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 fellow members, I am glad to find an owners' forum as I've just acquired a 70s Bang and Olufsen stereo system which belonged to my aged aunt (still alive but in a home now). It comprises the Beocenter 1800, Beocord 1900 and a pair of Beovox 2702s.
It's mainly in good nick and probably not had extensive use over the years, but there are some issues I'd like to highlight:
1. Beocord has 3 buttons/switches (REC, STOP/EJECT, PLAY) that are broken and no longer fixed to the metal bar they were once attached to. Are there likely to be replacements for these anywhere?
2. Beocenter record deck is in good shape but I'm wondering about the option to replace the cartridge (MMC 20S), though it may still have plenty of life in it (I"m going to get t checked over soon).
3. Beovox 2702 speakers - what are the 3 black plastic things on the back for? Is the only access via removing the glued front grill? (I'd like to replace the speaker cable and check the drive units).
Well, if anyone can offer any suggestions I'd much appreciate it.
Funny, but I used to see these systems back in the 70s, 80s and thought they were a bit pretentious, but now I appreciate the vintage styling and Danish engineering! I've finally arrived...?
Cheers
Jonpol
Well, over 300 views and not one reply - how disappointing! I've figured the answers out myself, thanks. Perhaps I was expecting more of a welcome...
Sorry not answered before - have a few things on the go and a dodgy internet due to snow! Interesting collection - the BC1800 was a popular member of the audio class in the 70s - will take any of the MMC20 or MMCX000 cartridges - the 20S goes nicely being black as is the 20E which is a very slight upgrade. You can get all these retipped by Axel - very reasonable rates.
The holes in the back of the 2702s are for mounting purposes - usually wall mounting. The Beocord 1900 is really rather good - it really belongs to the slightly later models and offers excellent performance - you may need new belts which Dillen can provide.
The paucity of response will be down to the fact that this is a less common system these days - when we first started Beoworld, much of the traffic was related to equipment like this - these days it is almost all modern equipment. You will probably get more response in the vintage section where the old fogies hang out like Martin (Dillen) and me!! I did have and 1800 and beocord 1900 in the past - major problem on the 1800 in my experience was the lid!!
Peter
Thanks very much Peter for your kind and detailed response. I wasn't really that upset, just being impatient! I've got a re-foaming kit coming for the speakers (existing woofer surrounds completely disintegrated!) and I guess i need to look for someone breaking an old 1900 to get the transport switches replaced. I'll keep in mind the re-tipping option, though not desperately in need of it yet. Where is Axel based? I'm in the UK, but I guess posting the cartridge would be easy enough.
Jonpol:Where is Axel based? I'm in the UK, but I guess posting the cartridge would be easy enough.
He's in Germany, but it really is not difficult - I can heartily recommend his services!
Recent thread on the subject here
--mika
Thanks - how do I contact him?
Hi there.
His website is:
http://www.schallplattennadeln.de/
Beocord buttons, check if they are repairable, if not ask Dillen (Martin), he may have something in his dungeon. He can also provide belts for most B&O
Speakers, pry of the front grills carefully with a spatula, then you get to the drivers, taking out the drivers they may sit like glued, but pry with a wide blades screw driver, carefully all way around. Then you can, after taking out the nasty felt stuff, get to the crossovers and the cable.
I made new grills for my 3702 here I used hook and loop pads to fasten them again.
I also recommend Axel for pickups, and if Martin cant provide belt, then try Axel, he provided a belt for my BG 1202
Collecting Vintage B&O is not a hobby, its a lifestyle.
All very helpful and much appreciated! I don't think my transport buttons are easily repairable, so would be interested in contacting Dillen/Martin to see if he has some spares knocking about - how do I contact him?
