Designer: David Lewis

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BeoCenter 6-26

Bang & Olufsen BeoCenter 6-26

The widescreen BeoCenter 6 LCD television is available in 23” and 26” versions. Both come custom-fitted to match your needs. For example, you could have built-in FM and DAB radio in the compact 6-23 in your kitchen and Surround Sound and DVB-S modules in a 6 – 26 used for watching TV in a small living room or a bedroom. Or you could mix and match. Your ‘second television room’ just became the place to be. The integration of picture and sound in the compact cabinet creates a simple and elegant plug-and-play television concept.

Gorgeous from good morning to good night

The handcrafted cabinet of the BeoCenter 6 speaks volumes about the dedication that went into its creation. The sleek lines of the BeoCenter 6 blend in anywhere in your house. Both in your kitchen, drinking your morning coffee, or in your bedroom – enjoying the late night comedy before you go to sleep. The elegant aluminium front and frame are available in a selection of dashing colours as well as discrete aluminium, black and dark grey versions. Using its special digital input, BeoCenter 6 can function as a spectacular computer monitor that would take pride of place in any room, especially if matched with the compact BeoLab 3 or BeoLab 4 loudspeakers in striking red or blue – or perhaps the golden anodised aluminium of BeoLab 4000.

Fewer boxes. More TV and radio

The new BeoCenter 6 takes intelligent integration to a new level and introduces DAB radio options together with a TV for the first time ever. When you are listening to the radio, the screen can display available programme information. Equipped with wake-up timer and timer play the BeoCenter 6 makes the perfect choice for a second room television. A selection of wall mounting brackets and stands are available for versatile placement. The motorised floor and table stands can be controlled from the Beo4 remote control, turning the TV 35° to each side. In addition, the tilt mechanism means easy adjustment of the television up and down on the vertical axis.

The definitive BeoLink screen

BeoCenter 6 can function as a stand-alone television, or as the second-room TV in a BeoLink setup. You can enjoy all sources from the main room on the BeoCenter 6, such as DVD, digital music, etc. For instance, you can watch satellite TV in your bedroom on your BeoCenter 6 – 23, even though the satellite receiver is in your living room. BeoCenter 6 can also be used as an ‘audio link master’ that lets you access the radio function from other rooms, if linked to a pair of BeoLab speakers.

True Bang & Olufsen picture and sound

The BeoCenter 6 uses the best LCD screens available, and has been further improved with Bang & Olufsen VisionClear picture technologies, which are implemented in all TV solutions from Bang & Olufsen. Whenever BeoCenter 6 is switched on, VisionClear adjusts the image automatically in relation to light conditions in the room. Within seconds, the TV automatically adjusts contrast levels, brilliance and colour to match the light conditions at any given time. BeoCenter 6 – 23 utilises a compact one-way loudspeaker system, and BeoCenter 6 – 26 a two-way system, slightly more powerful to match the larger screen size and longer viewing and listening distances. The digital surround sound module available for BeoCenter 6 – 26 provides a digital surround sound experience in any setup with BeoLab loudspeakers. The television´s loudspeakers will in this setup function as a powerful centre speaker.

The new BeoCenter 6 takes intelligent integration to a new level and introduces DAB radio options together with a television for the first time ever. One of the best LCD screens available has been further improved with Bang & Olufsen’s own VisionClear picture technologies, to ensure the best possible picture in all situations.

When BeoCenter 6 is switched on, these picture-optimising technologies adjust the image automatically in relation to light conditions in the room. Within seconds, the television automatically adjusts contrast levels, brilliance and colour to match the current light conditions – and will carry on doing so until the television is switched off again.

BeoCenter 6 can function as a stand-alone television, or as the second-room television in a BeoLink setup. In the latter case, you can enjoy all sources from the main room on the BeoCenter 6, such as DVD, digital music, etc. BeoCenter 6 can be used as an ‘audio link master’ that lets you access the radio function from other rooms, if linked to a pair of BeoLab speakers.

Four placement options help BeoCenter 6 fit in, even in the smallest of spaces. The motorised turning function on the floor and table stand is controlled from the Beo4 remote control, and turns the television 35° to each side. In addition to this, the tilt mechanism means easy control of the television 13° up and down on a vertical axis.

