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. I’m very new to this forum but I just recently bought from a friend a quite mint Beo system for about $300 (amp tuner and speakers) and I’m simply shocked by how well it sounds using Spotify on iPad 😳
What astounds me is that this system is older than I am since it was produced sometime late 60s right? I think this particular purchase was money well spent and I hope this system serves me even just a few years and it’ll be quite worth it. Simply enjoying the music coming from it immensely and yes I’m quite an old soul when it comes to music though (mostly jazz, classical and blues).
Now I’m thinking of adding a vintage turntable and would like recommendations on what would go well with this system particularly specific brands and not necessarily models. It would be next to impossible for me to find a B & O turntable used for sale in my country so I’m looking at compatible 3rd party options. Btw, does the Beolab need a preamp? Or most turntables are plug and play on the phone rca?
Thanks and looking forward to suggestions. 😊
Hi, and welcome!
I have the same setup, and happily use a restored Beogram 4000 with a SMMC20EN.
A purist's approach would of couse be to have a Beogram 3000/Thorens TD 124, but these have become horribly expensive. If you do have the money though, go for one!
Jacques
Thanks for the really prompt input Jacques.
Yes, I’m no purist but that would really be my ideal as aesthetically it would also complete the whole “look” 😉 I was bent on treating this system initially as some sort of “functional decor” when I bought it, as I didn’t even have the chance to audition it first. So imagine my pleasant surprise when I heard it actually play 😊 This apparently won’t be a decor as much as a living room mainstay sound system after all. Hahahahaha 😂
So considering how rare and how far and few in between people actually post Beograms here in the Philippines, I guess I’d really have to start looking at alternatives. I’m still concerned about the whole necessity for a preamp thing though. Would anyone here know if I’d still need a preamp should I opt for one of those Pioneer, Kenwood, Denon or Technics turntables? Or do I just plug into the phono RCA?
Thanks in advance for the suggestions 😃
Ah, good to know. So I guess I’ll just choose a vintage turntable for the aesthetics and get it a proper bnew Audio Technica needle and cartridge then :)
By the way, I noticed I get better balanced sound if I connect the M70s to the left and Center connections rather than the left and right connections (which give me a lower volume on one box. It could be a contacts problem, etc. My concern and question is, would this be bad for my Beolab in the long run? Or it’s perfectly ok? Sound is perfect this way by the way.
Welcome to Beoworld & congratulations!
You've got a magnificent system for not a lot of money, which is worth spending money on in the future to keep all three components performing for many years to come. There are loads of threads on this forum where you can find people who are able to carry out repairs & restoration - you might be able to carry out speaker refurbishment yourself if you can use a soldering iron. The main reason why components die, or do not perform as they originally did, is because capacitors age far more rapidly than other electronic components and have to be replaced. Yes, it will cost a lot (compared to what you paid for the system) for both the work to be done and for shipping, but you've got some of the best equipment that B&O ever made! I used to have the 5000 duo and regret selling it.
The Beogram 1800 (type 5213) is a very good match aesthetically.
https://beocentral.com/beogram1800-1970s
Quite rare & again will need money spending on maintenance and almost certainly a stylus re-tip.
This one on ebay, is in my opinion, overpriced.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BANG-OLUFSEN-Beogram-1800-mit-SP14/273383684174?hash=item3fa6eff84e:g:dkQAAOSwo6lWPgjx
Good luck with your search, whatever you decide on. Why are you limiting your search to just your own country?
Cheers
Nigel
Hi Nigel,
I do have a Beogram 1800 as well; however, it is no match for a 4000. But it is a visual delight, and sounds good with an SP12.
Capacitors, yes. However they oddly don’t pose so many problems on Beolab 5000’s.
I even have one that works perfectly with its original components!
Fortunately, it was just a contacts problem. Fixed it by wiggling the 2pin din for one of the speaker cables. I guess I need to look for a contacts cleaner to spray on the terminals etc. I did notice that the pins are quite heavily oxidised (dark in colour). or it could be the sockets itself. :D
Thank you Nigel!
Yeah, I'm "readying" myself for the eventuality of having to maintain this and of course start replacing some parts in the future (hopefully major). Especially since this unit will be seeing a lot of attention and playtime in the foreseeable future :D
Yes, that Beogram 1800 looks really sweet. And while I might even look into the possibility of getting that one on the Ebay link that you provided for the price alone, I fear the shipping to Asia might be too much (I certainly wouldn't want to end up paying for this single component much more than I paid for the whole 3-piece I just bought, no matter how aesthetically pleasing :)
I'll certainly take into consideration your suggestion to look outside of my country, but shipping here to the Philippines is not the cheapest so I'd really need to look for the best bargains. Otherwise, vintage turntables of other brands might have to do (for faster quenching of my enthusiasm as well. hahahah
By the way, I noticed that the tuner is lacking an antenna (what the previous owner did was have a short wire of some sort just "jut out" of the middle hole in the middle part where the antenna connector is. I've tried searching how the actual connector is on the net to no avail. Would any of you here happen to have a link to a pic of the connector? So that I can search for that part as well? The wire just jutting out of the hole, while it serves the purpose, seems so crude. And I'm sure it's not also optimised for reception, so.
Again, thanks of the warm welcome and I certainly look forward to participating in more discussions here.
~ mans
I think I've found the antenna connector on the net. It's supposedly a DIN 45316
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FM-indoor-dipole-antenna-with-IEC-3-pin-male-plug-DIN-45316-for-vintage-radios-/283057980715
Now the challenge is finding a supplier that ships to the Philippines
Hi
You beat me to it!
With a tuner of this quality, you really need to be using an outside aerial if that's possible, although if the FM signal is very strong you may get away with using one such as the ebay one.
manstumanda: I think I've found the antenna connector on the net. It's supposedly a DIN 45316 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FM-indoor-dipole-antenna-with-IEC-3-pin-male-plug-DIN-45316-for-vintage-radios-/283057980715 Now the challenge is finding a supplier that ships to the Philippines
https://beoparts.com/2015/03/08/antenna-plug-240300-ohms-fmvhf-iec45316/
Martin