Beocord VX7000 video cassette recorder was operated and programmed with the Beo4 remote control (although could equally, if not be better controlled, through the previous two-way Beolink 5000 remote control unit) through Beovision MX models.
All channels stored on the TV were simultaneously stored on the VX7000. In 1995 a new model was released specifically designed to operate through the Beo4 remote control unit and lost the two-way communication that had been one of its greatest selling points.
Features: hi-fi stereo VCR; NICAM/A2, PAL/NTSC converter; Beo4 remote control (1995 models onwards); black fascia; cabinet in the same colour schemes as the Beovision MX7000 plus black.
A special Bang & Olufsen feature was ‘spontaneous videotaping’. If you wanted to record the programme you were watching it was simply a matter of pressing ‘record’ twice on the remote control handset – and the VCR would automatically find the right channel and start taping.
You could with Beocord VX5500 play back in slow motion all the way down to still. You could use the picture-in-picture module with the VCR and the B&O TV on which you had it linked up to and it was also possible to keep your video tapes organised. By using a graphic ‘notebook’ you could name every video tape you record. Then you use the Beolink 5000 or Beolink 1000 terminal to simply order up the number of your recording.
Designed by David Lewis, Beocord VX5000 was the flagship of the range in the late 1980’s, with the ability to display live pictures from up to nine different channels simultaneously. A TV guide that was hard to beat! The VX5000 worked best with a Bang & Olufsen TV, simply because they were made for each other. You could choose from either the contemporary MX or the classic LX series.
Beocord VX5000: the multi-role video recorder
Designed by David Lewis, Beocord VX5000 was the flagship of the range in the late 1980’s, with the ability to display live pictures from up to nine different channels simultaneously. A TV guide that was hard to beat! The VX5000 worked best with a Bang & Olufsen TV, simply because they were made for each other. You could choose from either the contemporary MX or the classic LX series.
Step by Step
When you wanted to analyse a Wimbledon championship down to the last detail you would find the slow motion facility a real boon. And of course it was superb for picking up tips to improve your sporting style. You could also freeze frames, not only on video, but also in the middle of a direct broadcast; the picture quality remained at its impressive best.
We all know how complicated programming some video recorders can be. With the Bang & Olufsen range you don’t need a degree in pure maths to succeed. A ‘menu’ on the screen gave you straightforward instructions. So easy that you would want to take advantage of programming that lets you preset recordings of up to six different programmes up to one year in advance!
There was a very handy Search function too; acting like the ‘Track Searching’ on an audio cassette recorder, it took you to the programme you want with minimal fuss and bother.
Video or all-night music
The VX5000 gave you the choice of either four hours of video, or up to eight hours of top-quality hi-fi sound to last the whole night through!
Beocord VX5000 was designed specially be use in conjunction with Beovision MX5000 TV when, together, you could pull in a live picture from another channel on the screen while you continued with the programme you were already watching. Very handy when you were waiting for a specific programme on another channel to start. Much the same could be done in later years with the advent of Picture-in-Picture – a module bought as an accessory for fitting into your television.
Beocord V6000 was a hi-fi stereo video cassette recorder designed to work with Beovision models ME6000 and MS6000.
Together they formed an integrated unit in which TV and video cassette recorder automatically share all commands and can be operated by the same remote control. This combination was designed to be used as a standalone TV/VCR combination. The VCR had all playback facilities as any standard VCR. It also had VPS/PDC and NTSC playback. The video recorder was controlled via a Beolink 1000 handset through the Beovision television.
Bang & Olufsen’s new generation of TV and video systems at the time that the V6000 was released, made it simpler an more comfortable to watch TV. All data stored in the TV: time and programme channels, were automatically stored in the VCR as well. The same applied when you connected your TV and video recorder to a Beolink system – the clocks on the various units within the system were automatically synchronised.
Beocord V3000 was designed to match Beovision LS5500 in looks and budget in order to allow video programming directly on-screen. It permitted eight programmes to be recorded up to one year in advance and had a superb quality slow motion and freeze facility. It also had twin speed recording and playback.
With the assistance of the Beolink 1000 remote control terminal you could handle complicated programming of the video recorder in the easiest possible way – direct via a menu on the TV screen. Beocord V3000 also had Bang & Olufsen’s uniquely fast access to taping any programme you were watching at that moment.
Press RECORD twice on the Beolink 1000 terminal and the VCR would automatically find the right channel in its memory and commence recording your TV programme. It was a fast mover too, having two winding speeds in both directions for picture search. Four video heads ensured that you obtained still pictures and slow motion in choice quality. Sound quality was in mono.
Beocord 4500 cassette recorder housed exciting details and distinguished technology. Like Auto Reverse, so you did not need to turn over the tape. Automatic registration of the type of tape, and Bang & Olufsen’s patented HX-PRO recording system that provided optimal sound reproduction. Both in design and technology, Beocord 4500 was a direct extension of Beomaster 4500.
