I think the amplifiers are fantastic. My BeoMaster 4400 is arguably the best amp I own, and my other BeoMasters also perform very well, better than any modern stuff I own. Heck my 4400 actually sounds better than the Cyrus amps I tried out a year ago or so. Impressive...

Can't say I've been so impressed with the older speakers though. There's some very good stuff out there, the M150s are good, as well as the Pentas, 5700s and 3800s (I had a pair of these until one got dropped 🙁)

I don't think there is anything which sets them apart though! My B&Ws (DM7s) would easily outperform Pentas (unless we start playing at nightclub volumes), and most probably the M150s (which I think are better than the Pentas).

The modern B&O range is generally very very impressive though. BeoLab 9s would be the best speakers B&O have ever made IMO if it wasn't for the BeoLab 5s. The 5s are the only speakers I've ever listened to where I believe I'm hearing *everything* going on in the recording at all frequencies.

If I was to choose a 70s system though, it would be a 4400, BeoGram 4000 and BeoVox 5700s.

Given the fact that in different periods different types of music "emerge"or are popular, perhaps B&O did produce the systems/speakers that were fitting the musical preferences of the time, so they will sound different. I mean, the 70s/80s/90s all had their specific sound, at least in popular music that is. B&O's official statement however always was (and is) is to reproduce music as naturally as posible, according to that statement there is no difference between old and new.

Jazz on the 70s system and techno on the 80s/90s system? Would mean that classical must be played on the 17th century system...

Well that is their aim I believe, to reproduce it as naturally as possible. In the 60s, this wasn't really done very well, although it was good for the time, and the 70s were a step forwards. I don't think there's a 'vast' improvement from the late 70s to 80s or even the 90s in terms of how natural things sound. They definitely managed to get speakers much much smaller and still retain fantastic sound.

It's only in the last 5 or 6 years that I believe speaker technology has really moved along massively.

I think my M100s would show a fairly clean pair of heels to most modern B&O speakers. Only suitable for a decent sized room, they have extremely well defined and accurate bass - we had a demo of them against Pentas, and they were appreciably better.

Remember we tend to like the speakers we are used to though - I thought Alex might like the following review from Hi-Fi Choice about his beloved B&W DM7s!

This medium sized stand mounted model gave generally fine lab performance with useful sensitivity and bass extension marred by a somewhat recessed presence which left the mid-treble a little 'exposed'. Sound quality was rated average throughout, with 'boxy' and 'hollow' colorations noted, plus a tendency to emphasise disc surface noise. A competant (sic) rather than inspired performer at its £400 odd price tag.  

That would be the mk1 with the (admittedly disastrous) fuse protection in the back. B&W updated them later on to completely change the speaker protection, and also simplified the crossovers. The mk2s were only sold for a brief period, but didn't sell well because of the high US price.

I'd agree about the surface noise issues, the floor moves if I put on a rumbly record, and I do generally tend to get 'rushing' noises which aren't present with other speakers when playing records.

Boxiness/hollowness isn't at all an issue I've found though. They could be a little 'brighter', but overall I find them much more 'neutral' than a lot of other speakers. Tonally they're very well balanced.

The DM7s are beautifully spacious though. Imaging and 'realism' is very close to the current B&W 700 series.

On that note though, I am considering an upgrade to either the top-end of the B&W 680 series or the bottom end of the 700 floorstanders (if I can find some second hand).

As much as the 'smoothness' and imaging of the DM7s really sounds great for choral and jazz stuff, the lack of any real punch can really get to me when it comes to a lot of electronic music, which just ends up sounding a little 'weak'. This is where the B&O speakers would excel over the DM7s, much punchier/faster/more detailed.

Difficult to decide. Smoothness/imaging or punch/dynamics? Stay as I am or upgrade?

One thing that I learned as musician is that a terrible sounding tone can't be fixed regardless of how good the system is.

Bad sounding or different comes down to the actual recording medium which I guess very few thinks about as it seldom comes up.

it took 5 years to find/get repaired my late 70s system: Beogram 8002, Beocord 9000, BM 8000 and the wonderful MS 150 speakers. The sound is astonishingly good. For more modern "stuff" like CDs I use the Beosystem 6500 but... there is no comparison.

 The warmth of the BM8000 is exceptional. It is well worth to find and restore these systems to their old glory. It pays dividends.

Look is still fantastic and if one is not bothered by weight and size... I suggest to seriously invest in a good BM 8000

RR