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
Just finished repairing my two Century's and one Beosound Ouverture who had all 3 defect laser heads. Bought new lasers CDM12.4 on Ebay for 8 euro each and replaced them with the faulty ones.
Now they all working again. Another thing learned
Brengen & Ophalen
Oh wow! You are handy! I wonder how much they would charge to repair them at the shops.
Oh the good old days of the Ouverture and Centurys and the Beosound 1.
I guess more then (or is it than) 100 euro's?
wonderfulelectric: Oh wow! You are handy! I wonder how much they would charge to repair them at the shops. Oh the good old days of the Ouverture and Centurys and the Beosound 1.
Recently I bought a Beosound 2300 very cheap The seller showed me an invoice from when the local B&O shop installed a new CD mech a few years ago...it was 3.000 DKKr (appr. 400€)
Some people do replace laserheads for that amount I was talking about! If you know how to do it (as always) then (or than ) its quite an easy job, however, you need to take ESD precautions and some skills to do this.
Leslie:I guess more then (or is it than) 100 euro's?
I don't have anything with an inbuilt CD/DVD drive anymore, but if I had the skills to do something like that, I might not have gone external so quickly. Good on for keeping those things alive!
Off-topic, but
Leslie: then (or than
It's "then" if somethings follows another thing, either in time or as a cause: If A happens, then B happens, for instance.
It's "than" if you're comparing two things: He was better than me. I could do better than that. I'd rather have an apple than an orange.
So, using your two sentences as examples, it would be:
I guess more than100 euro's?
And:
If you know how to do it then its quite an easy job
Leslie, could you please let me know where you bought these units? I want to buy one of the same. I recently bought a century for 500 SEK including a Beo4, the only problem is the broken cd-player otherwise I think it was extremely cheap. I am not going to use the cd-player but always fun to have things in working order. But mostly I enjoy fixing things .
Beolab 50, Beolab 8000 x 2, Beolab 4000 x 2, BeoSound Core, BeoSound 9000, BeoSound Century, BeoLit 15, BeoPlay A1, BeoPlay P2, BeoPlay H9 3rd Gen, BeoPlay H6, EarSet 3i, BeoVision Eclipse Gen 2 55", BeoPlay V1-40, BeoCom 6000 and so much else :)
Leslie: I guess more then (or is it than) 100 euro's?
Ermm... Me don't think so. A basic servicing of a Beosound 9000 will cost way more than that. And I just replaced the lenses on my lab 3s and they cost me around say 300 euro each. I knocked them over... etc... long story... Anyway repairs at B&O not covered under the warranty definitely not cheap.
LOL... Speaking of which that could have bought me a Beolit 12.
wonderfulelectric:Ermm... Me don't think so
Ermm... Me think yes. Again, the +100 euro price I mentioned is based from someone who offers his services through Ebay replacing lasers.
Dealer prices? I don't know...
Thanks "Electrified" for the tutorial then/than.
Michael:Leslie, could you please let me know where you bought these units? I want to buy one of the same. I recently bought a century for 500 SEK including a Beo4, the only problem is the broken cd-player otherwise I think it was extremely cheap. I am not going to use the cd-player but always fun to have things in working order. But mostly I enjoy fixing things .
Sure, why not? Check this!
Why aren't you using the CD player?
Leslie: Michael:Leslie, could you please let me know where you bought these units? I want to buy one of the same. I recently bought a century for 500 SEK including a Beo4, the only problem is the broken cd-player otherwise I think it was extremely cheap. I am not going to use the cd-player but always fun to have things in working order. But mostly I enjoy fixing things . Sure, why not? Check this! Why aren't you using the CD player?
Thanks! I am not using the CD mainly because I have most of my music digitalized on s server with I push music from with AirPlay. But I do have a BS9000 with CD´s that I use quite a lot. But the BS century will mainly play music from AirPlay (AirPort Express) and a MacBook Air. But I want it in working condition in case a CD is put in it sometime .
I was also thinking about changing the speaker grilles, I think you have a good experience of this, would you recommend it? I have the green ones now but I like it more in black (I had one before) or some other colour.
Same story here.
As I have converted my complete music collection into wma lossless, I still like the presence of a BS9000.
It's a piece of art, and you don't have to convert a cd if you want to play one spontaneously.
