Beocord 1600 matched the Beomaster 1600 and Beogram 1600 both physically and technically. It combined high performance with easy, straightforward operation.
Ferric, chrome or metal tapes could be used. The Sendust tape head, Dolby B Noise Reduction circuits and Peak Programme Meter all contributed to high quality recording and playback. You could switch between all modes of play without fear of tangling the tape or damaging the mechanism.
Beocenter 4000 was an elegant combination of an AM/FM stereo receiver (in effect the Beomaster 2200) and a high quality cassette deck whose performance levels matched those of more expensive separate decks. The Sendust tape head ensured the best possible playback and combined long life with optimum frequency response characteristics. There were two motors – one for fast wind, the other for normal play – so tape transport was smooth and stable at all times. A Dolby B Noise Reduction circuit ensured high quality, low-noise recordings. Despite its many technical refinements and comprehensive facilities, Beocenter 4000 was simple to operate.
Beocenter 4000, in which all parameters concentrate on the quality of radio and tape reproduction, was an unusual alternative to a disc system. The addition of a matching Beogram from the Bang & Olufsen range, plus two Beovox S45 bookshelf or P45 wall-mounting speakers converted it into the complete top-quality Beosystem 4000.
Beocenter 4000 comprised a 2 x 40 watts RMS amplifier, an FM, Long and Medium wave radio and a stereo cassette deck incorporating all the features you would expect to find only in separate high quality decks.
The replacement for the Beogram 4000, this deck actually existed in a number of forms, the first using the AC motor of the 4000 and later ones using a DC motor. Simplified compared to the 4000, it was cheaper to produce, if not buy, but maintained a very similar performance.
In terms of concept, performance and technical design, this record player was very much ahead of its time. All functions were governed by computer-like logic circuits. You just pressed START, that was all. Through the unique detector arm (parallel to the pickup arm) these circuits could judge the size of the record, determine its normal playing speed and instruct the pick-up arm to lower the stylus into the lead-in groove. Within a few seconds you would hear the music. If there was no record on the platter the stylus could not be lowered, so the system was safe as well as simple.
Records could be tracked more accurately because the tangential arm traced a straight line from the record’s edge to its centre, instead of tracing an arc as radial arms do. This method entirely eliminated inward bias (skating effect) and tracking angle error was almost non-existent.
The naked elliptical diamond stylus in the MMC 20EN (former MMC 4000) pickup cartridge helped ensure that Beogram 4002 got all of the information out of your record grooves while handling them in the gentlest possible way.
Bang & Olufsen’s Beogram 4002 turntable was awarded the ‘Gold Sim 74’ and ‘Top Form 74’ prizes in the category of electro-mechanics.
Beogram 4004/4002 could be made up as part of the Beosystem 4400 or the quadraphonic Beosystem 6000 when linked together with other compatible Bang & Olufsen products.
Beogram 4004/4002 was an electronically controlled stereo record player with tangential arm. The unit utilised a belt drive system to control the record deck. Thanks to the incorporation of advanced electronics, several advantages were gained from this new concept in record-players: high specification, supreme automation of all functions and the most gentle treatment of records. The tangential arm moved the pick-up in a straight line towards the centre of the record, reducing tracking error to a mere 0.04%. The record player was fitted with the MMC 4000 pick-up cartridge (later MMC 20EN) which had a frequency range of 20-25.000 Hz ±1.5 dB. It had an integrated, elliptical naked diamond stylus with a stylus pressure of 1g. Rotation of the turntable was governed by a synchronous motor which was power-driven via a stabilised oscillator which made it independent of mains voltage and frequency fluctuations. Wow and flutter was less than ± 0.05 % and rumble better than 65 dB. DIN B weighted. A photocell in the record-player’s second arm registered the size of the record and the speed at which it should be played. Advanced electronics governed the actions of the pick-up arm: lifting, lowering, etc. However, the record-player could be operated manually by use of the large “easy-touch” control plate. Operation of the record deck was very easy as all functions were governed by computer logic circuits. With its tangential detector arm that was parallel to the linear tracking tonearm, the unit could sense the size and speed of the record to be played and lowered the stylus into the lead-in groove. It had cueing controls to raise and lower the tonearm to where you wanted it on the record. If there was no record on the turntable and you pushed START, it would not lower the stylus on the turntable. Manual selectors to determine the speed of the record player were incorporated; however, the turntable was fully automatic so all you had to do was put on the record and press START.
Beogram 4004/4002 was fitted with a hinged dust lid which could be opened to any angle up to about 60 degrees or completely removed by easy sliding action.
Beogram 4004/4002 were two integrated record players with identical technical specifications and performance, but Beogram 4004 had additional convenience in that it could be operated by remote control when coupled to the Beomaster 2400 receiver. It could also be linked to the Beosystem 6000 as part of a quadraphonic system.
In terms of concept, performance and technical design, these record players were very much ahead of their time. All functions were governed by computer-like logic circuits. You just pressed START, that was all. Through the unique detector arm (parallel to the pickup arm) these circuits could judge the size of the record, determine its normal playing speed and instruct the pick-up arm to lower the stylus into the lead-in groove. Within a few seconds you would hear the music. If there was no record on the platter the stylus could not be lowered, so the system was safe as well as simple.
Records could be tracked more accurately because the tangential arm traced a straight line from the record’s edge to its centre, instead of tracing an arc as radial arms do. This method entirely eliminated inward bias (skating effect) and tracking angle error was almost non-existent.
The naked elliptical diamond stylus in the MMC 20EN (former MMC 4000) pickup cartridge helped ensure that Beogram 4004/4002 got all of the information out of your record grooves while handling them in the gentlest possible way.
