Posted on

BeoGram 3400

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram 3400

Beogram 3400 was designed to play back quadraphonic-encoded records and incorporated an MMC 5000 with a Shibita diamond stylus. An optional CD4 decoder could be specified to allow play back of that type of LP as well SQ discs which could be played by any record player.

Quadraphonic sound

Bang & Olufsen produced two quadraphonic systems in the 1970s. The top model was Beosystem 6000 which comprised Beomaster 6000 and Beogram 6000. Beogram 6000 was a development of Beogram 4000 in that it was a tangential tracking turntable. It had an inbuilt CD4 decoder which was switchable. When ‘on’ it would detect the presence of the carrier frequencies and a display would illuminate on the record deck’s display as ‘4ch’.

The output of the Beogram was at line-level whether in 2- or 4-channel mode. The deck was attached to Beomaster 6000 via a 5-pin DIN lead with all the pins being wired. In Beomaster 6000 there was a replaceable board with a SQ decoder as standard. This was manually switchable. The operator therefore still needed to know the type of quad recording that was to be played. The purpose of the removable board was to allow upgrading should the record industry ever get its act together and find a common standard!

The second system was based on Beomaster 3400 and Beogram 3400 which had a radial deck and a smaller and simpler receiver. This again had similar functions. Beomaster 4000 and a few others had a facility called Ambiophonics which used a system of simulated four track sound from stereo records. Two Bang & Olufsen cartridges were made for playing CD4 records:

MMC5000 used a fairly standard Shibata profile

The top of the range MMC6000 used a profile designed by one of their own engineers – Subir Pramanik – and which bore his name

Posted on

BeoGram 2000 (1974)

Beogram 2000 was an integrated two-speed (33rpm and 45 rpm) high-fidelity stereo record player with high specifications. But it was the simple, easy operation which was the most unique feature in Beogram 2000. A single master control executed all the essential functions.

All you need to do was to select the size of a record, 7″, 10″ or 12″ and press the button marked LIFT. Immediately, the turntable began to rotate at the correct speed (33 or 45 rpm) and the pick-up lowered into the first groove. At the end of the record, the pick-up arm returned to its resting position and the turntable switched off. Beogram 2000 was fitted with its own pick-up cartridge, SP 10A. This had a spherical naked diamond stylus.

Recommended- stylus pressure was 2 g. Its frequency range was 20-25.000 Hz ±3 dB. Distortion was lower than 1%, wow and flutter lower than 0.12% and rumble better than 60dB. Thanks to the pendulum suspension of the turntable and its pick-up am Beogram 2000 was insensitive to vibrations. A transparent dust lid was fitted to Beogram 2000. It could be opened at any angle up to 60 degrees or you could slide it off with ease.

This deck finally gave the ‘peg platter’ decks a proper lid. Not quite as advanced as the 1202, it was in all ways apart from the lid, a Beogram 1203.

Posted on

BeoGram 1203

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram 1203

Beogram 1203 was an automatic, high-fidelity stereo record-player with high specifications. It was beautifully-styled and extremely easy to operate. All you need to do was select the record size: 7″, 10″ or 12″ and press a button. The turntable automatically selected the correct speed: 33% or 45, and the pickup was lowered into the first groove.

At the end of the record, the arm automatically returned to its resting position and the turntable switched off. Beogram 1203 was fitted with its own pick-up cartridge, the SP 14A which had a spherical diamond stylus and a stylus pressure of 2g. Its frequency range was 20,000 Hz. ±3 dB. Distortion was lower than 1%, wow and flutter lower than ±0.15 % and rumble better than 58dB. The turntable and pick-up arm had a pendulum suspension which made the record-player insensitive to vibrations. A transparent dust lid and a spindle adaptor for playing centreless records were supplied with Beogram 1203.

It was in fact rather simpler than its immediate predecessor, the 1202 , and was based on the Beogram 2000 rather than the top of the range 3000.

Posted on

BeoCenter 1800

Bang & Olufsen BeoCenter 1800

Beocenter 1800 fulfilled hi-fi standards by a wide margin. The product was also way above the average in terms of ease and operation. Experience from Beomaster 1100 and Bang & Olufsen’s integrated gramophones were combined in the special space-saving unit, which on a specification level was on a par with many separates.

The FM section had automatic frequency control (AFC), four pre-set stations and light indicators. The amplifier’s power output was 2 x 22 watts RMS with less than 0,3% distortion at full power output.

The integrated gramophone was fully automatic. The user simply chose the size of the record and pressed a button – the machine did the rest. The pickup arm was of magnesium which was extremely light. This, together with the MMC 3000, a low-mass cartridge, made this one of the very few turntables on the marker that was capable of tracking warped records. The anti-skating device also worked automatically.

The pickup arm and the turntable mechanism had a special spring suspension which made the turntable shock and vibration resistant.

Records could be played with the dust lid closed, thus protecting both the turntable and the record collection from damaging dust particles. Beocenter 1800 had connections for tape recorder, two sets of stereo speakers and a pair of headphones.

When connected to a pair of Beovox Uni-Phase passive loudspeakers, it was known as Beosystem 1800.

Posted on

BeoGram 1102

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram 1102

Beogram 1102 was a fully automatic, hi-fi stereo record player with electronic servo-drive and high specification level. Operation was easy and straightforward. All functions were controlled by pressing the rectangular operating panel and if dissatisfied with the pitch of the record, speed could be adjusted by depressing the panel and rotating the little thumbwheel.
The pickup was an MMC 3000 with a spherical diamond. It tracked records at a stylus pressure of 1,2 grams. In order to fully exploit the pickup’s outstanding qualities, B&O constructed an extremely light magnesium pickup arm which, together with its unique suspension, ensured low inertia and thereby good conditions for correct contact between stylus and both walls of the record groove – at all times. Even warped records could be played satisfactorily.

Despite high specification levels, Beogram 1102 and 1902 automatic record-players are extremely easy to operate. All the technicalities are hidden under the surface.

Bang & Olufsen’s Electronic Servo Drive ensures that the rotatory speed of the Beogram 1102 and 1902 was always correct despite variations in the mains current supply. This is so because the system has a special feedback circuit which effects automatic corrections to compensate for these inherent variations

Beogram 1102 could be made up as part of the Beosystem 1100, together with other compatible Bang & Olufsen products

Beogram 1102 UK price in 1978: £97.00

These decks are beautifully made and offer super sound quality for almost no money. Much easier to maintain than the tangential decks simply because they are very simple! Excellent isolation from external vibrations – strongly recommended – and they were when new by Hi-Fi Choice! Simpler than the earlier 1100 – and better for that! A DC motor replaced the AC motor fitted to the 1100 and was electronically regulated with speed adjustment done through a potentiometer as opposed to the complicated measures used in earlier decks. This method would roll out across the range of Beograms.

Posted on

BeoGram 1100

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram 1100

The most basic of a new range of beograms, this model was amongst the first to use the new MMC range of cartridges.

In the case it used the bottom of the range MMC3000 and was designed to be partnered by systems such as the Beomaster 1100.

Much more slim and elegant than the 2000 that it replaced, it featured the triple leaf spring suspension that was a feature of all Beograms from that point onwards. As one of the earlier models in this range, the 1100 used a belt and idler wheel drive mechanism. This would be replaced in the later 02 models with a simple belt drive.

These decks are beautifully made and offer super sound quality for almost no money. Much easier to maintain than the tangential decks simply because they are very simple! Excellent isolation from external vibrations – strongly recommended – and they were when new by Hi-Fi Choice!