So I Bought a BS9000 which needed a lot of new parts. I also replaced the laser, which takes more time than replacing a laser from any BS2300-3200 range.
Just had B&O replace my BS9000 laser....£288.
Ordered my CDM 12.6 complete for BS9000. Costs € 13,- ex. Shipping.
Note: if you're dealer replaces, then you'll get the complete set of laser and control board. So you'll get the latest version possible.
What difference is there between CDM12.4 and CDM12.6? I did have a few issues with my BS9000 but it seems to work after a good cleaning of the lens. I need a laser for the century right now. (And I have a spare BS9000 to take parts from in case my regular one goes down).
I was thinking of buying this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Original-Philips-VAM1204-CDM12-4-05-Laser-Head-Lens-/181006831123?pt=US_CD_Players_Recorders&hash=item2a24d90e13
Older models of Beosound Century/2300/2500/overture have the CDM4 Unit (where the laser moves along an arc). These models have a very robust laser which very seldom has to be replaced. The do instead suffer from the famous capacity problem described in many threads.
Newer models (from appr. 1995) of Beosound Century/2300/2500/overture later including 3000/3200 with the laser moving along straight line use the well renowned CDM12 industrial and its successors and different models, CDM12 ind., VAU1253, CDpro, CDpro2 and possibly CDpro2LF in the latest models. These unit are all pin compatible and exchangeable with each other. These models use the same laser as the CDM12.4 (also named VAM1204) with the chip TDA1302T. These unit are also used in many so called Hi-end CD players, transporters and juke-boxes from Maranz, NAD and others.
So for replacement of the laser use the the CDM12.4 (VAM1204) with the chip TDA1302T.
Should look as the photo. Ribbon cable marked 29-04-93
//Bo.A long list...
Older models of Beosound Century/2300/2500/overture have the CDM4 Unit (where the laser moves along an arc). These models have a very robust laser which very seldom has to be replaced. They do instead suffer from the famous capacity problem described in many threads.
Bos00: Older models of Beosound Century/2300/2500/overture have the CDM4 Unit (where the laser moves along an arc). These models have a very robust laser which very seldom has to be replaced. They do instead suffer from the famous capacity problem described in many threads. Newer models (from appr. 1995) of Beosound Century/2300/2500/overture later including 3000/3200 with the laser moving along straight line use the well renowned CDM12 industrial and its successors and different models, CDM12 ind., VAU1253, CDpro, CDpro2 and possibly CDpro2LF in the latest models. These unit are all pin compatible and exchangeable with each other. These models use the same laser as the CDM12.4 (also named VAM1204) with the chip TDA1302T. These unit are also used in many so called Hi-end CD players, transporters and juke-boxes from Maranz, NAD and others. So for replacement of the laser use the the CDM12.4 (VAM1204) with the chip TDA1302T. Should look as the photo. Ribbon cable marked 29-04-93
Interesting, thanks for all info! Very interesting to read. I did not know the older "arch" lasers where more stable but I have always wondered why they changed the design to a straight line engine driven solution instead of the magnetic one. Perhaps cheaper and lighter? I ordered a cdm12.4 with the exact same chip and design as your photo. Looking forward to take the beosound century apart, exciting.I see you live in Halmstad, I live in Båstad so you are probably the closest BeoWorld member I have seen here.
Michael:I see you live in Halmstad, I live in Båstad so you are probably the closest BeoWorld member I have seen here.
Probably. If you need any help please fell free to ask.
You also bough a used Century a month ago from Landskrona. I had alredy made an agreement with the seller but couldn't pick it up the same evening.
You also bough a used Century a month ago from Landskrona. I had already made an agreement with the seller but couldn't pick it up the same evening.
Michael:I have always wondered why they changed the design to a straight line engine driven solution instead of the magnetic one.
Well it was changed by the supplier (Philips). Probably related to production costs. The CDM4 was already then a very old design.
Bos00: Probably. If you need any help please fell free to ask. You also bough a used Century a month ago from Landskrona. I had already made an agreement with the seller but couldn't pick it up the same evening.
Thanks :). Yes, you are correct! Sorry, I did not know about that . I hope you have more stuff to repair :). This century will be installed in my partners apartment in Lund when I am finished with it so it will not be unused at least, or sold for profit. I dont know when the CDM will arrive but I bought it with free shipping from China so I would guess a week or two.
