In 1996 the music charts were topped by the likes of Mariah Carey with Boyz II Men, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, and Everything but the Girl. It would still be a few years before CD sales hit their apex, but already the dominating means people listened to their favorite albums. 1996 also was the year Danish luxury audio brand Bang & Olufsen would release the David Whitfield Lewis designed Beosound 9000 hi-fi system.
With its iconic “6 CDs in a row” layout, the CD changer audio system challenged conventions of the time, orienting the player vertically while also displaying the disc jewel-like elements across its length. It was quite the flex during a period when CDs were primarily inserted into slots and shelf trays out of view, essentially a piece of industrial art masquerading as audio equipment. Even today the aluminum and black Beosound 9000 has a sexy futuristic aura with a minimalist graphic edge epitomizing the best of late 90s industrial design.
The Beosound 9000 changer mechanism is capable of switching one disc to the next at the equivalent of accelerating 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than 5.7 seconds.
Fast forward to 2020: Bang & Olufsen launches the Recreated Classics Programme, kicking off the heritage program with a limited amount of refurbished and restored Beogram 4000 turntables to appeal and appease the growing hunger surrounding vinyl’s resurgence. Aiming to honor and revitalize the memory of Jacob Jensen’s celebrated design, the revived turntable would go onto be coveted by audiophiles and design enthusiasts alike.
The new system features a fully restored and reimagined Beosound 9000 CD player from the 1990s paired with Bang & Olufsen’s modern Beolab 28 speakers.
Today, CDs are seeing a similar, albeit smaller rebound amongst audio enthusiasts drawn to CD’s enduring fidelity and used market affordability. Which might explain what compelled the Danish brand to announce the launch of the Beosystem 9000c as their second Recreated Classics series release.
Bang & Olufsen was somehow able to hunt down original Beosound 9000 CD players in suitable condition to send back to B&O headquarters in Struer, Denmark to be disassembled for inspection, thoroughly cleaned, then repaired to “like new” specifications. After, the player would be paired with a duo of Beolab 28 floor standing speakers, then rechristened as the Beosystem 9000c to complete the transformation.
“With our Recreated Classics series, we are showcasing how Bang & Olufsen’s unique capabilities within sound, design and craftsmanship are creating long-lasting, circular products,” says Mads Kogsgaard. “We want to demonstrate that a second-life product can be just as attractive as a new product and that a high-quality item such as the Beosound 9000 doesn’t need to have an end-date.”
Promotional photos and videos for the resurrected Beosystem 9000c music system lean heavily into an openly nostalgic aesthetic, right down to the “simply irresistible” slicked back hair, Robert Longo-ish photographs on the wall, and crisp monochromatic decor. But it’s not completely a retro effort; Bang & Olufsen adds Beoconnect Encore wireless connectivity and an app UI allowing users to review all six CDs in the order they’re loaded. The original Beosound 9000 retailed for $4,500 (when including the optional floor stands) back in 1996 (nearly $9,000 in today’s money). You’ll have to part with significantly more today to satiate any whim of nostalgia, with each Beosystem 9000c retails for $55,000 and limited to Bang & Olufsen stores in Europe, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and Australia.
Visit bang-olufsen.com for more information.
