1971 Archives

Posted on July 22, 2024October 27, 2025 by Multicare

BeoMaster 3000-2

Beomaster 3000-2 was a solid state FM stereo receiver. The receiver was the kind of product you wanted to both look and to listen to.

It delivered 2 x 40 watts RMS at 30-30.000 Hz and whose distortion was less than 0.5%. With additions to the receiver like Beogram 3000, a fully automatic record player whose operating functions were executed by one master control, and two Beovox 3800 pressure chamber loudspeakers, Beosystem 3000 formed a complete high-fidelity system which deserved to be included in serious evaluations by those who felt that a quality hi-fi system must be chosen in separate units.

The unit was a high fidelity stereo amplifier in which emphasis was placed on specifications, frequency correction and connection facilities. The LOUDNESS feature permitted switching between an objective or a subjective linear reproduction and the LOW and EH filter controls gave a sharper regulation of frequencies, in addition to the normal bass and treble controls. The LOW filter helped reduce rumble resulting from a poor or defective record. At 80Hz its slope was 12dB per octave. There were sockets and push buttons for two pairs of loudspeakers. The headphone socket was situated on the front of the receiver. The tape connection facilitated AB monitoring and there were two record-player inputs: a high and a low impedance. All input sockets could be adjusted from the receiver’s base so that all signals had the same sound level. This was an extra convenience because one needed not adjust the volume control on the amplifier when it was switched between programme sources. The FM section had six pre-set stations. A light indicator assisted accurate tuning and the indicator registered the signal strength of a station. The FM section was extremely sensitive (better than 1.4 uV, I.E.C.) and harmonic distortion was only 0.4%. Field effect transistors, ceramic filters and integrated circuits were used.

In 1972 the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) chose seven Bang & Olufsen products designed by Jacob Jensen to be included in their Design Collection as representing excellent examples of the Museum’s criteria for quality and historical importance; design, in fact, which had influenced the twentieth century. Beomaster 3000 was one of those seven products. Two years’ previously Beomaster 3000 won the iF Design Award.

Beomaster 3000-2 was introduced in 1972. Both units could be used as part of Beosystem 3000. The two models were visually indistinguishable except for the model number, but the Beomaster 3000-2 contained a few minor technical improvements. The effect of these was not visually or aurally evident; the improvements were seen as Bang & Olufsen’s desire at that time to offer the customer the best components and aural experience.

Posted on July 22, 2024October 27, 2025 by Multicare

BeoMaster 5000 (1967)

Highly selective and sensitive FM stereo tuner with low-distortion multiplex adaptor featuring a high degree of channel separation. It has a 4-section gang-tuned radio-frequency amplifier with separate oscillator, five-stage intermediate-frequency amplifier, automatic frequency control, and automatic stereo/mono switching.

Large tuning meter facilitates pin-point tuning and provides relative signal-strength indication. An automatic data-processing centre switches from mono to stereo when the signal-to-noise ratio permits stereo reception (and if the set is tuned to a stereo broadcast). Moreover, it automatically cuts out the signal if the field strength drops below the critical level – and between channels, during tuning. The automatic frequency control circuit also ensures that the set stays accurately tuned at all times. The remarkable sensitivity of the Beomaster 5000 is due to the use of multi-stage radio-frequency and intermediate-frequency amplifiers, and the large number of intermediate-frequency circuits provide knife-edge selectivity. An amply-dimensioned true slide-rule dial with station markers ensures easy and rapid tuning.” – taken from the 1967 – 1968 Bang & Olufsen product catalogue

Bang & Olufsen’s Beomaster 5000 FM tuner, Beolab 5000 amplifier and Beovox 2500 Cube loudspeakers were among the first product series designed by Jacob Jensen in 1967. The first was Beomaster 1000 in 1964.

The traditional style for tuning knobs was replaced by an exact measuring instrument akin to the slide rule which was considered an innovation in changing the future of radios and amplifiers. The interface, in its precision and simplicity, proved to give the user optimal functionality. This solution had never been seen before and laid the foundation for the future form language of B&O. Beomaster 5000 was an FM tuner, with elimination of static between stations and a built in ‘data base’ which automatically tuned in on stereo broadcasts.

Partner to Beomaster 5000 was Beolab 5000, an amplifier with a similarly-designed slide rule interface.