Got one left, only 200 Euro
Leslie: Got one left, only 200 Euro
HAHA, no thanks :D. I´m thinking about buying another one from someone else on ebay but I should probably just wait.. Boooring.
Patience my friend, when he's back it takes another three weeks for delivery
Michael:"This seller is currently away until Feb 17, 2013. If you make a purchase, there may be a delay in processing your order." How annoying, I cant even wait a day or two, and now I have to wait almost two weeks just for him to ship it. :/
Den som väntar på något gott, väntar aldrig för länge.
Collecting Vintage B&O is not a hobby, its a lifestyle.
Arent you guys funny
Jippii. Today when I got home I found a parcel from china in the mailbox. It was the laser I ordered from ebay. Funny enough it did not come in a box like leslies but some chinese label. The laser itself looks authentic and has the Philips chip so it is probably just packed in their own boxes. Who knows.
I just wonder, Leslie, could you tell me which screwdrivers I need to use to change it? I don't have the century at my place at the time and I will try to carry out the service where it is. I guess it is just a philips screwdriver for the enclosure and perhaps some torx or smaller flat head-screws inside?
Hey Michael, just arrived in Houston in a hotel where they don't have a restaurant??? Never been in the US before so probably you have to get your own food for diner. Have to look for a Pizza place to get a little bite...
For replacing the laser you need a (very) small Torx screwdriver in order to remove the small metal bar/slider. Can't make any pictures now.
Leslie: Hey Michael, just arrived in Houston in a hotel where they don't have a restaurant??? Never been in the US before so probably you have to get your own food for diner. Have to look for a Pizza place to get a little bite... For replacing the laser you need a (very) small Torx screwdriver in order to remove the small metal bar/slider. Can't make any pictures now.
Hi Leslie, sounds fun! I hope you are having a fun trip even if the hotel don't have their own restaurant. I have heard about such hotels before, that would never happen in Europe :). Thanks for your info. I´ll take my torx-set with me and see what I can do.
What are you doing in Houston?
At the moment lying on my bed get a good rest (7 hours time difference, earlier) so its still daylight!
I'm here for business (Honeywell).
Leslie: At the moment lying on my bed get a good rest (7 hours time difference, earlier) so its still daylight! I'm here for business (Honeywell).
Ah, sounds fun! Honeywell is probably a fun place to work also . And you can have a loong night sleep!
By the way, no need to tell about ESD precautions? Try to avoid touching the flatcable contacts, there is shortcircuit clamp at the end of the flatcable. Remove it at the end of the assembly process.
You know what? Hotel receptionist ordered a pizza for me, they gonna deliver it at my room, how do you like that? Wow! Not used to it!
Michael:Honeywell is probably a fun place to work also .
Leslie: By the way, no need to tell about ESD precautions? Try to avoid touching the flatcable contacts, there is shortcircuit clamp at the end of the flatcable. Remove it at the end of the assembly process. You know what? Hotel receptionist ordered a pizza for me, they gonna deliver it at my room, how do you like that? Wow! Not used to it!
Thanks for the concern. I´ll try not to touch it on the contacts. I saw the clamper and also thought that was what it was but did not know for sure. But now I do. I work quite a bit with electronics so I think I will be successful with this unit but thats easy to say before I give it a try. The pizza-thing sounds great! I wish we had home delivery here, but getting it to a hotel room, sounds fun! Bon Appetit!
I'm sure you will Michael! I wonder how big the Pizza will be (ha ha)! A boys dream comes true, I'm in the USA. Been in many countries worldwide but never in this great country, until now!
Leslie: I'm sure you will Michael! I wonder how big the Pizza will (ha ha)! A boys dream comes true, I'm in the USA. Been in many countries worldwide but never in this great country, until now!
I'm sure you will Michael! I wonder how big the Pizza will (ha ha)! A boys dream comes true, I'm in the USA. Been in many countries worldwide but never in this great country, until now!
Thanks :). Haha, yes well I guess you´ll know soon! Pizza on the room is not too bad. Congrats to finally set foot in USA!
I,ll just did a successful laser exchange on a BC2300.
I can help you if needed.