Beocord 8004 had its own microcomputer which took care of most of the tasks involved in recording and listening to cassette tapes. The microcomputer was also responsible for one of Beocord 8004’s most advanced and unique features – the real-time tape counter. Actual minutes and seconds were used to measure elapsed time so you always knew how much recording time was left to fill.
Selection between chrome, ferric and metal tape characteristics was automatic. So was the operation of the HX-Professional recording system – a technique developed by Bang & Olufsen to expand the peak ceiling level of all types of tape. The provision of Dolby B and Dolby C Noise Reduction improved the sound quality of your recordings even further.
Signal input levels were indicated on electronically-controlled Peak Programme Meters that performed to standards set for professional studio and broadcasting recorders. The signal level was monitored on both recording and playback.
The tape head of Beocord 8004 was a single combination head of superb technical quality. Both the poles and the beddings were made of Sendust alloy. As with all Bang & Olufsen recorders, a special additional circuit automatically demagnetised the head each time the STOP function was used at the end of a recording.
Locating particular recordings was quick and easy using the Beocord’s computerised tape address system. Just key in the track’s start time – in minutes and seconds – press GO, and wait a few seconds. The tape automatically wound to that location and began to play.
For recording an important broadcast while you were out of the house (or when you didn’t want to spend the evening clock-watching) there was a twenty-four hour electronic timer. With a few touches to the programming buttons you could store the station, start time and stop time in the microcomputer’s memory. It then carried out your instructions at the appropriate hour – regardless of how you used the recorder in the interim.
Beocord 8004 could be used as a stand-alone tape cassette recorder or as part of hi-fi systems such as Beosystem 6000 or Beosystem 8000.
This advanced cassette deck was a fine example of the way Bang & Olufsen employed new technology to obtain useful functions with easy, logical operation. Microcomputer intelligence was the basis of many of the Beocord’s unique features, including the use of real time (actual minutes and seconds) to measure tape consumption.
You knew exactly how much recording time was left on your cassettes, so that you could fit in the various tracks precisely without wasting the last few metres of tape every time. Once recorded, the same microcomputer could find individual tracks for you, too. Just key in the address (counter of reading) of the passage of music you want to hear. The cassette fast rewound to that position and played the track automatically for you.
Recognition between chrome and ferric tapes was automatic: a manual switch selected metal tape characteristics. The M&X record/replay head was made of a special type of super permalloy and Dolby B Noise Reduction was included.
Beocord 6002 incorporated Bang & Olufsen’s (then) latest HX-Professional recording system (HX-Pro), developed in co-operation with Dolby laboratories. This technique effectively extended the recording headroom (peak-level ceiling) of all types of tape, and operated automatically during recordings to give stabilised frequency response, wider dynamic range and better signal-to-noise ratio. In other words, you got disc-quality sound from normal ferric or chrome tapes, so you didn’t have to buy expensive metal tapes for professional-sounding recordings.
An electronic Peak Programme Meter registered recording level, which you set by separate sliders for left and right channels. The electronic clock and 24-hour timer allowed you to make recordings or play a tape automatically at any pre-set time.
Beocord 6002 could be used as a stand-alone tape cassette recorder or as part of hi-fi systems such as Beosystem 6000 or Beosystem 8000.
Beocord 6000 measured 53cm wide x 13cm high (24,5cm with lid open) x 30cm deep. The slim cabinet was finished in a choice of natural teak or rosewood.
With improving specifications of cassette recorders, tape manufacturers also made progress in the formulation of tape. Standards committees decided to classify tapes into three main categories: oxide tape, chrome tape and metal tape. The newer categories allowed improved recording performance, but also required different recording bias levels to achieve the improvements.
Manufacturers of cassette recorders incorporated switches to adapt the recording characteristics to the tape, and later a system of slots at the back of the cassette were standardised, so that the recorder was set to the correct type of tape during recording. It should be added that once recorded, replay conditions were identical for all tape types, so that once the cassettes were recorded, they could be replayed on any machine.
Beocord 6000 closely resembled the top of the range Beocord 8000 but had black keys to match those on the Beomaster 6000. The Beocord 8000 was replaced at the time of the introduction of the 6000 by the 8002 which offered Dolby HX Pro in addition to its other features.
Beocenter 7000 upon its release, represented one of the most advanced hi-fi centres on the market. One touch produced instant music from a record, cassette tape or an FM or AM radio station. Illuminated symbols on the set’s communication panel confirmed instructions or rejected mistakes and kept you informed on the set’s operational status at all times.
in short, Beocenter 7000 offered two-way visual communication in high-fidelity.
