Bang & Olufsen CD players (beogram) a short history. Which CD player do you prefer? Ep.06
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2024
- A video to help maybe help someone decide on which (If any) B&O CD player would be best for them.
Obviously a little bit dry but… I like CD players… maybe you do to? Who knows. 🤔.
What is your favourite CD player ?
My favourite is CDX ✌️
Without doubt the CDX… have fond memories of, has a little boy in the late 80s it used to fascinate me with its glass touchscreen buttons and pushing in the satisfying tab eject button and the glass lid would raise, the warmly lit cd tray would rise, remember it also sounding like nothing else with the RL speakers, definitely made a lasting impression on this 6’ish year old. Sadly it died in 96’ish and replaced with the BeoSound 9000 and pair of BeoLab 8000s.
Just curious would you count the BeoCenter 2 has a stand alone top loading CD Player of sorts even though a DVD, but also with radio tuner built in?
@@4DR14NCR41G I would say the CDX might sound something like a Phillips CD104 :D… seeing as they’re identical internally. They do have some nice features though. If you haven’t tried a CD50, although aesthetically a little more conventional, they punch much harder at least to my ears. The burrs brown decoder in a CD50 is really a very well respected decoder.
I wouldn’t count the beocenter 2 as a stand-alone CD player because it has a tuner built in. Beocenter is B&O language for “music system”. I.e.. usually an amp, tuner and some kind of physical media combined… say a record deck, tape or CD, or a combination.
The beocenter 2 I believe being designed to work with your TV and speakers in combination. Somewhat a different tool :)
@@chrisbaker121924 it was just philips........
@@user-xxxxxn yep it’s a CD104. Literally the chassis and electrically are identical. The first B&O designed CD player was the 5500 (similar to the 6500 I have)… and even that used a Phillips laser. But the rest of it was pure B&O.
My beosystem 9000 went from 1986 to 2005 without needing any repairs. I would call that very reliable. I still use it in 2022.
I owned the CDX player, mounted on a telescopic platform in my wall unit which I converted for the player, the platform extended out to give complete access to the CDX player, I loved it, it looked and sounded great, had it for many years until I upgrade my B & O system.
The CDX to me is by far the best sounding but I can understand others preferring the different decks. I’ve owed all of them and the cdx was the one I kept going back to. Also the dimensions mirror a record deck. Put an LP on a cdx with the hole of the record on where the centre of the disc is and you’ll notice that they designed it so it matches a record deck. Same for all the top loaders, even the 3500/4500 if I remember rightly even though you can’t see the cd.
Seems an overwhelming love of the CDX. Having all the features and styling that it has. Indeed I believe the external dimensions are quite similar to the 3300/3500/4500 CDs and decks. All so it lined up and looked awesome on the wall. Mum n dad have a beogram 4500 deck and you’re right they’re like identical in size! I use it all the time.
Since making this my CD50 has needed some attention. I’ve found that not all CD50s sound the same. Some sound thinner and some sound much richer. When opening them up they’re slightly different on the inside. Bet there’s 3/4 different versions. 🤣
CDX for me to, Greetings from Denmark
I just startet my b&o CDP-journey. Stunning build quality, awesome design, superb touch&feel, heavy as a rock. Got an CD 4500, IMHO the DE LOREAN of CDPs. And now an CD 7000, clean as ice. Love them both. Now I am in disc-spinning heaven. They are way to cheap IMHO if compared to vintage CDPS like SONY ES, ACCUPHASE, NAIM etc.
Check out my video on beolab Pentas… I make a Delorean reference or two! There sure are some similarities.
I’ve got a Beosound Overture and a Beocenter 2
I’m very happy with them
They’re cool systems 😁
CDX is definitely the KING of standalone B&O CD players ! (In my humble opinion!)
📀💿📀💿📀
They are an awesome player 😎 💿
I’ve never yet owned a B&O CD player but have owned a beocom 2 cordless phone, which is brilliant, my only gripe though is the display is tiny and you have no hands free option.
