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
I've been enjoying my music on vintage audio systems for around ten years or so. In the past I stayed away from Bang & Olufsen products, in part due to reputation issues regarding sound quality, difficulty with servicing, engineering supposedly secondary to product design etc.I now know this was a mistake.
A few months ago I purchased a system from the local Craig's List consisting of: Beomaster 2400-2, a pair of Beovox S45-2, a Beocord 1900, a Beogram 2400 and a Beogram 1700 (which between them sport one MMC20en), with all original system cabling. Everything is in excellent condition, save for a power supply hum from the 2400. After giving everything a listen I was dazzled, and became quite hooked! The sound was really good, quite a bit better than expected, and I loved the synergy of the whole system working together. I've since had the 2400 completely recapped, aligned, lamps replaced (by a local B&O factory certified tech), and the system is looking and sounding wonderful.
Since that first acquisition I now own, in addition to the above, a Beomaster 3000-2, a Beogram 3300cd, a basket case Beomaster 6000, and my pride and joy: a fully serviced/restored Beogram 8002 turntable (with MMC2), which is the main deck in my "serious listening" room (replacing at least for now my VPI Scout w Benz cart). It is a remarkable performer, in addition to its obvious look and feel "star power".
I realize most people only post when they have a technical problem to solve, but this posting is offered as a testament to how good these units are when up and running, and how much ongoing pleasure they deliver in the enjoyment of music.
All I can say is, if you are currently stuck on a particularly nasty repair keep at it - it will be worth it!
Chris
Really good to see an all-positive post for a change - thanks Chris, and welcome to the forums!
--mika
Nice collection ! You have either been picking wisely or else you have been fortunate to pick some of the better pieces! I agree it is nice to use vintage equipment tjhat is better built and better sounding than most of what is available today!
Peter
great post Chris, really interesting, keep us updated, I'm pretty new owning B and O as well although i lusted after it for many years
Welcome to the forum, Chris. Always nice to read a positive review.
Vähintään yhdeksänkymmentä prosenttia suomalainen!
Welcome Chris!
Definitely great to hear about other people enjoying some awesome gear.
cplyons:Beomaster 3000-2
I have one of these as well - absolutely fantastic! Mine is currently sitting about 6 miles away at the parents house patiently awaiting me to revive it. I used to listen to it for hours a day - every day! I miss its tone a lot.
Beo4 'til I die!
Nice collection of equipment. I too, sadly, ignored B&O for far too long as a result of the kind of uninformed "Bang and Awfulsound" reputation common among the high end crowd. A more sober, accurate assessment using your ears demonstrates that the engineers at B&O know a lot about acoustics and good sound, which to them includes usability. When you learn of their participation in the Eureka project, ownership of the largest anechoic chamber in Europe, their listening room and listening panel of employees who regularly attend live concerts to keep their idea of what real live music sounds like, you discover a company that while marching to it's own drum never loses sight of the music.
I replaced a VPI Jr table with an ADC carbon fiber arm with a Beogram 3000/MMC2 combo and am quite satisfied with the result. Especially the ease of use, I actually play records again. In my last house I had my Beolab 8000's setup with as much care to position and such as any high end speaker gets, and was rewarded with sound on a par with any expensive small monitor/amp combo I'd ever heard, the smoothness, imaging, and sense of depth were outstanding. They almost sounded like planars without the exaggerated sense of depth.
So, welcome from me as well!
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
Many thanks for all the kind replies. My newest acquisition is the 3000-2. It works but suffers from very dirty controls. Cleaning faders etc is about as technically challenging as I can handle at this point, but I will let you know how it goes.
cplyons: my pride and joy: a fully serviced/restored Beogram 8002 turntable (with MMC2), which is the main deck in my "serious listening" room (replacing at least for now my VPI Scout w Benz cart). It is a remarkable performer, in addition to its obvious look and feel "star power". Chris
Cleviebaby: Given your experiences in discovering the pleasure to be gained from older B&O and the delights of the BG 8002, there is only one logical next step - the rest of the 8000 series!
Given your experiences in discovering the pleasure to be gained from older B&O and the delights of the BG 8002, there is only one logical next step - the rest of the 8000 series!
Yes, indeed. You will not be disappointed! But beware, there is no turning back!
Jacques