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I need help my Beofriends !!!
I bought another set. Complete Beosystem 5500. Everything visually in a good condition. Mechanically and electrically after the service. Beogram 5500 with retiped MMC4 and Beogram CD5500 with new CDM.
The problem is that I have two sets of Beosystem but ... I also have a wife.
I have to make a choice. I have to sell one system or ... wife, but I probably love my wife more than B & O, so my wife stays.
So I have to put together one block and sell the rest, it's too big to hide from my wife like the new MMC1 ...
You can choose everything in the same condition:
Beomaster 5000 with MCP 5000 and Terminal 5000 vs 5500 with MCP 5500 and Beolink 1000
Beogram CD 50 vs CD 5500
Beogram 5000 vs 5005 vs 5500
Beocord 5000 vs 5500
Help me to mixed !!!
BeO is like a good wine - the older the better...
Hmmm....
Turntable - The Beogram 5000 is a better sounding deck than the 5005 or 5500
Receiver - The Beomaster 5000 is also a better sounding receiver than the 5500, plus it has the advantages of having controls on it, and not having ridiculous design howlers like the preamplifier output being an attenuated version of the loudspeaker outputs!
Cassette deck - bit trickier here as the 5500 is definitely higher tech and has more useful features than the 5000. However, I still maintain that the 5000 makes better recordings. So, on balance - 5000.
CD Player - the CD5500 is a lovely sounding unit but the one I owned seemed unable to reliably clamp the disc centrally - sometimes it would clamp off-centre and so wouldn't read the disc. Maybe I was just unlucky but, for this reason, the CD50 gets my vote.
So, there you have it - Beosystem 5000 every time. As an added bonus, the 5500 system should sell for more, so you can buy more B&O at a later date. Just remember to hide it from the wife...
Hi,
I agree with Adam.
The CD 5500 clamp wobble is unfortunately normal, it is a design flaw. But do do my various Sony first gen players.
Adam, I think your example had another problem.
That said, the CD 50 is good, reliable once sorted, but the 5500 is the better player.
I modified my BM 5500 to give it a proper preamp output instead of the silly attenuation.
Jacques
chartz:I modified my BM 5500 to give it a proper preamp output instead of the silly attenuation.
Tell me more...
Martynka: chartz:I modified my BM 5500 to give it a proper preamp output instead of the silly attenuation. Tell me more...
It should be somewhere on the forum... basically I had to cut two tracks and fit resistors. Let me have a look.
Found it
Here
thanks,
I start reading,
Well I am going to argue the other way.
Beomaster 5500 - great connections and Beolink 1000 compatibility - trumps the amplifier argument. Also MCL2 so you can use active speakers.
Beogram 5500 - the 5000 sounds better - well yes but record a track from the 5500 and the 5000 and play them back blind and tell me which is which. The 5500 has more remote features and you have the 5x00 system because it works by remote.
Beogram CD5500 - simply the best CD player B&O made - the CD50 is a bit flaky - the single DAC which switches is fascinating but B&O were experimenting with the CD50 as is seen by the fact they are almost all slightly different! They are also really noisy - I took mine back as it annoyed me so much when it first came out. The 5500 is much quieter and has the sublime TDA1541A DAC.
Beocord 5500 - good automatic recording level which actually worked.
I still have a 5500 system and it is great!
Peter
I've read this and it's simple to do.
First question:
Does the signal from the preamplifier have the same level as in the BM5000 or the BM5500 has other preamps ?? I'm asking because going directly with the preamp was an important argument for BM5000 and you just killed it.
The second question is about CD5500:
Here is man in Poland, Lukas vel "Lampizator" ... one of the best specialists in the world from tube amplifiers and D / A converters (he is really one of the best). And one day before he started to build and sell his projects in the world, he took various CD players to the workshop. He wrote about CD5500 that it was one of the best made CDs he saw. Details here:
http://www.lampizator.eu/lampizator/REFERENCES/Bangandolufsen/Bang%20&%20Olufsen%20CD5500%20CD%20player.html
It's from this site:
"Listening to the "virgin" unit resulted in the best pre-lampization sound I heard so far for any TDA player. There was not an itch to do anything like lampization, just enjoy."
