Hi folks, recently aquired a Beogram 4000, advertised as faulty but good nick (minus couple issues) - I couldn't resist despite the near 200 mile drive there and back
When I finally got the player home, the first thing I did was to place it next to my 4002 - Don't ask me why, it just had to be done :) I am sure I am not the first to have done this though ?
Anyway, as I looked at the two turntables together, I found myself scratching my head, trying to work out why the 4000 looked so much more elegant than the 4002. I could see the switch panel of the earlier machine was basically a nicer design, much cleaner - but there was something else I could not quite get my head round.
After some more staring and scratching, it suddenly struck me - the ribs on the platter!!! About 1mm thinner on the 4000 and in my opinion much more elegant and fitting to the design. As a result of noticing this, whenever I look at the 4002 I do not see the nice looking turntable I used to see but a potentially nice turntable with eyebrow like ribs radiating around the turntable centre and dominating otherwise nice clean lines :(
So what were B&O thinking with this rather unelegant design change? Is there a technical reason for this i.e. greater contact with the record, static, something to do with reported sensor issues or maybe the thinner ribs don't look so good with the newer switch panel or was this just the current trend in looks of the time?
BTW the 4000 has been a fun project which is still in progress, but mostly cosmetic now. I originally intended to sell this on but looks like it is a keeper, partly due to the amount of time spent on it but also there are cosmetic issues which are not easily fixed and would devalue the turntable too much I think. That's the bit I told the wife, truth is mostly because despite some 'spoilers' I absolutely love this record player :)
If anyone is interested I might share some photos and my experience when I get a moment...
Olly.