bang & olufsen | the beosystem 3000c

Bang & Olufsen.

It was 1985 when the Beogram 3000 turntable was released – the same year the compact disc was beginning to win the argument about the future of music. Forty years later, Bang & Olufsen has restored one, paired it with modern streaming speakers and limited the whole thing to 100 pieces. The argument, it turns out, was never fully resolved.

Founded in 1925 in Struer by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen, Bang & Olufsen has spent a century developing products where sound quality and visual design exist side by side. The brand’s archive includes some of the most recognisable audio objects of the last century – like the Beoplay A9 speaker, the iconic Beosound 9000 CD player and the Beogram turntables – many of which have gained renewed appreciation among collectors and design enthusiasts.

The Beosystem 3000c Dune Grey Edition is the latest release under Bang & Olufsen’s Recreated Classics programme, which sources original turntables from around the world, returns them to the company’s headquarters in Struer, Denmark, and restores each one by hand. The process balances preservation with contemporary material updates, the original mechanisms brought back to working life and then reimagined for the new generation. 

Bang & Olufsen.

Notably, this new iteration upgrades the original construction by replacing the 1980s plastic back cover with a handcrafted, dark-stained walnut wood finish. Paired here with Beolab 8 stereo speakers, the compact system connects analogue vinyl listening with modern streaming in a single compact setup – supporting everything from high-fidelity analogue playback to direct AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity.

The Dune Grey colourway is new to the series and is, on its own terms, exceptionally considered. A soft matte aluminium body sits alongside rich dark walnut details, the material palette drawn from the tones and textures of the Nordic coastline. The design leans on the ‘floating’ illusion originally engineered by designer Steve McGugan, where an elevated base allows the signature patterned platter to look as though it is hovering gracefully over the shelf below.

Bang & Olufsen.

“Exceptional audio designs continue to matter over time and are rediscovered across generations,” says Mads Kogsgaard Hansen, Director of Product Circularity at Bang & Olufsen. “The Beosystem 3000c represents a slower, more intentional way of listening, built around ritual, presence and emotional connection to music.”

Each of the limited units is individually numbered, uniquely engraved and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

The Beosystem 3000c Dune Grey Edition is now available in selected Bang & Olufsen stores worldwide. Find out more here.

photography. courtesy of Bang & Olufsen
words. Gennaro Costanzo