Advice wanted please - Beosystem 4500 v Beosystem 6500 (sorry for long post)

56 replies
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rayfenwick (archived)
Bronze
Posted July 27, 2007 at 06:31 GMT
#1811771

Hello all

As you maybe know, I am fairly new to owning collecting B&O, but have admired for ages.

I have been lucky, and just acquired a Beosystem 6500  to replace my 5500, and I like it lots. But, I have also been offered a 4500 for a good price too.

On looks alone, I have always been a bit infatuated with the 4500 - it is simply gorgeous to my mind; all futuristic and retro at the same time, and I can imagine Buck Rodgers having one of them in his 25th century pad (if you see what I mean).  The 6500 (and other family members are of course lovely looking too, and take up much less space, but since when has it been about practicality?  It is (for me at least) about the looks foremost, and nice as they as they are, the "stacked" Beosystems just seem a bit conventional-looking next to the 4500.

 So, looks-wise, the 4500 is an easy winner for me (just my opinion), but how about performance wise?  Turntable-wise it is no real difference as all of these Beograms are basically the same, but in different cases, and the Beocord will only ever be used for playback, and even then not very often.

But what about the rest of the system?  . Mainly thinking about the CD and the Beomaster.  Apart from the looks, what's the real differences? Output wattage isn't really a big issue, as I never push my system much as I live in a small house, and also because I am planning to buy some Beolab 4500s anyway. I have some link speakers and other stuff (being removed from previous location and not sure what it is yet) on the way that was used with the 6500, but I am presuming that this will also work fine with the Beomaster 4500.

CD wise I doubt there's much in it, but I am happy to listen to superior wisdom.

Final question is related to 2 way remote operation.  I have a Beolink 7000 and also MCP 5500. As I understand it, the Beomaster 4500 is 2 way also, and should work fine with my remotes, but if someone can tell me different....

Anyway, sorry for the long post guys and all advice gratefully received. If you love/hate the 4500, please tell me why.

Best wishes to all

Ray

Peter
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Peter
Gold
Posted July 27, 2007 at 06:44 GMT
#1811772

The 4500 is very beautiful - especially when wall mounted. The sources are broadly similar though the casstte and CD are more highly specified in the 6500. The 4500 can be two way though it depends on the software fitted. If you are using Beolab speakers then the amplifier differences are minor.

It sounds as though you want the 4500! It is to all intents a BC9500 made into separates so I can understand why you like it. I swapped from a 5000 system to a 9500 many years ago and never regretted it. The amplifier in the 6500/7000 is however quite a bit better if you plan to use passive speakers especially in a link room. The MCP5500 will not work with the 4500 system

My B&O Icons:

BeoCenter-9500.png BeoCenter-9500.png
Beoremote-Beo4.png Beoremote-Beo4.png
Beovox.png Beovox.png
Beovision-11.png Beovision-11.png
Beotime.png Beotime.png
Beosound-Stage.png Beosound-Stage.png
Beosound-Moment.png Beosound-Moment.png
Beosound-5.png Beosound-5.png
Beosound-2.png Beosound-2.png
Beoremote-One.png Beoremote-One.png
Beoplay-Portal.png Beoplay-Portal.png
Beoplay-Earset.png Beoplay-Earset.png
Beomaster.png Beomaster.png
Beolit.png Beolit.png
Beogram-400x.png Beogram-400x.png
Beocenter-2.png Beocenter-2.png
FR
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francoisvl
Bronze
Posted July 27, 2007 at 07:13 GMT
#1811773
I would go with the 4500.The styling is absolutely elegant and timeless whilst the 6500 is a bit more conventional looking in my opinion. Like Peter says it does have poerlink sockets so you can really have a great sounding system. Of course i'm no expert and having never heard a 6500 in my life I suppose i'm commenting more on the design aspect and the wow factor that the 4500 has. It screams B&O
M(
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Medogsfat (archived)
Bronze
Posted July 27, 2007 at 07:17 GMT
#1811774

Tough choice!

Nothing really to choose between them IMO so I would go for the system you prefer the looks of. Reading between the lines it sounds like the 4500 is the winner. The expanses of polished aluminium look sublime especially when wall mounted😎

My preferrence is the 6500 but I'm biased as I own the later but almost identical system 7000 and I just love it.

 

Chris.

R(
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rayfenwick (archived)
Bronze
Posted July 27, 2007 at 07:50 GMT
#1811775
M(
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Medogsfat (archived)
Bronze
Posted July 27, 2007 at 08:04 GMT
#1811776

R(
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rayfenwick (archived)
Bronze
Posted July 27, 2007 at 08:24 GMT
#1811777
rayfenwick:

(Soon to have no room to move past all the B&O :)

Well, that's the other option have both and become like the rest of us on here - forever stubbing our toes on piles of B&O creating ever narrower passageways in our homes😁

 

Chris.

 

Hi Chris

Well, I would, but money is also an issue for me at the moment, so if I do buy the 4500, the 6500 will have to go to pay for it.

Ray

K(
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Killyp (archived)
Bronze
Posted July 27, 2007 at 08:29 GMT
#1811778

As others have said, if you're driving active speakers, then the 4500 would really easily be the best choice for you. However, if you're driving a relatively large pair of passive speakers, you may find the 4500 struggles to meet the power demands of the speakers!

My personal preference is the 6500, simply because I own one! However, I agree that the 4500 is certainly sleeker and more timeless than the 6500 in terms of design.

R(
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rayfenwick (archived)
Bronze
Posted July 27, 2007 at 08:38 GMT
#1811779
J(
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jandyt (archived)
Bronze
Posted July 27, 2007 at 11:03 GMT
#1811780
Peter:

The 4500 is very beautiful - especially when wall mounted. The sources are broadly similar though the casstte and CD are more highly specified in the 6500. The 4500 can be two way though it depends on the software fitted. If you are using Beolab speakers then the amplifier differences are minor.

It sounds as though you want the 4500! It is to all intents a BC9500 made into separates so I can understand why you like it. I swapped from a 5000 system to a 9500 many years ago and never regretted it. The amplifier in the 6500/7000 is however quite a bit better if you plan to use passive speakers especially in a link room. The MCP5500 will not work with the 4500 system

 

Ray
(Soon to have no room to move past all the B&O :)

Know the feeling Ray!
I have had latent Beovirus for a while but since my visit to Frede in Struer it seems to have emerged as strong as ever.
We're all doomed! Bank balance spiraling downwards etc

Andy T.

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