B&O Beosound 9000 review

Great if you're looking for an ostentatious system that'll attract 'oohs' and 'aahs' from friends, even if it's not a class-leading sound or value pro Tested at £2750

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Certainly a talking point, and will appeal to those who like novelty, but in truth there are much better, more-conventional systems out there

Pros

  • +

    Eccentric looks

  • +

    weird and wonderful functionality

Cons

  • -

    You can buy much better-sounding CD players

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Never shy of mixing form with function, B&O surpasses itself with the BeoSound 9000's six-disc CD player system. Packed with intriguing features, such as the ability to make sure spinning CDs always stop the right way up, the 9000 also sounds good in action.

True, there are better £2500 CD players out there, but none will impress your neighbours quite so much: watching the CD-reader zip flick between CDs at high speed when it's in random play mode is captivating. And, naturally, photoelectric sensors protect stray hands from the rapid mechanism. It's no wonder B&O continues to be shorthand for ‘well-to-do'.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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