Beovision LX was the result of several generations of development. Superb technology offering a wealth of functions. And the elegant design was sheer pleasure to look at. Without doubt, Beovision LX was a thoroughbred, according to Bang & Olufsen’s 1990 catalogue. And the Beocord VX5000 video cassette recorder a worthy stable mate.
Bang & Olufsen continually seeks new ways not only to streamline operation and function but to simplify exteriors. The powerful speakers of Beovision LX had a totally smooth facade when they were originally introduced in 1990. The contrast screen in front of the picture tube stretches from the very top to the very bottom of the cabinet. And the lacquer was as polished as a grand piano’s.
The result was unity; no knobs or displays interrupted the flow.
You could keep an eye on more than one programme at a time by letting a miniature picture run in one corner of the screen. Or you could show 4, 9 or 16 ‘clips’ from programmes on air at that very moment. Beovision LX 5500 also gave fast, direct access to to four Teletext pages you used the most. And there was room for a satellite receiver to be installed as well as using the TV set for the connection of extra speakers, loop amplifier for the hard of hearing and TV game consoles.
By mounting the whole TV set on a motorised base, you could sit in your armchair and turn the TV up to 35 degrees to each side with just one press of your Beolink 1000 remote control terminal.
By programming it into the set, the TV then turned automatically towards your favourite viewing position every time the set switches on. And, naturally, the TV returned to centre stage each time you switched it off.
Colours: Beovision LX 5500 / 4500 – high-gloss black, white or grey or rosewood.
A stage designer can creative positive associations of purity by using predominantly white or light grey in stage sets and costumes. White and grey symbolize a simple style of living and, as the audience, we associate this virtue in our mind’s eye with the person who decorates with, or dresses in, these light colours. In interior design white and grey give a modern impression with everything blending together, perfectly executed down to the tiniest detail. For those who prefer an all-white look,. Bang & Olufsen in 1990 dressed its Beovision LX range completely in white; even the back.
You could put Beovision LX White Line in the middle of a large room if you so desired. It looked discreet and elegant and spoke its own, well-modulated design language. If a pleasant light grey was more to your taste, the Beovision LX range was available in a light grey finish too. All the other technicalities internally were identical to the other LX family members.
Beovision LX 5000 and LX6000 were the classic Bang & Olufsen televisions, with the loudspeakers on either side of the screen. They were equipped with 66cm and 63cm Black Line picture tubes and VisionClear which makes the picture sharper and the colours clearer. Automatic adjustment of the contrast and light strength continuously kept the picture optimal under different light conditions in the room.
The powerful loudspeakers were based on a two-way bass reflex loudspeaker system that delivered the high sound quality of more and more TV programmes and video tapes. Both TVs were equipped with A2 and NICAM stereo systems.
A BeoSat LM satellite receiver could be built in, allowing access to 99 TV or radio programmes via a parabolic aerial. A D2MAC decoder could also be built in. Bang & Olufsen made it possible for you to pre-program the recording of video programmes from the satellite. The satellite receiver and video recorder were operated by the same Beolink® remote control that operated the TV.
The same remote control also did the work if the Beovision LX6000 and LX5000 were coupled to a Bang & Olufsen music system. Other connection options were headphones, decoders, TV games and camcorder.
Beovision LX6000 could be combined with Beocord VX7000 hi-fi video recorder. It could also be combined with a Bang & Olufsen music system or with separate loudspeakers such as BeoLab 6000 or 8000. All operations were controlled via a Beolink 1000
A new form of functional flexibility that entertains you when and where it suits you. Stellar sound and images in a flexible design.
DESIGN
A modern TV for flexible living
Beovision Horizon is designed for the many different ways you enjoy TV, music, movies or games in your everyday life. The result is an ultra-flexible solution fits right in, no matter where you place it or move it to. Unadorned yet extremely elegant in its appearance.
PICTURE
Looking sharp in everyday situations
Much like the human eye, Automatic Picture Control uses a small sensor to measure the light conditions in the room and optimise the brightness of the 4K UHD screen. The result is a clear and natural viewing experience that is always easy on your eyes.
SOUND
Bang & Olufsen Signature Sound
Beovision Horizon pairs its crystal-clear imagery with crisp and powerful audio that doesn’t require backup from external speakers to deliver great-sounding viewing experiences day after day. It’s the perfect all-in-one package for flexible living.