The cordless remote control module put you in command of most of the functions from anywhere in the room. You could select any programme which would also switch on the set. You could regulate the volume – 2 x 40 watts RMS – make cassette recordings, and switch off the set. Comprehensive memory and timer facilities enabled you to program the set’s microcomputer to operate within a 24-hour period. It could record an important radio programme while you were out, and even instruct the Beocenter to wake you up with an early morning broadcast.
Each of Beocenter 7000’s three sound sources had the quality and performance level normally found in much more expensive separate units. The record deck had Electronic Servo Drive for absolute speed accuracy and its operation was fully automated. Stop, start or pause could be controlled via the remote control terminal. The cassette recorder had a Sendust record/replay head and a double-gap erase head that could even cope with metal tapes. You could locate any point on the tape simply by asking the set’s microcomputer to search for this required counter reading. The radio had facilities for pre-setting 5 FM and 1 AM stations which could then be selected instantly at the touch of a button.
Beocenter 7000 was designed by Jacob Jensen. In 1979 three more of the designer’s creations for Bang & Olufsen were included in the Design Collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York including the Beocenter 7000 music system.
Beocenter 7002 was one of the most advanced hi-fi music centres on the market at the time of its release. One touch gave you music instantly from a record, cassette tape or an AM or FM radio station.
Illuminated symbols on the set’s communication panel confirmed your instructions or rejected mistakes, and kept you informed of the set’s operational status at all times. In short, Beocenter 7002 offered two-way communication in high fidelity.
The cordless remote control module put you in command of all functions from your chosen listening position. Select any programme; this action also switched the set on. Regulate the volume level – there were 2 x 40 watts RMS at your disposal. Make cassette recordings. Or switch off the set – all without leaving your chair.
Comprehensive memory and timer facilities enabled you to programme the set’s microcomputer to operate any function at a given time within a 24-hour period. It could record an important radio programme while you were away from home. You could even instruct the Beocenter to wake you up with an early morning broadcast.
Each of the Beocenter 7002’s three sound sources had a high quality and performance level normally found only in much more expensive separate units.
The record deck had electronic Servo Drive for absolute speed accuracy and its operation was fully automated. Stop, start or pause by remote control. The cassette recorder had a Sendust record/replay head and a double-gap erase head that could even cope with metal tapes. You could locate any point on the tape simply by asking the set’s microcomputer to search for this required counter reading. The radio had facilities for pre-setting 5 FM and 1 AM stations which could then be selected instantly at the touch of a button.
Beocenter 7002 offered the same musical facilities and powerful 2 x 40 watts RMS output as Beocenter 5000. The two models were identical in the matter of sound quality too, but only the Beocenter 7002 had Bang & Olufsen’s very advanced timer-track location and remote control systems. The black anodised lid of its cassette compartment further differentiated Beocenter 5000 from the 7002.
Top quality sound and maximum listening comfort were the main features of this integrated hi-fi system. Records, radio, cassette tapes and a 2 x 40 watts RMS stereo amplifier could all be controlled from anywhere in the room using the slim remote handset. Without moving more than a finger you could select any sound source, adjust volume level, fast wind the tape and even make recordings. This supreme ease of operation was made possible by microcomputer technology. In addition, there were two user-programmable microcomputers which allowed you to make unattended recordings at any time within a 24-hour period, or to play any sound source automatically at a pre-selected time – day after day, if you wished.
A further advantage was easy access to cassette recordings: just key in the appropriate counter reading (address) and the cassette would fast wind to the required passage of music. Ferric, chrome or metal tapes could all be used and Dolby B Noise Reduction was included to ensure clean, hiss-free recordings.
The automatic record deck had an ultra-lightweight arm carrying the MMC 4 pickup cartridge. The radio section covered Long, Medium and FM bands with facilities for pre-setting 6 favourite stations.
The recommended speakers were the Beovox S55 . Speaker pedestals or the SC70/ SC77 hi-fi cabinet could be added optionally if required.
In 1982, Bang & Olufsen introduced a completely new way of living with music. The company was then the only one in the world to fulfil the desire for perfect sound from attic to basement – from just the one central music system.
With the Beolink® system – around which Beocenter 7700 was based – you could enjoy and control you music system in several rooms. From acorns great oak trees spring, and most of the the current (2002) range of TV and hi-fi systems can be equally controlled to give you ’round the house music’ using the latest MasterLink system.
