Hello there, I'm a newbie here so hello to all.... :)

I've been searching for some information that I'm finding rather illusive. I was just wondering if you knew what I'm after.

I am new to B&O and I'm looking to buy a used Beaogram 7000 cd player only to run through my NVA A8 monoblock amps.

I have been doing some reasearch in to the use of the TDA1541A DAC. Can you tell me if the 7000 actually uses this dac as found in the 5500?

Would you recommend the 7000 over the 5500 and do either come with RCA outs?

Finally my last question is what do the type numbers mean on each model, if you can tell me the meanings relating to the 50 series that includes the 7000 would be great!

Many thanks

Welcome to the forums Joe!

The CD5500 lacks the tray cut-out for CD singles and has a different optical deck. Otherwise the 5500/6500/7000 are all pretty much identical. I think the 5500 has RCA outputs - the others don't, but getting an adapter is no problem. All have a coaxial optical output as well.

I suppose you realize that if you don't connect these to a Beomaster, the only control you will have is stepping forward a track at a time from the front panel?

The type numbers were changed mostly to keep up with the rest of the systems. Most differences are in the receiver (Beomaster).

Interesting question. The best CD player was probably the early CD5500 as this had the brushless motor for the transport. These models in my experience all had the TDA1541A chip. Later CD5500s had the single CD cut out and I believe changed the transport to the same as those in the CD6500 and 7000. My 7000 and late 5500 both have the TDA1541A chip but there does seem to have been a somewhat random approach at this point as a well respected repairer has told me that he has found a variety of TDA1541 chips in all sorts of Beogram CD players, varying from the standard in CD7000s to TDA1541P in others. Equally, CD3500s can be found with the A chip.

Mika is completely correct that the lack of controls is a disadvantage though for those of us from a certain era, listening to an album as it was recorded still has a certain appeal!

Nice one guys...

Many thanks for the information. I bought a 7000 yesterday, so it should be here tomorrow.

Can anyone give me any advice on how to get a remote working for the 7000? - Is it reall only through the beomaster and an additional remote?

Cheers

Joe

Strange_Brew:

Can anyone give me any advice on how to get a remote working for the 7000? - Is it reall only through the beomaster and an additional remote?

Unfortunately yes. CD50 had an optional remote module, but the later decks don't.

You could control it through the Datalink interface just like the Beomaster does, but I don't think there's any off the shelf solution for that... a medium difficulty microcontroller project for someone.

I'm supprised nobody has taken up the challenge to make an IR relay unit. Ah well... I may have to get a Beomaster just for the controls...lol - seems a bit of an overkill.

Saying that... I don't really use a remote on my current set-up and I (like with my vinyl) mostly play records all the way through.

Old skool!

Any Beomaster with datalink will work though clearly get one which uses a Beolink 1000/Beo4. I imagine Ridax could probably help with an IR receiver though. What made you choose the Beogram? Quite an unusual choice though the electronics are excellent - just not many audiophiles would bother to find out!

lol... mate, I'm still very new to all the models, so any advice would be fantasic...

I was just thinking of getting a Beomaster 7000 and the Beolink 7000 remote when I get some more funds in.

How much do these go for, do you know?

The Beogram.. well, I was after something that was quality, lots of audiophiles would look down on me choosing B&O but the good simply do not have to be ugly which in most cases it is so as it's the components rather than the cases/exterior is what people buy. I took my time and did some reaserch. I had an Arcam Alpha with the NOS mod, it sounded fantastic... That also had the TDA1541A but it was just not what I was looking for in style, before that I used a Musical Fidelity X-RAY 24K but I found it too bright.

My amps are some lovely NVA A80 monoblocks driving Wilson Benesch ARC's so when I saw that the Beogram used the Philps transport and Dacs so I thought I'd give it a go... Still awaiting the outcome of my choice, it's not arrived yet!

I also think it's because B&O have always been around me whilst I was growing up in the 80's, and I used to visit the shop just to see what mad ideas they had. But it was always too expensive..

I like the Beolink 7000 a lot but these remotes are ageing now and are becoming much less reliable. The Beomaster 7000 is good though and I would suggest a Master Control Panel 6500 to operate it. This does not have the ability to work the TV as well but I doubt that is something you want. It is however much simpler and more reliable but will still allow programming. It is also much cheaper! The Beomaster sells for around £200 though prices do vary a lot.

I have a variety of B&O CD players and the 5500/7000 is a good one. Easy to get at the innards as well so some audiophiles will play with the components - look on the workbench for examples. Mine is unadulterated and sounds just fine to me. They also have a digital out should you want to compare with an external DAC.

I actually took my Beogram CDX (based on the Philips CD 104 but in a 100 chassis - 14 bit TDA1540 DAC) and compared that with a number of £1000 CD players at a local Lintone shop (very helpful and friendly!) and the CDX performed very well. I had not realised that we would be using a Naim set up with DIN plugs as I would have taken the CD7000.

Let us know how you get on.  

Hey Peter.

Do you know something... I think this CD 7000 CD player is somewhat of a gem. This thing has the best bass I have heard, much better than the Arcam Alpha or the Musical Fidelity X-RAY.

I took the time to take some pics of the internals of the player. I must say the quality of the thing is tops... The transport being a solid lump of alloy is most satisfying, I've always hated plastic transport trays. Also the main board has it's own hinges... which is nice!

So, for a few hundred quid it certainly needs to be one of those buys where you get the best of pretty much everything.

Thought I had better have a quick look at mine!

Beogram CD7000

And the 5500!