The Beo5 is expected to become an important part of the new B&O range. It is designed to work with all of the range but is particularly suited to use with the TV range when partnered with the BeoMedia devices.
A backlit screen, which is able to be configured via a USB connection on the docking/charging station, sits on top of a very tactile metal control sphere. The interface is a modification of the well known Beo4 layout but with the addition of a click wheel and ring of control buttons. A numeric keyboard can be activated on the touch sensitive screen by pressing TEXT. Different set ups of screen can be customised by the user though this has to be set up by the dealer. Configuration is a dealer task.
One Way Traffic
The remote is not the hoped for return to two way remote control but does allow the screen to be customised to suit a user’s system. In particular it is thought that program logos could be able to be imported onto the screen. It would appear that these are B&O defined so may be somewhat limited.
Fully Compatible
As the Beo5 uses a derivative of the original Beolink 1000 codes, it is able to be used with many products dating right back to the eighties. It will replace the Beo4 in time and will be supplemented by a basic control for sets such as the Beovision 8.
The Beo6 replaces the Beo5 and adds a wide screen which is touch sensitive rather than the pressure sensitive screen of the Beo5. Initially, little will seem different but once the BeoSound 5 Encore is released and the BeoSound 5 is updated, two way control including tag information and cover art will be enabled.
The communication is wireless via the router the BS5 Encore is connected to.
Three variations on a theme… Beo4 over the years. From the Mark I version introduced in 1994 with its central ‘AV’ button, the Mark II version introduced in 1999 to accommodate the then recently introduced DVD format, and the November 2004 Mark III inception with its noticeable DTV, VMEM and AMEM buttons.
Beo4 is the key to all current Bang & Olufsen television and music systems. A remote control must be able to be operated in the dark, without glasses and without moving your eyes from the screen. That’s why the most often-used controls on the Beo4 are gathered together on one multi-functional button which you can control with just your thumb: programme shift, video play and wind. Choose a function and your command is registered on the Beo4’s LCD display. Simple and logical, so the manual can be put away after a few days. The design is ergonomical and so tough that Beo4 can be left in the hands of the youngest user.
Beo4 Mark III Update – November 2004
Released in order to ensure that the remote control keeps up to date with products currently sold, as well as new products on the horizon, Beo4 Mark III was produced for sale at the end of 2004.
Visual changes were made to the V.TAPE, A.TAPE and SAT buttons and are now renamed V.MEM, A.MEM and DTV. A number of changes have also been made to the ‘LIST’ functions. The part number of the new remote is: 1162700
Beo4 remote control is provided with all new Bang & Olufsen TV receivers. It may be purchased as a separate accessory (around £155 – 2004 prices) to control audio equipment and lights. It works with all recent (post-1994) Bang & Olufsen products and also Beolink® around-the-house systems. It is one of the most powerful remote controls on the market; so much so, that the user needs not point it directly at the appliance being controlled.
The star-shaped control can be operated by your thumb alone – you don’t need to move your eyes to look to see what you’re doing. Extra ‘buttons’ can be programmed into the unit to control other not so much needed functions of Bang & Olufsen products.
Plastic-free surface on remote control units
“Surface treatment is very important to Bang & Olufsen. It affects not only the appearance but also the feel of a piece of equipment” states Technology Director Peter Petersen. “A product is created to be used, and you can’t do that without touching it.”
“A Bang & Olufsen terminal – or remote control – must sit nicely and comfortably in the hand. So we don’t coat it with plastic. A plastic terminal somehow doesn’t feel as genuine as ours. And gets hot and sweaty, too. After a great deal of work on the choice of materials we have selected zinc for all our terminals. It sits well in the hand and is pleasant to touch. The heat from the hand is conducted away, so the terminal never feels clammy. In design terms, this choice represents an extra form of quality.”