At the 1967 spring fair in Hanover, B&O received the IF award for Beomaster 5000, BeoLab 5000 and Beovox 2500 Cube for outstanding and user-friendly design.

Posted on July 22, 2024October 27, 2025 by Multicare

BeoMaster 900 RG

No other stereo radio gramophone with low, modern, yet reasonable dimensions is so beautifully styled as this. It incorporates a Beomaster 900 all-transistor stereo radio and the semi-professional Beogram 1000 stereo record player. There is space for installation of of tape recorder and a record and tape storage compartment. Pneumatically damped twin lids. Two B&O pressure-chamber speakers. 2 x 5 watts output. Dimensions: 585mm high, 1293mm wide, 510mm deep. Choice of teak or Brazilian rosewood finish. – taken from the 1967 – 1968 Bang & Olufsen product catalogue.

Radiogram Beomaster 900 RG Compact included a record player – either a B&O or Garrard auto-changer – within the combined unit.

Beomaster 900RG Compact was a high-quality radiogram and included the company’s first transistorised mains receiver – Beomaster 900. It was finished in either a natural teak or a rosewood veneer. It had two built-in stereo pressure chamber speakers rated at 85 Watts output. The transistorised circuitry included 26 transistors and four diodes. The radio section within the Beomaster 900 receiver had an internal FM antenna (an optional FM stereo decoder could be fitted). The receiver included an FM, MW, LW and SW radio, together with the Beogram 1000 record player. The space next to the turntable was for the storage of records, but if you had a Beocord 1500 or Beocord 2000 reel-to-reel tape recorder then the space was designed to allow this to be slotted in.

Controls: volume, bass, treble and tuning. Push button controls for on/off, gramophone, tape recorder, AFC circuitry, SW, LW, MW and FM wavebands. It had a ‘stereo’ indicator (optional module) and a tuner indicator.

Dimensions: (WxHxD):156.0cm x 68.5cm x 52.0cm

Weight: 54kg

Posted on July 19, 2024October 27, 2025 by Multicare

BeoGram 1800 (1968)

This was a rare and interesting model. It boasted a new arm and motor compared to the Beogram 1000 but retained quite a lot of the design and the uninspired rubber mat.

It also had a most unusual dust cover with a metal surround with only the top panel being transparent. This design was to be seen also in the prototype Beogram 6000 but not in any production model.

Posted on June 10, 2024October 16, 2025 by Multicare

BeoVox 1001

The Beovox 1001 was a very similar loudspeaker to the Beovox 1200 (Beosystem 1200 version), but to match the new black finish of the Beomaster 1001 the metal grille was made black.

Sadly, the designers did not take the opportunity to fit a dome tweeter (as fitted to every other Beovox loudspeaker of the period), so the original (and outmoded) 2.5” cone type remained. As the Beomaster 1001 offered the facility of Ambiophonic stereo, 4 Beovox 1001s could be connected, and the model was also suggested for use with the Beogram 1500-1 record player.

Posted on June 10, 2024October 16, 2025 by Multicare

BeoVox 5700

Beovox 5700 high fidelity loudspeaker was of studio monitor quality with minimum distortion and maximum power handling capacity.

The loudspeaker was designed to handle 60 watts RMS or 100 watts music power with a distortion of less than 1% over the entire frequency range of 25-20,000 Hz. In order to produce these qualities, Beovox 5700 was fitted with a 25cm ABR (Auxiliary Bass Radiator) unit and a 25cm bass unit which together produced a clear powerful bass reproduction. Its mid-range dome was 5,5cm in diameter and its dome tweeter was 2cm. Dispersion was 160 degrees.

Trumpet stand
Owing to its size, Beovox 5700 could be preferably used as floor-standing speakers. For this reason Bang & Olufsen designed the trumpet stand, type 8906007. This stand had a top on which the loudspeaker could be placed, not only elegantly, but also practically so that a good sound dispersion could be achieved.

Beovox 5700 could be used with Beosystem 4000, an uncompromising stereo system, top of its range in the mid-1970s.

Posted on June 10, 2024October 16, 2025 by Multicare

BeoVox 5702

Beovox 5700 high fidelity loudspeaker was of studio monitor quality with minimum distortion and maximum power handling capacity.

Beovox 5700 could be used with Beosystem 4000, an uncompromising stereo system, top of its range in the mid-1970s.

