Hasta La Ideas

Even as TVs get flatter, thinner and lighter, Bang&Olufsen’s new BeoPlay V1 TV is the most streamlined option on the market. With four innovative new mounting options—floor stand, upright table stand, wall bracket and ceiling bracket—it’s designed to fit any lifestyle and any space. Designer Anders Hermansen was apparently inspired by origami to create a body for the TV made of only two sheets of powder coated steel, folded together like paper. The floor stand or wall and ceiling mountings are equally unobtrusive, as is the universal Beo4 remote, which can control DVD, Blu-ray players, Set-top boxes, NAS drivers and Apple TV, which mounts in the back.

Samsung makes the screen panel (100 Hz on the 32” model and 120 Hz on the 40”) with full HD 1080p, Edge LED backlight and an automatic picture control sensor that “enables the screen to adapt to lighting conditions in the room to deliver optimal performance.” As far as sound goes, B&O’s proprietary ICEPower amplifier provides integrated 5.1 surround sound power enough to fill a room. The tech news site T3 reviewed the V1, using a live Adele concert to test out the sound.

“Unsurprisingly, the V1 sounds pretty amazing and definitely supports the claim that the speakers are powerful enough to fill a room…The ICEPower amplifier technology really comes to the fore in terms of loudness while backlighting technology and the anti-glare nature of the panel made for great viewing angles, but this was, of course, in optimal viewing conditions, which won’t be the case for every living room.”

Though B&O is selling the V1 as its more affordable option, it’s still pretty pricey. The 32” is about $3,170 and the 40” is $3,831 (converted prices). And in case you were thinking of buying one and using the tabletop stand to move it around to different rooms in your house, the unit weighs in at a hefty 57 pounds, though it’s still a solid investment if you have the means (and/or if you have a Flat Boombox).

(more…)