Bang & Olufsen terminals, of course, are not just attractive to the eye and pleasing to the hand. User interface is in fact one of Bang & Olufsen’s main concerns, where technology is really put in the service of humankind. Through logic operations, in fact, B&O’s remote control units make life with the product a pleasant experience.
Handing it intuitively to Bang & Olufsen: a history of remote controls
Bang & Olufsen’s first remote control came on the market in 1974. That year, Bang & Olufsen launched two products, each with a remote control of the same design. It was the size of a small cigar case and had a steel top plate. These two remote controls, which were not integrated, were the Beovision 6000 Commander and the Beomaster 6000 Commander. The TV remote control allowed the user to select programmes and picture quality from the comfort of an armchair. The remote control for the stereo enabled the user to control a four-channel sound system.
Before too long remote controls became smaller, in the form of Beovision 6002’s Beovision Control Module. The buttons on its surface were designed so that you could use the remote control without looking at it. Those for turning down a setting were shaped to curve downwards, while the buttons for turning up a setting curved upwards.
The following Video Terminal was cast in zinc so that heat was conducted away from the palm of the hand. This remote control, which used an infrared beam, was launched in 1980. It was quite narrow, with a keypad that both resembled and functioned the same way as the buttons on a telephone. This was another way of helping the user to operate the remote control without looking at it. This version introduced additional buttons for operating Teletext TV.
The following year, Bang & Olufsen added functions for operating video recorders and a new version of the Beovision Control Module. System integration had advanced to the point of sharing a remote control between the Beovision 8800 and Beocord 8800 Video.
The next generation of remote controls arrived when it became necessary to transfer more operating information that, for purely technical reasons, could not be incorporated into a single remote control. Now sound could be transferred between the television and the stereo system. This became possible with the combination of a video terminal and an audio terminal into an AV Terminal – the forerunner of Beolink 1000 – in 1985.
In 1987, all audio, video and audio/video remote controls were integrated into one unit with the Beolink 1000. Since then, Bang & Olufsen has pursued a strategy of only having one remote control for all products – most recently with Beo4, which is capable of operating all products. Beo1 is a minor exception to the strategy. It only operated Beocenter 1 and Beovision 1 and was intended for a new customer segment, which it did not completely succeed in capturing. For this reason, it was replaced by the Beo4 from autumn 2002.
Beo4 Specifications
In general, Bang & Olufsen’s development of remote controls can be summed up in a simple concept: Intuitive use. It is important to be able to adjust sound and picture from wherever you may be in the home. Accordingly, Bang & Olufsen has chosen simple functions – and that, of course, also has implications for the design of the remote control. It’s easy enough to pack a lot of buttons and functions into a remote control, but Bang & Olufsen has chosen a simple operational philosophy for the customer.
Beo4 has relatively few buttons, but it can retrieve a lot of information if required. That is what you call quality. Since the development of the first remote control cast in zinc, the company’s remote controls have had a certain intrinsic weight. This helps to give a sense of quality. Last but not least, the remote control is renowned for having a long range. You don’t have to get into a special position to communicate with the system. Once you have the remote control in your hand, you are ‘in total command’.
As the boundaries between life and work blur, the computer is becoming more than just an information tool – it’s also a growing source of entertainment.
While others focus on bits, bytes and software updates B&O concentrates on possibilities. For Bang & Olufsen the challenge is about creating a link between the real and virtual world to give you options you never until now thought possible. Digital music stored on the computer can now be accessed throughout the home via Bang & Olufsen’s Beolink® system.
Combining Bang & Olufsen’s logical principles of operation and the successful BeoPlayer concept – Bang & Olufsen’s free MP3 player – Beolink® PC2 allows customers to extend the potential of their PC and receive additional enjoyment out of their Beolink® system. Twenty years of experience within distribution of sound and picture makes this integration between these two worlds possible.
It works like this: BeoPlayer has organised all your music on the PC in different categories such as artist, genre, album, etc. This means that you can access your entire collection of music just press N.MUSIC on the Beo4 remote control and the music starts playing through the loudspeakers in the room where you are placed.