The widescreen and high-definition ready LCD monitor is available in 23” and 26” versions. The integration of picture and sound in the compact cabinet creates a simple and elegant plug-and-play television concept. Connections for earphones, external entertainment sources, and BeoLab loudspeakers, are combined with digital interface for computers (DVI) – making the BeoCenter 6 the perfect companion for both work and entertainment.

When the FM radio, which is standard in the 23” version and optional in the 26” version, or the DAB radio feature, which is optional in both, is switched on, available radio text information rolls across the screen. A factory fitted wake-up timer supports the radio functionality still further.

BeoCenter 6 – 23 utilises a compact one-way loudspeaker system, and BeoCenter 6 – 26 a two-way system, slightly more powerful to match the larger screen size and longer viewing and listening distances. The digital surround sound module available for BeoCenter 6 – 26 provides a digital surround sound experience in any setup with BeoLab loudspeakers. The television’s loudspeakers will in this setup function as a powerful centre speaker.

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.

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BeoCenter 6-23

Bang & Olufsen BeoCenter 6-23

The widescreen BeoCenter 6 LCD television is available in 23” and 26” versions. Both come custom-fitted to match your needs. For example, you could have built-in FM and DAB radio in the compact 6 – 23 in your kitchen and Surround Sound and DVB-S modules in a 6-26 used for watching TV in a small living room or a bedroom. Or you could mix and match. Your ‘second television room’ just became the place to be. The integration of picture and sound in the compact cabinet creates a simple and elegant plug-and-play television concept.

Gorgeous from good morning to good night

The handcrafted cabinet of the BeoCenter 6 speaks volumes about the dedication that went into its creation. The sleek lines of the BeoCenter 6 blend in anywhere in your house. Both in your kitchen, drinking your morning coffee, or in your bedroom – enjoying the late night comedy before you go to sleep. The elegant aluminium front and frame are available in a selection of dashing colours as well as discrete aluminium, black and dark grey versions. Using its special digital input, BeoCenter 6 can function as a spectacular computer monitor that would take pride of place in any room, especially if matched with the compact BeoLab 3 or BeoLab 4 loudspeakers in striking red or blue – or perhaps the golden anodised aluminium of BeoLab 4000.

Fewer boxes. More TV and radio

The new BeoCenter 6 takes intelligent integration to a new level and introduces DAB radio options together with a TV for the first time ever. When you are listening to the radio, the screen can display available programme information. Equipped with wake-up timer and timer play the BeoCenter 6 makes the perfect choice for a second room television. A selection of wall mounting brackets and stands are available for versatile placement. The motorised floor and table stands can be controlled from the Beo4 remote control, turning the TV 35° to each side. In addition, the tilt mechanism means easy adjustment of the television up and down on the vertical axis.

The definitive BeoLink screen

BeoCenter 6 can function as a stand-alone television, or as the second-room TV in a BeoLink setup. You can enjoy all sources from the main room on the BeoCenter 6, such as DVD, digital music, etc. For instance, you can watch satellite TV in your bedroom on your BeoCenter 6 – 23, even though the satellite receiver is in your living room. BeoCenter 6 can also be used as an ‘audio link master’ that lets you access the radio function from other rooms, if linked to a pair of BeoLab speakers.

True Bang & Olufsen picture and sound

The BeoCenter 6 uses the best LCD screens available, and has been further improved with Bang & Olufsen VisionClear picture technologies, which are implemented in all TV solutions from Bang & Olufsen. Whenever BeoCenter 6 is switched on, VisionClear adjusts the image automatically in relation to light conditions in the room. Within seconds, the TV automatically adjusts contrast levels, brilliance and colour to match the light conditions at any given time. BeoCenter 6 – 23 utilises a compact one-way loudspeaker system, and BeoCenter 6 – 26 a two-way system, slightly more powerful to match the larger screen size and longer viewing and listening distances. The digital surround sound module available for BeoCenter 6 – 26 provides a digital surround sound experience in any setup with BeoLab loudspeakers. The television´s loudspeakers will in this setup function as a powerful centre speaker.

The new BeoCenter 6 takes intelligent integration to a new level and introduces DAB radio options together with a television for the first time ever. One of the best LCD screens available has been further improved with Bang & Olufsen’s own VisionClear picture technologies, to ensure the best possible picture in all situations.

When BeoCenter 6 is switched on, these picture-optimising technologies adjust the image automatically in relation to light conditions in the room. Within seconds, the television automatically adjusts contrast levels, brilliance and colour to match the current light conditions – and will carry on doing so until the television is switched off again.

