BeoGram 3000 (1967)
Very rare deck produced for the Dutch and UK market in place of the Thorens based Beogram 3000 and also designed to partner the Beolab 5000 range, this deck was actually made by Acoustical of Holland.
Colour / Finish: Teak
BeoGram 3000 (1967) Thorens
In 1967, B&O found themselves with a world leading Hi-Fi system in the Beolab 5000 but no suitable source for the reproduction of LPs. In a move now commonplace, they simply outsourced and used the motor unit of the Thorens TD124 Mk II – probably the best available to them at this time. They added their own ST/L arm and re-christened it the Beogram 3000.
This deck was sold in those areas allowed by Thorens which initially did not include the UK. A different model was supplied there.Highly sought after by collectors now despite really having little to do with B&O! Some even dispensed with the B&O arm and use an SME tone-arm.
These days the Beogram 3000 Thorens is a sought after model, offering probably the best performance of any Beogram. Because it is basically a Thorens deck, parts are readily available in re manufactured form.
The standard arm was the ST/L but a few were fitted with the rare ST/P arm. This was a 12″ arm but used the earlier SP2 cartridge rather than the SP8 which was fitted to the ST/L when used in the Beogram 3000.
The lid fitted was a lift off device and was high to clear the lift mechanism of the arm.
BeoVision L 4500
Beovision L 5500 / 4500 – Alternative theatre
A classic Bang & Olufsen TV has always been a good investment. However, if you didn’t need the advanced features that Beovision LX had to offer, the alternative TV was the ‘L’ range. It offered same design, same engineering, same quality, but different pricing and different colours.
BeoVision L 5500
Beovision L 5500 / 4500 – Alternative theatre
A classic Bang & Olufsen TV has always been a good investment. However, if you didn’t need the advanced features that Beovision LX had to offer, the alternative TV was the ‘L’ range. It offered same design, same engineering, same quality, but different pricing and different colours.
BeoVision LS 6000
Beovision LS5000 and LS6000 TV and video in all simplicity
A Bang & Olufsen TV is always a good investment. But perhaps you didn’t want all the highly advanced functions in Bang & Olufsen’s video systems. In that case, you could choose a television like Beovision LS instead. It had the same classic lines as Beovision LX and the quality again was extremely high. There was just a slight difference in design and technical specifications. For example, unlike Bang & Olufsen’s video systems, Beovision LS and its VCR partner, Beocord V3000, could not be included in a Beolink® system.
Beovision LS was available as a 66cm or a 63cm TV – the LS5000 and LS6000 (as well as two further models – LS4500 and LS5500). All materials were of the finest quality and as always, attention to detail was meticulously made. For example, it was real wood that was used in the rosewood model and not plastic laminate. The glass screen in front of the picture tube was made of a high-quality glass, from Europe’s leading glassmaker. It served two functions: it captured the light reflections that struck the screen, minimising their effect on the picture. And at the same time, it unified the appearance of the television.
Picture and sound in high quality
You obtained the same distinguished picture on a Beovision LS as on the more advanced TVs in Bang & Olufsen’s range. The philosophy behind Bang & Olufsen’s TV picture is that it should appear as natural as possible. One of the reasons for this choice is that your eyes tire quickly if colours are too strong. In comparison with other brands, this philosophy can make a Bang & Olufsen picture seem less like a picture postcard. But Bang & Olufsen would rather be compared to reality than to glossy reproduction.
The sound in Beovision LS5000 and LS6000 also lived up to the expectations you had for a Bang & Olufsen TV. The amplifier in the built-in two-way bass-reflex speakers was, in fact, the same fine quality that was used in audio systems.
Beovision LS6000 66cm television was the result of generations of development and provided superb natural colour which is balanced automatically up to 50 times every second. Its powerful loudspeakers were set smoothly on each side of the screen which stretched from the very top to the bottom of the cabinet. Fast Teletext access was provided together with, satellite compatibility and NICAM digital stereo sound including Beolink 1000 remote control.
