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Untitled Page
ARCHIVED FORUM -- April 2007 to March 2012 READ ONLY FORUM
This is the first Archived Forum which was active between 17th April 2007 and
1st March February 2012
Latest post 12-11-2007 12:10 PM by beoperson. 29 replies.
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09-27-2007 12:06 PM
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beoperson
- Joined on 06-15-2007
- New-York USA
- Posts 288
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How my B&O dream came true
Being "so lucky" to be born and growing up in the country called United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) in early 1970-ies we have learned early what iron curtain means. I've lived in the relatively small and now independent country called Georgia which was one of 15 "independent" republics USSR consisted of at the time. The history of Georgia and the Georgian nation dates back 5,000 years further than history of Russia or Ukraine. Georgians are known for their independent spirit. I always knew that I have to know what is on the "other side". Soviet policy was generally not allowing any imports especially from capitalist countries. Obviously this applied to electronics as well as anything else. During home stereo revolution USSR had few own brands which produced outdated and unreliable electronic equipment.
For many it was considered privileged just to know people who have been able to travel abroad. And of course they would get somewhat decent stereo systems for themselves or to sell on the black market. Prices on those electronics on black market were ridiculously high and selection was very limited. However few could afford them and this is how I have been introduced to quality home stereo. I still clearly remember sensitive buttons on one of early AKAI cassette decks and warm sound of first JBL speakers I have ever seen...
During early high school years I have been able to acquire cassette player/radio made by Hitachi with detachable speakers! It replaced my soviet made record player and introduced me into world of cassette tapes. But for me personally window to the world of stereo were electronics catalogs and magazines. I was browsing through these treasured catalogs and amazed with variety and range of products available. On of the magazines that have fallen in my hands was German department store catalog called OTTO from 1983. It had primarily clothing goods with appliances and about 20 of pages with electronics. Catalog's black market price was about 100 roubles which was about an equivalent of $100! At that time 154 roubles would buy you roundtrip airfare price from Tbilis to Moscow (3 hour flight)
However this magazine had few pages that caught my attention and added special value to it. There were pictures of BeoSystem 5000 with BeoVox RL speakers. I knew immediately I had to own this catalog. BeoSystem 5000 have placed world of stereo upside down for me. I have studied pictures for month's, drawer design with hidden controls and display through dark glass panels of BeoCord 5000 was fascinating! MCP 5000 placed on the table looked like spaceship control center! I have made hundreds sketches of the system during boring classes at school. There was nothing else like B&O. Nothing even close. I have soon realized the prices of the system, obviously B&O was way out of reach. About year later I had chance to see B&O product in person. One well known black market electronics seller landed as a demo stereo system to my friend. Stereo consisted of lower end Nakamichi cassette decks along with rosewood BeoMaster 3000-2 Tuner/Amplifier and BeoVox M100 Loudspeakers. I have inspected and played with BeoMaster for many hours and was fascinated with build quality and superb warm sound quality. Performance of M100 was also very impressive.
During last year in college I had an opportunity to defect to United States. And I did not miss that opportunity. In the early 90-ies I was doing some temporary contracting work for interior designer. One day I came across complete BeoSystem 5500 in the study room of the Upstate New York mansion we were working in. I briefly noticed MCP 5500 with round dial on the table with and 5500 components placed in the wall cabinet just like in that OTTO catalog...
Few of years later in the early eBay times, when people were still afraid of purchases online I've notice relatively decent amount of B&O sold on eBay. I decided it was time for me to upgrade from Sony component system with JBL speakers (which I've purchased almost few month after arrival to states) to something I always dreamed of. I've hunted and eventually bid and won BeoMaster 5000. Unit was available for local pickup. I drove to upper west side where I finally saw it closely. BeoMaster 5000 push open bottom panel. I've paid $125 and practically ran. I was eager to hear sounds produced by this beauty. And of course B&O did not let me down. Sound was impressive. I have purchased rest of the 5000 components shortly to complete 5000. And RL140 a bit later. It was a great feeling to own this piece of B&O history and especially to make my teenage dream come true…
Since then I have upgraded to 5500 primarily for reason of wanting to have BeoLink 1000 and to 7000 eventually. I have and still do own many B&O products from older range to the latest products and will certainly try to make my family's life's accompanied by design and quality of Bang and Olufsen.