Beogram 3400 was designed to play back quadraphonic-encoded records and incorporated an MMC 5000 with a Shibita diamond stylus. An optional CD4 decoder could be specified to allow play back of that type of LP as well SQ discs which could be played by any record player.
Quadraphonic sound
Bang & Olufsen produced two quadraphonic systems in the 1970s. The top model was Beosystem 6000 which comprised Beomaster 6000 and Beogram 6000. Beogram 6000 was a development of Beogram 4000 in that it was a tangential tracking turntable. It had an inbuilt CD4 decoder which was switchable. When ‘on’ it would detect the presence of the carrier frequencies and a display would illuminate on the record deck’s display as ‘4ch’.
The output of the Beogram was at line-level whether in 2- or 4-channel mode. The deck was attached to Beomaster 6000 via a 5-pin DIN lead with all the pins being wired. In Beomaster 6000 there was a replaceable board with a SQ decoder as standard. This was manually switchable. The operator therefore still needed to know the type of quad recording that was to be played. The purpose of the removable board was to allow upgrading should the record industry ever get its act together and find a common standard!
The second system was based on Beomaster 3400 and Beogram 3400 which had a radial deck and a smaller and simpler receiver. This again had similar functions. Beomaster 4000 and a few others had a facility called Ambiophonics which used a system of simulated four track sound from stereo records. Two Bang & Olufsen cartridges were made for playing CD4 records:
MMC5000 used a fairly standard Shibata profile
The top of the range MMC6000 used a profile designed by one of their own engineers – Subir Pramanik – and which bore his name
Beogram 2200/2400 were identical except that, when coupled to the Beomaster 2400, Beogram 2400 could also be operated by remote control.
To play records on either model it was necessary to simply press START and let the automatic system do the rest. As an additional safeguard, all functions could be operated with the protective lid closed. The electronic servo drive system kept turntable speed constant and correct, even during fluctuations in the mains supply. Careful arm geometry ensured that tracking angle was kept well below the level where it could affect the quality of the reproduced sound.
Bias effect was compensated automatically and needed no adjustment. The extreme lightness of the arm, together with the highly polished nude elliptical diamond carried by the MMC 20EN pickup in the 2400, resulted in an unusually low Effective Tip Mass (ETM). This means that your records would suffer very little wear, even after continual playing. Neither would they be damaged if the stylus was accidentally skidded across the surface.
Beogram 2400 could be made up as part of the Beosystem 2400 when linked together with other compatible Bang & Olufsen products.
Beogram 2200/2400 were identical except that, when coupled to the Beomaster 2400, Beogram 2400 could also be operated by remote control.
To play records on either model it was necessary to simply press START and let the automatic system do the rest. As an additional safeguard, all functions could be operated with the protective lid closed. The electronic servo drive system kept turntable speed constant and correct, even during fluctuations in the mains supply. Careful arm geometry ensured that tracking angle was kept well below the level where it could affect the quality of the reproduced sound.
Bias effect was compensated automatically and needed no adjustment. The extreme lightness of the arm, together with the highly polished elliptical diamond carried by the MMC 20E pickup in the 2200, resulted in an unusually low Effective Tip Mass (ETM). This means that your records would suffer very little wear, even after continual playing. Neither would they be damaged if the stylus was accidentally skidded across the surface.
Beogram 2200/2400 could be made up as part of the Beosystem 2200 when linked together with other compatible Bang & Olufsen products.
Beogram 2202 and Beogram 2402 replaced models 2200 and 2400 and were eventually replaced by Beogram 2404 (looking the same externally as the former units) in 1983.
To play records on the fully-automatic Beogram 2202/2402 decks, it was necessary to simply press “start” and let the integrated systems do the rest. As an additional safeguard, all functions could be operated with the protective dust lid closed.
Thanks to the fine polish of their elliptical diamonds, and the low mass of the arm, these Beograms got the very best from your records without inflicting any significant wear. Careful arm geometry ensured that tracking error was kept well below the level where it could affect sound quality. Skating effect was compensated automatically. Beogram 2202 was fitted with an MMC 20E pickup, while Beogram 2402 has an MMC 20EN. When coupled to the Beomaster 2400-2 FM stereo receiver, Beogram 2402 could be operated by remote control.
Beogram 2202 / 2402 could be made up as part of the Beosystem 1900 or Beosystem 2400, when linked together with other compatible Bang & Olufsen products.
Beogram 2202 and Beogram 2402 replaced models 2200 and 2400 and were eventually replaced by Beogram 2404 (looking the same externally as the former units) in 1983.
To play records on the fully-automatic Beogram 2202/2402 decks, it was necessary to simply press “start” and let the integrated systems do the rest. As an additional safeguard, all functions could be operated with the protective dust lid closed.
Thanks to the fine polish of their elliptical diamonds, and the low mass of the arm, these Beograms got the very best from your records without inflicting any significant wear. Careful arm geometry ensured that tracking error was kept well below the level where it could affect sound quality. Skating effect was compensated automatically. Beogram 2202 was fitted with an MMC 20E pickup, while Beogram 2402 has an MMC 20EN. When coupled to the Beomaster 2400-2 FM stereo receiver, Beogram 2402 could be operated by remote control.
Beogram 2202 / 2402 could be made up as part of the Beosystem 1900 or Beosystem 2400, when linked together with other compatible Bang & Olufsen products.
An updated 2402 but with the revised lightweight arm designed to take the MMC5 cartridge.
Rather an afterthought, the 2404 was designed to work with the Beomaster 2400-2 and was fitted with the 7 pin DIN plug to allow control by remote. This was not compatible with Datalink. The last UK model of this design and interesting simply because it had the new cartridge but the old remote control software unlike the Beogram 6000 which boasted the new software and old cartridge.
