The resurgence of interest in vinyl hasn’t waned as quickly as some expected. With the renewed interest in platter-spinning has come a natural result: premium pricing for vintage turntables made by the likes of Thorens, Pioneer, Technics and Bang & Olufsen.
Vintage has its consolations and its drawbacks too. In the former category is the unmistakable coolness of playing back recordings pressed in a vintage format on a vintage player; in the latter is the matter of dependability and cost and frequency of repair. B&O responded a couple of years ago by buying up used models and refurbishing them for sale. Problem solved.
B&O’s newest product promises to tickle the nostalgic in vinyl lovers while giving them an up-to-date design that renders repair shop visits rarities, but it’s also an all-in-one solution that suggests the midcentury designs of the 1960s. The Beosystem 72-22 harkens back to the halcyon days of the brand’s peak, packing a turntable into a modern-looking package that also contains wireless speakers and a remote control.
The turntable component of the hi-fi setup has been recreated according to an original design from the era. Completing the system is a set of Beolab 18 speakers, a hardy design that’s been around for almost a decade now, and a wood storage cabinet.
The buy-in for the instant hi-fi is $45K.