I also hope B&O will keep producing timeless products like BeoSystem 5000 which can have such tremendous effect on 13 year old boy for the rest of his life... Sorry for the long post, just felt like sharing this...
David the BeoPerson
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Dave
- Joined on 04-17-2007
- Brisbane, Australia
- Posts 2,328
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
I really enjoyed reading that, Thank you for sharing that interesting window into your past!
“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort.”
Your health and well-being comes first and fore-most.
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soundproof
- Joined on 04-16-2007
- Posts 2,340
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Wonderful story, thanks for sharing that! I have a complete set of pristine instruction manuals for the Beomaster 5000, Beogram 5005, Beogram CD 50, and Beocord 5000. In Danish, but if anything that would make it even more authentic for you. Let me know if you're interested and I'll send them to you, free of charge. Just PM me.
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Tom
- Joined on 04-16-2007
- Luxembourg
- Posts 3,175
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
You don't have to be sorry for writing such a long post! It was very interesting! Thanks for sharing it!
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. - Berthold Auerbach
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Peter
- Joined on 02-12-2007
- Posts 9,572
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Wonderful story! Makes me realise how lucky I am and how more of us need to realise that not everyone can be as fortunate as ourselves. Thank you for posting this.
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Jandyt
- Joined on 04-01-2007
- Clitheroe, Lancashire, UK
- Posts 13,004
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
What a brilliant story, David! It's quite amazing, your transition from the lad covetting a catalog, to becoming the first person in the whole world to have a Beoworld Volvo! Thanks for sharing this. Andy T.
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9 LEE
- Joined on 02-14-2007
- Moderator - UK
- Posts 5,223
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Incredible, and a testament to your determination that you are where you are now.
Well done, and it makes it even nicer that you have a Beo-Car as an accessory!!
Lee
BeoWorld - Everything Bang & Olufsen
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WiBi
- Joined on 09-16-2007
- Rijnmond NL
- Posts 40
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Thanx for sharing your story.. I really enjoyed it. Willem
Why we're on this planet? Because that's where they have B&O
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Stars
- Joined on 04-24-2007
- London
- Posts 1,483
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Thanks for such an interesting read! I hope you reflect on your successes in life every time you see your 5000! Bang & Olufsen is clearly something that you have inside your heart, as it does to me too but in different ways. Regards,
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GuyHui
- Joined on 03-17-2007
- Posts 1,560
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Hi David, It's always a pleasure to have someone expressing his PASSION by B&O. In my case, I do really understand you and would be able to read such post for hours Each moment spent with B&O means pleasure for me. Cheers, Guy
--= "Everything gets done with Patience" =--
--= "Less is More" - Mies Van der Rohe"
--= BV10 46", BL8K, BL4K, BL2, BS Ouverture, BC6000 (Mk3), BT1100, Beo4 , A8 and ...the Atomic Floyd "Airjax+Mic" earphones =--
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Sal
- Joined on 04-30-2007
- Indianapolis, USA
- Posts 261
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Thanks for sharing, David. A fantastic read!
-Sal
Love B&O, but no longer addicted.
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beoperson
- Joined on 06-15-2007
- New-York USA
- Posts 288
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Thank you all. I really appreciate your warm comments!
