Both the Beosystem 7000 and the Beocenter 9500 are old technology on todays world. I still use my Beosystem 7000 connected to a pair of BL5 and some much more modern equipment. I think it´s fantastic that it´s possible to integrate 30 years old B&O equipment. Mostly I stream music, but it´s nice to be able to play vinyl and cd´s at times. I will not part with my Beosystem 7000 any time soon.

I also own a Beocenter 9500 since many years. But it´s been in storage for most of the time ever since I bought it second hand. Compared it once with the Beosystem 7000 and truth to be said the Beosystem 7000 sounded better. Had them connected to a pair of BL8000 at the time.

I think it´s up to ones individual taste if one prefers one over the other in terms of design. The sleek design of the 9500. It was very futuristic looking when it came out. The Beosystem 7000 not so much. Other brands had stacked units too. Today both are all design icons from B&O.

The Beocenter 9500 is more front-panel-friendly, i.e. fewer things require a remote.  (In fact, the only thing I can think of is the IR Option setting.)  The Beosystem 7000 cannot tune radio by frequency without a remote, and the track selection is increment-only by pushing on the front panel, and... even the volume settings cannot be done without a remote!  On the 9500, everything is controlled by the front panel, and the remote is just a convenient option. (Unless you are using a combination audio/video setup, where you pretty much need the remote regardless.)

As to the BeoLab 8000's sounding better from a system 7000 than a center 9500, I see no evidence that the low-level signals are impaired in any way, thus no reason to expect such a thing.  Obviously if you will use non-powered speakers, the 9500 has a claimed 80 watts/channel into 8 ohms, and the 7000 has a claimed 110 watts/channel (specs say a fan for active cooling too, but I have never heard it).

Supposedly the Beocenter 9500 was manufactured thru 1993 while the Beosystem 7000 was  manufactured thru 1995, so it's possible that you *might* have longer without repairs (fresh capacitors) with a 7000.  Also the 9500 is packed in pretty tightly so probably the whole thing runs hotter, which means repairs sooner.  If you had available or were willing to switch to a Beocenter 9300, you might luck into one made sometime up thru 2000!

If you must have the system shipped to you, forget the 9500 -- you absolutely *must* pick it up yourself because it's heavy and fragile both, plus the glass plate glue dries out eventually, and nobody ever notices when they pack it up, until it's turned sideways in the box and they slide across the metal.  It is *possible* to pack it properly, just not likely.

Playing cd´s the 7000 sounded ´better´ than the 9500 when I compared the two. Better or different is a matter of opinion. The reson for that difference in sound is for other people to explain. Other than that the BL8000 should play exactly the same given that the internal amplifier is not in use. Maybe there are other differences in components or specifications between the two that can explain the difference heard than the speakers. The amplifier is suppose to have higher spec in the Beomaster 7000. I did play a pair of cx-100 just to see if the amplifiers/connections where working in both systems. I would not put any conclusions from that other than that they where working as they should. More heavy driven speakers would be a better test. It´s nice that they are able to be used with both passive and active speakers thou. If amplifiers are needed for high end passive speakers I believe there are better options out there.

Good point mentioned is that the Beocenter 9500 is more friendly to use upfront. The remote i needed for almost everything on the Beosystem 7000. If that is a consideration I would choose the 9500 over the 7000.

This thread needs some photos! 🙂

Whilst I can't comment on sound quality comparison as I have never owner a BS7000, I have been very happy with the performance of my BC9500 since purchasing it from Lifestyle in 2008.  I have used it with both passive speakers (such as the Grundig Audioramas shown here) and with my BL4000s in a different set up.  It has also been used with a mixed MCL/ML setup and had no problems delivering sound to two rooms.

As stated above, I do value the ability to use the front panel for most functions (even setting up daily timers), but tend to use the remote to avoid having to clean finger marks off the front panel.

Perhaps have a think about where the unit will sit in your house - clearly the BS7000 would look out of place on my cabinet below!

Login to view image

Thanks everybody for replying. Actually I own both and have compared the two quite extensively. My result is that the Beosystem sounds better with CD, although the difference is not dramatic. The Beosystem 7000 is clearer, which is particularly noticeable with the highs. However, the Beocenter 9500 quite clearly outperforms the cassette of the Beosystem 7000. All units have recently been fully refurbished and are 100% working. Running out of specs is therefore not an option for an explanation. Technically, many components internally seem to be the same. Therefore I was quite surprised to see the 9500 be quite significantly better with cassette. In fact, the cassette section of the 9500 is the best cassette sound that I have heard with any of my B&O kit.

Looking forward to get to know about what others have experienced.

Greetings,

Kai

Hubbe wrote:

Playing cd´s the 7000 sounded ´better´ than the 9500 when I compared the two. Better or different is a matter of opinion. The reson for that difference in sound is for other people to explain. Other than that the BL8000 should play exactly the same given that the internal amplifier is not in use. Maybe there are other differences in components or specifications between the two that can explain the difference heard than the speakers.

I am probably unique in my responses here?....

I have a 7000 system owned from new. So now 30 years old? I have no intention on replacing it as every B&O product since then has been inferior. (In my opinion). 

if I were wrong I would have replaced it?

it went through Beovox 140’s, Beolab Penta Mk 2, Beolab 9, Beolab 5 and now Beolab 50! 

I also bought a Cambridge CD transport. It worked with the Lab 5’s (with certain music) but with the 50’s this machine is obsolete. The CD7000 kills it! 

So. I don’t know? I guess the only conclusion Ihave is that...it fends on what speakers you are driving?

trackbeo wrote:

You are surely correct: Since the CD players were "packages", probably the DAC changed between generations, even ignoring any signal path differences.  I haven't actually looked inside my 7000; my mistake.

That´s alright. It´s just opinions at the end of the day. Many times it´s just placebo effect when we discuss things in the audio field. One of the reasons I bought B&O to start with was people within the high end audio who where never satisfied with what they got. Always trying to improve by changing cables, changing up to the next years model and so on.

From what I understood the Beogram cd 7000 has been built to high standard. You can read more here:

https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/classics/digital-classics/bang-olufsen-cd-player-classics-cd-7000/

I don´t know about the cd player in the Beosystem 9500.