The Workbench

Re: BM 2400 upgrades

yachadm — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:44:46 GMT

Hi Paul,

You can replace the 3 10.7MHz filters with narrower 150kHz units. The originals are about 300kHz wide - like barn doors, and let all kinds of interference in.

In the US, Bill Ammons sells matched filter sets, if you don't have the equipment to match them yourself. Google him.

You will definitely need an alignment after that, and you will be very pleased with the results.

Menahem

Re: BM 2400 upgrades

Paul — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:28:25 GMT

Thanks

I will be on the lookout for one of these.In the meantime,being the eternal tinkerer, I will still be tweaking my BM2400.I think I will try upgrading that low voltage supply that Dillen mentioned.I can't get over the incredible design of that thing!Oh,I have to correct myself.I mentioned upgrading the crystals mistakenly.I meant the IF filters.I heard that the modern ones give a lot better performance.But as you guys have stated,It's probably overkill for this unit.

Thanks again

Paul

Re: BM 2400 upgrades

Peter — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:12:02 GMT

If you want the best sound, consider starting elsewhere. The Beomaster 4400 is possibly the best sounding but if you want remote etc, look at a Beomaster 8000. Both will blow the valve boys away!

Re: BM 2400 upgrades

Paul — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:36:29 GMT

Thanks for the help guys!

You have definately shed some light on this subject.As far as audiophile goes,no wonder my tube amp buddies have stopped talking to me since I got addicted to B&O!LOL.I absolutely love the design of the B&O gear and my goal is to get it sounding as good as it can without going to extremes.As well built as this stuff is I figured a few upgrades are bound to help,and it sounds like you guys have found a few.The low voltage power supply is something I will look at next time it's apart.Any experience with HEXFREDs?Or is simply a more robust rectifier all that is needed here?

Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated

Thanks again.

Paul

Re: BM 2400 upgrades

Peter — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:20:25 GMT

Agree - typical B&O with the end being rather greater than the sum of its parts. Rather a lot fitted in a small box. The 2200 was a far better specified receiver but despite a similar style, it lacks the remote and the touch sensitive controls. And hence is not as common as they did not sell as many!

Re: BM 2400 upgrades

Dillen — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:02:52 GMT

Welcome to Beoworld !
And thanks for joining as a silver member, your support is greatly appreciated.

The basic idea and initial goal of the Beomaster 1900/2400 was that of having a good
quality radio in a wonderful design that was never seen before and would fit in anywhere.
It was never designed to be an audiophile machine - and it never will be unless
completely rebuilt inside.
A chain is no stronger than the weakest link and changing some components to audiophile
grade won't do any good unless the rest follows the same path.

The output stage darlingtons are quite good, even by todays standards, not much to
gain there in my opinion. The same type of darlingtons are used in more powerful
amplifiers and in amplifiers with far better specs than the BM1900/2400 (read: BM4400/8000)
so are definitely well proportioned for the BM1900/2400.
But if you have another pair, feel free to try it. Remember to set the idle
current according to the HFE of the new pair.

The low voltage power supply could be improved, especially the rectifier
(if still original) is below par, quite under-dimensioned.
The rest of the Beomaster is pretty far from being audiophile. One brief look
at the signal path around the source switching circuit would make any HiFi
enthusiast fall off the chair.
But the initial goal was achieved and it's still a wonderful radio today.
One of very few B&O designs, that were never copied by other brands.

The tuner crystals ? Sorry, you will have to elaborate a bit here.

Martin

BM 2400 upgrades

Paul — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:01:48 GMT

I am new to B&O and am enjoying my recapped BM2400 very much.I have replaced many electrolytic caps with Wima MKTs and all others with a mix of high quality audio grade Elna,Nichicon,and Panasonic caps.The questions I would like to bring to the experts on this forum are:

a)What,if any,caps can be eliminated entirely?

B)I have read somewhere about replacing the stock output Darlingtons with another brand for better sound(I have a set I could install)Any truth to this?

C)What about upgrading the tuner crystals?Is an alignment nessessary?

Any other suggestions of upgrades are appreciated!My goal is as good as,or better than,new sound quality.