The very advanced (for its time) Beocenter 7700 system brought an entirely new range of possibilities to the serious music-lover. For the very first time ever, round-the-house hi-fi became an option, in whichever room you wanted to listen to it.
Beocenter 7700 featured Long, Medium and FM radio, automatic record deck, microcomputer controlled cassette recording and 2 x 40 watts RMS stereo amplifier. Two user-programmable 24-hour timers were included, and all sound sources are accessible by infra-red remote control.
From this comprehensive and desirable foundation, it was possible to build up (either immediately, or room by room) a sound system that could be enjoyed and operated from anywhere in the house ( a forerunner to the later Beolink® system).
This is how it worked.
The remote Terminal (Master Control panel) supplied with the Beocenter 7700 had control buttons for armchair access to all primary playing and recording functions.
But in addition, it also had three digital read-out panels on which your instructions were confirmed every time you pressed a button. So you had your means of “talking to” your Beocenter 7700, and it had a means of “talking to” you – right there in your hand.
Your instructions were carried to the Beocenter’s microcomputer by infra-red light, and confirmatory signals were returned to the remote control Terminal in the same way – in a fraction of a second.
This two-way communication could be extended to other rooms by fitting those rooms with a pair of speakers and an electronic Master Control Link, all available as optional accessories. When you wanted to listen to music or radio in a room away from the Beocenter, the remote control Terminal was taken with you. By directing it at the Master Control link (which you had fixed on the wall or on a shelf) in just the same way as you would normally direct it towards the Beocenter, you could control all primary functions and receive confirmation that the Beocenter was doing what you want.
The Master Link equipment could be fitted in up to four different rooms, and you could choose which speakers were to play and which were to be silent. It was like having a complete, top-quality hi-fi system in every room, but paying for only one (plus as many loudspeakers and Master Links as you needed). You could, if you wished, buy additional remote control Terminals if you didn’t want to carry one around the house. But this was not strictly necessary.
Beocenter 7700 offered top quality sound from records, radio and cassettes. Operation was fast, easy and foolproof because of a built-in microcomputer which blocked mistakes, automating many boring, repetitive operations – like switching off one sound source before switching on another. Two timers, each with a 24-hour memory and automatic repeat function, allowed you to record or play any programme at specific times – day after day if you wished. The digital clock could be displayed or not – it was up to you.
You could pre-set 6 favourite FM radio stations, or 5 FM and one AM (Long or Medium wave) for instant press-button recall – either by direct or remote control.
The cassette section had many advanced features to make recording easier and more accurate. Replay, too – it was necessary just to key-in the appropriate counter reading and the cassette would fast wind to any point on the tape. It was as easy as finding a particular track on a record.
Metal, ferric and chrome tapes could be used, and the Dolby Noise Reduction circuits ensured clean, hiss-free sound.
The record deck was fitted with the (then) very latest type of tone arm and miniature MMC 3 cartridge. This pick-up carried a tiny naked elliptical diamond and weighed only 1.6 grams. It had superb tracking ability and ensured the minimum of record wear.
The safe handling of records was also the idea behind the turntable light – fitted inside the hinged lid – which switched on automatically whenever the lid was opened, and stayed alight as long as the deck was in operation.
Beocenter 7700 was available in natural teak or rosewood finish. It measured 72cm wide x 9.5cm high (37.5cm with the lid open) x 38cm deep and could be accommodated in either SC.50 or SC.70 System Cabinet, available separately.
Your choice of loudspeakers for use with Beocenter 7700 was really a matter of listening and comparing the various Beovox models. Different households had different requirements – in size, in quality and in cost. Fortunately, with the Beovox range the choice was a wide one. Advice on speakers for the Beocenter 7700 included Beovox C40, C75, S45, S55 and S80.
Beocenter 7700 was introduced as a completely new way of operating a hi-fi system. A way which gave individuals the freedom to enjoy top quality sound all over the house; at the same time to control the music from anywhere in any room.
This was the world’s first high fidelity system that could be operated from another room. With the Beocenter 7700’s master Control Panel and and optional Master Control Link, you could control radio, record deck, cassette recorder and stereo amplifier even though you were in the kitchen or bedroom and the set itself was in the lounge.
So when you want music in another room, don’t move the hi-fi – just move the music!
A Master Control Panel (above) was supplied with every Beocenter 7700. It was used just like an ordinary remote control handset when you were listening in the lounge, close to your hi-fi system. It let you operate all sound sources and adjust volume levels without moving from the comfortable armchair.
