A light touch to the front of the Beocord 6500 cassette recorder released the loader which glided out slowly and silently in order to allow you to insert a cassette. You could use whichever type of cassette you prefer; or choose between Dolby B or C Noise Reduction systems… and rejoice in Bang & Olufsen’s patented HX-PRO recording system which ensured optimal sound reproduction, particularly in the difficult, high-frequency range. And, naturally, Beocord 6500 had auto-reverse so that both sides of the tape played as one.
Beocord 6500 could be used as part of the Beosystem 6500 hi-fi system.
Auto Record level
One of the less-pleasant chores in making a recording is setting level control to its optimum position. Setting it too low raises the level of background noise on the recording. Setting it too high makes the recording distorted at high music levels. With this in mind, Bang and Olufsen introduced an automatic record mode which was called ‘Auto Record’.
Auto Record worked in two steps: when the record button was pressed for the first time, the cassette recorder went into a record pause mode, where the incoming signal was monitored. Under microprocessor control, the highest level was monitored and the record level was set at the optimum level for that music. On pressing the record button the second time, the tape was set in motion and the recording started, but continuing to make minor adjustments. If at any time during the recording, the level of music rose above the monitored level, the level control was lowered by exactly the amount required for the new optimum recording level.
This method of setting the level control closely imitated the action of a highly skilled recording engineer, if asked to set the level for a recording. It was the best that could be done when the full recording could not be monitored before recording started.
This feature incorporated a new method of monitoring the signal, which proved to be a more effective method over conventional methods. It was patented by the company with the patent number 158702.
Beomaster 5500 was the brains and heart of the system which it made up.
Connected by Datalink to the record player, tape recorder and CD player it allowed the user to remote-control the whole system via the Master Control Panel. The 2 x 60 watt/8 ohm tuner/amplifier gave true hi-fi quality. Bang & Olufsen’s Automatic Power Handling Control system prevented overloading and distortion, regardless of how many speakers were connected. Up to 20 stations on the tuner could be preset and the frequency synthesizer took care of automatic search and fine tuning of stations. The result – superb reception of LW, MW and FM wavebands and impressive ease of use.
Beomaster 5500 was aesthetically balanced to match the rest of the components within Beosystem 5500
These days, these receivers are the cheapest of the Beolink 1000 controlled stackable systems. They do have the huge advantage of having not only DIN connectors but also a full complement of RCA plugs. This actually makes them ideal for present day use as the extra connections allow computer and digital music connections in addition to usual sources.
A thoroughgoing ‘black box’. Nothing in the shape of the device revealed how it worked or what it was. Only the inscription on the top of the unit told the user just how the black ‘magic mirror’ was brought to life so it could show which function has been activated. The unit was Bang & Olufsen’s first remote-controlled hi-fi system.
Beomaster 6000 History
Beomaster 6000 was the realisation of the Topline prototype on which work had progressed over the preceding years. The long flat cabinet of the Beomaster 1200 with its operation from the top and the depressed knobs was repeated. But the Beomaster 6000 is the first representative of a new phase in Jacob Jensen’s oeuvre. The slide rule motif symbolised mechanical precision, but now the entire idiom is adapted to the abstraction it was necessary to submit in communicating using electronics.
The visually, symbolically and tactilely easily understood slide rule operation belonged to the age of mechanisation and must be understood in extension of the modernistic machine aesthetics of the 1920s. The design of the Beomaster 6000 emphasises that it belongs to the electronic age and that it is part of the virtual, digital epoch. The volume is regulated stepwise by pressing one button to increase volume and another to reduce it. The buttons are gathered together in one large steel sheet, in which ‘tongues’ have been cut. These each have a play of less than half a millimetre as they are electronic micro-switches. The depressed adjustment knob, which made its first appearance in the General Electric radiogram study model around 1960, is an electronic tuner.