SMART FEATURES
The ever-evolving TV experience
Beovision Horizon is powered by the Android TV™ platform providing fast and easy access to an endless amount of entertainment. The integrated Google Cast technology lets you share movies, photos and music straight from your phone or tablet.
PLACEMENTS
Your home your choice
There’s no right or wrong way to live with Beovision Horizon. Hang it elegantly on display or place it casually on the floor. Or enjoy the freedom of mobility with the wheel stand. It’s all up to you.
A new form of functional flexibility that entertains you when and where it suits you. Stellar sound and images in a flexible design.
DESIGN
A modern TV for flexible living
Beovision Horizon is designed for the many different ways you enjoy TV, music, movies or games in your everyday life. The result is an ultra-flexible solution fits right in, no matter where you place it or move it to. Unadorned yet extremely elegant in its appearance.
PICTURE
Looking sharp in everyday situations
Much like the human eye, Automatic Picture Control uses a small sensor to measure the light conditions in the room and optimise the brightness of the 4K UHD screen. The result is a clear and natural viewing experience that is always easy on your eyes.
SOUND
Bang & Olufsen Signature Sound
Beovision Horizon pairs its crystal-clear imagery with crisp and powerful audio that doesn’t require backup from external speakers to deliver great-sounding viewing experiences day after day. It’s the perfect all-in-one package for flexible living.
SMART FEATURES
The ever-evolving TV experience
Beovision Horizon is powered by the Android TV™ platform providing fast and easy access to an endless amount of entertainment. The integrated Google Cast technology lets you share movies, photos and music straight from your phone or tablet.
PLACEMENTS
Your home your choice
There’s no right or wrong way to live with Beovision Horizon. Hang it elegantly on display or place it casually on the floor. Or enjoy the freedom of mobility with the wheel stand. It’s all up to you.
BeoLab 3500 was the first-ever dedicated Beolink® speaker ever released from Bang & Olufsen.
At first it was designated LCS 9000 (Local Control System 9000 from 1992 to 1993) and was manufactured for the old Beolink® system, Master Control Link. But since one of Bang & Olufsen’s great advantages is compatibility it was of course already prepared for the new Master Link system.
Being a Beolink® speaker it houses all the electronics within it required to work as a part in a Beolink® system. No additional boxes are needed – only a cable between the hi-fi and the speaker. Even an infra-red transceiver is built in. BeoLab 3500 also has a display and a digital clock built in.
BeoLab 3500 is an active loudspeaker with two speakers for stereo sound and an integrated Beolink® receiver-unit complements the unit. It has been specially designed for the distribution of sound to rooms in which one moves around a lot, such as the kitchen. For the bedroom, a workshop, basement or even a children’s room, a BeoLab 3500 could be the right solution with full remote control via Beo4. A dedicated Beolink® loudspeaker, it fits into its standard bracket on the wall, on top of a book case, or over the door in the dining room. Its red LED display keeps you informed about which source you are playing.
With two bass and treble loudspeakers, each with its own amplifier, the sound level can be adjusted independently of the other loudspeakers in the system. Hang BeoLab 3500 on the wall on its standard wall bracket or use the optional polished aluminium stand to display it on a shelf or table.
“When it comes to sound reproduction we believe there’s only one relevant parameter: How close can we come to the originally recorded sound. We feel an obligation not to disturb the intentions of the artist by adding unnatural elements to the acoustic image. Therefore all Bang & Olufsen loudspeakers share the same goal. They differ in size and shape and in terms of sound pressure level. But they are all developed to reproduce the natural, unaltered sound as closely as possible ” – Bang & Olufsen catalogue 2001 – 2002
BeoLab 3500 as part of a Beolink® system:
BeoLab 3500 is an integrated link-room active loudspeaker comprising a Master Link (ML) connection, an IR receiver and a digital display. BeoLab 3500 also has Master Control Link (MCL) connection and a built-in clock.
BeoLab 3500 is supplied with a mains lead, a Master Link cable and a bracket for wall mounting is available as an optional accessory.
