It is quite difficult to compare the 8000 and 8002 as they use different cartridges. Using SMMC cartridges would clearly make this easier (the 20 series is just a framework carrying the later style). Various people have tried putting a flat deck on the 4000 type deck. I have seen a glass deck with a mirror finish with the radial ribs replaced by black

You can use the 8000 with any passive speaker - you will need some 2 pin DIN speaker plugs. The Polk speakers you have will be fine. The 8000 produces 150W per channel so it would be best to have speakers that can handle this sort of output - that power is into 8 ohms. You can fit a passive subwoofer eith through the normal speaker cables and the other

Not common! To get the best price, put it on eBay with a good picture and description. It has very limited use - you need a reel to reel player and a suitable carousel, but a fascinating find!

I used the BC2 but on swapping to the BV5, I have gone back to the TV again!

The BC1 seems to have reliability issues and these were the first models that come with no circuit diagrams. They look nice though!

The problem you have is that this is just not very sought after - mistakenly, as it will produce excellent sound. On eBay, it will struggle to reach £50 in my view. As you are also really wanting to sell locally, your audience is reduced still further. An auction type site is your best bet for a decent price as people can get into a bidding war

Picture quality of the BV5 is very good and gets better the later model you get. I am very happy with my older one. The early LCD sets are not so good though the modern ones are far better. The only thing I would add is that you better have a good strong wall if you are mounting the BV5 on it!

I would agree that a second hand B&O set would be the way I would go, but if you are set on a new set and not from B&O, I would consider either Samsung for an LED set - the one B&O use, though not with the same video engine - or Panasonic for plasma for the same reason. A good Sony would also be on my list to look at, though their top of

It is quite difficult to make a definitive list of faults. There are a few common issues - the 70s audio equipment was fitted with red capacitors which were highly specified at the time but which have been found to leak These need replacing. CRT tubes on some sets are prone to fail - the early Avants were bad in this respect but most have done this

I have a BV5 which has taken over from an Avant as my main set with a brief interlude of a BV10-40 in between. The BV5 has superb sound - as good if not better than the Avant and a completely different class to the BV10. The BV10 picture is much better on HD but on SD, the BV5 is at least as good. I think cricket might be slightly better on the BV5