” The great quality of the slide rule motif was that it showed both the user’s input (setting) and the device’s output at the same time. The logical consequence of micro-electricity is a division of input and output – the electronics differ from mechanical operation in that their function is invisible. Jensen does what he can, nevertheless, to make it easy to understand what is happening. Input is placed in a silver-coloured control panel, while output (displays) is gathered under a sheet of dark glass. This magical black sheet, ‘the magic mirror’ that lights up while in use, is to give an extra experience over and above the purely aesthetical. The Beomaster 6000 is a very easy advanced quadraphonic radio. In view of the development team, four sound channels required your being able to adapt the sound to your position in the room. In this way, the first remote-controlled hi-fi system became a reality. ” – taken from ‘Jacob Jensen’ by Christain Holmsted Olesen.
Beomaster 6000 features
At the centre of the Beosystem 6000 was Beomaster 6000, a 4-channel amplifier with an FM tuner. Beomaster 6000 had a built-in SQ decoder (4-channel matrix) and was a full remote controlled system. Five FM stations could be pre-selected and there was manual tuning on the large illuminated FM scale. The FM tuner covered 87,5 – 104MHz. Tuning was carried out via feather-touch controls. The amplifier section was designed to cope with all sound reproduction systems: one, two or four channels. It produced 4×40 watts RMS (4 ohms) or 300 watts total music. 4-channel sound reproduction from records was popularly represented by two systems: CD4 discrete and SQ matrix.
CD4 (Compatible Discrete 4 channel) enabled high-quality sound reproduction with a high degree of separation between the four channels. CD4 was called at the time ‘TRUE 4 channel system’. However, many companies chose the SQ system because it was easily transmitted over FM and SQ records could be played on a high quality stereo record player. However, the price of convenience was less channel separation than the CD4 system afforded.
An SQ matrix decoder was incorporated in Beomaster 6000. Basically, its job was to reconstruct sound information for the two rear speakers. For CD4 records this reconstruction took place in the record-player, Beogram 6000.
Operation
Operation of Beomaster 6000 was child’s play. The large flat operation panel had logically grouped controls for all essential functions. Primary functions (e.g. programme source selection, volume, balance, bass and treble controls) were large, prominent, yet unobtrusive easy-touch buttons, while secondary functions (e.g. loudness, hi and low filters, etc) were smaller push buttons. Volume, balance, bass and treble controls were executed by a feather-touch of the finger tip. A servo-motor did the real work. An illuminated scale indicated position and control levels. There were facilities for frequency correction on all 4 channels. Each channel had a frequency range of 20-30,000 Hz. Distortion was lower than 0.1% at full power output.
Remote Control
The cordless (ultrasonic) remote control for the receiver could be bought as an accessory. This unit put you in true control of the music system. All the following functions could be controlled: volume, balance: left and right speakers; balance: front and rear speakers; five pre-selected FM stations; selection of external programme sources: record-player, tape/cassette-recorder; switching on and off (stand-by).
Connections
All necessary connection facilities were incorporated in Beomaster 6000: 4-channel record player, 2 or 4-channel tape-recorder. 4-channel headphones or two sets stereo headphones.
Beomaster 6000 was perfectly matched to partner the Beocord 5000 cassette recorder (introduced 1975). Beomaster 6000 was featured in an exhibition at New York’s MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) in 1975. At the time of its release it was the flagship of Bang & Olufsen’s hi-fi product range and was quite expensive to purchase. The UK price in 1978 was £581.50.
Accessories:
FM room aerial
An FM aerial type 8902010, was designed for use with Beomaster 6000 to be used in the home, within a certain radius of the radio transmitter. It was easily positioned at the rear of Beomaster 6000 and its two telescopic elements could be extended.
An update to the cheapest of the column speakers, this saw the Class AB amplification discarded along with the large heat sinks. Instead 2 cool running ICE amplifiers were fitted, both rated at 125W.
The LED was repositioned and the finish of the foot changed to match the TV range. A three position switch for wall, corner and free position settings was now fitted and the previous model’s phono plug was deleted. 2 Powerlink sockets were still present though.
The crowning glory of Beolab 20 is the Acoustic Lens that delivers smooth high-frequency sound in full 180 degrees. The results are uncompromising listening experiences across your room and much greater freedom in terms of where you place your speaker for optimal sound.
SOUND
Hear it and believe it.
