ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
After seeing one of our long standing members thin out his collection somewhat, I wondered which system would most of us keep no matter what. Suggestions and reasons can be put on this thread and I could always do a poll once a good number of suggestions are in.
My suggestions would be :
1. Beolab 5000 system - built without compromise - beautifully made and still pretty powerful some 50 years later! Simple design which anyone can work but lots of tweakable features - professional quality.
2. Beolab 8000 system - another go at much the same idea 20 years later - it is better in that it is more powerful and more accurate. Not such nice materials though and ridiculously large.
3. Beosystem 7000 - the ultimate remote multisource system - two way remote years ahead of its time. Cons would be that it can only really be used with a remote and that it is sonically based on a midrange system.
4. Beocenter 9500 - the ultimate ergonomic design - possibly the best design made by B&O - even my wife loved it! Again, a bit large.
5. Beosound 9000 - iconic design and what many these days regard as B&Os signature piece. Control interface possibly disappointing after the 9500. A hinged lid over the controls!!?
What else should be on the list and why? I can think of a number but time for some others to have a go! Think of reasons why, but also reasons why not!
Peter
I'd agree with your number one choice there Peter - my Beolab / Beomaster 5000 would be the B&O system I'd keep no matter what. From seeing it in one of my dad's old B&O brochures I knew I wanted one - it's the combination of design, materials, build quality and sound performance that epitomises Bang & Olufsen to me. Mine is on it's way to be restored by Frede and ultimately it's something I will pass on to my children!
I would keep my Beomaster 2000 (original 1970's model) coupled with my early S45 speakers. All in white, the BM2000 was bought unseen from a Danish small ad, and was rebuilt by Martin (Dillen). The speakers were bought from 'richtoy' who I think had got them from an Architect's house clearance in Belgium. The speakers were virually unused and the cones were still covered in the original factory applied talcum powder.
It's a superb combination, used mostly for internet radio via an Olive One input. I'd keep it in preference to other Beomasters. The Beocenter 2 would come a close second. Modern TV's by B&O are superb, but seem more easily replaceable by other makes, although the motorised stands are still the unique selling point.
Graham
"You think we can slap some oak on this thing?"
I've said it in numerous threads, my Beogram 6500 Turntable. But thinking back on it, it would be nice to have a Beosound 9000 again, just to look at.
My Playmaker.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
For nostalgic reasons: BM,BG 1000 with Beovox 1600, my first ever Beo system (with Beovox 1000) bought back in 1969 and a couple of years later sold to get money for a car buy.
My BM 4400: worst/best rebuild I ever done, and my best amp until date.
Beovox M70s with trumpet stands, perfect speaker for the BM 4400
BG 5000 pizzabox with MMC2 from Axel, my best BG (having BG 1000, 1202, 2404, TX2, RX2)
Beolit 505, 40 years old and still playing good, best multi room system
Collecting Vintage B&O is not a hobby, its a lifestyle.
Beomaster 8000, Lovely design & performance
Beogram 4000, Iconic, ease of use & performance.
Beolink 7000, Incredible remote. A legend.
Beovox M100, Fantastic speakers.
Beovox S45 type 1, Maybe even more impressive for its size.
Beocenter 9500, Best looking and most complete and easy to use, with lots of options and possibilities.
//Bo.A long list...
.
Present: BL90, Core, BL6000, CD7000, Beogram 7000, Essence Remote.
Past: BL1, BL2, BL8000, BS9000, BL5, BC2, BS5, BV5, BV4-50, Beosystem 3, BL3, DVD1, Beoremote 4, Moment.
BG 6500 with MMC2 & Ouverture
Beogram 6500 MMC2,Beosound Ouverture,2xBeolab 8000,2xBelolab 4000,Beolab 2,Beolab 7.2,Beo4 navi, 2xBeocom2,Serene,Beosystem 3 mk3,H6 2nd gen,Earphones E8,A8,A9 keyring,Beoplay A1,Bottle opener,Beoplay A2 active(thanks Botty)Wine Set(thanks Botty),4Ktv Samsung 55'',Beolab 7.1 with 42''Panasonic plasma,,Oppo udp-203, LinTronic.
Definitely will be the Beocentre 9500 will be the last .It is simply the best imho well ahead of its time!
we tend to forget there is more to design than designing.
The Ouverture for design but of course, for me, totally obsolete now, but so stunning at the time.
And my Grandad's BeoMaster 1900, BeoGram 1500 and BeoCord 1900 which i'll never use and the poor thing is collecting dust but more of a sentiment thing :)
My BM6500 and MCP, still keeps up with being able to accept multiple sources that come and go, multiroom, looks and sounds great - and when you want to hear a radio station you just press a button.
My BG1500 as the first thing I bought when I started work - still keeps coming back into service every now and then when other turntables fail or I get bored with them.
The things I wish I'd kept that I would consider icons were, BC9300, BS9000, BL8000, BV7800, BV3802, BV6000, BV Avant (just no space for the BVs) and BG4004.
A tricky question! Having owned lots of B&O but whittled my collection down to the important stuff, I'm left with most of a Beolab 5000 system, a complete Beolab 8000 system and a complete Beosystem 5000.
It would be a horribly tough decision but, if really pushed, I suspect the last one out of the door would be the Beosystem 5000