BeoCenter 6 can function as a stand-alone television, or as the second-room television in a BeoLink setup. In the latter case, you can enjoy all sources from the main room on the BeoCenter 6, such as DVD, digital music, etc. BeoCenter 6 can be used as an ‘audio link master’ that lets you access the radio function from other rooms, if linked to a pair of BeoLab speakers.

Four placement options help BeoCenter 6 fit in, even in the smallest of spaces. The motorised turning function on the floor and table stand is controlled from the Beo4 remote control, and turns the television 35° to each side. In addition to this, the tilt mechanism means easy control of the television 13° up and down on a vertical axis.

The widescreen and high-definition ready LCD monitor is available in 23” and 26” versions. The integration of picture and sound in the compact cabinet creates a simple and elegant plug-and-play television concept. Connections for earphones, external entertainment sources, and BeoLab loudspeakers, are combined with digital interface for computers (DVI) – making the BeoCenter 6 the perfect companion for both work and entertainment.

When the FM radio, which is standard in the 23” version and optional in the 26” version, or the DAB radio feature, which is optional in both, is switched on, available radio text information rolls across the screen. A factory fitted wake-up timer supports the radio functionality still further.

BeoCenter 6 – 23 utilises a compact one-way loudspeaker system, and BeoCenter 6 – 26” a two-way system, slightly more powerful to match the larger screen size and longer viewing and listening distances. The digital surround sound module available for BeoCenter 6-26 provides a digital surround sound experience in any setup with BeoLab loudspeakers. The television’s loudspeakers will in this setup function as a powerful centre speaker.

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.

Bang & Olufsen’s preferred supplier for brackets and stands, STBbrackets, have made a range of solutions specifically for this model including a direct replacement for the tilt table mount. Distributed throughout the World by the Bang & Olufsen store network, the STB options add to the diversity of mounting options and positions available.

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BeoCenter 1

Bang & Olufsen BeoCenter 1

BeoCenter 1 combines a state-of-the-art TV, a superior-quality DVD player and an intelligent FM radio in one product, and lets you control everything with a single, easy-to-use remote control – the Beo1.

With its impressive picture quality and powerful active speaker system, Beocenter 1 provides total entertainment in a minimum of space. And the integration doesn’t end with the technology. With six strong colours and five diverse stands – all with motorised turning – to choose from, Beocenter 1 can easily be assimilated into any setting.

In a world full of choices, Bang & Olufsen has already made the best ones for the consumer – and put it all at the command of a four-buttoned Beo1 remote control – the remote control unit dedicated to both Beovision 1 and Beocenter 1.

However, as from October 2002, both Beovision 1 and BeoCenter 1 were delivered with Beo4 remote control instead of Beo1 which was discontinued. In January 2003 a Dolby Digital Surround Sound kit will be available for both these TV models.

BeoCenter 1 is able to read and play DVD-R and DVD-RW discs.

BeoCenter 1 – Press Release 2000

” Bang & Olufsen announces the newest addition to it’s product portfolio. In combining an FM radio, a DVD player, a 25″ TV and a pair of active loudspeakers, BeoCenter 1 offers experiences as yet unmatched on the marketplace. Featuring appealing design and simple operation, the product also has the flexibility to fit in anywhere.

In continuance of the Beovision 1 concept, launched in November of 1999, the key features of BeoCenter 1 remain focused on versatility, simplicity and uncompromising picture and sound quality.

With the new BeoCenter 1, Bang & Olufsen is taking account of the varying needs of consumers when it comes to usage of audio and video equipment in the home. “

Different uses

Bang & Olufsen’s second compact A/V product (the first was BeoCenter AV5, launched in 1997), BeoCenter 1 features an elegant and unmistakably B&O design that makes its presence known, while astonishingly remaining discreet. And a wealth of the company’s long-standing values and innovative finesses lie packed in beneath the surface.

A combined A/V solution like this represents a whole new way of living with these different media – at least in modern times. But look back a few decades and radiograms and combined TV/gramophone units were de rigueur. Back then the TV was the altar at which the family congregated. But as the TV came to play a less dominant role in the home, so consumers rejected large combined systems in favour of smaller, individual audio and video products – thanks in part to new technology requiring less space.

Goes anywhere

Now the combined solution is back with a vengeance – but in minimalist guise, expressed through a design with an emphasis on flexibility rather than dominance.

