Bang & Olufsen (B&O) is known the world-over for exceptional hifi audio, video, and teleconferencing equipment. Founded in 1925 in Denmark by two engineers, B&O is one of the oldest audio companies in history. And from Day 1, B&O started doing things a little "differently" - with an eye toward high-design and styling. Fast forward to today, and B&O is one of the most exclusive brands around, from being featured on Hollywood movie sets to sponsoring Formula 1 teams, B&O is a major enterprise.
For some Boomers and Gen-Xers, B&O brings back memories of "that system dad wanted but could never afford." The Beosystem 5500 was the total package back in 1986: Powerful, clean, room-filling sound that simply didn't look like anything else on the market.
The Beosystem 5500 was engineered to operate as a cohesive unit, with all components interconnected via B&O’s proprietary Datalink system, allowing full control through the control interface of the Beomaster 5500 receiver. The Beomaster 5500 acts as the "brain," delivering 2 x 60 watts RMS (into 8 ohms) and utilizing Automatic Power Handling Control (APHC) to prevent speaker damage from overdriving, making it capable of driving complex speaker loads. It features a quartz-synthesized tuner with 20 presets and, critically, both DIN and RCA connections, making it versatile for both period-correct B&O components and other conventional sources.
To further the "wow factor" even more, the entire 5500 system is can be controlled by the Master Control Panel 5500 (MCP), which resembles a modern day laptop computer. The AM/FM radio presets, tone controls, balance, volume, source selection, etc can all be controlled from this extraordinary and over-the-top remote control. A standard B&O remote is also included for good measure.
The Beogram 5500 turntable features an electronically-controlled tangential arm designed to minimize tracking error, paired with a low-mass MMC2 cartridge tracking at only 1.2 grams. The B&O turnable designs started turning heads in the 1970s, and this example is no different. Its low-slung aesthetic, sleek design, full integration with the Beamaster 5500 controls, and incredible skip-resistant playback exemplify what has made B&O turntables legendary. Also, the original B&O cart just received a new stylus and cantilever from our TT experts at V.A.S.
Finally, we get to the Beolab Penta speakers. Tall, thin, heavy, and able too produce nearly full range sound with authority and clarity. Perfectly matched to the signal quality and aesthetic of the rest of the system, the Penta speakers feature an on-board 175 watt amplifier per side, with active crossovers doing the dirty work. Each speaker holds 9 drivers: four woofers, four mids, and one tweeter. Signal can be fed to the speakers using high-impedance, RCA line level, or B&O's proprietary Speaker Link cables. (Cables included.).
This whole system is an absolutely fun throwback to 80s opulence. The way the speakers stand tall and reflect the light matches perfectly with the seamless operation of the turntable and sleek-as-heck linear tonearm.
Grab this whole bit of history and demo at our Andover, MA showroom.
$2,299 for the set (plus applicable MA sales tax)
* Note #1, conventional shipping is not possible. But ask about regional delivery options.
* Note #2, the Beocord cassette player and Beogram CD could not be resuscitated, but they could be included in the sale if requested.