Very few speakers can rival the formidable combination of power and poise of the Beolab 20. At the heart of its refined acoustic performance is a custom-built digital sound engine, that’s refined to optimise every single component inside this wireless speaker.
DESIGN
Sophisticated from the inside out
Beolab 20 is a truly powerful speaker, designed with an elegant and surprisingly compact appearance. With the body almost entirely draped in your choice of high-quality fabric, this stylish speaker easily adapts to its surroundings.
ADAPTIVE BASS
Creating the perfect lows
To deliver precise and intensive bass without the risk of damaging your speaker at high volumes, our Adaptive Bass Linearisation technology constantly monitors and adapts the speaker’s bass performance.
ROOM ADAPTATION
Superior sound from any position
Every speaker will sound different depending on its position in a room. Beolab 20 features our innovative room adaptation technology that optimises the audio performance based on your speaker’s actual placement in a corner, against a wall or free-standing.
The Beolab 11 is the new lower priced subwoofer, designed in particular to accompany the Beovision 10. It utilises a design principle seen in other subwoofers of having identical units firing in opposite directions and hence making the structure more stable. Indeed the B&W PV1 does just this using B&O ICE amplification.
B&O however have added a new twist to the equation by having the two 130mm drive units firing inwardly and so allowing the external casing to be made from the same polished aluminium seen in the Beovision 10.
Amplification is via a 250W ICE unit and so the speaker can be seen to fit below the Beolab 2 in the range.
Mounting Options
As a result of the balanced drive units, the Beolab 11 will be offered both as a floor standing model and with a wall bracket. This is again designed to match the Beovision 10. The Beovision 10 in both 40″ and 46″ versions is designed so that it can be used as a stand alone set but still utilise the subwoofer output.
This should add the lower frequencies not able to be produced due to the small speaker enclosure of the Beovision 10.
The Beolab 11 will stand just 320mm high on the floor stand. The cross over frequency and bass lift is set with a collection of switches on the base. There is a Powerlink connection and two Powerlink outputs so it can be used in a stereo system.
Beogram CD 7000 was distinctive because of its authentic sound reproduction as well as its large dynamic range. It was equally suitable for symphonic music and rock. Its many functions allowed you to pre-programme tracks for playback in any desired order. This CD player was the last in line as far as separates were concerned, replaced with the likes of Beocenter 2300 and Beocenter 2500.
Features:
Exclusive computer-controlled CD loading mechanism with extremely fast access time
CD tray machined from a 4mm solid aluminium plate for maximum mechanical stability and convenient loading
Disc tray cut-outs with rubber lining for 12 and 8cm discs
Spring-suspended CD mechanism and magnetic disc clamp
Special functions, such as scan and sequence programming, were carried out from Beolink 7000
Dynamic readout on Beolink 7000 of all functions, track bar, remaining time, elapsed time, scan, etc.
CD players are now among the simplest constructions in the electronic world and standard players are based on very few components, a simple electronic layout and use of economical materials, both inside the product and in the cabinet. In the construction of CD7000 the main objectives were the achievement of excellent mechanical stability, convincing sonic qualities and easy access to the CD functions.
The loading mechanism, the way the clamp function and the suspension of the CD mechanism were all points that received special attention. The high quality of the mechanical solutions was continued in the electronic circuitry and both were highly integrated and interdependent of each other.
The CD tray was very solid and elegant and the loading mechanism extremely durable. The tray was made from a 4mm thick sheet of aluminium and the conical recess for the CD was milled and diamond polished to the smallest of tolerances – to prevent dust gathering in the recess. The circular rubber profile protected the disc during loading and unloading, while the triangular cut-out facilitated unloading. To avoid static build-up the tray was connected to ground and to avoid ‘ringing’, a damping plate was placed at the innermost part of the tray, inside the cabinet.
The motorised movement of the CD tray was very fast and gentle. The movement was controlled by the microcomputer via an optocoupler and was a very stable mechanical solution with two parallel chrome plated brass rail tubes and precision plastic roller bearings. A nylon coated steel cord wire was applied for maximum duration and quiet transport. The electronically governed transport was very smooth, started the movement slowly, then speeded up very quickly, decelerating when the disc approached the clamp. Furthermore, it secured against possible damage occurring from obstacles either in front of the tray or in between tray and cabinet.