David the BeoPerson
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TheTinman
- Joined on 09-20-2007
- Los Angeles
- Posts 52
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Wow, David.... That's somewhat similar to my own story, except
I originally came from Berlin, Germany. At the time B&O was
like something from another planet to me. But the image stuck in
my mind through the years. Until finally..... But it was
only possible for me to own such equipment in the US. I have been
back once since the wall came down. Wow.... what an amazing
change! Not ALL for the better, though. God bless
America. Where else can you own the things you dream of? Marc
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Ruivar
- Joined on 07-12-2007
- Denmark
- Posts 72
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Very good and touching story. I myself fell in love with Bang & Olufsen when I was 13 years old. Especially in the BeoCenter 2300. I didn't have a lot of money at that age, so luckily my parents lended me what I couldn't pay for myself. I payed about 25% of the price with my own money. That was all I had. So my parents lended me the te rest (75%). But because I used all my money on "a quarter of" a BeoCenter 2300 with no speakers, I had to use some old Computer speakers attached in the mini-jack. I used that for about 1 1/2 years, till I could afford some real speakers. I didn't really care about the poor sound quality of the computer speakers. It seemed like my happiness, owning the most beautiful design, surpassed the fact that the sound experience wasn't that good... So I know the feeling of your childhood dreams Thanks for sharing Ruivar
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Bieele
- Joined on 04-16-2007
- Netherlands
- Posts 339
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Great story; in my opinion the post was to short! Bieele
Heej zuij der alles veur gaeve
En heej zaet ze mogen ut hebbe van meej
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beoperson
- Joined on 06-15-2007
- New-York USA
- Posts 288
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
And here is the picture :) Actually on this picture I have already uprgaded BeoMaster 5000 to BeoMaster 5500. You can tell that by presence of the beolink 1000
David the BeoPerson
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9 LEE
- Joined on 02-14-2007
- Moderator - UK
- Posts 5,223
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
It's official - he's famous!! Much better story on BeoWorld mind you - they have edited it a little too much. And what is that cyber-voice about? It's annoying me now! That aside, i do like the B&O Christmas Campaign - very swish and B&O-like. Not easy doing something like that! Lee
BeoWorld - Everything Bang & Olufsen
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Tom
- Joined on 04-16-2007
- Luxembourg
- Posts 3,175
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Agree with you on the editing, Lee. But still a great story. Did they get it from beoworld? That would be a prove of beoword's impact!
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. - Berthold Auerbach
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9 LEE
- Joined on 02-14-2007
- Moderator - UK
- Posts 5,223
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
tom: Agree with you on the editing, Lee. But still a great story. Did they get it from beoworld? That would be a prove of beoword's impact!
It came from the post at the top of this thread! Bang & Olufsen read this thread, and felt it was such a great story they politely asked if it was ok to contact Dave. He was of course as delighted as we are for him - and it went from there. We really do have a great relationship with B&O at the moment - and it's great that one of our members is on the official site! I'm sure i talk for all of us when i say i'm proud of him!! Lee
BeoWorld - Everything Bang & Olufsen
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The Beonic Man
- Joined on 04-16-2007
- Bath
- Posts 426
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
What a beautiful inspiring story that is. Thank you. I must have missed this thread at the time but no worries as I have just read it all through now and followed the links to David's page on the B&O site. I have a tear in my eye actually because this is such a heart warming story and of course so true of life or those growing up in a communist state and regime. No matter what part of the world people are in, we all have our dreams and for many of us it was dreaming about B&O. How wonderful it is that some of us have been able to make those dreams come true. A tribute to B&O for being a company that creates such feeling in the first place through the design and quality of their products, and a tribute to those who have made their dreams come true, by whatever means. Thank God for our health, our freedom and the opportunities many of us have. Here's hoping that some day everyone in the world will have the same. This was a lovely bedtime story for me. Thanks again. See you soon, I am away for a couple of days. Simon.
"We can rebuild him. We have the technology."
7-40, 7-2, 9000, BS3, BC2, LC2, BC6000, Beo5
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beocool
- Joined on 10-17-2007
- the Netherlands
- Posts 5,514
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Yes, a great story. It makes me realize how lucky I am living in the western world.
Beoworld's twenty-eighth ninth prize winner and fifty-first second prize winner. Best £30 I've ever spent!
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EOB
- Joined on 04-18-2007
- Posts 188
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Re: How my B&O dream came true
Thank you for sharing your story. And congratulations of being the Star of today on the B&O official site! That must surely trump any catalogue
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