Thank you to our Sponsors
Here is a possibility of a slight improvement. The use of the term "vintage", on Beoworld is not consistent:
In the media section (link), "vintage" is defined as equipment manufactured prior to 1980 but in forum part () means "vintage" everything older than 30 years.
With the last definition, equipment like BM 6000 and BM 8000 is not covered, while the latter declaration includes Beocenter 9000 and early Red Line speakers.
What should the term "vintage" mean?
/***
The Oxford English Dictionary defines Vintage as a high quality article from the past (no definite age) and no longer manufactured.
ie a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud would be vintage, but a Citroen 2CV of the same age would not.
Ron
In the past, I would have argued that anything before the advent of the Beolink 1000 remote codes would be vintage. This was the device that turned B&O from an audio company that did TVs as well into a company that sold integrated AV systems.
However it clearly gets more difficult the more time that passes!!
The other cut of times would be:
The introduction of the Beomaster 900 (Master 610)
The introduction of the BM1900
Or if you want a later one (!), the introduction of ML.
All of these can be a bit blurry! 😁
My B&O Icons:
Is "vintage" a fixed point in time, or relative to the current time? 1980 or 30 yrs ago? This is a lot like the use of the phrase "back in the day" where several friends, old as I am and older, insist that it has to be at least 20 years ago to be something that happened "back in the day." 5 or 10 or even 15 years ago is not acceptable.
I'd say without question it's a relative scale, but so often manufacturers who have been around a while have gone from producing great things to cheap and forgetable crap, so that argues for a precise fixed point. '
Is "vintage" a fixed point in time, or relative to the current time? 1980 or 30 yrs ago? This is a lot like the use of the phrase "back in the day" where several friends, old as I am and older, insist that it has to be at least 20 years ago to be something that happened "back in the day." 5 or 10 or even 15 years ago is not acceptable.
My personal definition is: anything that a normal sane person (sorry, vintage fans) would or could use daily to do the tasks that you can do with current products that anybody can buy retail today = NOT vintage. This implies limits due to functionality, but also excessive maintenance due to old age, etc.
For example, I don't consider a BS5500 vintage, even if it's 25 years old. You can take the most up-to-date remote (Beo6) and and control it to listen to CDs and radio just as well as any current product that receives radio and plays CDs. It'll be vintage the day normal people don't listen to CDs and radio. On the other hand, any valve radio will be vintage because it is just unpractical for the normal user.
It's also a sliding definition - perhaps because the start of industrialization itself moves farther back each year. I could now register my daily driver as an oldtimer, if they hadn't moved the age limit from 25 years to 30 years some time back 😡 But I wouldn't use it as a daily driver if it didn't do the tasks of any modern car. When it was made, the motor car was an about 100 year old invention. It'll soon be 130, or 30% older than "back in the day" 🙂
In the past, I would have argued that anything before the advent of the Beolink 1000 remote codes would be vintage.
I'd vote for that one. Of course there's the odd quirk of the BS 5000 being considered vintage whereas the BS 5500 wouldn't be.
Here is a possibility of a slight improvement. The use of the term "vintage", on Beoworld is not consistent:
In the media section (link), "vintage" is defined as equipment manufactured prior to 1980 but in forum part () means "vintage" everything older than 30 years.
With the last definition, equipment like BM 6000 and BM 8000 is not covered, while the latter declaration includes Beocenter 9000 and early Red Line speakers.
What should the term "vintage" mean?
/***
😕 Well - 3 years ago, the two definitions were equal...👍
My B&O Icons:
On the other hand, any valve radio will be vintage because it is just unpractical for the normal user.
A funny remark is that my Brother's girlfriend want my Grand Prix 610 so bad to play mp3's with her iPhone 5 😂
"Vintage" is definitely not an objective age; The amplifier designs of the Beomaster 3400 from 1975 has the same basic output amplifier as a 20 year newer Beomaster 7000. The Touch sensitive surface of a 1999 Beocenter 9300 derives from the 1976 Beomaster 1900. DataLink codes were implemented in 1980 with the Beolab 8000, but used way into the 00's.
I would vote that 1987 seems to be a transition year as they, by that time, had discontinued the typical top of the line system that they have had since the early 60's in favour of the Beosystem 5500. The whole Beolab 6000/8000 range had disappeared (serious cassette decks, record decks with the best possible specifications and technology, the pinnacle of amplifier technology), along with the improved uniphase speakers.
😕 Well - 3 years ago, the two definitions were equal...👍
😁 Good observation!
I find the idea of if it still uses the same remote codes or plays a current format interesting. Certainly I consider tube gear vintage, even though tube equipment is still being made, if it's old enough that is. No doubt things like my old McIntosh MC240 amp should be called vintage. 9 tubes in total. My quirky Karlson speaker cabinet with Allied Radio triaxial 12 inch driver in it, vintage. Is my HK integrated amp vintage? 1978 manufacture date? Solid state, but no remote.
I define the use of wood as vintage.....
You must be logged in as a BeoWorld member to post replies to forum threads.
Register to access the forums, reference material, and exclusive member benefits — including our monthly prize draw.
Become a Member