The B&O 4-speed record player is an important step on the road to full musical enjoyment, being designed specially with a view to vibrationless and rumbleless operation. This feature is of great importance when playing stereo records as the pickup stylus must be sensitive to vibrations in all directions in order to be capable of “scanning” the record properly.
Understanding the numbering of these Beograms is really quite easy: the ‘V’ in ‘608V’ means that it is powered with AC voltage and ‘F’ means that it has a built-in preamplifier. The designation 608, 609 and so on, indicates the year the product was marketed. There was also a ‘U’ version for both AC and DC voltages. Beogram 608 for example, was a turntable without a built-in RIAA preamplifier and was produced for the 1962 season (internally many were date-stamped e.g. September 1961 would indicate the year it left the factory).
The difference between the models 41xx and 42xx was that the 41xx had a small turntable and the 42xx model had a larger turntable.
The B&O 4-speed record player is an important step on the road to full musical enjoyment, being designed specially with a view to vibrationless and rumbleless operation. This feature is of great importance when playing stereo records as the pickup stylus must be sensitive to vibrations in all directions in order to be capable of “scanning” the record properly.
Understanding the numbering of these Beograms is really quite easy: the ‘V’ in ‘608V’ means that it is powered with AC voltage and ‘F’ means that it has a built-in preamplifier. The designation 608, 609 and so on, indicates the year the product was marketed. There was also a ‘U’ version for both AC and DC voltages. Beogram 608 for example, was a turntable without a built-in RIAA preamplifier and was produced for the 1962 season (internally many were date-stamped e.g. September 1961 would indicate the year it left the factory).
The difference between the models 41xx and 42xx was that the 41xx had a small turntable and the 42xx model had a larger turntable.
“If you already own a hi-fi music system or a good radio set with a tape socket – in other words, if you have an amplifier system capable of replacing that provided in a tape recorder you may prefer this 2-track recording machine. Technical specifications are equal to those of the Beocord 2000de Luxe K, but there is no mixer section or output amplifier.
The Beocord 1500 de Luxe has built-in playback pre-amplifiers and is sold complete with gramophone/radio record pre-amplifier. This recording pre-amplifier may be exchanged for a microphone pre-amplifier if direct microphone recordings are required.
Dimensions: 205mm high, 450mm wide, 335mm deep. Choice of teak or Brazilian rosewood finish” – taken from the 1967 – 1968 Bang & Olufsen product catalogue.
Beocord 1500 DL was a stereo tape recorder which you could use with an existing stereo system. There was no built-in amplifier or microphone – the unit’s raison d’être was a means to make really good recordings from records or the radio. A single stereo input channel of standard DIN level was the only source, but two outputs were provided: one of a fixed DIN level, and the other (Line) of a variable level controlled by a concentric (L,R) knob on the control panel. With a special lead and the correct Beomaster, it was possible to do off-tape monitoring during recordings (although by using standard DIN connection through the ‘radio’ socket this function was not available).
Accessories for the 1967 range of Beocord Tape Recorders:
An elegant steel undercarriage on smooth-running castors was separately available for the Beocord models at that time. It was available in two versions: for Beocord 1100/Beocord 2000 de Luxe T, and Beocord 1500 de Luxe/Beocord 2000 de Luxe K, respectively.
Beocord 1500 DL was replaced by Beocord 1800 in 1970, which looked very similar but included several detail improvements, such as a die-cast chassis and optical automatic stop. Mechanically, Beocord 1500 DL was the same as Beocord 2000 DL and was offered in the same way in either 2 track + 4 track replay and 4 track only models. The Beomaster 900 RG Compact radiogram featured a recess of the exact size to fit Beocord 1500 DL which made it into a complete audio system.
“One of the best semi-professional fully transistorised hi-fi stereo tape recorders. It has professional data for speed, wow and flutter that meet international standards for studio tape recorders. New modern design concepts distinguish the Beocord 2000 de Luxe K from conventional tape reorders. Here are some of them: 4-track recording/2-track and 4-track playback; built-in 4-channel mixer section with twin faders for both mono and stereo recordings provides individual control and mixing of microphone, gramophone, radio and line signal inputs.
