If you’ve been longing for an explosion in the past, throwing your old vinyl in the dirt and spinning it on your turntable is the best way to tap into that old place – and Bang & Olufsen’s latest The record player can be the best tentable for the job.
The Biogram 4000C was originally launched in the 1970s, and a select number of existing models have been rebuilt for 2020 – without looking at it without loss.
This is part of Bang & Olufsen’s new classic initiative, in which the Danish audio company is “restoring and reviving classic products”.
“In the world of consumer electronics, most products are considered disposable,” says Mads Kogsgaard Hansen, who led the initiative. Our products at Bang and Olufsen are designed to stand the test of time. That’s what sets us apart as a brand, whether the Biogram 4000C paints so beautifully and what we want to build in the future. “
Carefully repaired
To recreate the Biogram 4000 series Trentable and bring it to this day, the company had to identify 95 existing models, bringing them back to where they were launched almost five decades ago. In Denmark.
Once there, the record players were disassembled, each part was “diligently cleaned” and new parts were added where needed.
However, the retro turntable was not just given a good rub. For starters, the aluminum plinth is “anodized in a bright and warm champagne tone, giving the surface a subtle sheen” – and we have to admit, it looks great.
Meanwhile, the 4000c has been given a new solid oak frame and a dusty id when not in use – the touch-sensitive control pad has also been redesigned with a new, modern look.
Interestingly, in the 1970s, the original designers of the Baugram 4000C left room in the interior architecture to allow for “additional technology innovations”.
This vision means that Bang and Olufsen have been able to incorporate phono pre-amplifiers into turntables, which means they can be connected to your stereo speakers using a Phono or 3.5mm line-level connection – external No need for phonostage.
The tonnage on the upgraded turntable has remained pretty much the same, with the addition of a modern stylus. According to Bang & Olufsen, the 4000 was “the first in a series of Bang & Olufson turntables featuring an automatic tangential tonnage”.
“On most record players, the tone arm moves inward, which puts unwanted pressure on the stylus record, which can result in a distorted sound,” the company says.
However, at Biogram 4000C, the entire tonnage assembly “moves uniformly toward the center of the record, keeping the stylus in a position consistent with the glue in the windshield.”
Bang & Olufsen says the record allows playing the same way the master disc was cut, hopefully providing a “more faithful sound experience”.
Want to get your hands on one of these limited record players? You’ll need to dig deeper – the Biogram 4000C Recreated Limited Edition is priced at 11,000 / £ 9,000 (approximately AU $ 15,000), only 95 units are available for purchase.
If you have the cash to print on the renewed vintage record player, you can purchase it from selected Bang & Olufsen stores from October 12, or online from October 19.
Looking for something a little cheaper? See our guide to the best turntables of 2020 for more budget-friendly options. And don’t forget: Amazon Prime Day is coming October 13-14, coming soon after Black Friday in November, and both sales events may be a good time to get a cheaper turntable.
