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 all I am a newbie here and a complete novice when it comes to audio.
I do hope someone can help me.
So my grandfather owned a Bang & Olufsen that I was never allowed to play with but he would put records on for me to listen to. So the nostalgic in me thought I would buy a vintage B&O set-up to play his old records.
I am only interest in playing records. I am not interested in tape or cd or digital.
So far I just have the turntable.
It is a Beogram 1800 - type 5813. It has been fully refurbished and looks superb.
So my question is a simple one but with a hundred possible answers.
What do I need now to play records but still keeping that retro vibe?
I guess an AMP AND SPEAKERS. I really like the beomasters for power and elegance (but there are so many) Which would be the best to go for, yet easily compatible with the Beogam 1800 turntable? and then which speakers are compatible with that. it's so confusing.
I would really like to put together a nice set-up but Alternatively if I just wanted to add a modern amp and speakers is that easily done with the Beogram 1800.
Normally I would just go to a hi-fi shop and ask for their advice but I am in Thailand as quite often I wont understand and I just end up with the most expensive.
I would be so grateful for any and all advice.
Thanks
Paul
Hi - a lot would depend on your budget and if you can get stuff repaired out in Thailand? Also the type of sound you like which if it is nostalga you are after would be to go for an amp or receiver that is similar to the one your grandfather had?
I have a Beogram 4002 connected to a valve amp and pair of Beovox M100-2's it sounds full and warm and perfect with vinyl. I tried a Linn Axis with it but prefer the convenience of the Beogram and to be honest I couldn't tell much difference other than the beogram is slightly brighter which I prefer.
It's all very subjective, not to mention the type of music you listen too. For the type of music I listen too, which is classical, jazz, modern french and easy listening I prefer passive speakers -I have some s45-2's which are great, Beovox Penta's and M100-2, in the past have had S60 and S75 which are also great speakers. Avoid X-25 and smaller speakers if you want a full warm sound.
The amplifier will make a huge difference to the sound, my Valve amp is great and doesn't have tone controlls but would not be too everyone's taste as it is most likely too coloured. Passsive speakers running off a Beolink Passive and B&O amp sound ok but change the power amp to something beefier like a linn and the speakers come alive. Any of the larger receivers will give a full warm sound, I had a beomaster 6000 (1980's model) and it was great but complicated to repair. The sound it gave I preferred to the later Beomaster 6500. I would imagine the 8000 and 4400 are also fantastic based on my experience of the 6000. I had a Beomaster 1500 and that was incredibly clear but thin, same as Beomaster 2000, 2400-2 and 1900. That said, with the older products, a lot on ebay most likely need servicing and there has been much discussion around replacing capacitors - so it could be that my 6500 just needed a service or something.
Make sure whatever amplifier or receiver you have has a built in phono preamp for the turntable as line in will not be enough to amplify the signal from the cartridge,
Finally, you may only wish to listen to vinyl now, but put together a great system and you will no doubt want to expand it and use other sources.
As i say it is very subjective, will largely depend on budget, room size, type of music you listen too and availability of products, service and repair.
Andrew thanks so much for your message. I hope you are enjoying all the snow in the UK and it's not too much of an inconvenience. Thanks to your message I understand much better what it is I need. Even if I haven't yet decided yet what it is I want.
I definately want to go down the route of putting together a great system, based using a beomaster and traditional speakers like my grandfather had. I don't really have a budget. But I think I need to be realistic I am not sure the wife would be happy if I spent much more than 1500 pounds. I hope I can achieve good results with this kind of budget and cut a few costs.
Saying this I feel unfortable ordering from eBay. I worry about the quality and I am not really sure of the prices. I am really looking for a shop or shops that specialize in completely refurbished old models as new. That way I can just plug it in and play because I am sure it's difficult and expensive to find places to repair it in thailand. Of course a place that can can ensure safe delivery.
If you know any business in the UK that can do this and you recommend I would be grateful to know. Ideally one where I can see what they have on-line and order it all in one go. I did contact one such store in West Sussex but they haven't got back to me yet but I am sure that's because of all the snow!
As for my music tastes, they are eclectic. So I would need a jack of all trades I guess but still simple for me to use!
Any further advice on the choice of beomaster and accompanying speakers - that you would chose would be great also.
all the best
Hi Paul
Thankfully the slow in the east of england is starting to thaw!
For £1500 will be more than enough to get a really good system and better to order from a dealer I would say - there are also places in Denmark and Europe that offer similar.
Anyway, you have come to the right place to find what you need and I'm sure the others will come up with plenty of suggestions.
A lot of it will also depend on taste and finding something that your wife likes the look of too.
Kind Regards
Andrew
PaulThai:I am really looking for a shop or shops that specialize in completely refurbished old models as new. If you know any business in the UK that can do this and you recommend I would be grateful to know. Ideally one where I can see what they have on-line and order it all in one go. I did contact one such store in West Sussex but they haven't got back to me yet but I am sure that's because of all the snow!
In no particular order, I’ve seen mentioned here on Beoworld:
http://www.iconic-av.co.uk/homepage.php
http://timeless-av.co.uk/
http://www.morethanav.co.uk/
Honorable Mention: LifeStyle AV (R.I.P.)
For your cable needs, site sponsor Sounds Heavenly comes highly recommended.
Apologies to those I’ve missed. Living across the pond, I have no connection whatsoever with any of the above-named establishments. At least some of the proprietors are participants on this forum.
Youre right! If it looks good then the wife will let it in the house. I swear I the ugliest thing in the house.
I hope it's gonna sound great too. Thanks for your help. Will post a pic when it's up and running cheers. P.
Bob
thanks so much I will definately check out these sites. Hopefully I can get them to deliver to thailand as well.
thanks for your help.
paul
You're welcome. With regard to your other question on BG 1800 compatibility with other brand components, just make sure the receiver has a built-in RIAA preamp (same rule applies to B&O components). Often a dedicated 'Phono' input (as opposed to 'Aux') indicates this to be the case. Otherwise you'd have to purchase an external preamp. The connectors are commonplace RCA, as opposed to the less widely accepted DIN. Speakers - whatever brand you like the sound of.
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