In an age where TV manufacturers tout a barely perceptible pinstripe as a bold styling stroke, Bang & Olufsen's new BeoVision 8 has to rank as the gutsiest design going.

When creating the 32-inch TV, B&O's designers realized that the thin bezel surrounding most flat-panel sets made it impossible to achieve quality sound. Their solution: Increase the size of the bezel by adding a "lip" that curves out from the bottom of the set. The lip houses stereo speakers and a downward-firing, ported subwoofer to reinforce the bass. B&O chief designer David Lewis likens it to "a proper stage with a real orchestra pit," and we have to agree that the models we saw at the recent CES show did conjure the image of a Broadway theater in miniature.

The BeoVision 8 is an attempt by B&O not only to fill out its TV line, but to provide a set at what it calls an "entry-level price point"—which in B&O-speak means $3,995. The 1366x768-pixel screen features a glare polarizer to optimize contrast and prevent the annoying reflections that mar the pictures of most flat-panel sets. A barely visible Bang & Olufsen logo in the grille adds an elite design touch and tells your friends this set is no Vizio.