It’s another great day for a Beogram enthusiast like myself! I recently received two new Beogram plinths from Matt Spangler of Vintage HiFi Nut in Oregon. He’s an expert in restoring and replacing vintage HiFi wood cabinets.

I had sent him a Beogram 4000 and a Beogram 4002 plinth a while back. Both had been damaged in transit because of inadequate packaging, a frequent problem as people often don’t realize how rough shipping can be.

I got these two plinths back a few days ago and examined them today.

The top one is for a 4002 and the bottom one for a 4000. While similar in appearance, the metal frames on the 4000 and 4002/4 models differ due to variations in the keypad clusters and aluminum plates. Here’s a closer look at the precisely crafted corners:

The top frame is crafted from solid Granadillo (also known as ‘Mexican Rosewood’), while the bottom one is made from solid Oak. Due to overharvesting, the original hardwoods used by B&O, Brazilian Rosewood and Teak, are now protected species. Consequently, alternative hardwoods are necessary to achieve a similar aesthetic.

B&O did utilize oak in some of their Beogram models, making oak replacements a period-appropriate choice. I believe there’s room for flexibility with wood cabinets—if it looks fantastic on these classic designs, it’s a win!

This is the unfortunate condition of the Beogram 4000 I recently acquired:

I purchased this Beogram 4000 from a seller in Germany who, despite my guidance on packaging (including my video), opted against double-boxing and sufficient foam padding. As a result, the unit suffered damage to one corner. The minimal padding he used made this outcome sadly unsurprising.

While the right side only detached, the left side sustained irreparable damage:

Upon receiving the new frames from Matt, I opted to try the solid oak 4000 frame on this unit. I removed the aluminum panels, platter, and keypad to detach the damaged plinth:

Next, I installed the solid oak plinth with the 4000 metal frame. Here are some glimpses of this new plinth’s impressive look:

I’m incredibly pleased with the fresh and appealing oak finish. It complements the gleaming aluminum plates perfectly. Dare I say, I prefer it to the original teak frame! Matt’s work on this cabinet is truly exceptional! I’m excited to install the Granadillo frame on a 4002 in need.

This Beogram 4000 is well on its way to looking and performing like new! Once I’ve fully restored it, it will be ready for another B&O enthusiast to enjoy. Stay tuned!