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
Hi, currently I have some beovox Penta's and have been happy with them, however I recently bought some S45-2 and have been blown away with how clear they are - one of the bass drivers seqized during transport - but the sound quality is still amazing - will get them restored though one day - I love the design of the S/M series speakers and am looking at either a pair of M100's or MC120.2s both on ebay and closeby so I can collect them rather than leave them to getting damaged in the post. I wondered what people's thoughts were on either of these - they will be used with a 1980's Beomaster 6000. I am going to keep the Penta's and restore them one day but the S and M series, to me anyway, are more pleasing. I would not be listening to them at loud volumes and it is clarity that matters - maybe I should just get the S45-2s fixed?
It has to be MC120.2s!
I have both the MC120.2 and M100 speakers setup in a listening room (along with some MS150 speakers). I am also using a Beomaster 6000 with those MC120.2 speakers. I don't think you can go wrong with either but there is a "big" difference in how much space they take up. The MC120.2 speakers look quite small compared to a pair of M100's. The M100 speakers are more than twice the cabinet size and have much more pronounce bass. However, I do like my MC120.2 set. They sound the best at higher volume levels.
-sonavor
Had S120s and still have M100s. The M100s are beautifully made and sound great. The S120s were more like S45.2s - slightly bass light considering their size and bass reflex port, but very accurate. The only problem I had with them, actually rather unlike sonavor, is that the design of tweeter sounds coarse to me at very high volumes - the same went for MS150s. The M100 bass is similar in some ways to the Beolab 5 in that you really notice it when you are not in the same room! They are my favourite B&O speaker though probably not the best sounding. Very good with my 4401.
Peter
Hi - thanks, so either would be good - what worries me about the M100 is if I can get it repaired if anything goes wrong - I'm handy with a soldering iron but heard the crossover is complex and the number of drivers - also I live in a semi bungalow with wooden floors so wondering if the bass would spread next door - my study where they will be if furthest away and it is an all brick build so should be reasonably ok - although I could just turn down the bass and blast it when next door is away - almost talking myself into the M100's - I'll do some measurements, but is repair/renovation easy on both or the same?
The restoration on the M100 is usually finding and fixing broken mounting tabs for the grill cover, possibly installing new grill cloth, replacing the foam surround on the phase link driver (it is the only one that has a foam surround) and replacing the electrolytic capacitors on the cross-over. On the MC120.2 the task is similar. The grill covers on those type of speakers often have broken mounting tabs and grill cloth may need replacing. The woofer of the MC120.2 has a foam surround so it may need replacing. Cross-over capacitors also might need replacing. The MC120.2 is probably easier to work on due to its smaller size. Make sure you get the proper B&O speaker stands for whichever speaker you go for. You can get the cross-over capacitors in a kit from Beoworld member Dillen.
Agree with all of that - I had the phase link unit of my M100s repaired by Recone Ltd who had to do a cut a shut with a foam surround as the unit is an interesting size. I was looking for the photos of the capacitors that were replaced but afraid I couldn't find it. Suffice it to say, they filled an A4 padded package easily!
The S120 woofer had rotted and I made the mistake of replacing the two drive units with new Peerless units - I doubt they were a perfect match though the speakers still sounded remarkably good!
Bought them - and they are quite simply the best speakers I've heard - to my ears anyway, very musical with loads of oomph and incredibly clear - very happy and they are near mint - although they are big! Sounding great through my BM6000.
Big thanks for the help in choosing these - Peter, I think a BM4400 could be next on the cards.
Thanks again to both of you for your advice, I've finally achieved the kind sound I have been searching for. The S45-2 will be going in the kitchen with a beolink passive to replace BL2000
Congratulations. Those are indeed great speakers. Be sure and post a picture when you get them setup.
Congratulations! The 6000 sounds very similar to the 4400 - not as powerful but sweeter than the 8000. My M100s are a beautiful flame rosewood - I treat them once a year with Danish Oil and they have a lovely rich sheen. True about the pegs - I think a couple of mine are broken! Tim Jarman did the work on the crossover for me - the protection circuit was also corroded and they sounded awful. Once cleaned, they were back to normal!
Mine are the ones pictured on Beocentral. They are the M100.2 model.
Peter: - I treat them once a year with Danish Oil and they have a lovely rich sheen.
- I treat them once a year with Danish Oil and they have a lovely rich sheen.
That's great to hear :-) it really does make a difference to the depth of the shine. A treatment like that is a sure sign that something has been loved and well looked after. Back in the (very) old days the local cabinetmaker would come by most houses once a year to polish furniture.
Anyway, congrats on the m100's!
Hi, thanks I shall be getting some Danish oil (thanks for the tip) as they have been looked after really well and the guy who sold them to me said they only had one owner previous to him - they are 100.2 model too. It's like I just want to listen to all music again - Vinyl sounds amazing and I will try out the playmaker again instead of Apple and DAC. Visually they are a good match with BM6000, BG6000 and Revox B77. Will post some pictures once everything is properly in place and furniture moved to accommodate them.
I have the same thrill of buying a B&O product that performs that I did years ago when I got hold of some 5702s and kept those for a long time, although at the time I wanted newer and the latest - but ever since then (some 20 years) I've been trying to get the same sound, RL60's were close but these are the best and will be keeping these now and have them serviced when the time arrives.