As for my speakers, they were sounding reasonably OK until I put some bass-heavy material through them and they started to make a funny 'quacking' sound. I then read about 'foam-rot' and decided to open my 2702s up to have a look (grills came off easily enough). The surround to the woofers had completely disintegrated on both speakers, though they still seem to work OK at lower volumes. What benefit can I expect to get from renewing the foam surrounds, as I plan to? More and better bass? Just wondering.
If the foam disintegrates, then the coil will start rubbing and you will eventually short out the driver. The sound will obviously be better at loud volumes - the 2702s are probably sealed box - which they are clearly not at present!!
Thanks Peter. Great forum, by the way!
Forgot to wish you welcome to the forum, herewith done, for Dillen or nearly all your questions try the search functions, here is Dillen
You will need to refoam the drivers, and then they will be as good as new, dont use them until done, you may damage the coils.
Doing speakers works, I normally change the capacitors in the crossovers when the speakers are open anyway. Dillen
Thanks Dillen for the welcome - nice to meet all you guys!
Oh dear, I have been using my speakers and hope it's not too late! How will I know if the coils are damaged? Are the capacitors really worth changing? Are they off-the-shelf items? Ah, questions, questions...
Your coils are probably OK, as the drivers works, the scratching sound you hear when putting on volume and bass is the voice coil scraping against the magnet, the surround keep it centered and parallel.
Caps can be found on the web, electrolytic caps dries out with the years and will fail sooner or later, I have tried with expensive film caps but never heard any difference, search the web for bipolar electrolytic caps.
BTW (By The Way) I´m not Dillen, look to the left of my answers there you find my forum name and avatar, you can add an avatar in you profile, and at the same time update your profile with what you like to be known about you, at least country, it will then be easier for us to give relevant answers.
For gold and silver members there are manuals onsite for most vintage B&O
But contact Dillen with your spare needs, his parts are tested, are the right ones, comes with guarantee and instructions how too.
Thanks Soren and apologies for thinking you were Dillen, though I'm sure you didn't mind! I will update my profile shortly.
One other question regarding my Beocord 1900: the pause button doesn't seem to work! When I put the machine in pause either during playback or record, after a second or two the machine stops (as if I'd hit the stop button). Seems an odd kind of mechanical failure, or is it designed to be used differently? Hmmm...
I have a Beocord 5000, it has no pause button, but if I hit stop while recording, it stops recording, but continue moving the tape a bit, and with this there is a space between the tracks recorded, The 1900 may have the same feature with the pause button.
Nice avatar by the way, and a Scotsman no less
Søren Mexico:I have a Beocord 5000, it has no pause button, but if I hit stop while recording, it stops recording, but continue moving the tape a bit, and with this there is a space between the tracks recorded, The 1900 may have the same feature with the pause button.
Well -it doesn't, as the 1900 is purely mechanically operated. When pushing Pause on the 1900, the rubber roll (don't know what it's called in English) simply is pulled away from the capstan. The tape is supposed to stop immediately when hitting Pause button.
The 5000 was all Electronic - the reason for the 'delay' when pushing stop during recording, was to make space between tracks. This was because of the search function -when you wind or rewind, it finds the Space between tracks.
Yes, I am indeed a Scotsman (whatever that really means!). The photo was taken last year outside Canterbury Cathedral in England. With my fairly recent 'goatee' I think I could pass as a Norseman!
I will probably investigate the 1900 pause button at some point to see if I can find what must be a mechanical problem. It's not a big deal - I'd much rather get the transport buttons fixed! Waiting to hear back from Dillen
If you ordered new belts for the beocord, then wait until you have it open, and then give it a good clean and lubricate it well, that will "repair" many mechanical problems. You will find a lot of old dry grease in there.
Steffen, thanks for the info, I learn something new everyday.
Good idea Soren. What's it like in Mexico City?
John Paul Irvine: Good idea Soren. What's it like in Mexico City?
Check here, translated from Danish with Google, wrote most of it for a Danish news paper some years ago.
Thanks Soren, sounds like a great place to live - and I bet it doesn't snow!