General Forum

Re: My first B&O

Peter — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 01:54:24 GMT

Nothing wrong with the RX2 though I would maybe go for a 1700 instead - I just like the 4000 series and they have more of a wow factor in the styling department. My first system was a BM2400, BG1902 and P30s, rapidly changed to S75s. That did me for quite some time till I got a BG4004. My more recent systems are sometimes more convenient but not better looking and any sound improvemnt is marginal.

Re: My first B&O

Rich — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:02:26 GMT

aidyanimal:

My price range is that of a university student so under £500

Let's see today's conversion rate.....<Google>....1 pound equals $1.62, so 500 pounds is about $810.

In the last year on Ebay in the U.S. I've purchased:

Beovox S40, $50 plus $35 shipping = $85

Beogram RX 2, $25 plus $30 shipping = $55 (Thread in Vintage)

MMC4 Cartridge, $100

Beomaster BM2400, $25 plus $30 shipping = $55 (Thread in Vintage)

Other investments:

Parts to refoam S40 woofers, $25 (Thread in Workbench forum)

Caps and other parts to refurbish S40s, $40

Antenna, conversion cable, and speaker wire for BM2400, $30

Total investment: $390 and maybe 12 hours of my time

That's my current garage system, and it can freaking rock. The BM2400 and S40s (which are hanging on a wall for crying out loud) paired up very nicely, thank you very much.

As to some of the other comments, The RX 2 and MMC4 (had one since 1987, now I have two) get no discussion here, so I'm assuming noses are thumbed at them. But I adore my first RX 2 (21st birthday present from the future Ex Mrs. Rich) which I'm listening to in my bedroom with a pair of Beovox S45-2s. Perhaps the RX 2 wasn't sold in Europe, but there's ALWAYS at least one of them for sale on Ebay here in the states.

If you can get a pair of S45-2s, by all means go for it, as was noted above by more than one person. No foam rot to worry about, but you may have to recap as I did (failing midrange). I got my pair (flawless exterior except for grill cloth - frets I believe you say across the pond) on Ebay in 2007 for $95 plus $40 shipping.

So, in short, vintage B&O, big fan, wish I would win another auction, highly recommended, etc.

Re: My first B&O

Søren Hammer — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:31:25 GMT

Double post!

Re: My first B&O

Søren Hammer — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:31:17 GMT

The 4400 is bacally the same as a Beomaster 6000 (80's model), the Beomaster 8000 is similar in specs too, but with two more darlington configurated output transistors for more power

Re: My first B&O

Evan — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:58:30 GMT

Alex is right - go vintage! The systems are simply incredible!

I will never forget the time when my sister rushed into the house thinking I was playing the piano, when it was really my BeoMaster 3000-2 and BeoVox S45-2s playing a track on my iPod! All original and unserviced, incredible stuff.

I have never heard a 4400, but by judging what everyone says on here it has to be out of this world if it sounds better than my 3000!

Re: My first B&O

Alex — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 03:07:55 GMT

My 2c - don't go for a B&O turntable. With your sort of budget, you can't really afford to buy a lemon. A B&O deck is likely to at least need a service if it hasn't had one recently.

Having heard one recently, I was extremely impressed with the Rega RP1. They cost around £225, which is a fairly smart amount of your budget to spend on a deck IMO. Cheap turntables are generally awful, verging on unusuable. A low quality, badly set-up turntable will sound terrible, and in many cases, can actually ruin your records. The Rega RP1 comes with a pickup/cartridge, and is already configured and ready to go when you get it out of the box! Don't faff with the playing weight, anti-skate or tracking angle as they're already set correctly...

The RIAA preamps in the 3000 and 4000 aren't the greatest. They will get you by, but a good future upgrade would involve buying a good quality RIAA/phono preamp.

My favourite B&O amp is the 4400 (probably because it's one of the ones I own ) - a seriously good amplifier which will run in circles around many modern hi-end amps. I've been meaning to line it up against a Bryston amp we have in the recording studio simply to see just how good it really is! The 4400 also has an RIAA amp, but I haven't actually used it!

As far as speakers go, you've got a large choice when it comes to B&O. Be wary of rotten foam-surrounds on speaker drivers! Not all the BeoVoxes suffer from it, but if it has degraded, then you'll need to factor in having the drivers re-foamed, or avoid them alltogether!

For a student (like myself), the S45-2 - rubber driver surrounds, sealed boxes, and three way. A little bass light but in a smaller room that's a good thing!

Here's a link.

The B&O active speakers are to be avoided IMO. You really need to look at spending £2.5k plus before you get anything worthwhile (with the exception of the BeoLab 4000). The older BeoVox models will blow a lot of the B&O active models out of the water if you put a decent amp behind them...

Re: My first B&O

Peter — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 17:58:33 GMT

You can get active speakers - the Beolab 2500 are a little specialised as, in my view anyway, they look a bit odd separated from the music system. If you want actives, Beolab 4000s are the best value by far. A Beomaster 4400 and S45s will sound better though! (I have both). The 2500 is probably the weakest of the Beolab speakers - only the Beolab 4 will be less powerful and less capable.

Changed back to this log in despite having to post a number of times!!

Re: My first B&O

Søren Hammer — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 17:32:31 GMT

Beomaster 4400, Beogram 400x and Beovox S75's are one of the best B&O systems available, Beomaster 6000(80's version), Beogram 800x with the S-75's also works great.

Re: My first B&O

Evan — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 17:25:58 GMT

aidyanimal:

Any opinions on the B&O Beolab 2500 active speakers , i like the fact i wouldnt need a preamp for them ? and i see them priced at £375

They have their place, but will not have the depth and warmth as all of the above equip.

Back to you're old account Peter?

Re: My first B&O

aidyanimal — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 17:09:32 GMT

Thanks for your help Peter thats a really impressive set of equipment i was looking at the turntables from this earlier.

Any opinions on the B&O Beolab 2500 active speakers , i like the fact i wouldnt need a preamp for them ? and i see them priced at £375

Re: My first B&O

Peter — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 16:58:05 GMT

I would look for a Beosystem 5500 with possibly some S45.2 speakers - excellent sound, easy to wipe clean (you are a student!) but good performance and will work with the modern equipment. If remote is not your thing, then the world is your oyster - a Beomaster 4400 , Beogram 4002 and some S75 speakers will blow away almost anything on the market today, all for less than £500.

Re: My first B&O

aidyanimal — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 16:57:06 GMT

Thank you Evan i shall have a look into that now

Re: My first B&O

Evan — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 16:54:41 GMT

Totally worthwhile!!!

For speakers I would suggest the BeoVox S45-2 or similar.

If I were looking for another receiver, I would probably get another BeoMaster 3000 or 4000. Both have built in RIAA preamplifiers.

My first B&O

aidyanimal — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 16:45:11 GMT

So I’m planning to build a stereo purely to play vinyl on, would any one have suggestions for great but affordable speakers from bang and Olufsen that I should get?

I’ve never really dealt with the company before but my dad loves the stuff so he suggested buy off them.

Things to note ; I’m not planning to buy any thing brand new it will just be second hand stuff probably quite old that I can find on ebay

My price range is that of a university student so under £500

Is it worthwhile buying any second hand B&O products regardless of age? and should I consider purchasing a second hand turntable off them (ive read a few horror stories).

Thanks for any suggestions or advice