WHEELIN’ IN THE YEARS Bang & Olufsen Beogram 4000c

As a decade, the 1970s has a mixed record in cultural contributions. For every Steely Dan there was a Starland Vocal Band – but as any major pseud will tell you, one winner we can all agree on is Bang & Olufsen’s Beogram 4000 turntable. Now, almost 50 years on, the Danish hi-fi expert has resurrected this delectable deck as the Beogram 4000c Recreated Limited Edition. How limited? Only 95 of the things will be available worldwide, hence the rather unpalatable price tag.

B&O’S ’70s designers somehow knew this day would come, so they left space inside the original for the engineers of 2020 to add an RIAA phono preamp, which will make it easier to hook up to sources that didn’t even exist back then. It also comes with a solid oak frame, a dust-lid, a new pickup cartridge and a touch-sensitive control panel, while the aluminium has a warmer champagne tone.

That tangential tonearm isn’t just for show either – apparently it means it can play vinyl at an angle that’s as close as possible to the way the record was cut. Just make sure you’re spinning a copy of The Royal Scam, not Afternoon Delight.

As hot as… the solo in Kid Charlemagne

£9000 / bang-olufsen.com