BeoCenter 1’s flexibility stems primarily from a choice of five unique placement possibilities: from floating almost magically out from the wall, to sitting on a more traditional floor stand, to standing tall on a 160 cm column. Utilising the built-in motor, BeoCenter 1 can also be turned to face in different directions, simply and intuitively operated with the Beo1 remote control.

Externally, BeoCenter 1 offers a truly colourful experience. It is available in six different colours: green, black, yellow, blue, red and grey. This finishing touch helps ensure that BeoCenter 1 blends into any home interior.

But for a A/V centre to blend in absolutely anywhere, it needs to look good from every angle – not just head-on. So a lot of time was spent on making BeoCenter 1 look good from the back too – wave goodbye to gaping sockets and ungainly cable holders.

Furthermore, an A/V centre that goes anywhere also needs to produce a picture that looks good anywhere. BeoCenter 1’s automatic contrast, brightness and colour control means superb picture quality in more or less any light. Add the standard anti-reflection coated contrast glass to the 25″, 4:3 format screen, and the amount of incoming light is reduced by almost 99%, when compared with ordinary front glass.

To top it all off, the sound is rather special too. Two powerful active loudspeakers once again make Bang & Olufsen’s acoustic competencies heard loud and clear. Topping out at 96 dB stereo, the sonic experience remains true to the Bang & Olufsen goal of natural reproduction of sound.

Integrated DVD player

Surprising, intelligent, magical and discreet are some of the words of praise attracted by the DVD player. The DVD tray glides out like a tongue beneath the TV screen and naturally you get all the functions you would expect from a DVD player: Instant access to any particular film episode, pictures in studio quality and a thrilling sound experience.

Built-in FM radio

Seamlessly integrated into the compact cabinet of BeoCenter 1, the FM radio features 59 programme presets and a standard Radio Data System (RDS) module. The RDS module allows the user to see the name of the radio station in the display, provided the broadcaster transmits the proper identification signal.

Personalised Channel Groups

Another major innovation is that each user can create his or her own personal group of up to 18 TV channels (terrestrial, satellite and cable) and radio stations. Again this is in the name of simplicity – it can be hard to keep track of the rapidly increasing number of TV channels available. Another option is to have subject groups rather than personal groups – like sports channels or movie channels. Up to eight different channel groups can be created.

Simplicity even extends to remote control

The Beo1 remote control is a miniature sculpture completely unlike its traditional counterparts, in that it features a built-in base so that it can stand upright on the table. And with only a few buttons, it is also striking in its simplicity – one of the themes in BeoCenter 1. All system components are operated by using the Beo1. Simply navigate through the simple options on the display beneath the TV screen.”

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BeoCenter 2

Bang & Olufsen BeoCenter 2

The Socket Unit contains most of the electronics, as well as all external connections. This greatly helps the organising and concealment of the numerous cables needed in a typical A/V set-up. In BeoCenter 2 only a single thin cable, available in 1.8, 3, 5 and 10 metre lengths, connects the Master Unit to the Socket Unit. A 1.8 metre cable is delivered as standard.

The Socket Unit is fitted with MasterLink, RGB, PowerLink, power connections and other connectors so that you may connect a pair of BeoLab active speakers or link it to a home cinema system.

A great advantage of the compactness and relative lightness of the BeoCenter 2 Master Unit is great flexibility in placement. It can be wall mounted, attached to a dedicated floor or table stand, or simply placed on a table or shelf.

Digital Radio Module

BeoCenter 2 DAB digital radio module: this module allows users access to terrestrial free-to-air broadcasting of high quality audio and data. DAB digital radio is a new way of broadcasting radio via a network of terrestrial transmitters. It provides listeners with more choice, better sound quality and more information. DAB digital radio is like analogue radio, only much better. When available – from 3 November 2004 – the module will become a standard feature of BeoCenter 2 in the UK.

In order to make the module compatible it has been necessary to update both the Socket Unit and the Master Unit. This, however, means that DAB will not be available with past and current BeoCenter 2 models. It was originally stated upon the launch of BeoCenter 2, that it would be possible to ‘upgrade’ to DAB. Where customers purchased the model on that understanding, Bang & Olufsen will honour that commitment. The first Master Unit serial number with software suitable for the DAB functionality is 18139286.

