Bang & Olufsen can be a very polarizing brand for some audiophiles and we totally get it; the Danish manufacturer charges a lot of money for its products and there is a feeling that its components don’t always offer a level of performance commensurate with the price. $63,000 USD is an astronomical amount of money for a 97″ 4K UHD OLED TV. One can purchase a state-of-the-art JVC 8K projector for less along with a much larger screen.
Over the past 3 years, we have been fortunate to try or review a number of their latest products and in almost every scenario — our expectations were exceeded and there was much to be admired in regard to the industrial design. That still doesn’t make the 97″ Beovision Harmony 4K OLED TV a sensible home theater purchase if you are able to spend that kind of money, but there is certainly more here than just a really large OLED TV.
Bang & Olufsen has announced that they are offering up a $63,000+ 97″ Beovision Harmony TV. The 97-inch 4K UHD model is the latest addition to the rest of the Bang & Olufsen Harmony TV line, which consists of 65″, 77″, 83″ 4K UHD models and an 88-inch 8K model.
The Beovision Harmony 97″ edition not only features a 97-inch OLED screen panel from LG Display but also includes new wood and aluminum speaker covers, which unfold to reveal the screen. This provides a little magic to the home cinema experience, inline with Scandinavian design principles, craftmanship, and Bang & Olufsen audio quality.
Core Features
Here are some of the feature highlights of the 97-inch Beovision Harmony OLED TV:
OLED Panel From LG Display: Unlike a lot of OLED TV makers, Bang & Olufsen is pretty upfront in acknowledging that the display panel they are using in the 97-inch Harmony is a 4K UHD OLED panel from LG Display. This is most likely the same panel used in the LG Electronics 97-inch G2 or forthcoming G3. Bang & Olufsen has also applied much of LG’s video performance and smart features combined with its own distinguishing design and audio performance features.
Cabinet Design: Sculpted from wood or fabric and aluminum, Harmony line TVs catch the eye and invite conversation even in stand-by mode. The built-in 3-channel speaker system unfolds while the television appears to float into the viewing space.
Video: The Harmony incorporates the LG α9 Gen3 AI Processor. The processor’s deep-learning algorithm enhances upscaling performance giving images a more three-dimensional quality. 4K Dolby Vision IQ is also included, filling the screen with exceptional detail and intensely rich colors. Of course, just as with all OLED TVs, the Harmony can display absolute black when needed.
Sound: The 97-inch Harmony incorporates a built-in 3-channel speaker system that is designed to deliver clear dialog along with full room-filling sound.
If you desire a more powerful sound listening experience, especially for movies, the Beovision Harmony can also be seamlessly connected in a wireless sound setup with external speakers, such as the Beolab 90, Beolab 50, or Beolab 28 home speakers, using WiSA technology.
Smart Features: In addition to its video and audio capabilities, Bang & Olufsen has also decided to include LG’s WebOS smart TV platform. This provides access to a full range of video streaming services (location dependent).
Music Streaming: In addition to video streaming, the Harmony also incorporates the Beolink multiroom audio platform and provides access to several music streaming options including:
- Apple AirPlay 2
- Chromecast built-in
- DLNA
- Spotify Connect
- Deezer (incl Deezer HiFi)
- TuneIn internet radio
- QPlay 2.0 (China Specific)
Tip: Bluetooth Version 4.2 is also provided.
Gaming: The Harmony boasts a 0.1 millisecond response time, low input lag, and up to four HDMI 2.1a compliant ports. The input lag is 12.8 ms. VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low-Latency Mode) are both supported and the Harmony is also G-sync and FreeSync™ compatible.
Control: The Harmony comes with the Beoremote One BT which provides comprehensive control of the TV as well as six additional compatible devices and works with compatible home control systems. The TV can also be controlled via Bang & Olufsen TV app which is available on the WebOS app store.
Specifications
- Display Type: OLED panel sourced from LG Display Company
- Display Resolution: 4K UHD
- HDR: HDR 10, HDR 10 Pro, HLG, Dolby Vision IQ
- Streaming Video Codec Compatibility: HEVC, VP9, AV1
- Built-in Speaker System: 3.1 Channels
Speaker Complement:
- Tweeter: 1 x 1-inch
- Full Range: 2 x 2.5-inches
- Midrange/Woofer: 1 x 4-inches
- Woofer: 2 x 4-inches
Amplifiers
- 1 x 50 Watts (center tweeter)
- 2 x 50 watts (full-range speakers)
- 3 x 100 watts (Midrange and Woofers)
TV Screen Inputs
- 4 x HDMI (2.1)
- 3 x USB
- 1 x Ethernet 10/100Mb
Soundcenter Inputs
- 4 x HDMI (2.0)
- 1 x Ethernet 10/100Mb
- 1 x Analogue line in (3.5 mm mini jack)
- 1 x Optical in
Outputs
- 8x WiSA
- 8x Powerlink
- 6x PUC control via IR
Internal Connection
- 1x HDMI (2.0) eARC
- 1 x Ethernet 10/100Mb
- Wi-Fi: WLAN 802.11 b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5Ghz)
Weight
- Bang & Olufsen Sound Center incl. speaker cover: 83.1 kg (183 lbs)
- LG 97” G model OLED TV: 57.0 kg (126 lbs)
- Motorized floor stand: 20.7 kg (45lbs 10oz)
- Floor stand: 10 kg (22 lbs)
Tip: The Harmony does not have digital optical or analog audio outputs. Audio output is only available via HDMI-eARC, Powerlink, and WiSA transmission. You can connect up to eight BeoLab speakers wirelessly in addition to speakers connected via Powerlink.
Finish Options
The 97-inch Beovision Harmony is available in Black Anthracite, Natural Aluminium, and Gold Tone finishes combined with wood. Fully customizable bespoke design solutions are also from Bang & Olufsen’s Atelier service
Pricing & Availability
The Beovision Harmony 97-inch model is priced at $63,075 (USD) at bang-olufsen.com as is available internationally for 59,000 (EUR), 404,350 (DKK), 50,650 (GBP), and 515,388 (CNY). Find Bang & Olufsen stores near you.
If you think $63,000 is too much for a 97-inch 4K UHD TV, you can check out the current LG 97-inch G2 4K UHD OLED TV for $24,999 – it’s not quite as over-the-top stylish as the Beovision Harmony, but it is less than half the price.
Beovision Harmony is also available in smaller screen sizes:
- 65-inch 4K OLED TV – $20,625
- 77-inch 4K OLED TV – $24,075
- 83-inch 4K OLED TV – $25,725
- 88-inch 8K OLED TV – $33,450
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