Bang and Olufsen TT
There are only a few things I dream of owning. the reasons are purely irrational. I subscribe to the idea that every decision a person makes is irrational at it's heart, so hey go with it.
I would love an early Jaguar XKE. A thing of beauty and an absolute pain to keep running. The first true super car. Cursed by British electrical parts. I have mechanical skills so I could probably keep it running. Damn expensive and I do not have a garage to keep her in. If I win the lottery it is tops on the list. ( after the garage is built or a new house with one)
Next is a Honda CBX 1100. Brutally fast but a 6 cylinder engine with the nicest sound tone, it is to die for. There is magic to a refined 6 cylinder in-line motor. Also expensive, but I could swing it. I gave up motorcycles over 30 years ago from fear of death. I am an enthusiastic cyclist of the pedaling kind to keep my fitness up so I may live long enough to enjoy more things. If I win the lottery it is high on the list.
Last in the dreaming is a Beogram 4000 to 4004 Turntable. Of all of these dream, the most affordable. There are regular listings for 2k to 4k of bucks. If I would risk the cost of repair there are a few broken ones out there. There is a single source for replacement cartridges and they COST! But it is to my eye the most beautiful TT ever created. It is an ICON of design.
It is a good TT, but likely no better and possibly not as good as my Phazer. The platter uses a ribbed support scheme and there is little room to clamp an LP to it. No hope for my favorite cork mats. It also may not play clear albums that I have. But look at her!
I still check ads and see some go by. I really should stop that. I mean I did go about 25 years with no changes to my Stereo but for maintenance.
In a fashion my Phase Linear (aka Pioneer PL L1000) is based on the B&O. It has a similar footprint and control functions. It does allow use of a clamp and cork mat. The lateral drive is the Japanese engineers showing off with a linear induction motor. If only it was as pretty.
From a performance perspective all three dream items are less than really good. A modern Toyota Sedan will go as fast and handle as well or better than the 60 year old Jag. Any Japanese or Italian motorcycle of moderate to large displacement will out run the old CBX. And my Phase linear is more capable too. But from an esthetic perspective they are arguably as good as things get.
You have to realize that the hobby of audiophile stuff is mostly esthetic. It is not about absolute performance.