Master Control Link was an optional accessory, like the additional loudspeakers you needed in order to enjoy your music in other rooms. The Link equipment consisted of two units – a discreet black box containing a mass of sophisticated electronic circuitry (which could be fitted out of sight behind furniture etc.), and a transceiver unit that was placed on a shelf or wall where it could pick up the infra-red signals from your Master Control Panel. The transceiver unit also let you switch the speakers in this room on or off, and gave access to programmes that were due to be played via the Beocenter’s automatic timers.
You could buy extra stereo speakers and Master Control links for one, two or three additional rooms, as well as enjoying the hi-fi system itself which you probably installed in the living room or the lounge.
The Master Link equipment was connected by cable ‘in series’, i.e. only the first extra room is connected direct to the Beocenter; the second extra room was connected to the first and so on, so wiring was kept to a minimum. And you could add each room one by one – as your needs changed or your budget allowed.
Designed as a perfect match, both physically and technically, for the Beomaster 2000, this advanced slim-line cassette deck was nonetheless a serious hi-fi product in its own right, combining a high-performance specification with supreme ease of operation.
Despite its unassuming appearance, Beocord 2000 contained a full pay-load of advanced circuitry plus a few extra features rarely found in cassette decks within this price frame. The primary controls – those concerned with tape movement – were totally electronic and designed on the Sensitouch principle. There were no knobs to turn or keys to press; a light fingertip touch was sufficient to activate any function.
Ferric, chrome or metal tapes could be used, and Dolby B noise reduction was included to ensure clean, hiss-free recordings. A clearly calibrated scale and input slider, together with large Peak Programme Meter, made it quick and easy to set accurate recording levels. These controls were placed adjacent to the cassette tray beneath a hinged lid which sprang open at a touch.
Beocord 2000’s built-in microcomputer made operation fast and foolproof. It was possible to switch directly between any and all tape transport modes without harming the tape, the mechanism or the motor. Microcomputer intelligence also opened the way for additional control functions that contributed in a very practical way to daily enjoyment of taped music.
A NEXT control allowed for easy track location (tape scan): one touch fast winds the tape to the next signal gap and plays the following track – automatically. So if you wanted to hear, for example, track number 5, just touch-and-wait four times and the place would be found for you. Similarly, you could repeat play-back of a favourite track up to five times with just a single touch. It’s such a convenient way of listening to exactly what you want, when you want.
Beocord 2000 had a socket for data-link connection to Beomaster 2000 so that direct switching was possible between Beomaster, Beogram and Beocord in the Beosystem 2000. The deck could also be data-linked to Beomaster 5000 or Beomaster 6000, when all tape functions could be operated via the receiver’s remote control system. Beocord 2000 could be made up as part of the Beosystem 2000, when linked together with other compatible Bang & Olufsen products. It was also part of Beosystem 3000 if that is how you wished to use it.
Beocord 1600 matched the Beomaster 1600 and Beogram 1600 both physically and technically. It combined high performance with easy, straightforward operation.
Ferric, chrome or metal tapes could be used. The Sendust tape head, Dolby B Noise Reduction circuits and Peak Programme Meter all contributed to high quality recording and playback. You could switch between all modes of play without fear of tangling the tape or damaging the mechanism.
This highly specified top-loading cassette deck closely matched Beomaster 2300 both in appearance and technical compatibility. But it was also worth serious consideration for use with any good hi-fi system, especially if ease-of-use was one of your demands.
Ferric, chrome and metal tapes could be used and the Dolby B noise reduction system kept your recordings clean and hiss-free. The large split-channel VU meters made it easy to set optimum recording levels using the input slider. The combined record/replay head was of long-life Sendust.
The 3-digit tape counter had a press-button reset; a memory function aided easy location of favourite tracks for repeat playing.
Piano-key controls separated all tape-transport functioned: these included a very precise pause control and a double-key record control – a safety check for preventing the accidental erasure of tapes.
Tape speed was highly accurate with deviation of less than +/- 1% and wow and flutter below +/- 0,15% DIN.
Beocord 2400 measured 40cm wide, 8cm high (11cm with cassette holder open) and 25cm deep. The slim cabinet was finished in either natural teak or rosewood.
At the 1969 Hanover Fair Bang & Olufsen and Jacob Jensen – designer of Beocord 2400 – were presented with the iF award for no less than 4 products for ‘outstanding industrial design’ including this sleek cassette recorder.
