Designer: Jacob Jensen

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BeoMaster 4400

Beomaster 4400 was an advanced high-fidelity FM receiver which represented significant refinements in the design of domestic sound equipment. It incorporated a number of technical innovations and highly creative circuit designs which would not be out of place in a professional unit. In terms of technical finesse and power output, Beomaster 4400 was Bang & Olufsen’s top of the line stereo receiver in 1979 – 80.

The amplifier’s rated output of 75 watts RMS per channel (into 4 ohm speakers) provided more than enough power even in large rooms. There were DIN sockets for connecting a record-player, two tape or cassette recorders (one socket allowed monitoring), headphones and two pairs of stereo speakers. One pair of speaker outputs could be switched to ambiophonic use. In addition to the more usual controls and adjustment facilities, Beomaster 4400 had switchable high and low filters, a loudness control for physiologically compensated output at low volume settings and a linear function which caused the signal to by-pass all tone and filter circuits for truly unadulterated output. An overload indicator was provided to show when the amplifier’s limit for undistorted sound had been reached. Transient Intermodulation Distortion (also called transistor sound) was reduced substantially thanks to carefully designed circuits upon special research at Bang & Olufsen.

Receivers and amplifiers with the ambio function were products which, apart from stereo, could also reproduce the ambience or sound information of a room. Ambient information was included on most stereo vinyl recordings but could not be reproduced by a sound system with two loudspeakers or an ordinary stereo amplifier. Bang & Olufsen systems with the ambio function had facilities which electronically subtracted the difference signal (i.e. the difference between left and right channels) which contained ambient information. This information was fed into two extra loudspeakers which were placed as side speakers in a room. Ambiophony was an extension of stereo reproduction and enhanced the sense of realism. It could be used with nearly all stereo programme materials

The tuner was extremely sensitive and had low distortion levels over the entire FM waveband. Naturally, it incorporated all the latest technical and scientific advances such as a symmetrical Quadrature detector with the Phase Locked Loop stereo decoder which guaranteed low distortion and long-term channel separation on FM stereo programmes. The AFC (Automatic Frequency Control) circuit had characteristics which reduced inter-station noise during tuning. This circuit was also triggered automatically to eliminate loud ‘switch’ noise when changing between radio, record or tape programmes. There were six small dials for pre-tuning FM radio stations, so subsequent programme selection was just a matter of pressing a switch.

Beomaster 4400 could be made up as part of the Beosystem 4400, when linked together with other compatible Bang & Olufsen products.

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BeoGram 3000 (1985)

BeoGram 3000 (1985)

Beogram 3000 was a specially designed tangential record deck with a lightweight tone arm featuring the patented suspension system – Optimum Pivot Point – which prevented internal vibrations from interfering with sound reproductions.

Beogram 3000 was a specially designed tangential record deck with a lightweight tone arm featuring the patented suspension system – Optimum Pivot Point – which prevented internal vibrations from interfering with sound reproductions.

Beogram 3000 had an MMC 4 pick up for optimum sound and minimal record wear. A record sensor automatically record size and with it, the correct speed. The platter reduces static electricity and thereby dust in the grooves, and the pendulum suspension made Beogram 3000 ‘danceproof’. The search system worked both forwards and backwards and the new Active Light system was all automatic, giving you light when you needed it, for searching and changing your records etc.. A repeat function allowed you to play the same record up to 7 times in a row.

Beogram 3000 was designed to be used within Beosystem 3000. Beogram 3000 does not have a built in RIAA amplifier and relies on this being in the receiver used with it. Beomaster 3000 – which this deck was designed to work with – has the RIAA built in as do almost every receiver before this time, including the Beomaster 8000. Later equipment such as the Beomaster 7000 and Beomaster 3500 and Beomaster 4500 transferred the RIAA to the record player as this allowed a longer cable to be fitted to the record player and gave better siting options.

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BeoSystem AV7000

Bang & Olufsen Beosystem AV7000

Beosystem AV 7000 was sold primarily in North America and was designed to work together with Beolink 1000. However, both the Beolink 5000 or the Beolink 7000 remote control terminals could be used but with minor restrictions:

” Neither the Beolink 5000 nor Beolink 7000 terminal is recommended for use with the AV7000 Control Centre and the audio/video products that are used with it. To use a function in your audio system that is only available with the Beolink 5000/7000 terminal, you must reprogram your audio system:

Press SOUND, 1, STORE on the Beolink 1000 Terminal

Then operate the function you wish to use in your audio system, using the Beolink 5000/7000 Terminal

Finally, press SOUND, 0, STORE on the Beolink 1000 Terminal to program your audio system back again for the correct setting for daily use in an AV7000 System

NOTE: If you have the sound from your Bang & Olufsen audio system extended to other rooms in the house (via a Bang & Olufsen Local Control System), a Beolink 5000 or 7000 Terminal may be used for audio operation in that room.”

The unit delivered Dolby Pro-Logic Surround Sound. The system comprised: Beosystem 7000, a Beovision MX6000 television and four active speakers. It was eventually phased out when Beosystem AV9000 was introduced.

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BeoSystem 6000 Commander

Bang & Olufsen Beosystem 6000 Commander

This was B&O’s first remote control, predating the Beomaster 2400. Known affectionately as the brick, it was very necessary as setting up a quad system required to be sitting at the centre of the four speakers. It allowed control of the volume and Beomaster source though it was not able to control any device except the Beomaster. It used ultrasonic rather that infra red waves and needed to be aimed at the Beomaster.

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BeoSystem 2400 Commander

Bang & Olufsen Beosystem 2400 Commander

Beomaster 2400’s pièce de résistance was its remote control Commander which no hi-fi manufacturer had ever dreamed of producing before. In the USA however, remote controlled TVs had already become a reality and in Europe, the first TV commanders, with a plethora of buttons, had turned up in Germany

The 2400 system introduced the first version of system communication which allowed the Beomaster to speak to the Beogram. Either a Beogram 2400 or a Beogram 4004 could be controlled with the Beomaster controller.