The cassette recorder featured Bang & Olufsen’s own HX-PRO recording system which ensures that recordings are made as perfectly as possible. With the Beolink 1000 terminal or by lightly touching the panel itself, you could select a particular piece of music you wanted to hear. The search system found it automatically whether it was on Side 1 or Side 2 of the cassette. For Beocord 4500 had Auto Reverse so you did not have to turn the tape over.
The recorder was also equipped with Dolby B and knew exactly what type of tape you were using. Beocord 4500 could be used as part of the Beosystem 4500 hi-fi system.
This special 2300 was produced in 500 examples for a test of DAB by Danish Radio.
Built on B&O’s 2300 platform, the 2300 DAB was modified with a Motorola Power PC 821 processor to control the special DAB-functions. The DAB receiver itself was placed in the accompanying “black-box” made by Bosch/Blaupunkt.
The radio can be used directly via the push buttons, or with help from a remote control unit, which is a modified computer made by Apple Newton NotePad.
A PCMCIA (PC Card) slot on the top left-hand side of the back casing was another difference from the ordinary 2300.
Mounting Options
This classic design was reincarnated over a 21 year period with various mounts and stands. Floor stands were available with a pole stand or CD and tape storage, wall mount solutions allowed for the Hi-Fi only, or with BeoLab2500 speakers until these were discontinued
Beocenter 2300 was dedicated to the CD enthusiast who, for example, like to store the titles of favourite CDs, or permanently skip unwanted tracks. It was known as Beosystem 2300 when connected to the BeoLab 2500 active speakers. It was eventually surpassed by BeoSound 3000 when it included more features and received a facelift in 2001.
Beocenter 2300 was developed from the idea of a flexible music system that could compete with the sound quality of heavy music systems. Thanks to the advent of active speakers, this was a possibility with both Beocenter 2300 and its similarly-equipped sibling (which also had cassette tape recording and playback) the Beocenter 2500. With active speakers, each of the powerful bass and treble units were equipped with their own separate amplifiers. In addition, the electronic cross-over network ensured full bass reproduction.
The loudspeakers were located on both sides of a centre console, where two clear glass covers automatically glided to the side when a hand was passed in front of them. Behind the glass covers there was access to the operating panel, receiver, CD player and a cassette recorder.
The receiver allowed the option of presetting 2 x 20 FM/AM radio stations. The cassette recorder featured Auto Reverse, Automatic Recording level, search function and Bang & Olufsen’s HX-PRO recording system, a system which ensures that the sensitive treble range is captured in recording. The memory in Beocenter 2300’s CD player allowed you to edit up to 100 CDs.
Both systems could be operated via their operating panel or a Beolink 1000 or Beolink 5000 remote control. There were sockets for headphones and connection to additional sound sources; extra loudspeakers can also be connected.
Beocenter 2300 was available with loudspeaker panels in cobalt grey, black, white, cerise or jade and could be made up to the Beosystem 2300 when incorporated with the BeoLab 2500 active loudspeakers.
Mounting Options
This classic design was reincarnated over a 21 year period with various mounts and stands. Floor stands were available with a pole stand or CD and tape storage, wall mount solutions allowed for the Hi-Fi only, or with BeoLab2500 speakers until these were discontinued
Beocenter 2200 was a distinctive high fidelity system offering 3-waveband radio, record player and cassette facilities in a very compact, slim-line format. Maximum power output was 2 x 25 watts RMS.
The radio section covered long, medium and FM bands. Four favourite FM stations could be pre-set for instant recall. A horizontal thumbwheel on the front of the unit controlled manual tuning: the large graph-grid tuning scale was very easy to see and use.
The record deck featured the (then) latest Bang & Olufsen tone arm carrying the ultra-light MMC 5 pickup. Operation was entirely automatic and needed just a single touch on the PHONO button. Built-in logic circuits identified the size and speed of any record placed on the lightweight turn-table and would cue the pickup arm onto the run-in groove with absolute accuracy and safety.
The cassette recorder had electronic control so you could switch directly between, say, fast rewind and PLAY without danger of straining the mechanism or damaging the tape. Dolby B noise reduction and automatic selection between ferric and chrome tapes was included. Metal tapes could also be used, so you were assured of top class sound quality for those really special recordings.
Listening to tapes was also quick and easy: the NEXT button allowed you to scan the tape track by track until you found the one you wanted to hear.
The recommended speakers for use with this system were the Beovox X25.
Connections: Mono microphone; 2 pairs speakers; headphones; external tape recorder with two-way copying; AM and FM aerials
Beocenter 2100 – three variations and a one-finger exercise
Beocenters 2200, 2100 and 4000 – each with a totally distinctive style but sharing the unmistakeable themes of Bang & Olufsen quality and simplicity.
If you loved true hi-fi but you weren’t a record fan, then Bang & Olufsen ‘had your radio perfectly taped’! Beocenter 2100 had all the features of Beocenter 2200 but without the record deck so that it took up even more of a conveniently small space.
Beovox X25 loudspeakers were the offered choice but you could equally mix and match the Beocenter with any other Bang & Olufsen speaker on the market at that time. When linked with Beovox X25 loudspeakers, the combined system was known as Beosystem 2100. A recommended record deck to complement your system would be either the Beogram RX2 or TX2.
