Bang & Olufsen Beogram TX2 vs Trio/Kenwood KD-550

Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Bang & Olufsen Beogram TX2 · Trio/Kenwood KD-550.

Practical differences

Highlighted cells show a lower reference price, support for more listed speeds, or the presence of a convenience feature. They are not an overall score.

On price alone the Bang & Olufsen Beogram TX2 costs less, coming in £20 (about 7%) below the Trio/Kenwood KD-550.

The Bang & Olufsen Beogram TX2 spins its platter via belt drive; the Trio/Kenwood KD-550 uses direct drive instead. Neither is objectively better — a motor that's mechanically isolated from the platter by an elastic belt, which is the usual route to a quieter noise floor — the default choice across most of hi-fi versus instant start-up, rock-steady speed under load, and enough torque to nudge or backspin the record — the reason DJs and scratch decks are built this way.

The Bang & Olufsen Beogram TX2 is fully automatic — press start and the arm cues itself and lifts at the end of the side — where the Trio/Kenwood KD-550 needs you to cue the arm by hand.

Bottom line: the Bang & Olufsen Beogram TX2 has the lower reference price; the table shows which documented features change with the £20 gap.

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