Bang & Olufsen, one of the world’s most stylish audio brands, has announced the resurrection of another classic legacy product with an ambitious recycling plan that showcases the potential of a circular economy. The company revealed the Beosystem 9000c Music System, which consists of a fully restored Beosound 9000 CD player paired with Beolab 28 speakers. The Beosound 9000 CD player was highly iconic in the 1990s due to its sleek glass panel and ability to handle six discs at once.
In 2020, Bang & Olufsen began remanufacturing used Beogram 4000 turntables by purchasing them and adding the latest wireless audio technology to create new products that combined the company’s iconic design with modern technology. The Beosystem 9000c is the second product in B&O’s series of recreated classics, demonstrating the company’s commitment to longevity and creating products that stand the test of time.
Bang & Olufsen managed to secure 200 units of the original Beosound 9000 CD player, returning them to the company’s factory in Struer, where the original products were made in 1996. The CD transports were disassembled and thoroughly inspected by a team of service technicians, including some original employees who worked on the Beosound 9000. Each component of the Beosound 9000 was cleaned, repaired, tested, and fine-tuned to meet Bang & Olufsen’s specifications for the new product.
The Beosystem 9000c showcases Bang & Olufsen’s expertise in handling aluminum, with the metal being brushed, etched, and pearl-blasted in the company’s Struer factory to achieve different finishes. Based on the design of the original CD player, the Beosystem 9000c features inverted finishes to match the Beolab 28 speakers, combining a bold and modern finish while referencing the 90s aesthetic of the original CD player.
The original Beosound 9000 was unveiled in 1996 and designed by industrial designer David Lewis, who believed in slow evolution and long-lasting product design. The Beosound 9000’s unique ‘autovisuality’ concept displayed album art linearly, allowing users to be in touch with the music. Mechanical movements, such as the CD clamper’s linear movement and motorized glass lid, added an element of magic to the product’s design.
The Beosystem 9000c music system includes Beolab 28 speakers with a physical interface for playback controls and wireless connectivity for Airplay 2, Chromecast, and Bluetooth 5.0. The system can be controlled with a Beoremote One, Beolab 28 speakers, or a smartphone app. Priced at around $55,000, €50,000, or £45,000, the Beosystem 9000c is limited to just 200 units globally, celebrating the revival of physical media and the passion for music listening while showcasing Bang & Olufsen’s commitment to timeless products with beautiful sound.