Application
BeoLab 3500 is used in link rooms where you wish to have an integrated active speaker. From the BeoLab 3500 it is possible to listen to both audio and video sources from the main room. There is built-in sound control, which means that tone, volume, balance and loudness controls can be adjusted independently of the main room.
B&O’s long awaited answer to replacing the long running Beovision MX range of stand alone televisions which dated back to 1985, the Beovision 8 was released first as a 26″ model and was followed by the 32″ model later in the same year.
Sharply styled
The set was a marked change in direction in styling with the trademark contrast screen no longer fitted. Instead a radical new look with a prominent speaker box was seen and the same Sharp LCD screen as seen in the Beocenter 6 26″ was fitted. Resolution was set at 768p – completely acceptable for a screen of this size. Particular care had been taken with the speaker which had been optimised for speech reproduction. It utilised three drive units – a 50mm treble/midrange unit mounted at the two opposite ends and a central 100mm woofer. This was separately enclosed and unlike the midrange/tweeter was in a bass reflex box to enhance the output. In some ways this set up resembled that of the Beosound 1 thought that unit had separate midrange and tweeters rather than relying on a full range unit.
Connected to the future
Unlike the other LCD sets in the B&O range, an HDMI socket was fitted which allowed the connection of a digital source. The set also came as standard with two SCART sockets though one extra cost option was the so called System Module which provided a Masterlink socket, an RF modulator and a third SCART socket.
Dark smoothie
Soft touch plastics predominated with an aluminium grille for the speaker with the brand name prominently displayed. Only black with a silver grille was available at the launch. A range of stands were provided with options for storage of other source boxes or a minimalist black metal single leg.
Digitally challenged
However what attracted a fair bit of attention was not only the daring styling but also some omissions to the specification. With some countries actually starting to turn off the analogue transmitters, the absence of a DVB-T module for the Beovision 8 was a surprise. B&O’s argument that this was a set designed for use in a kitchen or small bedroom and would be likely to be attached to the main room digital tuner was reasonable if possibly a little mean. Full STB-C connections were fitted and, to be fair, offered considerable scope for upgrading, something that would be far more expensive should an internal tuner have been fitted.
Not easily surrounded
Of rather more concern to some was the absence of a surround sound option. A single Powerlink socket was fitted to allow the use of stereo Beolab speakers with the option of Centre Balance control, a feature seen on Beovision sets in the early nineties. However there was no Dolby or DTS surround, implying that this set was not designed to be part of a main room set up.
Remotely attractive?
And there was one more surprise! In the UK the set was supplied with no remote control – although it was not able to be operated without one. The rationale behind this was two fold. Firstly, much like the Beovision 3 28″,which was another of the models it replaced, the Beovision 8 offered a very low headline price to attract customers more used to buying other brands into the showroom. And secondly, the customer was then offered the choice between the Beo4 remote and the brand new and much more expensive Beo5.
Mounting Options & Stands
This model was supplied with adjustable tilt feet designed to allow the screen angle to decline when placed on furniture. The original Bang & Olufsen Floor Stand did not allow rotation or screen adjustment and was soon replaced by a three position, open front cabinet, supplied with wheels. The wall bracket allowed limited rotation to the left or right and screen tilt adjustment.
B&O’s long awaited answer to replacing the long running Beovision MX range of stand alone televisions which dated back to 1985, the Beovision 8 was released first as a 26″ model and was followed by the 32″ model later in the same year.
Sharply styled
The set was a marked change in direction in styling with the trademark contrast screen no longer fitted. Instead a radical new look with a prominent speaker box was seen and the same Sharp LCD screen as seen in the Beocenter 6 26″ was fitted. Resolution was set at 768p – completely acceptable for a screen of this size. Particular care had been taken with the speaker which had been optimised for speech reproduction. It utilised three drive units – a 50mm treble/midrange unit mounted at the two opposite ends and a central 100mm woofer. This was separately enclosed and unlike the midrange/tweeter was in a bass reflex box to enhance the output. In some ways this set up resembled that of the Beosound 1 thought that unit had separate midrange and tweeters rather than relying on a full range unit.
Connected to the future
Unlike the other LCD sets in the B&O range, a HDMI socket was fitted which allowed the connection of a digital source. The set also came as standard with two SCART sockets though one extra cost option was the so called System Module which provided a Masterlink socket, an RF modulator and a third SCART socket.
