks, and look forward to the blog post.

[Sandyb]

OK, I’ve just come back from spending 40 minutes listening to the Theatre.

The B&O area in Selfridges, London has had a Theatre installed in their small listening room, with BL18s as front l/r, and BL28s as rears.

I posted the below on Discord:

Their set up is Theatre, BL 18s left / right front, and BL28s rears, all in the relatively small room that was shown in the photos yesterday……
We’ve all seen enough photos of the Theatre now, so in real life, nothing will change vis a vis your visual appreciation……if you liked it from the pictures, you’ll like it in real…..if you dont, then you probably wont…….they had the 65 Theatre on the floor stand…

Sound wise – i listened to the Theatre on its own (speaker group 1 in their setup), the Theatre in a group called TrueImage (Theatre, 18s fronts, 28s rears), and a 3rd speaker group Theatre + rear 28s (i.e no front left / right 18s)……

I wanted to gauge how good the Theatre was on its own – speak group 1 above….And its a pretty big sound, certainly more voluminous (width / depth / height) than the Eclipse. Was it mnd blowing on its own? Not to me, no. In simple terms, if i had a Harmony, its broadly similar, and i wouldnt feel compelled to change (on sound considerations)

I also wanted to gauge whether i (and this is just me) the Theatre alone would remove the need for front speakers (L/R) – and to me, no…i’d definitely still retain a dedicated set of front l/r speakers…..for context i like a massive wide soundstage, and my lounge is 3-4 times the size of the listening room.

Flicking between their group 1 (Theatre on its own) to group 2 (adding BL18s fronts) was reasonably different to me – there’s just quite a bit of extra width with dedicated fronts…..

Speaker group 3 – the B&O triangle lets call it – Theatre + 28s rears, was extremely good….oddly enough, i can see why they recommend this…..in this configuration, i didnt really miss the BL18s front l/r……..for a decent but not large livign room, i can see why that will be a very good setup…..

[Sandyb]

I believe, reading between the lines, that B&O are trying to get some (perhaps the same?) level of integration with other brands (Sony and Samsung would achieve a lot). But that is not a very near term likelihood. Not sure the impact of the LG/B&O partnership on that project / aim, but regardless, I do believe that other brand integration is something they are aiming at.

[Sandyb]

app setup / settings looks decent enough to my eyes.

I wonder if that means there is no / very little B&O menu section that shows up / can be shown on the LG panel itself. (I’m not overly familiar with the Eclipse / Harmony generations to be honest).

Anyway, I dont especially mind doing most of the settings on the app.

not sure if that way will appeal to everyone though.

Guess we’ll find out in a few weeks.

[Sandyb]

Guessing yes – there was after all a reason that the Eclipse was modified to a v3.

At the same time, the Eclipse is very close to being discontinued.

 

[Sandyb]

yeah, I sort of expected a few years ago for PUC to be de emphasised.

That said, higher end installations with sources in a rack hidden in separate room, and serving one or more rooms with BVs (and therefore the clean installations they often show in their own photos) will not work with the Theatre.

Unless Matrix support is added.

But I am very doubtful – as we can see, the one port is clearly a de-prioritization of PUC / IR.

 

[Sandyb]

Thanks for the video.

Looks like this is not coming with HDMI matrix support. Only 1 PUC socket (enabling control of 2 units) is clearly a weakening commitment to PUC.

And while software updates may bring Matrix support, I’m not optimistic at all that it will come.

On the Discord today, while Christian K wasn’t quite sure, and was non committal on this issue, reading between the lines I dont think my conclusion is wrong, especially given his brief comments.

I know many have reduced their use of external sources, but there are surely still a good number who do continue to use them. Matrix integration on all the previous BVs allowed super clean installations, with source boxes etc hidden / out of the room, and just fed to various BVs in various rooms.

Unless that support is added to the Theatre, its a no go for me.

Anyway, lovely product otherwise.

[Sandyb]

Halo works with the Theatre.

Says so in the product sheet.

[Sandyb]

in the product spec sheet….

PERIPHERAL UNIT CONTROL

Integrated Peripheral Unit/Set-top Box Controllerfortwounits,allowingyou to control set-top boxes with the
Bang & Olufsen remote control

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