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
Hello everyone,
Maybe you all remember a very popular thread started on the previous forum, one about a certain BeoMaster 4000 that was to be exchanged at the B&O headquarters in Struer this past May and transported to America for restoration. Sadly, the transaction did not happen as I could not attend the trip and the project was binned.
For those of you who are not familiar or would like to remember, click HERE to read up.
However, I have good news to report. The BeoMaster 4000 was finally handed off to me in Germany last week! So, for all you lovely BeoWorlders, I have documented the story.......
Last week in Hockenheim Germany, I was attending a racing event and organized with member Gunther to hand-off the BeoMaster since he was relatively local. After a few emails and phone calls, we met up at the track and started chatting about BeoWorld, racing and of course the BeoMaster...
Here we are at the campsite of the Hockenheimring. A teammate was nice enough to snap our picture. We also took a few pictures with Gunther's camera - maybe we can get him to post them
During the event, the BeoMaster would stay in my tent in its box waiting to travel the world!!!
Beo4 'til I die!
Congrats Evan, thats really good news, and compliment to Gunther for such a nice gift, And pics Gunther
Collecting Vintage B&O is not a hobby, its a lifestyle.
Well here we are on Monday morning. Behind me is the Hockenheimring and the campsite has been deconstructed, time to get hiking! First stop is the Deutsche Bahn train station on the other side of the city. Boxed and wrapped in plastic is the BeoMaster, ready to begin its trip to the USA!
Here is the first leg mapped out: Google reports the trip is only 3.1km. Sounds like a short hike, but not when carrying a BeoMaster!!
Here we are waiting on the train to Frankfurt. We will be departing from the airport in Frankfurt on Tuesday morning.
The route to Frankfurt was a 100km trip north, via 3 trains.
Here we are at a stop roughly halfway between Hockenheim and Frankfurt, not sure exactly where. The box seems to be holding up well!
Ok, going to stop the thread here for now, will resume tomorrow! Night
This is great
--mika
Evan:Here is the first leg mapped out: Google reports the trip is only 3.1km. Sounds like a short hike, but not when carrying a BeoMaster!!
LOL
Congratulations -- good to see Gunther as large as life !!
BeoNut since '75
Yep, here it goes....
That's how I looked when hearing about the missing in Struer:
But then hearing about that Hockenheim thing I felt better.
Evan:We also took a few pictures with Gunther's camera - maybe we can get him to post them
Well they look almost identical - except this one about the team:
Sorry to hear about your half-time pitstop trouble - Maybe the little honda didn't like the German beer
Congrats to overall rank 46 anyway; better luck next year?
Some info about all this Hockenheim FSG event you can find here. Was the very first time I watched internet TV BTW. Just to find out that car30 was out there before I started watching inet and the electric cars...
The old thread isn't too much fun without all those pictures so for those who don't remember it will be a hard time following it.
Anyway, BM seemed to have arrived safely in the States. Wonder how the story will continue; And I'm looking for another cousin named BM1900 arriving soon. Nice one, too; have several of them. You'll have to find a lot of passive speakers now; And rooms to fill them in
@Sören: I'm not guilty for showing up personally in the thread - I wouldn't; Your fault for watching
And Ed knows me by now already; give my regards to Sue...
Gunther
Want to see photograph of BM sitting in an airplane seat.......
Gunther, Evan needs more turntables before he needs more passive speakers.......
Rich:Gunther, Evan needs more turntables before he needs more passive speakers.......
Just bought a BG5000 yesterday - but too late to hand that one over
And without speakers that would be a silent joy - the cartridge's pure mechanical sound unamplified is very low and poor
richhaffner:Want to see photograph of BM sitting in an airplane seat....... Gunther, Evan needs more turntables before he needs more passive speakers.......
hemenex: And Ed knows me by now already; give my regards to Sue... Gunther
Indeed ... I showed Sue the picture and she said "oh that's Gunther !"
Our regards to your Susannah
Alright everyone, good evening and welcome back!
This is me in the hotel room in Moerfelden-Walldorf just outside of Frankfurt. We rode the train to Fankfurt Flughafen and caught a taxi to the hotel. The taxi ride was exhilarating, we were travelling in excess of 160kmh on the autobahn! It was nice to get out of my box and show off a little bit
After another lighting fast taxi ride, we arrived back at the Frankfurt Flughafen and departed for America.
