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
It's Friday night and I finally have some time to myself. I picked up my Classic Audio BL/BM5000 on monday and it has been waiting patiently on a shelf since. It is of course in perfect condition, and I have been reading the manuals thoroughly, building up my expectations.
But when it rains, it pours! So since monday I have also acquired a set of beovox 5000 with cubes and just today I almost stumbled upon a MINT looking, one owner, beomaster 4400 with the set of beovox 4702 it was originally bought with, and for a price of next to nothing. I was almost as excited as I was about the BL/BM5000
So with my hands full of new toys there was nothing else for it than to line up everything next to my loved BS6500 with pentas, get one of the my best chairs positioned, and see(listen) what's what And have a drink of course.
I'll let you know my thoughts tomorrow.
And some Pictures
Very true! and yes, that can come back any time without warning
But I had a great evening, and I actually left the living room more less like that the whole weekend. Going to and fro.
First, the 4702's need new woofer surrounds so they were packed away quickly. But the 5000's were very good indeed especially with the cubes. I actually enjoyed listening to them as much as the penta's. To my ears the Penta's have a better definition but not the same depth as the 5000's, not surprising really. But still the 5000's were much better than expected. I don like the look of them though.
When It comes to the amplifiers then they felt very different, the 4400 was more or less plug and play while the 5000 needed a bit of adjustment. to get"the right" sound. Both could easily handle the big speakers, the bass felt a bit more controlled with the 5000, but they are pretty close. To my surprise, and slight annoyance, I so far like the sound of the 4400 better. I can't give a particular reason why.
I'm impressed that these systems are that good, especially their age taken into consideration. I couId easily live with the sound of either in my livingroom. The impression it must have made 50/40 years ago...
Good times
I also have both the 4400 and BM/BL5000s. The 4400 is more in control in my view - the damping factor is much better as it is directly coupled and it is just smooth and powerful. I don't like Beovox 5000s - I have a pair of Mk3s - but never use them. They clearly need the crossovers fixing but they are nothing like as good as my M100s. The cubes are gorgeous though! I use the BM/BL5000 most often as the 4400 is away on holiday, and confess to mainly using it with an iPod classic though plan to get an Amazon Dot instead - the input level adjusters could be helpful.
Never had 4702s - you don't see them in the UK - we had 3800s instead. The big speakers are better at the low notes than Pentas which once the bass gets really low, loses definition and become very one note. I do have a Beolab 2 that I use with them but with music it is really not very good - muddies things up - I blame the ABRs.Great as cinema speakers though!
Peter