Beolab 5000 service/repair costs?

Hi guys,

New member here :-)  I have a Beolab 5000 and Beomaster 5000 which I inherited from my father. Now I love this amp and remember many a Sunday afternoon where my father would blast out tunes on it.  I’ve had it 12 years now my Dad bought it new in the late 60s, it is gradually loosing output! Speaker 1 output has a balance issue, as the right speaker is so much louder than the right speaker. Speaker 2 has a simlar issue, plus crackles. Several lights no longer work, but it is still limping on and with corrected balance just sounds wonderful.

Anyway enough ramble, I am looking to get the amp serviced and repaired. Now before I take to my local B&O centre and ask them, do you guys have any idea as to the rough cost of repair/refurbishment? I really want to get it back to its prime.

many thanks

Gavin

 

 

Here is what I did, here my costs, I recommend classic-audio.dk for total restore. I am a total amateur and this was my first BL5000 restore

BL/BM 5000 calculation
Date	Work done	Hours	Spare parts	Price USD
8/01/15	Pre check	2.50	Buying price S and H	450.00 USD
8/01/15	Photos	1.00
8/02/15	Dismantling	3.00
8/02/15	Photos	2.00
8/03/15	Desoldering components	4.00
8/04/15	Desoldering TR Check	4.00
8/05/15	TR Check, Dism. BM	3.00
8/05/15	Photos	2.00
8/06/15	Engraver visit	1.00
8/07/15	Transformer	1.50
8/08/15	Transformer, Cleaning, caps	3.00	Paint and screws	17.50 USD
8/09/15	Wood BL	1.00
8/24/15	Wood BM	1.50	Caps, lamps Martin	60.00 USD
8/24/15	Photos	3.00	Frede Fronts	489.00 USD
9/28/15	New caps and clean	2.50
9/29/15	New caps and clean	3.00
10/05/15	Checking transistors	1.00	Mouser caps and Trs	40.00 USD
10/08/15	New caps BM	2.50
10/12/15	Change transistors (Bl drop)	3.00
10/13/15	Change transistors (Bl drop)	1.50
10/14/15	Asmb. Trs to cooling	3.00
10/15/15	Asmb. Transf. Side	3.00
10/16/15	Sold. PCB 03, + caps, Sw.asmb.
	Mount. PCB 01, sold. To Sw.asmb	4.00
10/27/15	Chassis front, V and Bal sliders	3.00
10/28/15	Bass and Treble sliders, PCB 2	4.00
10/28/15	Photos November	3.00
10/31/15	Sold. PCB 2 and placed wirebundles	2.00
11/01/15	Adjust and failure finding	3.00
11/02/15	Failure finding	1.00
11/04/15	Test and adjust, Front on	3.00
11/10/15	Failure finding	2.00
11/17/15	Failure finding	3.00
11/18/15	Failure finding	4.00
11/26/15	Oscilloscope ordered
12/09/15	Failure finding w/Osc.	2.00
12/11/15	Polarity BC 154, Test w/tuner	3.00
12/26/15	Phono input, swithch	2.00
12/27/15	End assembly	2.00
		93.00		1,056.50 USD

 

Your local dealer will have no idea. Frede at classic-audio.dk is the world authority on restoring these. You can certainly get cheaper but you will not get better. I have a full Beolab 5000 system which he restored and it is superb - I must get the tuner back from Craig! (sorry Craig - life just seems to get in the way!)

The system is still superb sounding - and it is flexible so will take inputs from all devices - I have an Alexa dot attached to mine at present! The advantage of this system is that it is perfectly possible to restore it to better than new condition and it will last for many more decades. Good luck!

The other alternative if in the UK is to sweet talk Craig - he has done several of these and consults with Frede and Martin. Or you could do it yourself but you will need some electrical experience and know how.

Thank you for the info. Soren your project looks amazing, well beyond my abilities I’m afraid. Certainly food for thought. I’ll take a look at classic-audio.dk.

I’ve just rang my local B&O dealer and was impressed that he knew of the amp and was very enthusiastic about it. They have a local guy who has repaired other 5000’s, as they are very local I’ll see what they have to say, saves shipping etc.

Welcome!

Yes, the Beolab 5000 does sound superb, and is incredibly reliable. I have one that still works on all its original components and sincerely I couldn’t tell it apart from a fully refurbished Beomaster 4400!

Whatever you decide, going the Frede way (the best) or leaving it as it is, you have one of the very best hi-fi components ever made. Keep them preciously. 👌

I have got to agree with all of the above....I don't think anything sounds as good as the BL5000, and Frede is the man no question....I have dabbled with some success, due to the help of the forum of course, and no worries Peter your BM5000 and your BM8000 continue to charm as ever ;¬)

Craig

I have repaired and restored hundreds of the older B&O audio units and I've also done the odd repair to the Beolab 5000 units, but I too like to send owners of the Beolab 5000 systems to Frede for complete restorations.
He knows all there is to know. Simple as that.

His website is currently down. Luckily Frede himself is doing well, and it's just a hosting problem.
Patience.

Martin

Dillen:

His website is currently down. Luckily Frede himself is doing well, and it's just a hosting problem.
Patience.

Thank you Martin, was getting a little nervous

Thank you guys. I noticed the website was down...I will certainly make contact if things don’t work out.  

cheers