You are able to record all you CD’s to your PC also with the Beolink® PC2, which means that you can have your entire music library stored the same place, but be able to access it from anywhere around the house.
If you want to improve the sound performance of your Internet music in the room where your computer is placed, a pair of BeoLab 4000 active speakers combined with Beolink® PC2 will turn your computer into an excellent music system. Furthermore, if you want to be able to remote control your Internet music, just add a Bang & Olufsen Beo4 remote control and an IR-receiver to your setup.
Whereas the music found on the computer may be distributed throughout the home, all other sources in your Beolink® system (Radio, TV, Satellite, DVD, VHS, etc.) can be accessed and operated via the on-screen Beolink® PC 2 control bar in the home office.*)
Tuner cards
To show video sources on your PC, you must have a Beolink compatible tuner card in your PC. For the moment, the following cards are compatible (Please check back on this site for latest updates on compatible tuner/graphic cards):
Beolink PC2 (From software version 3.10)
ATI All In Wonder 9000 and 8500, USA
ATI ALL-IN-WONDER 9600 PRO 128MB DDR
Hercules or Sapphire All In Wonder 9000 and 8500, EU
Hauppauge WinTV PCI-FM Model 747 (Pal B/G/I)
Hauppauge WinTV PCI-FM Model 628 (SECAM)
Hauppauge WinTV PCI-FM Model 401 (NTSC)
Hauppauge WinTV PCI-FM Model 647 (Pal I) UK
ATI ALL-IN-WONDER® RADEON Type: AGP Memory: 32MB DDR RAM
ATI ALL-IN-WONDER® RADEON Type: PCI Memory: 32MB DDR RAM
ATI ALL-IN-WONDER® 128 PRO Type: AGP Memory: 32MB RAM
BeoLink PC2 was renamed BeoPort from November 2005.
BeoSound 4 is a new audio product offering a complete audio experience. It has a CD player, FM / DAB radio and built-in SD memory card reader / writer. The DAB module will be included as standard for the UK and Irish markets is actually a factory-fitted option for any other markets. The unit is a full Audio Master (N.Music and N.Radio compatible) and can therefore be used to distribute sound through users’ BeoLink systems.
The new feature introduced on BeoSound 4 is the SD memory card reader / writer. This function replaces that traditionally provided by the audio cassette tape. The user can copy music from a CD or the Radio directly onto the memory card which will be compressed at 128kbps. The card can then be used in other compatible products such as BeoSound 2 and BeoSound 3. As it is possible to copy music onto a memory card using only BeoSound 4, this now offers access to digital music to a much wider audience – even those who do not own a computer. However, music can also be copied from a computer directly onto the memory card, be removed and then played back on BeoSound 4.
Placement
BeoSound 4 can be placed on a table or shelf as it is a free-standing product. Alternatively it is possible to mount it on a Floor Stand or on a Wall Bracket.
Mounting Options
From launch, BeoSound 4 could be wall mounted or positioned on a floor stand. The floor stand featured a turned stainless steel column which could not hide the connection cables. This solution was not a popular choice.
BeoSound 4 – the new compact audio system, with a touch of magic
Bang & Olufsen continues to surprise and delight music lovers with the new BeoSound 4, a compact audio system that exploits digital music storage and portability while offering the quality performance and usability expected from a traditional Bang & Olufsen audio system. BeoSound 4 will be available from November/December 2005.
BeoSound 4 is an audio system with built-in CD player, FM radio, and SD (Secure Digital) card slot. DAB radio is also available as an option, factory fitted. It is possible to record from the radio or CD to the SD card and play back the recording on BeoSound 4, or on another portable or stationary system.
