Is it worth buying a set of MS120 that need refoaming?

Hi everyone,

I currently run a Beomaster 8000 driving a pair of S45.2 in my office at work. It’s sounds great.

I however have the opportunity of buying a pair of MS150 (not MS150.2, don’t know what the difference is to be honest). They however do need refoaming.

Iv never had refoaming done. Does it change the characteristics of the speaker? (Different stiffness of foam, or different specifications to what B&O originally specified, or if foam just foam?) Can I trust anybody who does refoaming with vintage speakers of the caliber of B&O? Or is refoaming pretty straight forward enough that anyone who has done any speaker refoaming should be fine?

I’m a little worried that I will not be getting “true” MS150 because of this “refoaming”.

Am I just being paranoid?

Are the MS150s capable of playing detailed bass at low listening levels compared to smaller speakers like the S45.2, or do they need some pressure (volume) to bring out the bass detail?

Lastly, are they worth the trouble (seeing that I have to have then refoamed) to match up to the Beomaster 8000 (as they were designed to go together)? Is it prudent to get the “set”, Beomaster 8000 + Beovox MS120, not just only to sound good, but potentially for resale value one day?

As you can tell, I’m a little hesitant.....

Hi,

I posted my Beovox MS-150 restorations a few years ago. I have three versions of the series. Two are designated MS-150 and the third pair are MS-150.2.  Personally I cannot hear the difference between the MS-150.2 and the original MS-150.  However, I will say that if you can get them I would definitely get them to go with your Beomaster 8000. I have a full Beosystem 8000 and love it. Do the speakers also include the stands?

I refoamed the drivers in my speakers with foam type surrounds because that is what the B&O engineers originally used and I wanted to try and keep the sound as the designers intended. They chose the material for a reason.

Regarding the Beosystem 8000 components...They came out at the start of the 80's so they are getting closed to 40 years old. If they haven't been restored then you are listening to a degraded version of the components. 

-sonavor

 

To answer your questions about having the surrounds restored it is important to have an experienced speaker shop do the work if that isn't a skill you have yourself. Check up on the speaker shop references to see how customers like them. The speaker shop will know what foam surrounds to use. 

-sonavor

As long as you keep it orginal as much as you can to refoam the drivers and so forth you will still get the true experience to a great match Beomaster and Beovox. Besides your current choice is not ideal.

 

Ok, I will look into seeing about driving down to look at them. They are rare, compared to like the Beolab 1 or Beolab 6000, or even Beolab 8000 which I see popping up on ebay regularly, so there is that allure as well.

Based on the sound the S45.2 makes, Im hoping for a big upgrade with these.