Maybe it's a good idea to go this way in my set ??
Third thing:
My new Beogram CD5500 has new CDM 2 not CDM4, it's normal ??
Peter: Well I am going to argue the other way. Beomaster 5500 - great connections and Beolink 1000 compatibility - trumps the amplifier argument.
Beomaster 5500 - great connections and Beolink 1000 compatibility - trumps the amplifier argument.
Really?! Personally I prioritise sound quality over convenience, even with B&O!
Martynka: First question: Does the signal from the preamplifier have the same level as in the BM5000 or the BM5500 has other preamps ?? I'm asking because going directly with the preamp was an important argument for BM5000 and you just killed it.
The BM5500 has the same output level as the BM5000, it's just that the signal itself is not as good quality because it is not generated from a properly buffered preamplifier circuit.
Martynka: The second question is about CD5500: Here is man in Poland, Lukas vel "Lampizator" ... one of the best specialists in the world from tube amplifiers and D / A converters (he is really one of the best). And one day before he started to build and sell his projects in the world, he took various CD players to the workshop. He wrote about CD5500 that it was one of the best made CDs he saw. Details here: http://www.lampizator.eu/lampizator/REFERENCES/Bangandolufsen/Bang%20&%20Olufsen%20CD5500%20CD%20player.html It's from this site: "Listening to the "virgin" unit resulted in the best pre-lampization sound I heard so far for any TDA player. There was not an itch to do anything like lampization, just enjoy." Maybe it's a good idea to go this way in my set ??
Please dont' get me started on this 'bodger'. Yes, he states that the CD5500 is a great player but then keep scrolling down and watch the pictures as he systematically hacks into it and ruins it by forcing unnecessary valves in and hacking away at the DAC circuitry.
That is a good question.
It depends on features in my opinion. You don't have any options to expand on the limits a 5000 has. A 5500 now you are talking Beolink 1000 and MCL for multi room and Beovision light control. Only thing missing is Beolab active speakers option.
The 5000 is great for a stand alone Beosystem where you don't need anything else from it. Also the most 1985 dated you can get.
In the end where does your heart lie?
AdamS:The BM5500 has the same output level as the BM5000, it's just that the signal itself is not as good quality because it is not generated from a properly buffered preamplifier circuit.
But I asked about signal after change output directly from preamp.
AdamS:Please dont' get me started on this 'bodger'. Yes, he states that the CD5500 is a great player but then keep scrolling down and watch the pictures as he systematically hacks into it and ruins it by forcing unnecessary valves in and hacking away at the DAC circuitry.
Have you ever heard the sound from the tube DAC ??
AdamS:Really?! Personally I prioritise sound quality over convenience
I think you would be charmed. And B&O was not the only one, but it was one of the best sounding before and after "lampization".
http://lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/REFERENCES/references.html
and this is the most important thing.
but my "GO THIS WAY" is about CD5500 not about tube.
I do not want to talk about Lukas. I want to talk about Beosystems. Now I am over 1000 km from home. I'm going back on Wednesday and picking up a new purchase. Then comparisons will start.
And one more thing ... the service during the maintenance installed in Beomaster a bluetooth receiver ... kee ??
I would chose thee 5500 any day, based on the MCL and the MCP remote alone.
In a league of its own! Imagine being able to record and actually see the recording level in another room! - live! Fabulous!
I still have my system hooked up to a LX2800 simply to the enjoy the fantastic integration, especially with the AV remote.
Sadly never really surpassed.
Note the "Print" Command, - it would let you print text-tv from the LX2800,- 35 years ago!
The "Print" Ir code would live to see another day, since today it selects the PC source.
I know and I have an external tube DAC with a headphone amplifier, I listen to music from music services by my phone through it.
Why would anyone use an external DAC when they have such a nice player, with a perfectly adequate DAC inside?