Use and place anywhere at home
Bang & Olufsen’s well-known BeoLink system ensures the total integration of all entertainment at home, and BeoSound 4 offers the additional advantage of being able to send music played back from the SD card to loudspeakers throughout the house. The SD card increases flexibility in other ways as well, allowing the user to listen to recorded music in the garden with the new BeoSound 3 portable audio system or away from home on the BeoSound 2 digital music player.
“BeoSound 4 represents a new way of living with recorded digital audio entertainment, and yet the simplicity of the system and ease of use will have that reassuring feel of familiarity for the user,” says Michael Jensen, Product Manager, Bang & Olufsen. “BeoSound 4 has that touch of magic that shows its pedigree, and at the same time offers the integration with digital music formats that is increasingly important for how we listen to music.”
BeoSound 4 can be placed almost anywhere on its floor, table or wall stand. Angled for convenient operation, the glass door half-opens at the wave of a hand, and the operation panel with SD card slot is presented to the user. Press ‘Load’, and the glass cover rises further for the CD loader. Connect BeoSound 4 to any BeoLab loudspeakers, and in particular with the new and equally compact and refined BeoLab 4 loudspeakers.
Big impact expected
With a price that lies under what is usually expected of a Bang & Olufsen product, Bang & Olufsen expects that BeoSound 4 will capture a lot of interest from first-time buyers in the market. The digital portability offered by the SD card built into BeoSound 4 is consistent with Bang & Olufsen’s strategy to ensure that wherever the company’s customers may be, they can have their entertainment choices with them.
“With BeoSound 4, we have succeeded in building an audio system that lives up to the very high standards expected from Bang & Olufsen, from the idea behind the concept and design to the choice of materials and craftsmanship – and not least the ease of use and performance,” concludes Michael Jensen, Product Manager, Bang & Olufsen.
” BeoSound 3 is a new compact music system comprising FM radio and SD card player for e.g.. music recorded on BeoSound 4. The products represents a genuine portable solution with integrated, rechargeable battery, soft-touch operation, clock-radio function, and a high quality loudspeaker. BeoSound 3 is scheduled for the second quarter of the financial year ” – taken from Bang & Olufsen’s Financial Report, August 2005
Although conceptually based on the classical transistor radio concept, BeoSound 3 is a product with modern functionality. The unit features built-in FM radio with the ability to store up to 99 pre-set frequencies. When the radio is switched on the antenna rises automatically and elegantly, similar to BeoSound 1.
With the memory card functionality the user may listen to favourite digitally-stored music on the BeoSound 3. Whereas BeoSound 2 is for the individual, BeoSound 3 can be for the whole family to enjoy. Bang & Olufsen can now offer the user a complete solution for digital music entertainment. Recorded from BeoSound 4 or transferred directly from the computer to the memory card, users can choose to take the music with them – either on BeoSound 2 or on BeoSound 3.
With the built-in wake-up timer functionality, BeoSound 3 may be used as a clock radio to wake up to in the morning.
Flexibility in placement
BeoSound 3 can be placed upright or hung on a dedicated wall bracket supplied with the unit.
Rechargeable battery
As it is supplied with a rechargeable battery, the unit is entirely free of power cables and can easily be moved from one place to another without having to plug and unplug. BeoSound 3 is a truly portable “place-and-play” product.
BeoSound 3 delivers portable and personal sound with style
In appearance, the new BeoSound 3 portable audio system from Bang & Olufsen echoes past traditions, while on the inside the technology looks to the future. BeoSound 3 is available from November/December 2005.
BeoSound 3 has an FM radio, SD (Secure Digital) card reader and clock-timer elegantly packaged together with a rechargeable battery in the robust, anodised aluminium cabinet. The full-range mono loudspeaker’s performance belies the small size of BeoSound 3, and provides clear rendition of music and vocal broadcasts.
