BeoGram

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

Peter — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:51:18 GMT

I would agree - the 4002 has a lot missing that the 4000 has but despite that it manages to sound remarkably similar! The 4000 was designed by engineers and I have a suspicion that it probably had a very small profit margin! The 4002 was subject to the bean counters but they essentially removed the fripperies! How often do you need an arm to track backwards?!

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

Duncan — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:12:19 GMT

Hi there,

Sorry for the late post on this thread. The Beogram 4000 is by all accounts the "dream table" as others will confer here. It encompasses everything that Jacob Jensen wanted a table to become when he designed it. I have three 4002's, & one 4000 which was HARD to find. I found it on E-Bay from some seller in NYC & it came with a European round power plug. Finding spare parts was another "dream"! , but after long careful stalking I found a seller in Spain who was willing to break a table down & sell parts.

If you can't find a 4000, a 4002 makes an absolutely fine table indeed. In the United States, I see mostly 4002 & 4004 tables. If you come across one that is exceptional, & the price is right, I wouldn't pass it up. If it comes with ephemera & the original box so much the better. Luckily, one of my 4002's came with the original box, foam inserts, & mountains of brochures, service manuals & catalogs, etc. & was dead ringer mint. I would never sell that table or the 4000.

They play wonderfully, & are a visual delight. I get incredible joy from them.

Keep us posted.

Duncan

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

Peter — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:12:24 GMT

Unfortunately, Anthony Garza seems quite tricky to get hold of. I agree that he would have been the recommendation in the past.

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

soundproof — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:53:01 GMT

Anthony Garza in Texas used to do excellent work on B&O components, but I believe he's stopped taking regular orders. I suspect he might be willing to resuscitate a Beogram 4000, though - they deserve to be kept alive.

You'll find more info about Garza through this link:

http://barditch.beocentral.com/

I'm a very happy owner of a well-maintained Beogram 4000, and can only recommend them highly.

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

Piaf — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:46:23 GMT

Well since I am the guy whose Beogram 4002 was tagged a “suspected bomb,” and treated accordingly…. let me say I wasn’t the least bit amused. Canada Post leaves much to be desired.

However when I ship to the US or Germany there are seldom if ever issues when the package is being shipped for repair and so marked.

Not so when shipping to Denmark. The only way to avoid a HUGE customs fee is to ship the package at very low value, but if you do that, the package is essentially uninsured. If lost or broken, you are out of luck.

The shipping fee alone one way to Denmark for my Beocord 9000 was about US$380! Then there was the customs fees to add insult to injury.

Dillen shipped the 9000 back via Germany and the cost was significantly less.

Jeff

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

Friedmett — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:18:17 GMT

What makes the Danish Customs take action is that the higher value you put on the packet the more the reciving end will be taxed.

So when shipping from US you put on the full insurance and value and so on for the long journey ahead. When it arrives in Denmark the value written is above a certain low amount the reciver will be charged acordentlig.

The only thing it takes is packing the item safely. Only Canada will treat it as a bomb scare first so that is nothing to worry about.

A good example is buying a Soundsmith MMC2 pickup. They send it fully insured and everything. The customs go: We want our bit since the value written is higher. They have no real idea either. For some reason they send it back twice and I then instructed Soundsmith to send it straight without any value written. That worked like a charm. Straight through.

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

RedGrant — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:35:25 GMT

Piaf:

Peter is absolutely right and shipping to Denmark is frighteningly expensive! And then there is the ornery Danish Customs that insist on charging customs fees as if the Beogram were a gift, not one for repair…..adding to the costs.

Jeff

Well, so much for my aspiration of someday sending one to Dillen the master for fix up.

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

RedGrant — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:33:58 GMT

Peter :

I would agree - I know of only three people who I would have real confidence in fixing these and two are in Denmark.

Wow! I guess that means there's none in U.S.?

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

RedGrant — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:32:35 GMT

Piaf:
.... to be sure, however these beasts do NOT travel well and none were imported to North America.

I never knew that. Thanks for heads up.

Piaf:
Also, do keep in mind that if a 4000 has not been properly serviced in the last few years, it will require a good deal of work from an above average shop.

Well, that is to be taken for granted for all vintages except the ones serviced very recently.

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

Piaf — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:08:27 GMT

Peter is absolutely right and shipping to Denmark is frighteningly expensive! And then there is the ornery Danish Customs that insist on charging customs fees as if the Beogram were a gift, not one for repair…..adding to the costs.

Jeff

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

Peter — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:36:11 GMT

I would agree - I know of only three people who I would have real confidence in fixing these and two are in Denmark.

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

Piaf — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:45:59 GMT

A noble goal, to be sure, however these beasts do NOT travel well and none were imported to North America. Also, do keep in mind that if a 4000 has not been properly serviced in the last few years, it will require a good deal of work from an above average shop.

Good luck in your search.

Jeff

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

RedGrant — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:43:49 GMT

Piaf:

I wouldn’t part with any of my turntables, but if I HAD to choose just one, there is NO question it would be the Beogram 4000 with its Swiss AC motor, strobe, record position indicator (silly, but attractive), and its ability to transform vinyl into a virtual concert hall.

Jeff

Thank you for your input. Now I know which one I should be hunting for.

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

Piaf — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:33:02 GMT

In my view the Beogram 4000 is the absolute standout in this august group. I own a 4000, 4002, 4004, 1602, 8000, and 8002.

One only has to open up these turntables to be struck by the incredible quality of the 4000 series with the 4000 being in a class by itself.

In contrast the 8000 and 8002 looks positively cheap by comparison.

I am not denigrating the 8000 series as I hold both the 8000 and 8002 in very high regard.

Currently my best sounding turntable is the 8002 with its wonderful MMC2 cartridge. However with a proper MMC20CL (either rebuilt or Soundsmiths) I have NO doubt that the 4000 would stand supreme.

Having said that I am absolutely thrilled by my “lesser” 4000 series turntables. Either 4002 or 4004 would make a superb addition to anyone’s audio collection. Both are remarkable turntables and esthetically flawless.

Much can be said about having a beltless drive but I don’t know that a belted drive like the one on the 4000 series is a liability.

I wouldn’t part with any of my turntables, but if I HAD to choose just one, there is NO question it would be the Beogram 4000 with its Swiss AC motor, strobe, record position indicator (silly, but attractive), and its ability to transform vinyl into a virtual concert hall.

Jeff

Re: Why beogram 4000 may be the best sounding tangential tracking beogram............

Peter — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:05:00 GMT

Actually MMC20 cartridges are no more difficult. Soundsmith ones are just the MMC1-4 range in a suitable shell and Axel does the retipping on old ones.