Beovision LS5000 and LS6000 could be happily married to Beocord V3000 video cassette recorder and both Teletext and NICAM stereo sound were standard on both the Beovision LS5000 and LS6000.
BeoVision LX 2502
Advanced TV technology at its most elegant
Beovision 2802 was the latest version of the classic Bang & Olufsen TV. Fully remote controlled, it was created specially for those who require all the features of today’s TV – and who also seek a timeless design that would blend perfectly into their living environment. Slim and elegant, Beovision LX2802 came in either traditional natural woods or a contemporary white finish.
To the finest detail
B&O is renowned for its attention to detail and craftsmanship. You won’t find any fussy buttons on B&O’s sets – because, with full remote control, they simply aren’t necessary. Absolutely nothing looks out of place or superfluous with a Bang & Olufsen TV. The materials are always selected with the utmost care. The closest attention is always paid even to the design of the back of the TV. The company believes that appearances matter a great deal, because you’ve got to live with a TV day in, day out. On or off, it should be easy on the eye.
The perfect picture – from any angle
You don’t have to sit bang in front to get a good view of Bang & Olufsen TV sets. The 66cm flat-square picture tube of these Beovisions gave a clear, undistorted picture even when viewed from the side. Combine that with the specially developed VisionClear system, and you’ve got eye-opening picture quality. The colour balance and contrast are regulated automatically, 50 times every second. There’s even a contrast screen to make sure that your picture’s always in harmony with the light levels in the room. Razor-sharp quality – and it’s built to last.
BeoVision LX 2802
Advanced TV technology at its most elegant
Beovision 2802 was the latest version of the classic Bang & Olufsen TV. Fully remote controlled, it was created specially for those who require all the features of today’s TV – and who also seek a timeless design that would blend perfectly into their living environment. Slim and elegant, Beovision LX2802 came in either traditional natural woods or a contemporary white finish.
To the finest detail
B&O is renowned for its attention to detail and craftsmanship. You won’t find any fussy buttons on B&O’s sets – because, with full remote control, they simply aren’t necessary. Absolutely nothing looks out of place or superfluous with a Bang & Olufsen TV. The materials are always selected with the utmost care. The closest attention is always paid even to the design of the back of the TV. The company believes that appearances matter a great deal, because you’ve got to live with a TV day in, day out. On or off, it should be easy on the eye.
The perfect picture – from any angle
You don’t have to sit bang in front to get a good view of Bang & Olufsen TV sets. The 66cm flat-square picture tube of these Beovisions gave a clear, undistorted picture even when viewed from the side. Combine that with the specially developed VisionClear system, and you’ve got eye-opening picture quality. The colour balance and contrast are regulated automatically, 50 times every second. There’s even a contrast screen to make sure that your picture’s always in harmony with the light levels in the room. Razor-sharp quality – and it’s built to last.
And the sound to match
One of the things that make Bang & Olufsen TVs so special is the sound – because it’s just as breathtakingly good as the picture. The L and LX TVs have a bass reflex loudspeaker system – which, in words of one syllable, means great sound. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes, even listening to the news! Of course, you’ll also appreciate Bang & Olufsen sound quality when you listen to music from your sound system through the TV. (Perfectly possible – all Bang & Olufsen’s latest audio, TV and video systems can talk to each other). Close your eyes and it sounds like you’ve just acquired a splendid pair of new hi-fi speakers for your music centre. Which is exactly what you HAVE done.
A view to the future
Your LX 2802 TV was also ready for satellite broadcasts when they became available. It’ll be able to receive broadcasts either through communal aerials and a hybrid network, or through your own parabolic ‘dish’ antenna. Just add the BeoSat LX module when the future arrives.
No-wait Teletext
The live information bank of Teletext is a tremendous benefit, whether you want an instant weather update, flight times or racing results. Now we’ve added even more of a bonus, with the computer-controlled Teletext module. This allows you to flip through the Teletext pages without having to wait. You can also call up four different pages instantly on the screen (in the order you want) by pressing the Teletext button. So you can hop easily from one topic to another, with quicker access to the facts you need.
