I
discovered B&O in the 80's. Even as a small boy I already had a
huge interest in design and engineering. My main focus had always been
cars till that time, but I already started to develop an interest in
modern art, architecture and non-automotive industrial design as well.
I was 11 years old when I first saw a picture in a magazine of a
Beogram 3000 (59xx). I was totally blown away by this machine. I've
never seen anything that looked so stylish, so modern. It's safe to say
I was immediately hooked.
I still hadn't seen any B&O product
in the flesh. My parents, older brother and I lived in a small village
and of course there was no B&O shop. Even in the city nearby, where
my parents did most of their shopping a B&O shop was absent. But I
was determined to get a catalogue. So I rang the distributor for the
Netherlands and got my first catalogue when I was 13. The next year we
moved to another village and this actually had a small shop where they
sold B&O products. I went to the shop almost immediately after my
parents moved there and saw the B&O products in the flesh for the
first time. I can still remember the shopkeeper had a Beocenter 9000
that I really loved and a Beosystem 3300.
I already knew I had
to have B&O in my life, but after I actually saw it and had
listened to the Beocenter 9000, the will to own B&O grew stronger,
but unfortunately I couldn't afford it at that age. But I really wanted
B&O in my life so I tried to persuade my parents to buy B&O
equipment, but they refused. Still I went to this shop every time there
was a new model or catalogue and the shopkeeper really liked my
enthusiasm. I left the village in 1992 when I went to the university. I
was really disappointed with the B&O shop in my new hometown, so
whenever I visited my parents I always went to the little B&O shop
where I first saw the wonderful B&O machines.
In 1996, just
after my 22nd birthday I heard that this small shop was soon to be
closed. The shopkeeper had developed problems with his health and could
now longer run his business. I had nearly enough money at the time for
a Beocenter 9300, but he was willing to give me a discount. He really
wanted a good home for the last B&O equipment he had in stock. I
walked out of the shop with the Beocenter 9300, similar in design to
the Beocenter 9000 I just had to have. He also gave me a B&O bottle
opener. I still own the Beocenter 9300 and the bottle opener and will
never part with both.
I must explain here that the Beocenter was
situated in my parents' house and not in my student accommodations as I
didn't want my roommates to mess with my newly acquired masterpiece. My
parents must have been genuinely impressed with it, because six months
after I bought my Beocenter they bought a second hand Beosystem 5500
and a Beovision LX 2500 and new Beovox CX 100 speakers. They've always
thought that the brand was far too expensive, but like I said, they
must have been impressed.
I started to earn money and have
bought more equipment over the years, such as a Beosound 2300 with
Beolab 2500's in my study, a Beocom 4 and a Beovision MX 7000 in the
lounge. Right now I am saving money to replace my non B&O speakers
in the lounge. After all, the Beocenter 9300 deserves this. I would
like a pair of Beolab 3's or perhaps Beolab 8000's. The 8000's work
really well in combination with the Beocenter 9300, but I saw the
picture in the 2006/2007 catalogue of the Beolab 3's with the Beocenter
9500. Looks surprisingly good I have to say. I probably will choose
Beolab 3's. Other items on my wish list include a pair of Beolab 5's
(of course) a Beosound 1, a Beosound 3 and a Beosystem 6500 / 7000. I
still have a long way to go!