The electrolytic capacitors, iwhich are n the circuit that separates the high and low frequecies and sens them to the individual drivers, deteriorate with age and the values change. It is worth replacing them to regain the original sound. Old capacitors can make the sound muddy and unfocused. Capacitors are very cheap and Dillen on site can no doubt

It makes a huge difference - well worth doing. You will get some bass!

[quote user="AdamAnt316"] @Peter: That is one nice-looking cartridge! How did you reproduce the original-style lettering? Also, how did you mask off the stylus guard area? [/quote] I used printable transfers - reasonably effective. Actually rather better for black cartridges and white letters! I masked the stylus very carefully with tape.

Because they are very large and take up a lot of wall space. They were also quite expensive and lacked the sound quality of the Penta which was positioned as the top speaker in the range (I know some people dispute the sound quality but that is what a B&O salesman told me!). The BL4500 was continued as a more acceptable size but even this was not

The power is split - most amplifiers allow two sets of speakers to be attached. No problem with either pair of speakers - if you play at full volume, the amplifier will get hot! Long term use at high volumes can cause damage to both speakers and amplifier, but this goes for all systems.

Frede's site is www.Beolab.dk - thoroughly recommended.

I did ask Soundsmith about making a silver body shell but they did not seem that keen. Shame as their cartridges are superb but look wrong on a 4000 or 8000 deck. Soundproof is actually doing a review of the SMMC20CL+ cartridge for us. Worth waiting for. I actually sprayed my SMMC20EN silver!

I talked to Frede about mixing different eras of speakers - he reckons, and I agree, that B&O made speakers and amplifiers match each other and to act in a synergistic fashion. Therefore I wouldn't recommend it. The Beolab 5000 system is a classic and works very well as a whole. With different speakers it can sound more lively than a totally

The MMC20E tracks at 1.5g. You need to get a MMC20CL really, or find a silver cartridge and get Axel to put a new stylus on for you!

A full mint 5000 system is actually easy to obtain - see Frede! Not cheap but you get a true piece of quality. I also think it will sound better than Beolab 4000s . I have a couple of pairs of these and like them but use them as TV speakers. I use Beolab 3s with a Beogram 4004, 5500 system and beoport which is not that dissimilar - very happy with it