However if you like unique stuff that’s appealing but different,try and source a Technics SL-P1200 professional CD player , these are quite rare and we’re used in many recording studios Abbey Road having had a few. These are Top Loading machines and built like tanks!!! One clever feature allowed you to actually slow or speed up the cd through pitch control. The sound is fantastic, very like playing vinyl record. Check one out👍👍
I like the sound of that :) !
I like the pitch/speed control on my beogram 8000. A couple of rpm off and it can totally change the way a track feels 😅
Hi. I’ve actually never owned a stand alone B&O CD player, however way back in the mid 80’s I did get a Phillips CD104 and tagged it onto my Beocentre 7002. ( I simply couldn’t afford a CDX) but I quickly discovered it was basically the same machine inside. This combination lasted me for many happy years, the slightly analog sound of the Philips suited the 7002 somehow. So yes, the CDX gets my vote too.
I totally agree with your point about stand alone players being able to swap out as and when, however, I was fortunate enough a few years back to be given a Beocentre 9500 and the CD player in that is stunning, and it is 16 bit. It is warm and very detailed and arguably the best CD player I’ve owned to date . By comparison I also have a Beocentre 9300 which has a 1 bit player and it just doesn’t seem quite as engaging somehow . Purely subjective of course, and basically I don’t think B&O ever made a bad CD player. Thanks for the video.
Yeah they’re really similar inside, I recon you could swap boards between them. I bet they sound very much the same at least from from the forums they looked identical. There’s actually a bit of a modding community on them CD104s, swapping parts to improve certain aspects. Don’t know if it does anything mind 🤣…
Love the 7000 series Beocenters. They’re kinda the all in one version of my 8000 system. That look and style I’ve always thought was really like the most striking.
I have an 8500 beocenter and it sounds really lovely too. That series especially with the shiny panels are really super modern looking even today. 😁 they’re a great system.
I agree they all good, it’s hard to chose between them, it really depends what I’m listening to as to what player I put the CD in. I like the CD50 for its meaty almost “loudness” sound… and the CDX form it’s warmth and the 5500 series for the transparency. Like somewhat different styles of music seem to suit different players better.
Thanks for watching :)!
@@chrisbaker121924 just revisited your review of the BC8500. I remember we had a discussion about these machines back then. Not sure who’s mechanism B&O used for the cd in the 8500/9500 but I’ll guess it’s Phillips. I bet the CDX sounds great through your BM8000 though. Enjoy.
@@rogerdawe2684 I think the 8500/9500 is a CDM4 🤔
i’ve JUST considered which cd to choose to complement beosystem 6000/8000. thanks.
also, just brought home a beocord 8000 to start building my system
Timely as Im looking to add a CD PLAYER to my Beomaster 1900 and Beogram 8000.
Nice comparison... A cd player will allow me to complete a period correct system.
Running that thru 45S speakers.
@@biueshound great system! With that stuff I’d look for a CDX, or if you prefer something that you can put on a shelf a cd50 or another retro CD player. Avoid spending too much however, a lot of lasers are dying these days!
CD X for sure, The TDA 1540 (x2) is very analog sounding.
I like my 7000 system 😀
Vi got a cd50 then a cd 6500, this one is a true jewel in term of sound and reliability
I find most of the B&O range to be very beautiful, but I surely don't like the "rack-style" components, like the CD-50
Neither did J.Jensen. He designed them rather begrudgingly. I guess a lot of people don’t want to take up acres of room with the long sets so the stackers did sell rather well for people with space limitations.
I have CDX and Beosound Overture with Beolab 8000
I think the CDX ( with Philips CDM-1transport ) was the best B&O CD Player 👍👌
I believe the overture is either a CDM12 or a CDM4 depending on the era… great setups tho!
I don’t know if I’m 100% sold on mine, I’m still really loving the sound of the CD50.
@@chrisbaker121924 I think the Overture used CDM12 Pro transport
Hi - I'm really enjoying your channel. I got into B&O restoring a Beomaster 5000 system and just finished the Beogram 5500 completing my setup, along with a Beosound Stage for my TV. I had a question for you since you seem to be an expert in CD-50's. My CD-50 is the only component I cannot restore completely. It will play properly, but after playing for 2-3 minutes it will begin jumping across the CD, playing 5 seconds of the middle of a track and then jumping to another spot. I've tested other CDs and started in the middle of albums rather than the beginning. Same problem across CDs and starting locations. Do you have any idea what or where the issue might be? Have you encountered something like this?