Truly ‘place and play’
The distinctive appearance makes BeoSound 3 stand out from the conventional or ‘retro’ portable music systems available on the market today. “BeoSound 3 is truly a portable concept, built for robustness and with an acoustic design that facilitates sound clarity,” says Brian Stilling Laursen, Product Manager, Bang & Olufsen. “The form appears quite extraordinary at first, and yet in use BeoSound 3 proves remarkably effective with what we call ‘classic transistor radio’ use.”
In addition to the FM radio, the ability to play music and radio recorded on the new BeoSound 4 audio system offers the ease of listening to, for example, CD quality music away from home played on the very robust flash memory SD card. The SD card can also be used when on the move with the BeoSound 2 digital music player.
The large, black handle is immediately apparent to the user. The handle clicks into one of five positions at rest, ensuring no ‘clatter’ against the aluminium cabinet. In addition to the obvious placement standing on its base pretty much anywhere, BeoSound 3 is supplied with a wall bracket that fits tightly around the handle. This enables fixed placement beside the bed, for example, if the user wishes to use the clock, wake-up timer, and stop-timer functionality built in to BeoSound 3.
An experience for now – and the future
All operation of the BeoSound 3 happens on the soft-touch top panel. Soft-touch operation on aluminium was pioneered by Bang & Olufsen on the BeoCenter 2 audio and DVD system, and the absence of protruding buttons and knobs only increases the ease and convenience of carrying and placing BeoSound 3. The motorised antenna rises automatically when the radio is switched on.
Bang & Olufsen aims to be wherever the company’s customers are, with entertainment solutions that do not compromise the quality of the listening experience. “Considering the appeal of the ‘traditional’ transistor radio concept and the addition of the future-secure SD card functionality, we fully expect BeoSound 3 to be a huge hit among both existing and new Bang & Olufsen customers,” concludes Brian Stilling Laursen, Product Manager, Bang & Olufsen.
BeoVision Avant is a celebration of movement, designed to provide exceptional viewing and placement flexibility. It unfolds the experience and turns gracefully to your favourite viewing position. BeoVision Avant is a fusion of Ultra High-Definition (4K) picture and iconic Bang & Olufsen sound, redefining the audio impact a TV can deliver through a 3-channel speaker system with great speech intelligibility and power. BeoVision Avant takes control of any connected device from the BeoRemote One and provides one-touch access to the Bang & Olufsen experience.
BeoVision Avant – Turning to you
Unfolding sound
BeoVison Avant is a celebration of movement.
An unforgettable fusion of Ultra High-Definition (4K) picture and iconic Bang & Olufsen sound, that unfolds before your very eyes.
Redefining TV sound
Precision tuned to Bang & Olufsen’s most exacting standard, BeoVision Avant redefines the audio impact a TV can deliver. The 3-channel speaker system harnesses three dedicated tweeters, three midrange units and
two powerful bass drivers. The result is a fusion of clarity and power that truly embodies Bang & Olufsen’s commitment to ultimate sound.
Contrasted imagery
BeoVision Avant combines local dimming across more than 8 million pixels, bringing out the tiniest details in the action. Experience the most extreme sports or action footage with crystal sharp, dynamic precision.
An unforgettable fusion of Ultra High-Definition (4K) picture and iconic Bang & Olufsen sound, that unfolds before your very eyes.
Redefining TV sound
Precision tuned to Bang & Olufsen’s most exacting standard, BeoVision Avant redefines the audio impact a TV can deliver. The 3-channel speaker system harnesses three dedicated tweeters, three midrange units and
two powerful bass drivers. The result is a fusion of clarity and power that truly embodies Bang & Olufsen’s commitment to ultimate sound.
Contrasted imagery
BeoVision Avant combines local dimming across more than 8 million pixels, bringing out the tiniest details in the action. Experience the most extreme sports or action footage with crystal sharp, dynamic precision.
