Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 4-85

Pocket-lint gets to play with plentiful gadgets big and small but every so often there is something that comes along which really makes our jaw drop. The BeoVision 4-85 was definitely one of them.

In the world of money doesn’t matter there is little that can be more impressive than a £65000 85 inch 3D plasma TV.

Bang & Olufsen really went all out on this one, with the television and stand weighing close to a ton. Its so heavy in fact that they insist on having someone come round and survey the site before they even think of installing it. Only one engineer in the whole of the UK is qualified to fit the monster adding to the sheer exclusivity factor.

From our brief watch of Avatar and Wimbledon Tennis in 3D at B&Os own special Selfridge’s living room, we managed to garner an idea of what it would feel like to have an 85 inch telly at home. Pretty special to be honest. 

Watching the BeoVision 4-85 we were treated to that usual smooth and accurate colour response you expect from a high end plasma display. The sheer size of it means that a lot of the 3D picture feels like it is in the room with you, the all encompassing viewing being difficult to ignore. 

One the bottom of the BeoVision we looked at was an optional mono speaker and stand. This allowed the television to be turned by remote and even drop down so it felt less over bearing in the sitting room. The speaker below would retract and then the screen slide down to save on space.

Built into the television is a small camera which automatically calibrates colour every 120 hours, or you can ask it to do it yourself. A bit like monitor calibration when printing, this ensures that you get the absolute best quality picture possible. Keeping up the picture quality is also an ambient light sensor which adjusts picture to suit the mood of whatever room the television is in.

All this super size TV action doesn’t come cheap. The price breakdown for the setup we viewed reads more like an order for a Porsche than a plasma TV. Expect to pay £38000 for the television alone, £2650 for the BeoLab 10 centre speaker, £6100 for the BeoSystem 3 to power it and wait for it....£18000 for the stand. Adding a bit of relief to the bank balance is the cost of the 3D glasses, which are a pinch at £120.

B&O also includes the Beo6 remote which can essentially run your home. The idea is that everything can be connected and controlled; Sky box, curtains, lights, television and music. 

We really like the idea of the BeoVision 4-85 just for its absolute over the top approach to all things televisual. Sure only a select few will be able to plant the telly in their yachts or 50 room mansions but whoever does will be getting a viewing experience that we are mighty jealous of.

Giant TV? Or Ferrari?