Having just purchased a Beocenter 9500 and Beolab 3000's, these posts make interesting reading, as eventually I wish to add a Beogram to that system.  Unfortunately the seller had just sold seperately a Beogram 9500. Now close to me there's a Beogram 8000 at what I consider a reasonable price. As no mention has been made in the above posts of either the Beogram 9500 or 8000, does this mean that they would not be a suitable choice for 'high-end' LP sound?  

What is your definition of  "High end"?

Martin

I would agree in some aspects a lot of people run an old cartridge with large flats and that is very bad, and new belts are good, but please do not through away the old cartridge they can be fully restored, for the SP series there are no modern replacements so this will encourage the limited supply to be thrown away also the B&O cartridges are in my opinion a little bit better with flip down guard on the MMC1-5 series & gold plated contact pins, also the MMC20/MMCx000 look much better and are made much better than the sound smith reproduction's with a proper metal case, imagine a Beogram 4000 with a sound Smith cartridge it just does not look right

don't throw your cartridge or stylus away it is B&O sacrilege 

I am not saying sound Smith ones are bad as they are not they are good it's great they are making reproductions but throwing away the original seems very wrong to me

Dillen wrote:

What is your definition of  "High end"?

Martin

Well, being a fan of 'vintage' gear, I currently have 2 other systems which I love. One being a Marantz 2245 and RegaPlanar 3 with Mission 780 speakers -  which I guess some audiophiles would immediately dismiss as being "High-end" - but fine for my listening pleasure. If my BC9500 system (which I must get re-capped) together with a suitable tangential arm Beogram result in as pleasing a sound, I'd be more than satisfied.    

Based merely on the tracking angle error and the unavoidable distortion related to that way of reproducing the information stored on the record, any
and all radial decks should never be regarded as "audiophile" or "high end".
Period.
Playing back a record in any other angle than it was recorded should immediately turn on all the red lights. Particularly in "high end"-circles.

Listening pleasure - well, that's a completely different story.
Same goes for ease of use.

Beogram tangentials are up there - in all three aspects.
Choose a good needle. 

Martin

Dillen wrote:

Based merely on the tracking angle error and the unavoidable distortion related to that way of reproducing the information stored on the record, any
and all radial decks should never be regarded as "audiophile" or "high end".
Period.
Playing back a record in any other angle than it was recorded should immediately turn on all the red lights. Particularly in "high end"-circles.

Listening pleasure - well, that's a completely different story.
Same goes for ease of use.

Beogram tangentials are up there - in all three aspects.
Choose a good needle. 

Martin

Very good advise, thank you!  You've just re-activated my 'red lights'.. I didn't give a thought to the tracking-angle error issues.

Buy a good condition early ( 1970/80s ) Linn Sondek LP12, fit an SME 3009 SII Imp arm and source a Shure V15III or, if you can find/afford one, a V15v xMR cartridge with a genuine Shure stylus.

Link this to either a Beomaster 3000-2 or Beomaster 4000 and choose a decent pair of 1970's British speakers ( KEF, Mordaunt Short, Spendor )

You won't be disappointed.

Agree with Martin.

Beogram 4000/8000 classic turntables are usually looked down upon, when they were absolutely brilliant, when in good fettle of course!

Look at a Linn LP12 or a Thorens TD160 underneath and have a good laugh!

chartz wrote:

Agree with Martin.

Beogram 4000/8000 classic turntables are usually looked down upon, when they were absolutely brilliant, when in good fettle of course!

Look at a Linn LP12 or a Thorens TD160 underneath and have a good laugh!

Yeah, an "audiophile" table is actually a remarkably primitive device. But then, all that's needed is a moving platter, and a place to mount the arm for a minimal table. Such, niceties as damping and resonance control are good but the core needs are very simple. I have found that even if a more audiophile table is perhaps better sounding, the ability to use a B&O table that has incredibly good isolation and vibration control, no feedback issues, no footsteps across the floor causing skips and such, is a much better solution for good sound and livability.

I was shocked at how well the B&O tables do with noise isolation compared to any other vintage turntable I've used - Technics, Dual, Garrard, etc. - it's is truly amazing how well they work to prevent footfalls from being amplified.