Dark or light smoothie
Soft touch plastics predominated with an aluminium grille for the speaker with the brand name prominently displayed. Only black with a silver grille was available at the launch.
Currently, Beovision 8 is also available in white.
A range of stands were provided with options for storage of other source boxes or a minimalist black or white metal single leg.
Digitally challenged
However what attracted a fair bit of attention was not only the daring styling but also some omissions to the specification. With some countries actually starting to turn off the analogue transmitters, the absence of a DVB-T module for the Beovision 8 was a surprise. B&O’s argument that this was a set designed for use in a kitchen or small bedroom and would be likely to be attached to the main room digital tuner was reasonable if possibly a little mean. Full STB-C connections were fitted and, to be fair, offered considerable scope for upgrading, something that would be far more expensive should an internal tuner have been fitted.
Not easily surrounded
Of rather more concern to some was the absence of a surround sound option. A single Powerlink socket was fitted to allow the use of stereo Beolab speakers with the option of Centre Balance control, a feature seen on Beovision sets in the early nineties. However there was no Dolby or DTS surround, implying that this set was not designed to be part of a main room set up.
Remotely attractive?
And there was one more surprise! In the UK the set was supplied with no remote control – although it was not able to be operated without one. The rationale behind this was two fold. Firstly, much like the Beovision 3 28″, which was another of the models it replaced, the Beovision 8 offered a very low headline price to attract customers more used to buying other brands into the showroom. And secondly, the customer was then offered the choice between the Beo4 remote and the brand new and much more expensive Beo5.
Mounting Options & Stands
This model was supplied with adjustable tilt feet designed to allow the screen angle to decline when placed on furniture. The original Bang & Olufsen stand did not allow rotation or screen adjustment and was replaced by a three position, open front cabinet, supplied with wheels. The wall bracket allowed limited rotation to the left or right and screen tilt adjustment.
The newly introduced 40″ version of B&O’s entry level television. This time it features surround sound and a 40″ screen and is designed as main room set.
Mounting Options & Stands
This model was supplied with adjustable tilt feet designed to allow the screen angle to decline when placed on furniture. The original Bang & Olufsen floor stand allowed the screen to rotate.
The BeoVision 8000 was the non remote version of the Beovision 8800 but, apart from this feature, shared all the other qualities with this set.
In common with the Beovision 8800 it had a 14W amplifier with a two way speaker system – a feature that made it stand out from other sets at the time. Not a big seller as those willing to buy a 26″ set were likely to opt for the Beovision 8800 with the remote control.
BeoVision 6 – 22 is an LCD 16:9 TV set introduced on 10 November 2003. It is fitted with a 51cm (diagonal) LCD screen which is coated similar to the Avant. Active speakers are positioned at the base of the monitor, similar to the MX range of television sets. The rear of the unit is curved, similar to that of BeoSound 1.
The unit is available in one colour only – Black – and is primarily designed for link-rooms: i.e. as an extra set for the kitchen or bedroom.
BeoVision 6 – 22 may be fitted with a motorised base which turns the set and also regulates the inclination. Standing possibilities include a low floor stand similar to BeoVision 5, wall bracket or a high floor stand high (as with BeoVision 1).
This new LCD TV can be used as a PC monitor, too. When watching normal TV programmes, ‘TV’ on the Beo4 is selected; however, by combining the BeoVision 6 to your PC as a monitor via the rear-mounted DVI socket (see further details at BeoTech) and selecting ‘PC’ on the remote control, BeoVision 6 may be used in conjunction with your home computer.
In 2004 BeoVision 6-26 was introduced to complement this 51cm model.
Press release Struer – November 2003
BeoVision 6 does away with the limits to LCD technology
Bang & Olufsen’s first LCD television is compact, simple and can be placed anywhere. And it also gives a sharp picture, no matter where you are in the room.
A compact television that can be placed… well, where there isn’t any space. A television that can hang on the wall or stand on a chest of drawers, and that can be tilted and turned in all directions – that is the idea behind BeoVision 6 from Bang & Olufsen.
BeoVision 6 is the first television based on LCD technology offered by Bang & Olufsen.