The right connections
When you buy a Bang & Olufsen video recorder to partner your TV, you’ll be able to operate both with one remote control – the Beolink 1000. Needless to say, our video recorders are as intelligently designed as our TVs: Beocord VX5000 and VHS 82.2 even have a visual display to make operation and programming absolute child’s play. But your connection options don’t stop there. Your TV can team up with your music system. It can even form part of your Bang & Olufsen ’round-the-house’ TV, video and music system. All under the command of the ingenious Beolink 1000 remote control. You can also connect headphones, your personal computer, video games and a loop amplifier for the hard of hearing.
Take four
You could choose one of four models: the 63cm L2502 and LX 2502, and the 66cm L2802 and LX 2802. In all the most important technical respects, these TVs shared the same advanced features.
Fine finishes
The Beovision LX series was available in rosewood, teak, white and White Line (B&O’s modern colour and styling treatment).
BeoCenter 2800
Beocenter 2800 was a unique combination of FM/AM tuner, a 2 x 25 watts RMS hi-fi power amplifier and record player. The tuner section offered Long and Medium wave reception as well as FM. There were facilities for pre-setting the four FM stations you listen to most frequently. Ceramic filters, AFC, split-supply output and a phase-locked loop decoder were some of the features that ensured outstanding reception and reproduction of even distant stations.
The record player was fully automatic – one master switch controlled all operations. The anti-skating device was built into the arms suspension and worked automatically. Electronic Servo Drive (ESD) ensured constantly correct speed. There were sockets for tape deck, two sets of stereo speakers and headphones.
This was a compact, space-saving unit which was easy to use thanks to automatic circuits and logical controls. Beocenter 2800 could be made up as part of the Beosystem 2800, when linked together with other compatible Bang & Olufsen products
BeoCenter 1500
Beocenter 1500 was a combined FM/AM tuner, hi-fi stereo amplifier and cassette recorder with a specification level that was unique for combination units in that price bracket. In the AM section, which covered long and medium waves, Bang & Olufsen placed an emphasis on the set’s ability to separate stations from each other. The FM section had outstanding channel separation and stereo reception. The amplifier’s technical specifications were way above the average and fulfilled accepted hi-fi norms by a wide margin.
The built-in cassette recorder had its own operation panel but was otherwise fully integrated with the rest of Beocenter 1500. There was a switch for normal and chrome tapes; recording level was monitored on an illuminated indicator: red signified overload and green meant that all was well. The tape heads were of a super Permalloy and had a higher performance level and longer useful lifetime than ordinary heads.
Beocenter 1500 had connections for record player, two sets of stereo speakers, headphones and an extra tape deck.
Beocenter 1500 and Beocenter 1600 were, at the time of their production, two of the market’s most compact audio systems, but despite their small external dimensions they could fill a large room with sound. All the push buttons of Beocenter 1500 were of solid aluminium, and the solid aluminium front panel on the Beocenter 1600 was anodised – a process which was more expensive and more demanding but which also made the set more robust and resistant to marks and scratches.
BeoGram 42V/VF
The B&O 4-speed record player is an important step on the road to full musical enjoyment, being designed specially with a view to vibrationless and rumbleless operation. This feature is of great importance when playing stereo records as the pickup stylus must be sensitive to vibrations in all directions in order to be capable of “scanning” the record properly.
Understanding the numbering of these Beograms is really quite easy: the ‘V’ in ‘608V’ means that it is powered with AC voltage and ‘F’ means that it has a built-in preamplifier. The designation 608, 609 and so on, indicates the year the product was marketed. There was also a ‘U’ version for both AC and DC voltages. Beogram 608 for example, was a turntable without a built-in RIAA preamplifier and was produced for the 1962 season (internally many were date-stamped e.g. September 1961 would indicate the year it left the factory).
The difference between the models 41xx and 42xx was that the 41xx had a small turntable and the 42xx model had a larger turntable.