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Can anybody advise me what might be today's equivalent of the Beogram 4000? Mine was recently damaged by lightning. The insurance company replaces like for like and is offering me a Rega RP3, Elys2 cartridge and preamp since B&O no longer makes a turntable. They are willing to consider a better replacement if I can justify it.
Nice insurance company!
That combination is in excess of 650 GBP or over 700 EUR. Considering the age of the Beogram 4000 (1972 - 1974) I'd say you had a great deal with the Rega. I have no experience with that deck but the reviews I've seen are good. It's featured in a few Youtube videos and owners rave about it.
I suppose you may be able to argue that its radial rather than tangential.
If I was offerred that deal, I'd take it. I must check my insurance policy!
Dave.
The cost of a Beogram 4000 when new was more than that of a Linn Sondek. I think therefore that the Rega is a reasonable deal. It will of course be manual, but I doubt you will find an automatic deck of a similar quality. The alternative is to get Fred at Classic Audio to restore a 4000 to as new standards.
Peter
Yes, the Rega is a good deck. I would repair the Beogram 4000 for sure, but in the meantime if you could grab a Technics SL10 for not too much outlay...
Jacques
The lightning 'spike' may have only done a little damage but finding out would be fun! I wonder if all those DTL I.C.s could survive much over-voltage abuse...? They generally sell for over £12++ each on ebay, when they do turn up!
One way of getting the thing going, and definitely worth considering, would be to find a cosmetically challenged scrap unit that maybe has a couple of minor faults, get the thing working, then transplant the innards over...
I have recently discovered a line of late 70's early 80's Sony decks that sound amazing, they certainly exceed B&O in the complexity stakes, and the sound is quite amazing IMO - but I don't want to say much cos I think they are under-rated (forgotten about?) and I want one for myself, just in case prices go up :)
Olly
I have heard the Rega RP3 - very nice deck. Sumiko also makes similar looking decks and many in the same price range as the Rega. Other brands to consider are VPI and Clearaudio.
Many options to choose from..
Beo4 'til I die!
Thanks for everyone's help. The insurance policy is 'as new', so they will replace with any current deck that is equivalent in specification. People always said that the quality of the source components is the most important consideration in a hifi system. I always found that the Beogram 4000 of course looked good but more importantly produced a wonderful warm sound from my vinyl collection. Some say only the (low end) Linn is equivalent. Is there a technical reason why the Beogram 4000 was so good? I have had it from new with a Beomaster 4000 and 5700 speakers.
Hi Peter, if the Beogram 4000 cost more than the Linn Sondek in 1973 (when I bought it), wouldn't that be the deck to go for? Do you know how much the Linn was then? I seem to remember paying about £2000 for a 4000 system then (turntable, amp, 2200 tape deck and 5700 speakers). I think the Beogram was about £400.
Whatever you do don't throw away the Beogram 4000. It will be of use to someone somewhere as parts are become more & more scarce daily. Probably even fixable as Olly (Step1) suggests.
Chris.
the 4000 was actually only £159.50 back in 1973 according to Beocentral
http://beocentral.com/beogram4000
ouverture: the 4000 was actually only £159.50 back in 1973 according to Beocentral http://beocentral.com/beogram4000
You missed the inflation. £159.50 would be £1658.80 in today's money with a total inflation of 940%!
Vinyl records, cassettes, open reel, valve amplifiers and film photography.
it was just that Madisa thought he paid £400 back in 1973 ( and that has nothing to do with inflation )
ouverture: it was just that Madisa thought he paid £400 back in 1973 ( and that has nothing to do with inflation )
Oh, I didn't read it properly - my fault!