“Nevertheless, LCD technology has been extremely interesting to Bang & Olufsen ever since it came on the market, because it fits in perfectly with our philosophy of compact, simple and stylish televisions – televisions that don’t visually dominate the room you’ve put them in. But not until now has the technology been mature enough for both the image quality and durability to measure up to Bang & Olufsen’s standards,” says President and CEO Torben Ballegaard Sørensen.
A range of technologies patented by Bang & Olufsen, such as Adaptive Black, Motion Adapted Progressive Scan and Digital Adaptive Luminance Peaking, put this LCD monitor in shape to deliver the image quality the company is known for. See the appendix “VisionClear”.
Fits in anywhere
One of the biggest problems of LCD technology has been the restricted viewing angle – in other words, the image is not visible if you look at the screen from an oblique angle. Although LCD technology has made considerable progress in this area, too, Bang & Olufsen’s engineers were still not satisfied.
“Our ambition was to create a television that you could hang somewhere like the kitchen wall. And it would be no good if you could only enjoy it if you were seated at the dining table, and couldn’t see the picture if you stood at the worktop,” explains Sørensen.
The solution was to equip the BeoVision 6 with a range of stands and wall fittings that make it easy both to turn the television from side to side and to tilt it up and down. The tilt function was a challenge to Bang & Olufsen’s developers. The first prototypes were either too clumsy and complicated or they were too difficult to operate. When the answer occurred one day to one of Bang & Olufsen’s engineers, it was so simple that it was difficult to understand why nobody had thought of it before.
A design that allows the television to revolve around its own centre of gravity is both simple and discreet – and at the same time it makes it possible to tilt a television weighing 18 kilos at the push of a finger. The rear of the BeoVision 6 is curved. Visually, this makes it appear even flatter than it is in reality, and at the same time its curved shape makes it possible to turn the television through greater angles, both on and off the wall.
The sound is half the experience
It has always been Bang & Olufsen’s philosophy that the sound is half the experience of a television. For this reason, equal effort has been put into sound and picture in the BeoVision 6. The slightly slanting sound panel under the screen contains two 7,5cm bass reflector speakers and an ingeniously designed bass port. This integrated speaker system gives BeoVision 6 what it takes to deliver a stereo sound that surprises most people!
Press release Struer – November 2003
VisionClear
Bang & Olufsen brings together objective parameters of image quality with subjective elements of viewing comfort into a combined whole, in which the perceived image is unsurpassed. At Bang & Olufsen, the designation VisionClear means that image quality and viewing comfort are inseparable. The exceptionally high image quality is achieved by elements such as Motion Adaptive Progressive Scan, Adaptive Luminance Peaking, Colour Transient Improvement (CTI) and Adaptive Black.
The further development of Bang & Olufsen’s own Adaptive Luminance Peaking system increases the image quality further by reinforcing powerful fields of light in relation to the change in light signal present in the image. This function strengthens large light shifts proportionally less than small ones, resulting in amore uniform visual experience. The Colour Transient Improvement used in BeoVision 6 also ensures a high degree of dimensional precision.
How black is black?
The correct level of black is ensured through the use of advanced Adaptive Black hardware. The right colour setting is obtained by allowing BeoVision 6 to adjust the light automatically while the television is in use. The electronics “read” the image on the screen and automatically increase the colours if the image is very pale, while the technology prevents black details from gradually turning grey during image shift.
Screen, user, surroundings
By focusing on a number of elements, viewing comfort – which involves an interplay between screen, user and surroundings – is accorded a high priority. Automatic image control sensors meter the background light in the room where the television is located, and ensure the best possible image at all light levels. A special anti-reflection-treated contrast screen also reduces the effect of external light incidence by over 80%. The result is that the contrast is markedly improved, which in turn provides a richer screen colour experience. Elements such as Hollywood-like electronic curtains, that open and close automatically, and Active Image Format Optimisation (in which the current screen image is automatically scanned and the best image format then presented on the screen) are included to add extra dimensions to the viewing experience. BeoVision 6 also uses digital noise reduction to decrease the noise in the image.
Mounting Options & Stands
The tilt table mount was available for counter top mounting, designed to allow the bass port on the underside of the TV to ‘breath’. Motorised floor and table stands were complimented by a wall mount bracket which gave manual tilt and turn
