When you used metal tape cassettes in the Beocord 8000 you obtained the same high quality sound you were used to from a good gramophone record. Careful choice of components and materials, creative engineering and technical excellence all made this possible.

But superb sound reproduction was only one of the benefits you got from this advanced cassette deck, which replaced Beocord 5000. Of equal importance was the fact that time, through Beocord 8000, came to the cassette deck. Bang & Olufsen used it to measure tape consumption. Quite simply, instead of using meaningless digits, minutes and seconds were used instead. This allowed you to locate specific tracks of music easily and accurately for immediate replay. Just tell the Beocord 8000 where to start, in minutes and seconds and let the set’s microcomputer do the rest.

This feature also helped you plan recordings and thereby ensure maximum use of your tapes. During play, Beocord 8000 measured and displayed the exact amount of tape consumed so that you always knew how much playing time was left on the cassette. And the Beocord wouldn’t let you make mistakes: if you gave incorrect instructions, reject signals flashed on the set’s display panel. The microprocessor which made the real time counter possible was also used to provide a digital clock for timer recording. In normal use the clock did not show on the display, but it could be programmed to start the tape either playing back or recording any time within 24 hours.

The button marked ‘RETURN’ afforded great convenience during recording. Together with the automatic tape position indicator, it enabled you to edit your tapes electronically. The split-channel Peak Programme Meter eased the setting of recording levels and was extremely accurate. It indicated the actual signal that was being fed to the tape, for each channel, rather than that which was being received at input.

Underneath the brushed aluminium panel was the cassette compartment, sliders for setting recording level, an independent slider for adjusting volume level on headphones, facilities for timer programming and adjustments for secondary functions.

For example, you could instruct Beocord 8000 to make recordings of radio programmes while you are out. In short, everything was done to ensure total listening pleasure in terms of sound reproduction and convenience.

Beocord 8000 could be used as a stand-alone tape cassette recorder or as part of hi-fi systems such as Beosystem 6000 or Beosystem 8000.

Beocord 8002 was one of Europe’s most advanced cassette recorders, yet electronic automation made it by far the easiest to use. Microcomputer control meant operational errors were impossible.

A new development – the Dolby HX Professional recording system or ‘HX-Pro’ automatically optimised bias levels relative signal content, thus ensuring professional standard recordings every time, no matter whether you used, ferric, chrome or metal tapes. In addition Beocord 8002 had the ability to indicate recorded and playback time in minutes and seconds so you could plan your recordings economically.

Finding the start of a particular track was automatic: you just had to key in the required ‘address’: computer logic then found it for you. You could also program the deck to make unattended recordings at any given time within a 24-hour period.

When coupled to Beomaster 8000 all recording and playback functions could be operated by remote control using the BeoLab terminal. Beocord 8002 could be used as a stand-alone tape cassette recorder or as part of hi-fi systems such as Beosystem 6000 or Beosystem 8000.

Beocord 5000 was a superior cassette deck with a Sendust tape head, dual capstans and a special servo drive system which secured low wow and flutter-data. Electronic recording level indicators (Peak Programme Meters) and the Fade in/Fade out functions facilitated exceptional recordings of the most demanding types of music. An automatic demagnetizing device helped ensure optimum signal/noise ratio at all times.

A Hall generator secured the most reliable automatic stop at the end of play. Because it worked electronically it was superior to mechanical systems which are always subject to wear and tear, stress and strain. Naturally Beocord 5000 incorporated Dolby B Noise Reduction circuits. You could also switch from fast forward to fast rewind, or normal play, without endangering your tapes or damaging the drive mechanism.

Despite these technological refinements Bang & Olufsen still didn’t forget the greatest advantage of the compact cassette – that of convenience. That’s why Beocord 5000 was so easy to use. The logically-arranged easy-touch buttons were clearly marked to aid simple, problem-free operation. An illuminated read-out panel told you the operational status of the deck at all times. The display could be read through the black Perspex cover which protected the cassette housing against dust. The unit had two peak programme meters which reacted faster than conventional VU meters in registering recording level and thus ensuring optimum recording quality.

There were two main design models in the Beocord 5000 range:the three head type 4705 was replaced in 1977 with the twin head 4715/4716 models.

What you need to know is that these were the only cassette deck with a B&O designed mechanism. It was designed to be to cassette decks what the Beogram 4000 was to record players. From a technical point of view, it was way ahead of its time.

However it was stupendously complicated and this hit reliability hard. The three head version hardly ever worked fully and the later two head was only a little better. Gorgeous to look at and packed with features, it will break your heart! B&O replaced this with the Beocord 8000, which had a bought in tape transport….

Beocord 1500 matched several Beomaster receivers in design, concept and performance level. It was also technically compatible with non-Bang & Olufsen products. If you simply wanted to record and play back cassettes without any extra refinements or facilities, this deck was for you.

The slanted control panel was logically planned and really simple to use. The VU meters and sliding input control made the setting of correct recording levels easy and accurate. The 3-digit tape counter had a memory function that helped you locate the start of a particular passage of music.

Quality recording and playback was further ensured by the super Permalloy tape head, highly stable motor/drive system and Dolby B Noise Reduction circuit.