Old Beolab 5

I want to buy a pair of Beolab 5's and am looking at a relatively cheap pair from 2004/2005. Would you consider it a good idea to buy speakers this old? Do the older speakers have more problems than the newer ones?

Thank you for your help.

Yes and no. They do have more issues, but a problem free one is likely to stay that way with care. However that isn’t any guarantee. Also i think replacement chassis are getting more scarse for the mk1’s.

A short answer is basically, they’re all great but if you can swing it, buy slightly newer ones.

Mikipidia:

Yes and no. They do have more issues, but a problem free one is likely to stay that way with care. However that isn’t any guarantee. Also i think replacement chassis are getting more scarse for the mk1’s.

 

 

A short answer is basically, they’re all great but if you can swing it, buy slightly newer ones.

What would you consider a good price for Beolab 5 from 2004?

The cheapest pairs I've seen for sale on eBay was last year for around £6000, haven't seen any cheaper since then.

Mine were B&O dealer ex display manufactured 2011 with 3 year warranty last year for £8500.

They are the best speakers for the money if you ask me, I have heard of them having issues and your looking at an expensive repair, but they absolutely sound brilliant.

Definitely get a pair, take your time, get a pair that have been loved.

Which country? Here in the Netherlands they’re usually way cheaper than in the UK. Have a look on marktplaats.nl and maybe you can make a trip out of it

Be very careful when buying ex display stock. You might remember I did exactly that 19 months ago, only to find out they weren’t the 2016 models they were packaged in, but 2008 and an odd pair! Get the serial numbers and check their real age etc.

A very sad state to get to, but there you go.

Ex display could mean almost anything. Unlike a demonstration new car which a garage might have for no more than, say, 6 months, a speaker that has been in production for 15 years could well have been on demonstration in a showroom for that same time. The dealer would not need to move it on unless it had been superseded by a later model or colour scheme, or if it was starting to look a bit tired.

Graham

Had a pair for 13 years.

Gave then a good workout from time to time. Apart from the upper tweaters needing replacement - they were solid. Heard of EPROMs failing but I dont think this is a major cost - just need to make sure B&O are still carrying the part.

vikinger:

Ex display could mean almost anything. Unlike a demonstration new car which a garage might have for no more than, say, 6 months, a speaker that has been in production for 15 years could well have been on demonstration in a showroom for that same time. The dealer would not need to move it on unless it had been superseded by a later model or colour scheme, or if it was starting to look a bit tired.

Graham

I was always told by said dealer that ex display was stock approaching 6 months old, and needed to be moved on. We even had packaging to prove this deceit, shown to us.

Chris Townsend:

I was always told by said dealer that ex display was stock approaching 6 months old, and needed to be moved on. We even had packaging to prove this deceit, shown to us.

I agree Chris. Sounds like a dealer to avoid.

Graham

About a year ago I saw someone sell Beolab 5 Inkl a bv7-55 and a Beosound 9000 for about 100 euro in Norway. Needless to say it was sold immediately. I wish I had seen it first. Someone who just wanted to replace it with new stuff and no need for money .

I have experienced this also 2 times in the Netherlands. Unfortunately these second life dealers are not to be trusted. They claim to sell a recent ex-demo unit but when you verify the serial number, you realise that it is in reality a much older product. These guys screw everything apart to make their products visually attractive. If you want to buy a second hand product you better buy it from another consumer which has a valid invoice from a B&O store.