Note: To have the DAB module fitted to your BeoCenter 2 is essential that both the Socket Unit and Master unit are the latest versions. Mixing existing stock of Master Units (pre-serial number 18139286) and DAB Socket Units (part number 1280020) is not possible.

Master unit connections: MasterLink x 1, Digital Out, SCART, S-VHS, FM Aerial, AM Aerial, audio in (L&R), audio out (L&R), PowerLink x 1 (See Specifications).

By touching ‘load’ on the anodised aluminium top panel, BeoCenter 2 opens to receive your chosen media. The product is made up of two units linked together by a special cable: the Master Unit (or Media Unit which is the player itself) and the Socket Unit.

BeoCenter 2 Press Release October 2003

Bang & Olufsen’s new music system, the BeoCenter 2, is in many ways a classic Bang & Olufsen product. It has mystique, it is elegant, it is simple and logical.

If you look at the BeoCenter 2 from a distance, the design says nothing about the many functions the system contains. Only when you make physical contact is the content behind the symmetrical polished aluminium doors revealed. If you press “load” lightly, the two wing-shaped aluminium doors slide aside elegantly to reveal a combined CD and DVD player. When the music or film is playing, the doors slide back to conceal the disc, clearly signalling that the experience is more important than the source.

It is by no means unusual for a DVD player to play CDs, but a system that offers radio, CD, DVD and MP3 CD playback is a new way of combining all sources of entertainment in one unit. “At Bang & Olufsen we always focus on integrating technologies and with the BeoCenter 2 we give our customers the chance to combine music and video sources in one unit,” says President and CEO Torben Ballegaard Sorensen.

With the oval shape of the master unit, BeoCenter 2 is yet another design step away from the traditional box-shaped units of yesteryear for playing music and images. The size of the display ensures that it can be read at a distance and a light meter behind the glass adjusts the intensity of the display according to the brightness of the room. This avoids the display completely illuminating a dark living room.

In addition to RDS (Radio Data System), the tuner in BeoCenter 2 allows you to program and name up to 60 radio stations. And, of course, the BeoCenter 2 can be integrated into a Beolink network. When connected to a Beolink PC2 it can also play digital music files stored on a computer.

Clean up the Mess

It has always been important for Bang & Olufsen to make it nice and easy for consumers to enjoy music and moving pictures. Most obviously, the concept helps to eliminate the many remote controls that typically pile up on the coffee table, replacing them with one remote control – the Beo4 – which can control all the functions of all the appliances connected, plus the lighting in the room.

Another example is the tradition of concealing cables in stands and behind screens so that the necessary cables do not mar the visual appearance of the products. And where it is not possible to conceal the cables completely, special holders are provided for the cables, making a virtue out of necessity. Finally, there is the design itself. By avoiding visual trivialities and unsightliness, which can mar an audio/video product in themselves, the products look simple and elegant.

BeoCenter 2 is a continuation, a natural development, of this line of thought. The division of the product into two separate parts means that there is great freedom to place the elegant master unit where it is best suited in the room. This may be on a table, mounted on the wall or on an aluminium floor stand specially designed to match the oval shape of the master unit.

From the master unit there is just one cable to the socket unit containing the sockets for all the cables connecting BeoCenter 2 to the mains, speakers, TV, aerials, etc. The socket unit can be concealed under a piece of furniture or behind a curtain. This means that the visible part of the BeoCenter 2 is not spoiled by the jumble of cables required to integrate it into the network of the TV and speakers.

World Class Aluminium Processing

BeoCenter 2’s two sliding aluminium doors were a challenge to Bang & Olufsen. Both doors are cut from the same piece of aluminium, but only after the front has been polished in the oval shape that follows the lower edge of the display. This ensures that all details in the polishing are echoed on both doors. Both these sliding doors stay together throughout the complicated process of milling and the two surface treatments. So the doors on the final product match perfectly.

The precision requirements Bang & Olufsen sets for the visual appearance of the product mean that the machine which grinds the edges of the doors works to very small tolerances. For every 1/100 millimetre along the edge, the machine calculates and self-corrects to ensure a perfect oval shape.

When the aluminium is surface-treated in the anodisation plant, tiny pores appear in the surface. These pores are used in the screen printing employed to apply numbers and characters to the front of the doors of the master unit. By pressing the coloured lacquer down into the pores and then surface-treating the doors, very durable printing is achieved. As a result, it is virtually impossible to wear the printing off, even with very frequent use.

