Release Date: 1991

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LC1 Light Controller

LC1 Light Controller

A part of the Bang & Olufsen complete home entertainment solution is the light control system which allows for the adjustment of light-settings of a single lamp, room or entire house with a Beolink® remote control.

You can also program local and global light-settings so that when you press ‘LIGHT’ and ‘1’ on the relevant remote control all the lights in the room adjust to their preset lux-settings which are stored in memory-location ‘1’. Nine local light settings can be stored with the dimming of each light unit being made individually.

Each light which should be included in the light programming must have an LC2 unit (the latest device) attached to them. It’s a small white, slim box with a dark glass ‘eye’ in the middle (see below). The ‘eye’ also operates as a tactile on/off switch – by touching it the light turns on or off; by keeping a finger on it the light dims upwards and downwards gradually.

The light-control units were also timer-programmable through two-way communication with the audio master (Beosystem or Beocenter) acting as the timer-host. In this way you could set the lights to dim when, for example your favourite TV-series began and the Beovision TV turned on! Unfortunately, since the demise of two-way communication in the mid-1990s this is no longer possible.

LC1 Light control module (1989-1992)

With the LC1 light control unit it became possible to regulate lighting levels and distribution using a Beolink 1000 terminal. The Mk3a Beolink 1000 was the first terminal to include a ‘Light’ key, and this, in conjunction with the volume keys, set the light level. Up to nine LC1 light controls could be used in one room, using the number keys on the Beolink 1000. LC1 light controls could also be preset at a number of different intensities, so that different ‘light pictures’ could be called up quickly and easily. The LC1 also had a sensi-touch area on its top surface in order that the connected light could be switched on and off manually.

Other remote control terminals that controlled the LC1 were Beolink 5000, 7000 and Beo4. Master Control Panels 5000, 5500 and 6500 did not include a light function.

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Control Center VTR

Bang & Olufsen BeoCord VX7000

The Control Center VTR was a special version of the Beocord VX 7000. It fitted neatly and unobtrusively in the AV 9000 Control Center and provided similar functionality to that offered by the VX 7000. There were a few differences though. Firstly, the tape transport keys were replaced by two sensi-touch fields, one for rewind and one for eject. Secondly (and inexplicably), the “track” mode had been removed from the digital display on the front of the machine.

The Control Center VTR was uprated alongside the Beocord VX 7000, and in particular was modified to use the Beo 4 remote control when this became available.

The Control Center VTR was withdrawn alongside the rest of the Beosystem AV 9000. The AV 9000 was replaced by the Beovision Avant, which was fitted with an integrated video recorder, so a new version of the Control Center VTR was not necessary.

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BeoVision MX 3500

BeoVision MX 3500

Beovision MX 3500 appeared so light that to think of it hanging on the wall would have been quite logical. In fact, like other MX TVs, it could (and still can) be done. TV could then be watched from any angle; the set could be turned horizontally and adjusted vertically. You could also place the MX 3500 directly onto the floor. Or on one of the specially designed stands, which fully complimented such a handsome TV.

Beovision 3500 was born with perfect razor-sharp pictures colours and automatic contrast regulation. As well as quick-search Teletext. And stereo decoders that let you receive concerts in the finest stereo sound, regardless of the stereo system transmitted.

As with every Bang & Olufsen TV, you could connect Beovision 3500 to video recorders, extra loudspeakers, headphones, decoders, personal computers, TV games consoles and amplifier loops for those with hearing impairment. And if you wanted, you could also have Bang & Olufsen’s satellite receiver built into the cabinet.

You could choose from five different, clear colours for Beovision MX 3500; from the outright daring to the highly discreet.

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BeoVision MX 5000

BeoVision MX 5000

Beovision MX5000 marked a high-point in the development of the MX series of televisions. The MX5000 was a fully-fledged 66cm TV, housing everything that technology had to offer in the area of TV pictures and sound.

The television had a 66cm flat-square picture tube, together with automatic adjustment of the colour balance 50 times every second, so you always obtained a crystal clear picture in lifelike colours. The set could also cope easily with variable light conditions thanks to the built-in contrast screen.

Beovision MX5000 also offered a unique feature in operating comfort – a motorised swivel platform which was operated by the same Beolink 1000 remote control as the television. The whole set could be turned 35 degrees either side for better viewing. And when you turned off the set, it automatically returned to the centre position. This was the first Bang & Olufsen TV set to employ a motorised base/stand.

Beovision MX5000 was designed specially be use in conjunction with Beocord VX5000 video recorder when, together, you could pull in a live picture from another channel on the screen while you continued with the programme you were already watching. Very handy when you were waiting for a specific programme on another channel to start. Much the same could be done in later years with the advent of Picture-in-Picture – a module bought as an accessory for fitting into your television.

Like all of Bang & Olufsen’s TV range at the time that Beovision MX5000 was produced, you could also have a NICAM decoder installed for the reception of stereo TV broadcasts. It came prepared with a Teletext decoder fitted with the four most-used pages stored in memory so that you could call them onto the screen very quickly. The MX5000 also automatically chose the right Teletext alphabet when you switched to a foreign TV station.