Packed with advanced technology, BeoLab 7 is, quite simply, the most powerful stereo speaker ever developed for TV. With six individual driver units, all powered by their own digital ICEpower amplifier, BeoLab 7 delivers an unequalled sound performance for your TV viewing. The beam-shaped loudspeaker below the screen provides superb acoustic performance and signifies the presence of sound as an integral part of your viewing experience. Musically, the speaker rivals many hi-fi systems, and is quite capable of being used as a BeoLink speaker.
The natural fit
BeoLab 7 is specially developed for BeoVision 7 to contribute the ultimate stereo sound performance to the viewing experience. BeoLab 7-1 is the natural accompaniment for the BeoVision 7-32 LCD television, while the broader beam of BeoLab 7-2 is designed for BeoVision 7-40. In addition, BeoLab 7 stereo loudspeakers fit naturally under the BeoVision 4 plasma screen, or under a projection screen. In this application, the speaker can be either wall-mounted or placed on a special tabletop stand.
Colours to match
Long and lean, BeoLab 7-1 and BeoLab 7-2 look at home under a BeoVision 7 or BeoVision 4, or as part of a projection screen setup. The shorter BeoLab 7-1 is best suited for the BeoVision 7-32” screen. The loudspeaker cabinet is made from a single piece of aluminium and coated in a resilient black soft-touch lacquer. The perforated aluminium front grill now comes anodised in five different colours: Light and dark grey, blue, red and black.
A firm grip on powerful sound
A special three-way bass reflex construction incorporates six individual units – two each for treble, mid-range and bass. Each driver is powered by a unique built-in ICEpower amplifier, delivering a combined effect of 750 watt. In addition, BeoLab 7-1 and 7-2 are equipped with thermal protection circuits and Adaptive Bass Linearisation (ABL), which ensures maximum performance without distortion, even at very high volume. Bang & Olufsen has a quarter of a century of experience making loudspeaker cabinets from extruded aluminium. This technique allows for very rigid and compact enclosures with powerful sound performance.
Note that BeoLab 7-1 was designed to be used with the BV4-37 and BV4-42. The wider BeoLab 7-2 may be used with the larger-version BeoVision 4: BV4-50 and BV4-65.
Mounting Options
All four versions of BeoLab 7 were designed for incorporation with Bang & Olufsen’s motor stand options.
BeoLab 7-4 brings extra authenticity to any film or TV experience. Using the same acoustic lens technology found in BeoLab 5, this compact but powerful speaker is optimised specifically to reproduce the sound of voices. This is essential in a surround sound set-up, as eighty per cent of the voice information goes through the centre channel. Next time you watch a movie, you won’t miss a whisper.
Surround sound centrepiece
In a surround sound setup, BeoLab 7-4 is designed to give a powerful performance in the important centre channel. It can be used with all BeoLab loudspeakers and the BeoLab 2 subwoofer for the ultimate surround sound experience with the BeoVision 7-40 LCD or BeoVision 4 plasma televisions, or a projection screen. Moving with the motorised floor stand of your BeoVision 7, BeoLab 7-4 adds an extra dimension of sound to whatever you are watching on TV.
BeoLab 7-4 has a vertical construction that provides the best possible tonal balance found in speech. The deepest bass sounds are filtered out, ensuring greater power output and enabling BeoLab 7-4 to play up to the extreme capabilities of the BeoLab 5 loudspeaker. The acoustic lens, centred just beneath the screen as a visual emphasis of refinement, ensures an experience of tonal clarity in the horizontal plane. The sound of voices becomes extremely authentic, regardless of where you are seated.
Consistent lines and harmonious colours
The cabinet is coated in a durable yet silky black lacquer surface. Facing you is a front grill made out of anodised aluminium with a perforated pattern available in five different colours, giving a graphic touch to the overall look. As with all Bang & Olufsen products, there is always a consistency in the design lines, so you will quickly see a coherence between the curved DVD loader on BeoVision 7 and the curved front of BeoLab 7-4.
Mounting Options
All four versions of BeoLab 7 were designed for incorporation with Bang & Olufsen’s motor stand options.