Controlling the BeoCenter 2 is a masterpiece of precision. The area beneath the master unit is milled down to 0.5 millimetres. So when the user presses the unit, the thin aluminium sheet bends very easily. This activates the electrical circuits used for the control function. You can neither see nor feel this, but it is enough for it to make contact with the film of conductive material underneath.

The precision processing goes one stage further with the “wheel” on the right-hand door. In a wide circle around the control areas, a further 0.1 millimetre of aluminium has been milled off. The functions of the wheel include adjusting the volume, and it functions according to the same mechanical principle as the rest of the master unit.

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Beo5

Bang & Olufsen Beo5

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.

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Beo6

Bang & Olufsen Beo6

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.

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Beo4

Bang & Olufsen Beo4

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.

Did you know? To determine which version of Beo4 you have, try pressing GO and MENU at the same time and then LIST to ‘scroll’ through the information. It will show you, for a 2003 version:

EE: 6.0

SW: 5.0

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’.

(Taken from Beolink Magazine: ‘The First 50 Years of Television’ © Bang & Olufsen a/s 2002)

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BeoLab 18

Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 18

The culmination of over 25 years of design and innovation, the Beolab 18 introduces a refined symbiosis of form, craftsmanship, and performance Inspired by the legendary Beolab 8000 loudspeaker, it honours a classic silhouette with new heights of performance and flexibility. Beolab 18 requires just a power cable to unleash multi-channel wireless audio throughout the space.

Discover the impeccable experience of wireless Bang & Olufsen sound. Needing just a single power cable to perform, the speaker brings incredible opportunities to unleash the joy of multi-channel wireless audio in your home.

Any spot is the right spot

The slender speaker leaves a surprisingly small footprint. It’s designed to fit and blend in almost anywhere, regardless if you are looking for a freestanding floor speaker, want to tuck it in a corner or hang it on your wall like an artwork.

A poetic expression of sound

The aluminium pillar balances almost magically on its pointed base, while the crafted wooden lamellas appear to be fanning out the sound across your room in concert with the acoustic lens on top. Meet design and engineering in perfect harmony.

Design-driven innovation

Beolab 18 is a stunning work of design engineering with audio performance at its heart. The acoustic lens evenly distributes the upper frequencies in a 180-degree horizontal arc, delivering superior sound experiences across your room, not just in front of your speaker.

All the little big things

Behind its beautiful exterior, Beolab 18 is filled with advanced audio technologies. Adaptive Bass Linerisation automatically adjusts the bass performance to what you are playing, while the room adaptation feature optimises the sound based on your speaker’s placement.

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BeoLab 17

Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 17

BeoLab 17 is a solid, impressive loudspeaker with
powerful sound that punches way beyond its actual size.
Its tight, striking geometry exudes character with myriad expressions. Featuring Immaculate Wireless Sound,
BeoLab 17 enables you to enjoy wireless music in
unsurpassed detail – while giving you freedom
and flexibility to open up exciting new options for your home dêcor.

SOUND
The little big wonder

Beolab 17 lets you enjoy wireless music in unsurpassed detail. With Adaptive Bass lineariation, the speaker automatically optimises its bass performance to the way you play your music. Room adaptation ensures harmonious sound no matter where you place your speakers.

DESIGN
A geometric work of art

The Beolab 17 speaker is designed with an innovative triangular body that opens a myriad of placements options. There is no dedicated top, bottom or sides on the cabinet. It all depends on the way you decide to use it.

PLACEMENT
Clear sound in all the right places

Hang it on your wall, place it on a shelf or choose between two different floor stands. The versatile placement options bring exciting new ways to living with beautiful music, regardless if you need a classic set of stereo speakers or speakers for your home theatre.

MATERIALS
A crafted frame for your music

This compact high-end speaker is made from a single piece of beautifully crafted aluminium. Unlike most other speakers, the fabric speaker cover is placed inside the aluminium body, which creates a circular frame for the colour of your choice.

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BeoLab 1

Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 1

Providing the ultimate true-to-life sound experience, BeoLab 1 will open your eyes and ears to what a loudspeaker should look and sound like.