Another feature was that of satellite broadcasts in that you could have a Beosat RX satellite receiver connected to the television in order to receive satellite television programmes. The Beosat RX unit fitted snugly under the set in much the same way as the Beocord VX5000 video recorder.

Beovision MX5000 won I.D. magazine’s I.D. Award for its design in 1990.

Beovision MX5000 US

Bang & Olufsen’s first television in the the US market was a variant, the MX 5000 US. But, because of sales factors and market conditions at the time, it was not a great success.

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BeoVision MX 5500

BeoVision MX 5500

Beovision MX 5500 was perhaps Bang & Olufsen’s most elegant high-format TV according to the 1990 catalogue. The screen was exactly the same size as other 66cm television screens, but the stereo loudspeakers were located underneath, creating a completely different look. Also, the flat design and polished surfaces in clear colours helped make this big TV seem light and elegant.

From your armchair, the whole TV could be rotated 35 degrees to either side with lust a press of the Beolink 1000 terminal. And, when you had Beocord VX 5000 video tape recorder working in conjunction with it, the MX 5500 opened up a world of technological sophistication that literally, needed to be seen to be believed.

Whatever stereo system you used, Beovision MX 5500 had stereo decoders that allowed it to do full justice to the most exquisite music track. It shifted from system to system automatically; you didn’t even need to think about it. You could also use Beocord VX 5000 video recorder to record and playback 4 hours of stereo sound and picture or up to 8 hours of stereo sound alone.

Beovision MX 5500 contained the sum total of Bang & Olufsen’s expertise in sound and picture technology. As well as giving razor-sharp pictures and totally natural colours, room was left for a satellite receiver module. And naturally, there were connections options for extra loudspeakers, computers, decoders, headphones, amplifier loop, TV games and a whole host more.

The slim, beautiful Beocord VX 5000 video recorder was carefully designed to match the Beovision MX 5500 TV.

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BeoVision L 4500

BeoVision L 4500

Beovision L 5500 / 4500 – Alternative theatre

A classic Bang & Olufsen TV has always been a good investment. However, if you didn’t need the advanced features that Beovision LX had to offer, the alternative TV was the ‘L’ range. It offered same design, same engineering, same quality, but different pricing and different colours.

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BeoVision L 5500

BeoVision L 5500

Beovision L 5500 / 4500 – Alternative theatre

A classic Bang & Olufsen TV has always been a good investment. However, if you didn’t need the advanced features that Beovision LX had to offer, the alternative TV was the ‘L’ range. It offered same design, same engineering, same quality, but different pricing and different colours.

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BeoVision LS 4500

BeoVision LS 4500

TV and video in all simplicity
A Bang & Olufsen TV is always a good investment. But perhaps you didn’t want all the highly advanced functions in Bang & Olufsen’s video systems. In that case, you could choose a television like Beovision LS instead. It had the same classic lines as Beovision LX and the quality again was extremely high. There was just a slight difference in design and technical specifications. For example, unlike Bang & Olufsen’s video systems, Beovision LS and its VCR partner, Beocord V3000, could not be included in a Beolink® system.

Beovision LS was available as a 66cm or a 63cm TV – the LS5500 and LS4500 (as well as two further models – LS5000 and LS6000). All materials were of the finest quality and as always, attention to detail was meticulously made. For example, it was real wood that was used in the rosewood model and not plastic laminate. The glass screen in front of the picture tube was made of a high-quality glass, from Europe’s leading glassmaker. It served two functions: it captured the light reflections that struck the screen, minimising their effect on the picture. And at the same time, it unified the appearance of the television.

Picture and sound in high quality
You obtained the same distinguished picture on a Beovision LS as on the more advanced TVs in Bang & Olufsen’s range. The philosophy behind Bang & Olufsen’s TV picture is that it should appear as natural as possible. One of the reasons for this choice is that your eyes tire quickly if colours are too strong. In comparison with other brands, this philosophy can make a Bang & Olufsen picture seem less like a picture postcard. But Bang & Olufsen would rather be compared to reality than to glossy reproduction.

The sound in Beovision LS4500 and LS5500 also lived up to the expectations you had for a Bang & Olufsen TV. The amplifier in the built-in two-way bass-reflex speakers was, in fact, the same fine quality that was used in audio systems.

Beovision LS5500 66cm television was the result of generations of development and provided superb natural colour which is balanced automatically up to 50 times every second. Its powerful loudspeakers were set smoothly on each side of the screen which stretched from the very top to the bottom of the cabinet. Fast Teletext access was provided together with, satellite compatibility and NICAM digital stereo sound including Beolink 1000 remote control.

Beovision LS5500 could be happily married to Beocord V3000 video cassette recorder and both Teletext and NICAM stereo sound were standard on both the Beovision LS4500 and LS5500.