Perhaps you convince yourself it will be better, but that’s it, self suggestion, placebo.
The CD5500 is a fine player as it is. Use it and forget the useless tweaks.
I agree on the sheer beauty of the MCP 5500. Has it ever been equaled?
Quad made a vague attempt back in the late 80’s, but there was no display, it was unidirectional.
Yes, I picked it up, I got it !!!!
Now, first listening and first comparisons.
At night I will start to dismantle and I will see what is inside.
Music & Lights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpIbgBChVgY
It looks like two absolute pristine sets. Its the first time i have seen the 5000 stacked, the displays are awesome! I would keep both!
Hard to imagine the company now excels in making plastic boxes meant to be hidden.
After opening Beomaster, no surprises. everything is nice, only the capacitors in the power supply were replaced.
Inside Beogram CD5500 little surprise, it's like CD3300 TDA1541 with SAA7220P / A and CDM-2/10, usually is TDA1541A with SAA7220P / B and CDM 4/11.
CDM is brand new, I have old in box ( working but sometimes with problems )
Beocord is after BT upgrade. On board is Nuforce BT DAC ( apt-X, SBC, AAC codecs ).
When I select the tape, the BT module is powered with the Beocord power supply. The blue LED flashes on the Beocord panel. I can listen to the tape, or give it a stop and listen to BT through the tape audio track. It really works well !!! Spotify sounds good via BT.
And now I will compare sound and comfort of use.
... and ... after two days with music, once 5000, once 5500, I can say:
Beosystem 5000 sounds better. Much better, it's like comparing the original and mp3 copy. No important configuration, always Beomaster 5000 sounded better, warm, bright, fully, analog.
The Beogram CD50 sound also beats the CD5500 for me. CD50 has something that makes every music is a favorite, on CD5500 even favorite music sounds like any other.
but...
First of all I'm impressed by the number of connections at BM5500. I have a DAC connected under TAPE2 and TV under AUX and I could still push something there. The BM5000 was poor in connection. Second, control with BL1000 and MCP5500 is much better than Terminal 5000 and MCP5000. Controlling without opening the Beomaster panel is not bad. After one day I reached for Beolink1000 instead of opening the panel, although I was sitting next to the Beosystem.
Beomaster 5500 sounds stronger. From the very bottom of the volume it drives both M70 and KEF's. In BM5000 I had to give over 20, so that it could be heard that the bass works although it was still very quiet.
I love "Direct Sound", and without any additional settings BM5000 sounded wonderful, BM5500 tuned to the same level by changing bass and treble. Now they sound almost the same, but "almost" does make a difference.
The poor and simple display style and the size of the numbers in the Beosystem 5000 made a greater impression on me than the multiplicity of data and inconsistency on the 5500 Beosystem panels.
What to do now my colleagues ... what to do now my friends ?? Too many points for yes, too many points for no. echhhh....
If I bought both today, I would choose Beosystem 5500, but having Beosystem 5000 for a long time ... maybe I just feel reluctance to 5500 and I'm not objective. Maybe, however, ... wife out
Ok,
I decided. 5500 stayed. Now I will be looking for a new home for Beosystem 5000:
-Beomaster 5000
-Beocord 5000
-Beogram CD50
-Beogram 5000 or 5005 can be chosen with newly retipped MMC4
-MCP5000 and Terminal 5000 remote controler
Not completely. I am selling my 5000 because it is complete and can be worth something. Maybe someone will take. I leave myself the comfort of 5,500 but ... I just bought another Beomaster 5000 and I will probably make a mix with 5500 blocks
Don't over overlook the Beomaster 5500 uses a different volume scale than the Beomaster 5000.
Keep this in mind if you do a comparison.
... And I still have old damaged Marantz with TDA1541A with a crown. I will do a CD5500 upgrade. We'll see, maybe it will be better.
I can’t hear a single difference between regular 1541s and crowned ones (I have two).
Plus you’ll have to unsolder the regular one before replacement.