“BeoLab 1 is for everyone who has a heart for superior sound. You can turn your stereo up as loud as you want and still experience music the way it was meant to be. ” The quality of a loudspeaker has never only been about its ability to play loudly. What’s just as important is being able to hear the finest nuances in your favourite piece of music – regardless of whether you’re listening at the highest or lowest volume level. As our most powerful loudspeaker, BeoLab 1 will fill the largest room in your house with a sound that’s as close to the original as you can possibly get ” – B&O catalogue 2001 – 2002.

“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.

Eye-opening sound

If the sounds you listen to, reflect the mood you’re in, then BeoLab 1 is an invitation to express yourself to the full. Behind the elegant design lies a powerhouse of sound technology that can enhance the best of movies or take your favourite piece of music to new heights. BeoLab 1 will, quite simply, open your eyes and ears to what a loudspeaker should look and sound like.

Unique cabinet

Three years of the toughest research and development have produced a loudspeaker at the cutting edge of acoustic technology. The BeoLab 1 cabinet is divided into three individually sealed units, utilising vibration-damping materials normally only seen in the car industry. The built-in amplifiers powering each unit are calibrated and customised to ensure a uniform performance in the soundscape that’s created

Top line loudspeaker

BeoLab 1 delivers the purest, clearest sound ever heard from a Bang & Olufsen loudspeaker. With aural reproduction as close as you can get to the original, it allows you to distinguish each instrument playing in an orchestra and every word of a song. A single continuous piece of aluminium forms the rigid backbone of BeoLab 1. Strong enough to withstand the powerful vibrations, its curved design also eliminates any sharp edges or joins that could compromise sound quality.

Why build amplifiers into the loudspeakers instead of keeping them separate?

Because you can reduce the size of the cabinet volume to one-third of the size of a conventional loudspeaker with the same sound capacity. The principle is called Active Loudspeakers, and what you get is a compact loudspeaker that can play at high volume without distortion or damage to its drive units. Furthermore, when amplifier, treble and bass units are paired for the same task, they can be tailored to compensate for each other’s shortcomings. What you hear is music that sounds exactly like the instrument it originally came from.

Adaptive Bass Linearisation

Adaptive Bass Linearisation (ABL) is a process patented by B&O and is incorporated in BeoLab loudspeakers. The idea is to use the surplus capacity in amplifiers and driver units, arising by normal listening levels, for a bass extension – a sound reproduction with more bass, than the loudspeaker otherwise would be able to produce.

The function is adaptive. This means that the loudspeaker adapts to the signal it receives. Loudspeaker drivers are therefore fully exploited, without suffering mechanical or electronic abuse, and the built in amplifiers are not subjected to signals would otherwise create an overload situation.

ABL gives stunning bass reproduction considering the size of the loudspeaker in which it is incorporated, under normal listening levels.

ICEPower®

BeoLab 1 also makes use of Bang & Olufsen’s innovative ICEPower® technology. With practically no electric power loss and a greatly reduced cooling space, the new, compact digital power amplifier allows the bass unit in BeoLab 1 to produce a sound far beyond the dimensions of the cabinet.

The speaker with many names

“When the concept for BeoLab 1 was decided on almost two years ago, there was a lot to live up to. The loudspeaker project changed names several times during the process. First it was called Loudspeaker 8, then 12, 14, X and finally 15. Later on the commercial name BeoLab 1 was chosen.

From the start it stood tall at two metres. Then it was reduced by a few centimetres to the present 1.84m. Nonetheless, BeoLab 1 is actually only half as large as the Penta in terms of physical volume and only three times larger than the BeoLab 8000. The basis for the development work was to create a loudspeaker which delivers perfect sound in terms of tonal balance and authentic reproduction, with compactness of expression but also high sound pressure, which is easy to integrate with the design and furnishing of the home and which can be placed anywhere. It was truly a great challenge to achieve all this in one and the same loudspeaker.

There was no doubt that sheer amplifier power was needed to replace high volume. However, this also entailed a risk that a loudspeaker might burn up. So the department designed a completely new protective circuit which automatically turns down the amplifiers in extreme conditions, to reduce the heat in the loudspeaker units. So there is no risk of it burning off. BeoLab 1 also features ICEPower®, which is a revolutionary new Bang & Olufsen technology entailing high energy savings due to the low heat development.

Robust, sound craftsmanship

Another difficult problem to solve was that it had to be possible to adjust the loudspeaker to any room, to achieve the optimum listening experience. This is a question of avoiding too much bass when the loudspeaker stands in a corner and too little bass when the loudspeaker stands freely. The solution is the option to adjust the loudspeakers manually to give the same tonal range, no matter where they are placed.