While the tray approached the clamp the disc was gently lifted off the tray and clamped between the CD mechanism and magnet. The magnet was placed on a bridge across the CD mechanism and when it engaged the disc the magnet was lifted away from the bridge. While the disc was rotating, the magnet was not in contact with the cabinet, but only the disc and CD mechanism.
This assembly was insulated very efficiently from the cabinet to prevent vibrations from the outside. A special suspension was designed, with 4 steel springs, encased in rubber. The springs ensured that the CD mechanism was fixed in the horizontal plane (i.e. across the disc), while a certain amount of movement was allowed in the vertical plane (i.e. up and down). Test showed that the servo system counteracts movements in the vertical plane better than in the horizontal plane, and the suspension thus was a good compromise with regard to immunity from external vibrations. The inherent frequency of the suspension was placed at 25 Hz to avoid tracking and focusing errors, which were prone to emerge if the CD mechanism was subjected to vibrations around 100 Hz and upward. Furthermore, at this frequency interference with the inherent frequency of the CD cabinet was also avoided.
The electronics
The CD format is one of the most precisely defined audio formats, but it is still possible to design differentiated products. The electronic solutions in CD 7000 were just as elaborate, the computer controlled loading just being one of the elements. Separate power supplies were available for the digital and analogue parts, and in connection with a careful print layout Bang & Olufsen achieved the most respectable electronic specifications. The digital-to-analogue filtering was special as well. First, a standard digital filtering (4 x oversampling) was applied to filter away the sidebands below 176,4 kHz. The analogue filtering at 176,4 kHz was carried out by a modified order filter. To avoid remnants of the 176,4kHz sideband having an effect on the filtering, a special suction circuit cut off the frequencies above 156,4 kHz. The modified filter was known as a ‘Bessel elliptical filter’. It had a very gentle filter characteristic and was not susceptible to ripple phenomena, phase distortion or ageing.
The functions
As with the other sources, operation was via the Beolink 7000, with full display readout of all functions. Special functions available included: the space function, where a pause of 4 seconds was added between tracks to facilitate track search on a tape recorded from CD 7000. Scan gave playback of the first 15 seconds of each track and was especially useful in connection with a sequence programming.
While you were scanning the CD, tracks could either be selected (compiled) or omitted and when the last track had been scanned, playback of the programmed sequence commenced. Sequence programming could also be carried out independently of the scan function and if you used the select programming, playback could be non-chronological. If you used the reject programming to leave out specific tracks, playback would be chronological.
Beogram 7000 could, ideally, be used as part of Beosystem 7000
If you wanted to indulge yourself with the finest sound quality then you’d do no better than listening to your favourite pieces of music on Bang & Olufsen’s Beogram CD 6500. Beogram CD 6500 was a replacement for its predecessor, Beogram CD 5500.
It played both 12cm and 8cm compact discs, and housed sophisticated and advanced digital technology. And it offered sound reproduction which would satisfy even the most demanding of listeners.
Beogram CD 6500 could be used as part of the Beosystem 6500 hi-fi system.
The quality of the Beogram CD 5500 CD player took time to fully appreciate. For example, the elegant disc tray with its completely smooth and silent drive. Or the way that the disc drive system was mounted to isolate it from vibrations. Perhaps you were most impressed by the way that a built-in circuit in the player compensated for the tiniest faults on the disc itself (contrary to popular belief they’re not always perfect!). Finding tracks was both fast and easy – it was necessary to just ask the Master Control Panel for the track number you wanted. You could programme tracks to be played in any order, or sample each track briefly. There was a light display which showed you the length of the track you were playing and the remaining time on the disc – invaluable for recording.
Though very similar to look at to Beogram CD 50, this all-new Philips-based machine was a radical departure, both in manufacturing and technical terms. Beogram CD 5500 was the first CD player to be entirely designed by Bang & Olufsen and with the exception of the optical deck, it was entirely made by the company too. The performance and reliability of the Beogram CDX models probably influenced the choice of the Philips radial single beam pickup system and brushless DC spindle motor.