This is a terminal in Detroit. Here we would enjoy a 9 hour layover until our next flight to Columbus.
@Rich: Evan did not snap a pic of me in a seat on the plane, so unfortunately this seat in the terminal is as good as it gets.
And finally, Columbus Ohio!!!!
Here I am in my new home The place is already full of familiar faces!
Now I am out of that worn out old box for good!
Now its time to settle in and get ready for some restoration work. Evan has bought me a new power cord to adapt me to these different wall outlets. There are also new cable terminals, I will have my own set of wires!
Better start a new thread - "The Eagle has landed" ... or at this stage is it a fledgling ?
Anyway congratulations Evan, and welcome old fella to your new home
Great souvenir to take home.
Evan: This is a terminal in Detroit. Here we would enjoy a 9 hour layover until our next flight to Columbus. @Rich: Evan did not snap a pic of me in a seat on the plane, so unfortunately this seat in the terminal is as good as it gets.
Been in that terminal dozens of times.
Glad to see you made it back to the States. Is the Magic Envelope still inside?
Rich: Evan: This is a terminal in Detroit. Here we would enjoy a 9 hour layover until our next flight to Columbus. @Rich: Evan did not snap a pic of me in a seat on the plane, so unfortunately this seat in the terminal is as good as it gets. Been in that terminal dozens of times. Glad to see you made it back to the States. Is the Magic Envelope still inside?
I think that will be the third time for me.
I was just about to go open up the 4000 so I will report back. However, I believe Mr. Gunther provided copies of the schematics. To be honest, I would be happier with that because i won't be so nervous about conserving originals!
hemenex: Sorry to hear about your half-time pitstop trouble - Maybe the little honda didn't like the German beer Congrats to overall rank 46 anyway; better luck next year? Some info about all this Hockenheim FSG event you can find here. Was the very first time I watched internet TV BTW. Just to find out that car30 was out there before I started watching inet and the electric cars... The old thread isn't too much fun without all those pictures so for those who don't remember it will be a hard time following it. Anyway, BM seemed to have arrived safely in the States. Wonder how the story will continue; And I'm looking for another cousin named BM1900 arriving soon. Nice one, too; have several of them. You'll have to find a lot of passive speakers now; And rooms to fill them in
Yes the driver change at the endurance event was frustrating. Hot re-starts are very difficult for these cars. Especially with an almost undersized battery (easy place to save weight). You can visit our own website HERE for more info as well. We will be competing in Michigan next May for sure, if we are lucky Germany as well, if not we will be there for 2014.
Yes, he has arrived safe and sound. Time to get started on that new mains cord!
Søren Mexico: Congrats Evan, thats really good news, and compliment to Gunther for such a nice gift, And pics Gunther
Thanks Søren I hope you like the thread, Gunther and I have planned this extensively!
Evan:Time to get started on that new mains cord!
Don't forget to set it to 130 That'll be safe for the beginning...
And yes, the Magic Envelope IS still inside;was part of the old thread - oh these missing pictures
Martin (Dillen) sent me an original together with some other parts.
And the copies I made are still here
Evan:Thanks Søren I hope you like the thread, Gunther and I have planned this extensively!
Good thread, and start the BM 4000 on 130V, as Gunther recommend, I run mine on 130 since the beginning, do the same with your BM 1900.
Now, what about turntables, you will have to complete the sets, maybe you should take a small talk with Eugene
Content of my Magic Envelope. Looking forward to Evan's....
First things first, bottom plate off! Time to change that funky cord.
After de-soldering the old cable from the switch, pull it out of the tube and replace with new. Here is the new one about to be installed. The new cable is slightly to large for the strain relief so I will replace that later.
For those of you reading and who are doing a similar conversion, you can skip this step and change the actual terminal plug. I prefer the molded plug look, so decided to replace the entire cord.
Gunther was telling the truth! Original schematics! Thank you both - Gunther and Martin!!
All done with cord and playing some tunes now. Listening to the Koyannisqatsi sound track by Philip Glass through my original S45-2s.