Throughout the production process the loudspeaker is developed to ensure simplicity at every production stage. So this is an extremely robust, soundly crafted, product.

Hermetically sealed

During the process the department received a nasty shock, however, when they carried out the first tests in a hot, humid environment. The loudspeaker just would not function when it was released from the artificial tropical paradise at the Struer site. A new trial was run and the same thing happened. Now the department’s engineers were sweating as much as the loudspeaker had done in the heat cabinet, until it was discovered that the temperature had been turned up an excessive 15 degrees Celsius and the humidity by 3% more than the already very stringent test requirements. So when the loudspeaker was opened, the water practically flowed out of it.

It must have entered as steam, the same designer states today and cites an example of how a BeoLab 1 was shipped as air freight to Singapore. On its arrival, faults were found in the mid-range loudspeaker where the membrane had subsided inwards. The simple explanation was that the cabinet behind the mid-range unit was so impermeable that it could not equalise the changing air pressure during the flight. So the solution was to make a small hole in the mid-range cabinet, to avoid this problem.

Difficult cabinet process It is not the intention to adjust the cabinet to excess. It is the largest aluminium profile B&O has made so far and in fact one of the largest in Europe within high-gloss alloys. In practice, the profile consists of a very fine surface which due to its size is very difficult to manufacture without flaws. However, using specially manufactured equipment technicians have managed to achieve a polish which is both beautiful and perfect.

The process is difficult, however, primarily because the profile is both flat and round. This in itself makes the polishing work difficult.

Sheer force and true to nature

Despite its complexity the BeoLab 1 has a shorter production time than the Penta. One reason is that the entire amplifier section is received ready-assembled from a sub-supplier in Scotland, but according to B&O’s design and instructions. Furthermore, the technology is generally very compact. Engineers have devoted a lot of time and resources to this work. However, the investment is expected to be recouped via faster, more effective production.

If you ask three of the men behind it – Villy Hansen, Poul Praestgaard and Henrik Sjostrand – to say what is most wonderful about the BeoLab 1, they all agree that its supreme quality is that when the user listens to music, he or she will forget to listen for the bass, mid-range tone and descant, but simply enjoy the music. Nobody remembers that the sound is emitting from the loudspeakers. Another aspect is the interplay between form and function. It lives up to what its appearance promises, even the great expectations of the sound experience created by its height. in addition to this comes its sheer force, the high precision of the bass and the authentic reproduction, as well as the simple and robust structure, which is also to the satisfaction of the customer setting up the loudspeakers.

“It really is the best ever. It cannot be followed, and we have to say that an era is now over. We have quite simply completed the portfolio as it stands today. Now we have to use other methods to surprise. Idealand has been working on this and we will be back” the acoustics team state.

Now they are all waiting in great anticipation to see whether the demand for Penta continues, even though it is no longer produced. As was the case with the BeoLab 5000, of which an American recently ordered 30 sets. When told that production had long since lapsed, he asked quite seriously what it would cost to start it up again.

Taken from Beolink magazine 7, 1999

Superior sound quality

What does sound look like? What colour does it have? At Bang & Olufsen, we believe it should be as clear and precise as possible, but that doesn’t mean it has to be invisible. With BeoLab 1 sound makes a statement. It takes our pursuit for natural sound reproduction to a new level and delivers the ultimate true-to-life audio experience. We believe it’s the purest sound ever heard from a Bang & Olufsen loudspeaker. Since no two loudspeaker units have exactly the same physical characteristics, we calibrate them individually to make certain that the sound of each and every BeoLab loudspeaker leaving the factory is identical

Performance

To ensure an optimal performance every time you listen to it, a BeoLab loudspeaker constantly “fine-tunes” the signal received from the sound source before distributing it out to the separate bass and treble power amplifiers

Appearance

Using aluminium for the cabinets is not just about looking good. Despite a thickness of only a few millimetres, it’s a remarkably strong metal that’s easily shaped to eliminate the problems normally experienced with loudspeakers made by traditional materials

Colours

Once the surface has been polished until it shines like a mirror, it’s dyed and given a tough ceramic coating that seals and protects the coloured exterior. The 5 strong colours match with the existing Bang & Olufsen range, and have been carefully chosen to compliment any environment in which they’re placed. Choose between silver, blue, black, red or green (1999 – 2003 range).