Externally, a slim aluminium plate machined out to the size of a compact disc replaced the Beogram CD 50 door and drawer loading system and it moved quickly and silently, again in marked contrast to its predecessor. The deck was on the right-hand side side of the fascia as opposed to Beogram CD 50 left-hand side arrangement, so that the loading of a cassette into the new Beocord 5500 tape recorder, which you had the option of placing below, was not obstructed. Later versions had a concentric 8cm circular recess machined into the loading plate, to accept CD singles.
With the Beogram CD 5500 there was no infra-red sensor option, and the front panel controls were even more basic, so at very least a Beomaster 5500 and Beolink 1000 terminal were needed to use it properly. On the back panel, there was a 7-pin Datalink socket for Beomaster 5500, and a single phono digital output connection, for which there was never a use within the B&O range.
The performance of this outstanding machine was never bettered, and with the exception of minor styling and software revisions, it remained virtually unchanged until the end of the separates system range with the Beogram CD 7000.
Beogram CD 5500 could be controlled via the two-way Master Control Panel MCP 5500 as part of Beosystem 5500.
In 1972 and with Beogram 4000, Bang & Olufsen developed the world’s first electronically controlled tangential gramophone. The innovative and extremely stylish record deck was designed with usual flair by Jacob Jensen.
In this pioneering concept, the pick-up moved in a straight line towards the centre of the record parallel with – or tangentially in relation to – the groove. By doing so, the small angular error which would otherwise occur when the pick-up arm moved in an arch on a conventional gramophone was removed. This was possible because the pick-up arm was electronically controlled by a light spot reflected off the record.
This method also ensured that the gramophone started automatically, selected the desired speed – and that the pick-up actually touched the grooves of the record. The combined cartridge/stylus used on Beogram 4000 was the ultra-lightweight SP15 which was engineered by Subir Pramanik especially for this deck.
Yet another sophisticated mechanical design, the double tone arm, demonstrated the break with the past. By using two arms, it was immediately clear that this was a gramophone which worked in a new and different way.
Beogram 4000 was the first of the many tangentially-tracking record players that followed, finished in wood veneer, aluminium and plastic. Designed by Jacob Jensen, Beogram 4000 and seven other B&O products were selected by the Museum of Modern Art in 1972 for its permanent collection of modern design. Jensen aimed at creating a record player which in its simplicity and panache was both timeless and up-to-date in its technical construction. The record player made use of the most advanced techniques; for instance, the electronic tangential pick-up arm, which by moving in a straight angle from the end of the record player always played the record at the correct angle – that which it was created with in the factory. The delicateness of the pick-up arm was also a part of making the design simple and attractive to look at. The same year, Beogram 4000 won the ID Award.
The design and development process of the Bang & Olufsen Beogram 4000 turntable was carried out somewhat different to the normal procedure. Jacob and K G Zeuthen, a civil engineer – who had been one of Denmark’s pioneers in aviation design – developed and constructed a full size working model ready for presentation to B&O. The design incorporated a parallel twin-armed pick-up, one arm for the pick-up and the other arm with an optical device which read the size of the record. Beogram 4000 was put into production without alteration and became a tremendous success. It gained many international design awards and contributed in maintaining B&O’s sharp design profile. In 1972 Beogram 4000 won the iF Design Award and in 1973 it received the Danish ID Award; that same year it was included in the New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Design collection. It also received the English Blue Ribbon award that year for outstanding design who labelled the deck as “the most awarded product within the Radio trade”
With his design work, Jacob Jensen helped shape Bang & Olufsen’s product design with its characteristic use of discrete, clear lines and high functionality. It is a design which has helped manifest B&O’s easily-recognisable product identity. Through the assistance of Jacob Jensen, B&O was awarded the Danish Design Centre’s ID Classic Prize in 1990 for its product design through 25 years.
While the CD player has now replaced the gramophone, Beogram 4000 was regularly updated for many years, bearing different names and Type numbers – for the continued pleasure of music lovers who refused to give up their beloved LP collection.
