CD listening – in search of advises

[physics]

Good morning everybody,

I was a member of this community long, long, long time ago (I can’t even remember how long ago … > 15 years, I would say). I am afraid that my question is not new and original. I surfed a bit the forum and actually found something, but I’m not sure if applicable to my case.

My system, old and basic, is Ouverture + a pair of Beolab2500, Beolab2 and a Beolab3500 in another room. This is what I used up to now to listen to my 1000 CD (approximately) collection. The Ouverture is having more and more problems and is now under repair/check. Whatever the outcome will be, I’m seroiusly thinking about a solution to keep on listening to my CDs (mostly jazz and classic) in the future. This is the primary advice I’m asking. Buying more modern (but anyway old) B&O CD reader (9000, Beocenter 2, Beosound 4, for example. Please add to the list, if there other choices)? Using a non B&O CD reader (is that possible at all)?  Converting all my CDs in a more modern format on a more modern support? (huge effort, I’m afraid). Other possibilities?

 

Thank you!

[Millemissen]

I’d say……if you get the Ouverture up and running again, stick to that – it still is a nice system.

When/if time comes, you may ask (yourself) the same question again.

The alternative devices, that you mention, might also need servicing. The BS9000 has gone up in price lately, you should also know.

If you are happy with searching for the CD’s, that you want to listen to, just keep on doing so….no need for all the efford ripping these. I know, that it is hard work getting things right.

Should you go for ripping – the whole or parts of the collection – you will need a server/a NAS with an appropriate SW for managing the files. You will need a player for playing these on you system and something to control the playback (usually a tablet/iPad/mobile phone). Please return for further advice, when/if that is what you’d rather aim for.

MM

 

[physics]

Thanks a lot, MM.

Unfortunately, I have some updates. Got a phone call from the assistence: there are serious problems with my Ouverture, probably too serious to consider to fix them. Apparently, the only working part is the AUX input.

Said that, it’s probably time for me to consider new solutions.

The simplest one is to replace the Ouverture with a Beosound 4 or a Beocenter 2. Any advices about it? Other options which I am not considering?

Another possibility would be to use a third party CD reader linked to the Ouverture via AUX. It would anyway suffer of some issues affecting the Ouverure: it doesn’t save settings and does not respond to the remote control (Beo 4, even if the guy told me that is probably possible to solve this last)

Last possibility which I see is to remove the Ouverture and use a third party CD reader connected somehow to the rest of the system. Is that possible at all? I mean, with a reasonable effort and with the technical help of the assistance.

 

Ripping (thanks, by the way, I didn’t know this word 🙂 ) all the CD collection is really the last option.

 

Thank you for any further advises!

 

[Valve1]

I would go for BS 9000 or a BC 2 , both classics. Try get a refurbished one. I had a BS4 and I never liked it.

[Guy]

What about. BeoSound 3000?  It would keep the same aesthetics alongside the Beolab 2500s.

I would also try harder to fix the Ouverture. Is the repairer experienced with vintage B&O?

[physics]

Thanks Valve. Your “avversion” for BS4 was due to aestethics only? Or also to functionalities? BS9000 unfortunately are quite expensive …

 

Thanks Guy. Yes, I am thinking of another Ouverture or a BS3000. Would they automatically be older than a BC2 or a BS4?

The ouverture I have is unfortunately in bad conditions. Radio, tape unit and CD unit are not working. Settings are not saved: at startup, volume is 72 (definitely too high), bass +5, treble +5, balance on the left (but sometimes they change). Remote control is not working. Probably these issues can individually be solved, but I’m not sure it is worthwile.

Yes, the repairer (official B&O) is expert with vintage. I had a look at his lab and everything he has under scrutiny is vintage 🙂

[Millemissen]

If your Ouverture really is beyond repair, I’d consider the BS3000….especially if you want that and the speakers set up as one unit.

They are still affordable compaired to the 9000.

MM

 

[Guy]

physics wrote:

Thanks Guy. Yes, I am thinking of another Ouverture or a BS3000. Would they automatically be older than a BC2 or a BS4?

Ouverture was produced 1994-2003

BeoSound 3000 was produced 2000-2006  (There was also the BS3200, similar but with a built in hard drive – I have read many reports about problems with the hard drive, hence probably best avoided)

BeoCenter 2 was produced 2004-2012

BeoSound 4 was produced 2006-2010

With all the above, I would look for condition rather than age.

[physics]

Thank you! Yes, I think that the final choice will be something among BS3000, Beocenter2 or Beolab4.

In the meantime, just to confuse me, the Ouverture started back to read some CD 🙂   (after an embarassing number of tries, so the problem is still clearly there).

 

I think I also decided to rip my CDs. This will be a veeeery smooth operation, basically decorrelated from the search of a new unit. I have abot 1400 CDs, 5 per day takes one year, which means that in 2 years the job will probably be done. Any suggestions for the format? FLAC, MP3, WMA, …

[Millemissen]

physics wrote:

I think I also decided to rip my CDs. This will be a veeeery smooth operation, basically decorrelated from the search of a new unit. I have abot 1400 CDs, 5 per day takes one year, which means that in 2 years the job will probably be done. Any suggestions for the format? FLAC, MP3, WMA, …

———————

FLAC

MM

[Guy]

+1 for FLAC.  I used Exact Audio Copy to do mine.

One good thing about FLAC is that it’s then easy to use that high quality FLAC copy to convert to other (‘lesser’) files types if needed in the future.  eg My last car wouldn’t play FLAC from SD cards, so I converted a playlist of FLAC files to 320kbps mp3.

[YannChris]

Hi,

+1 for FLAC.

For ripping, I use dbpoweramp which has a good management of tags and good performances for conversion.

https://www.dbpoweramp.com/

Another good feature is that it can convert in several formats at once (multiformat encoding feature).

Kind regards,

Yann.

[physics]

Thank you all! So let’s go for FLAC 🙂

 

Enrico

[Author]

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