Remember the legendary words, “What’cha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?” This catchphrase belongs to the indomitable WWF superstar, Hulk Hogan. The man and his machismo were a menace in the ’80s, and the wrestler’s larger-than-life presence was a major cash cow for WWE. However, when the global wrestling company tried to replicate the same nearly twenty years later, the gimmick fell flat.
This past week, when Bang & Olufsen, that I consider the WWE of audio and home entertainment products, made an announcement to resurrect its Beosound 9000 CD player (which I deemed Hogan of sound systems from the 90s), it evoked nostalgia among audiophiles but didn’t quite capture the same fervor for me. I’ll elaborate on why!
As part of Bang & Olufson’s new limited edition range ‘Beosystem 9000c’, which by the way consists of a pair of Beolab 28 speakers and Beoremote One controller, the elite sound system will cost you $55,000. If bought separately, Beolab 28 speakers will cost you $20,250 (available on the brand’s website), and Beosound 9000 will set you back $5000 (on eBay), saving you half your money.
So, if you are an aspiring aristocrat like me, hop on to eBay and buy a second-hand Beosound CD player and gloat your riches, but if you’ve got more cash to squander, you can buy Bang & Olufson’s theory of ‘Recreated Classics series’ and purchase the modernized 9000 CD player with state-of-the-art technology. The choice is yours!
Nevertheless, Beosystem 9000c is still a power house. Alongside the Beolab 28 speaker pair, the revived CD player boasts an upstanding design and features a stack of six discs displayed through a motorized glass lid. The reimagined Beosystem 9000c caters not only to devoted CD enthusiasts but also integrates modern amenities such as AM/FM radio, wireless streaming via Airplay 2, Chromecast, and Bluetooth 5.0 through B&O’s smartphone app.
I am not sure how much brainstorming went into revamping the design of Beosound 9000 but Bang & Olufsen surely did a lot of groundwork. The modernized rendition of this iconic vertical CD player commenced with B&O locating approximately 200 units of the original model. “Every unit was then transported to the brand’s foundry in Struer, Denmark, where the initial Beosound 9000 was manufactured. We’ve stripped the original Beosound 9000 CD player to its core and rebuilt it from the ground up,” in a new look, states the company.
I hate to break this to you, it seems like the resurgence of the 9000C may be influenced by the present revival of CDs in the US; many top artists are choosing to release CD versions of their albums. Whether it’s that or recreation for the deep-pocketed alone, Beosystem 9000c stands out for its exceptional functionality and aesthetics.
“To match the Beolab 28 speakers, Bang & Olufsen’s restoration team inverted the deep black and natural aluminum finishes of the original product. They paired it with new aluminum lamellas on the cylindrical form of the Beolab 28 sculptural speakers,” the maker states.
Also Read: Six Best Levitating Speakers for Elevated Audio Experience
The bottom line is that while Bang & Olufson might market these 200 limited editions Beosystem 9000c sound systems as ‘harking back on legacy’ or ‘Recreating Classics’ program, they will retail for the whopping $55,000 tag. The limited edition sound system is available in select Bang & Olufsen stores now.
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