Posted on June 7, 2024October 16, 2025 by Multicare

BeoLit 1000

This portable radio has a specification superior to those of most mains table models and is elegantly styled, with all the controls placed on the top panel.

The Beolit 1000 offers outstandingly fine reception: on all its five bands, distant stations tune in without noise and interference even when located on adjacent frequencies. The FM section features a separate dial drive and additional push-button selection of up to three pre-tunable FM stations. The extended Long Wave band includes the navigation bands, and on the SWII band (the ‘Europe’ band) you can find all the popular European entertainment stations. The built-in Short Wave expander permits you to spread stations for supreme ease of tuning. There are sockets for connection of an external aerial, extension speaker and external power supply.

The Beolit 1000 brings you external tonal quality. Audio output is 2.5 watts on the internal dry cells. Via a suitable mains converter the Beolit 1000 will deliver no less than 7.5 watts of audio output, making it ideally suited to use as a home radio set. It has individual bass and treble controls and gramophone and tape-recorder jacks.

You can use the Beolit 1000 in a car, with the specially designed lockable car-mounting bracket which operates on 6 or 12 volts and negative and positive earthing, and incorporates filters to suppress ignition interference. The bracket automatically cuts out the built-in power supply of the Beolit 1000 and cuts in the car battery, the car aerial and an extension speaker. When powered from the car battery the set will deliver 7.5 watts of audio output.

Available in teak, Brazilian rosewood and black goatskin finish. Dimensions: 201 mm high, 359 mm wide and 70 mm deep

In 1968 Beolit 1000 won the prestigious iF Design award.

Posted on June 5, 2024September 30, 2025 by Multicare

BeoCord 2400 (1969)

“What Advantages does your Beocord 2400 give you in the Form of Facilities, Performance and Reliability? Pressure diecast chassis for the mechanical section – provides a high degree of mechanical stability, assuring you that your Beocord 2400 is transport-proof. Silicon transistors in the fully transistorized amplifiers – a guarantee of highly stable operation, good signal-to-noise ratio, minimum distortion, and low power consumption.

Separate tape heads for record and playback – permit you to monitor the tape while a recording is in progress. 4-track record and playback – permits maximum playing time for your tapes, both mono and stereo. Two-hand operating of record function – protects you against accidental erasure of tapes.

High degree of channel separation – in mono recordings, too, you will have good separation between the two channels. Twin-faders – make it easy for you to adjust for stereo balance on both record and playback.

Besides, the dual amplifier of your Beocord 2400 gives you the following interesting facilities: Sound on sound (part-song) recordings; adding echo to recordings; synchronous recordings such as pilot signals for slide projectors synchronized with sound reproduction; language laboratory: recording a foreign-language text on one track and conversation exercises synchronously on the other track.

Photo-stop feature – permits you to stop tape during programme scanning, if tape breaks, and at end of tape. Line jack – facilitates tape-copying from or to another Beocord; also permits connection to a large hi-fi system such as the BEOLAB 5000.

Your Beocord 2400 will operate as a hi-fi amplifier – the amplifier may be used without the motor running. It has separate inputs for microphone, gramophone, radio or FM/AM tuner and provision for connection of two pairs of stereo speakers. And your Beocord 2400 meets the minimum specifications for the DIN 45 500 Standards”

Posted on June 5, 2024September 30, 2025 by Multicare

BeoCord 1200

Beocord 1200 Type 4207 was a reel-to-reel tape recorder. Among its features it had sound-on-sound, automatic recording level control and mixing. The in-built PA amplifier could be operated without the motor running.

Beosystem 1200 – made up of Beomaster 1200, Beocord 1200 and Beogram 1200 was Bang & Olufsen’s B&O’s first designed system. The design ‘kinship’, which emphasised the interdependence between B&O’s various products, became a characteristic of B&O for many years. Beosystem 1200 was one of the first products selected by New York’s Museum of Modern Art for the museum’s permanent collection (not exhibition) in 1972.

In 1969 the Danish Society of Industrial Design awarded Bang & Olufsen and Jacob Jensen the ID prize for the Beomaster 1200 radio/amplifier, Beogram 1200 turntable and Beocord 1200 tape recorder for unusually beautiful and user friendly design. The jury emphasised in particular the Beomaster 1200 receiver which pointed in a new direction for the design of radios.

The 1200 series represented the logical continuation of the line of development and design which put B&O at the forefront of manufacturers of entertainment electronics.