Far from an expert but thankyou really appreciate that :).
CD50s typically suffer from three problems that I’ve managed to fix….
1. The belt for the drawer. Since yours is reading a CD it’s not that.
2. The laser sled not being well greased… possible…
3. The motor itself. They’re very low torque motors and any friction from dried oils or dust etc will prevent them from spinning properly. This would be my guess. As it’s trying to do a lower speed spin it’s getting stuck and trying to read somewhere else.
The only other thing it could be is a capacitor somewhere possibly in the sled mech or to do with the laser… but I’m shooting in the dark there. I’ve had I think around 80% success rate fixing them with a new belt and pressing apart the motor/cleaning the motor/applying a small amount silicon lubricant.
They are the really early days of CD players and I’ve found it’s unusual for mine to read the TOC properly so they often start somewhere random within the first minute of track 1. Again that could be to do with a failing motor because the inside of the disc (the start on a CD) the player has to spin the disc the fastest.
I do think you should upgrade you sideboard for the 8000 system . it really needs a danish modern Brazilian rosewood sideboard . this one really doesn't do it justice
@@justinlinnane8043 I disagree, it has excellent storage and is period correct.
Beaver and Tappley make very sturdy furniture. All solid teak.
@@chrisbaker121924 thought it was something like that . Wrong in almost every way for a vintage B&O system But hey if you're happy with mediocrity? fine
@@justinlinnane8043 what is wrong about it? What would you recommend.
To be honest I don’t find the B&O factory furniture all that good.
You should have had the camera at the same level as the screen to better read the lights.
Thanks for your input :)
CDX
Any of them have digital connectivity? Is it possible to upgrade the 14 bit, or single converter systems to 16 bit etc?
I believe the CD5500-7000 have S/PDIF
As for the second part I guess anything in theory is possible… but why you would want to is beyond me 😅, enjoy them for what they are. The CD50 is a single converter, but it switches between the channels to be stereo. The 14 bit CDX is part of its charm. They all sound decent but if that kinda thing is your bag then probably something more modern is probably going to suit you better I would guess!
@@chrisbaker121924 Thanks for the response. Shame the top loaders don't have S/PDIF, I love their aesthetic as well as ease of repair and play any size disc. And no stuck discs inside. I'd have liked to keep a purely digital connection going. I'm going to guess the one with a single decoder is a Sony based system, as the 101 did that trick, unless other players did it. Funny how back in the day, no matter the brand, it was either a Sony, or a swinging laser Philips inside every player. In the 1990s Tascam DAT machines were rebranded by Pioneer and Fostex, just with different colours and connectivity out the back.
@@jameslaidler2152 nope the single decoder is a Awia unit. The 14 bit is a Philips 101 I believe! The more modern players are B&O ground up designs but use a CDM4 laser. They have a digital out in the form of S/PDIF.
@@chrisbaker121924 Guess Aiwa was copying Sony then, if not directly, at least in cost cutting philosophy, as their first player, the 101 did that exact thing. Funny how today we can go to Mouser and pay $14 for a Texas Instuments Burr Brown DAC chip which can handle 192 Kilohertz sampling rate etc, when back then a single 16 bit chip cost a fortune to make.
@@chrisbaker121924 Guess Aiwa copied Sony's idea, as their first player, their 101, did the same thing. Funny how Philips also later used Sony's tracking system too.
just got a 6500 what cord do I need to convert the 7 pin factory cord to orca plug. Thanks!
I’m not sure what an orca plug is. Might be best to get a 7 pin din to RCA and then another connector RCA to Orca
fuck the copyrights !
Indeed 🤣
They all sound the same
I imagine it depends on what amp and speakers you’re using but to my ears at least there are differences in tonality. The CDX is warm and fluffy, the CD50 is punchier and the CD6500 sounds the clearest.