These faders make it possible to balance channels during recording. An aurally compensated twin fader makes it possible to balance playback volume levels, too. These features permit recordings of every kind, such as Multi-playback, or sound-on sound; that is, rerecording from one track to another whilst making another recording on the other track.
Synchro-playback – this feature consists of synchronising two recordings on separate tracks which you do wish to mix by recording, and may be used for language laboratory purposes and for automatic control of lantern slides. Echo – adding echo to both mono and stereo recordings. The amplifier equipment is an outstanding new system consisting of no less than seven fully transistorised easily replaceable amplifier units.
Monitoring: separate records and playback heads with individual amplifiers permit both before-the-tape and off-the-tape monitoring. Power output is 2 x 8 watts undistorted.
Recording level is indicated by two illuminated V.U. meters which indicate the sum of signals in each of the two tracks that can be recorded simultaneously.
Slack absorbers: Two smooth-running specially engineered slack absorbers take up slack, ensuring absolutely smooth starting and stopping at all tape speeds.
Electronic protection circuit prevents damage due to electrical overloads. No other tape recorder in this price bracket has these professional standards for electrical and mechanical specifications. Fine low-noise tape drive motor mounted on rugged non-torsion steel chassis. Four tape heads, 4-track recording but – a remarkable feature – the instrument plays back both 2-track and 4-track tapes.
The erase head (long-life dual-gap ferrite erases “right to the bottom” (70dB). The 2000 de Luxe permits recording from one tape recorder to another, parallel recording on a number of tape recorders, and simultaneous copying of both tracks. The Beocord may also be used as: public address system, permanently installed hi-fi control centre, and orchestra and guitar amplifier.” – taken from the 1967 – 1968 Bang & Olufsen product catalogue .
The turntable and overall design was by Jacob Jensen; the tonearm and MMC cartridge principle was by Erik Rørbæk Madsen. Beogram 1000 was the recommended turntable for Beomaster 1000.
The First Beogram?
Beogram 1000 was the very first Bang & Olufsen turntable to be designated with the suffix ‘Beogram’. Before its introduction, earlier decks did not, strictly speaking, hold this product name.
This player has extremely low vibration and rumble – a decisive feature for playback of stereo gramophone records, due to the fact that the stylus must be sensitive to vibrations in all directions.
The Beogram 1000 has antimicrophonic suspension that takes up acoustic and mechanical vibrations from the support and prevents the stylus from leaving the groove. In practice, this means that mechanical vibrations from the support or from persons walking or dancing in front of the Beogram 1000 cannot make the stylus jump in the groove. Such vibrations will be absorbed in the antimicrophonic suspension and will not reach the turntable or the pickup.
Equipped with the world-famous B&O ST/L-15 pickup unit; heavy turntable designed as a stroboscope disc; built-in hydraulically damped pickup lift operating y means of a rocker button. Specially engineered speed selector (78, 45 and 33.3 rpm); built-in special centre insert for 45 rpm records. The Beogram 1000 is available in two versions: Beogram 1000V (for 240/110 volts AC) and Beogram 1000VF (for 240/110 volts AC with built-in preamplifier.
Choice of teak or Brazilian rosewood finish and with a practical transparent acrylic dust cover.
And so ends the brochure speak! The Beogram 1000 was heavily based on earlier decks and, despite what B&O said, was not that resistant to external forces. It also was not able to be played with the lid on and indeed the lid had a cut out at the back to allow the pick arm to protrude. It allowed reasonable play back and was reliable but performance led to B&O looking elsewhere for a turntable for the Beolab 5000 system.
Mounting Options
Wall Bracket / Shelf for BeoGram
A universal shelf that will support all Bang & Olufsen turntables from the past 30 years. Including three cable entry points to allow you to bring cables from below the shelf or through the wall.