I like this thread
Always nice to see one of those old Beomasters end up in a good home,,,
Steffen: I like this thread Always nice to see one of those old Beomasters end up in a good home,,,
USA has one more vintage (not old) BM 4000, To make sure they don't get overcrowded up there, I bought this one, will be here this week.
Søren Mexico: USA has one more vintage (not old) BM 4000, To make sure they don't get overcrowded up there, I bought this one, will be here this week.
I'm sure they have more 4000's...Is that why you bought a 4400..?
Steffen:I'm sure they have more 4000's...Is that why you bought a 4400..?
Already have one of those also from up there, I bought the 4400 on the bay by accident, bid cheap and got it. now I have to look for a BG and speakers, the fabric selector is real happy, not a word for 3 weeks.
So in the last several days, I've been listening to this new 4000 quite extensively.
As you may remember, Gunther spent a lot of time repairing this machine in the old thread. His work really shows through, Mr. 4000 here is 100% functional!
I've had it paired to my original S45-2s for the entire time and the system has sounded amazing. While performance has been exceptional I will be recapping this bad boy with a brand new set of electrolytics. Also, during extended playing, I have noticed that the transformer will buzz a lot, so I will working on that as well.
At any rate, so far so good!
Hi Evan,
The buzzing transformer in the BM 4000 seems to be a common occurrence. I don't know if it can be fixed very easy but I will be very interested if you do repair it. I recapped/refurbished two of the BM 4000 receivers last year (on the old workbench thread) around the same time as Søren (Mexico). I had good success but I had four BM 4000 units to work from. The four were non-working and I was able to use parts from them to produce two working (kind of) units. One of the units had the buzzing transformer. I ended up swapping it with a transformer from one of the other units. I saved the buzzing transformer in case it can be repaired.
sonavor
A few buzzing transformer repair ideas here http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46198
I was going to give it a try for my BM900K but am saving the project for my retirement!
Very interesting. Thanks for posting that link Guy.
Guy: A few buzzing transformer repair ideas here http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46198 I was going to give it a try for my BM900K but am saving the project for my retirement!
Interesting ideas. The problem with BM4000 and its ilk is that the transformer is already epoxied - into a metal case with no space inside it, and very little space around it as well once it's in the Beomaster. It's practically inaccessible.
The heating thing sounds like it might just work, but I'd like to have a spare transformer box before I'd try it. In some Beomasters, the transformer is suspended in rubber grommets that can be replaced/renewed for good effect, but I think BM4000 has been built for best possible transmission of vibrations from the transformer to the table.
tournedos:Interesting ideas. The problem with BM4000 and its ilk is that the transformer is already epoxied - into a metal case with no space inside it, and very little space around it as well once it's in the Beomaster. It's practically inaccessible. The heating thing sounds like it might just work, but I'd like to have a spare transformer box before I'd try it. In some Beomasters, the transformer is suspended in rubber grommets that can be replaced/renewed for good effect, but I think BM4000 has been built for best possible transmission of vibrations from the transformer to the table. --mika
As I'm fooling around with my BM 4400 and want to change the rectifier, fastened stupidly at the side of the transformer, I took out the transformer and opened it. Here it is with the rectifier desoldered. The BM 4000 must be about the same
Here open, filled with some plastic, I checked if it was loose in the box, but seams OK, I think if it is loose adding some epoxy on the 4 sides will do it.
Here the back end rubber bushing, if hard or damaged it has to be renewed, to do this you will have to take out the transformer. Obs there are 2 holes but only one bushing, I checked the spare part list, shows only one. This is sitting directly over the connections for speaker and other, to avoid humming going to the connectors.
Here the front side, its attached directly to the front frame with 2 screws, this means that there must be good rubber feet on the BM, if not, the vibrations will go to the surface and make the humming louder. There are 4 more screws connected to the side frame
Yes Søren,
It is the same. I have a bad rectifier (same as you show in your picture) from one of my spare parts Beomaster 4000 units. I needed the transformer from that unit earlier in the year but thought the transformer was dead. It turned out to just be that ITT B80 C5000/3000 rectifier.
-sonavor
Hi,
Those bridge rectifiers are fragile. I also had a bad one (one diode was shorted) in my Beocenter 3500. Unfortunately, the transformer still hums after replacement. Today a 10 amp rectifier will be far more robust and take half as much space!
Jacques