MMC4
This could be regarded as the standard cartridge in the range and was fitted to many decks as standard.
In many ways a replacement for the MMC20E, it offered good performance at a most reasonable price
Release Date: 1991
MMC5
The most basic of the range, this cartridge was available to be specified for those decks not fitted with a cartridge as standard such as the Beogram RX.
It could be differentiated by its cantilever which was a straight non tapered aluminium tube.
BeoMaster 3500
Beomaster 3500 was a part of Beosystem 3500 which comprised the Beomaster 3500 receiver, Beogram 3500 CD player, Beocord 3500 cassette recorder, a pair of Beovox RL35 speakers and a Beolink 1000 remote control.
The whole system in the autumn of 1991 cost just 1600 euros (about £1100). The system’s lines were pure with everything superfluous omitted. It was specially designed to hang either on a wall or sit on a shelf or table. A light touch on its illuminated display gave immediate access to AM/FM receiver, CD player and cassette recorder; all of which were the latest and best in their respective fields. The system was completed by a pair of RedLine RL 35 speakers and operated via a Beolink 1000 remote control unit.
The system was similar to Beosystem 4500 but had a matt finish on the top panels as opposed to Beosystem 4500’s shiny panels. The electronics were a cut-down version of its more expensive brother.
BeoMaster 4500
The Beomaster 4500 radio/amplifier received both FM and AM radio and was your communication link to the other sound sources in the system. Its operation was simplicity itself with an illuminated menu presenting all the options available. 20 radio stations could be pre-set providing you with instant access together with automatic fine tuning.
The 2 x 55 watt/8 ohm amplifier had a newly-developed, well-balanced interplay with the power supply which gave the output extra strength. The power reserve encompassed the entire frequency range and gave stable sound quality no matter what the volume. Beomaster 4500 also had automatic power handling control that prevented overloading, no matter how many loudspeakers were connected, as well as a special loudspeaker socket which ensured optimal utilisation of BeoLab active loudspeakers.
Beomaster 4500 could be used as part of the Beosystem 4500 hi-fi system and could be controlled via a Beolink 1000 remote control terminal. Later models of Beomaster 4500 could be controlled by the two-way Beolink 5000 and had the extra benefit of programmable timer functions (note that only Beomaster 4500 models with a software version of 2.1 and higher were able to handle two-way communication as well as the timer function.)
BeoMaster 6500
The Beomaster 6500 receiver was the brains behind the sound system.
In part a powerful receiver for FM/AM and LW broadcast bands. In part the control centre that created the connection between your commands and all the sound sources in Beosystem 6500. You could preset up to 20 stations and a light touch on the Master Control Panel automatically initiated the search and fine tuning functions.
2 x 110 watts/8 ohms output gave you a power surplus that provided a detailed sound picture even at low volume. The receiver also had Bang & Olufsen’s automatic power handling control that prevented overloading no matter how many loudspeakers you connected. It also had a newly-designed socket which provided optimal utilisation of BeoLab speakers.
Beomaster 6500 could be used as part of the Beosystem 6500 hi-fi system and could be controlled with with the Master Control Panel 6500 or Beolink 7000.
BeoGram CD 3500
The sound reproduction achieved by Bang & Olufsen’s CD 3500 CD player was truly outstanding. It played both 12cm and 8cm compact discs and had an ingenious ‘step’ function which allowed you to go straight to a chose track selected from anywhere on the disc. The CD player was one of the most technologically-advanced pieces of hi-fi on the market at the time and yet was one of the easiest to operate. The explicit display always indicated what the CD player was doing all the time – for example, which track was being played, and how many tracks there were on the played compact disc.
Beogram CD 3500 could be used as part of the Beosystem 3500 hi-fi system.
BeoLab 5000 (1988)
Bang & Olufsen’s BeoLab and Beovox 5000 / 3000 speakers had both the voice and the looks for a leading, acoustic role. And because of their looks, they were known as Bang & Olufsen’s range of panel loudspeakers. Panel loudspeakers were one of the most exciting and interesting examples of how Bang & Olufsen united advanced technology and stunning design to achieve totally new effects.
They may not have looked like high-specification loudspeakers – more like works of art – but their sound immediately gave them away. Even at full volume, they kept the total sound picture in perfect balance.
Design as a work of art
The elegant, flat panel loudspeakers were created to hang on the wall. And with their calm surfaces of blue or grey fabric coupled with polished steel, they could be taken for works of art. But the design was only partly for visual effect. The form of the panel speakers was founded on an advanced, acoustic principle that uses the wall as an active part of the sound reproduction process – without causing the wall itself to vibrate.
Optional display and amplifier
The panel loudspeakers were available in two sizes – each with or without amplifier and a display showing which source was playing and at what volume. Also it told you which track number on a CD or tape you were listening to. With display and amplifier the loudspeakers were called BeoLab. Without, they were called Beovox. The option depended upon which Bang & Olufsen sound system was connected. BeoLab speakers were designed to match Beosystem 6500, 4500, 3500 and Beocenter 9500 and 8500.
Why build amplifiers into the loudspeakers instead of keeping them separate?
Because you can reduce the size of the cabinet volume to one-third of the size of a conventional loudspeaker with the same sound capacity. The principle is called Active Loudspeakers, and what you get is a compact loudspeaker that can play at high volume without distortion or damage to its drive units. Furthermore, when amplifier, treble and bass units are paired for the same task, they can be tailored to compensate for each other’s shortcomings. What you hear is music that sounds exactly like the instrument it originally came from.
Mounting Options
Wall mounting brackets were supplied with this model. No other mounting solution wall offered.
BeoCord 3500
Beocord 3500 was part of Beosystem 3500, a budget-priced system for those who wanted to get onto the Bang & Olufsen bandwagon but could not afford, or did not want to have, the extra features that say, Beosystem 4500 had to offer.
It included specifications such as Dolby B Noise Reduction and a Sendust head for longer life of the recording/playback head, otherwise the features were identical to the Beocord 4500. Its only difference was the grey finish instead of its more expensive brother’s polished surfaces.
BeoCom 2000
Beocom 2000, the classic telephone from Bang & Olufsen… what else is there to say?
Beocom 2000 was unlike anything which had been introduced by Bang & Olufsen before.
All the parts of the phone were made by the company itself and not imported from other manufacturers. A well-equipped telephone with extraordinary sound quality, a tradition carried on with all of the Beocom range of telephones.
The design is truly timeless. The display gave information on which number your were calling and the time connected. All standard functions were of course, also available, like volume control and numeric memories, and for the more advanced user there was a special headset available!
This phone was also available in a more simple version, Beocom 600, which didn’t have the display but had the same sound quality.
The memory bank of the Beocom 2000 enabled you to store your personal top twenty, and at the touch of just a few buttons you were connected. With display, bass reflex speaker in handset, 20 numbers of memory, quick call key for an often-use or ’emergency’ number, redial of last 3 numbers called, pause function, adjustable volume control, microphone mute (for secrecy), built-in speaker for listening, adjustable tone ringer with 8 settings plus off. There was even a hidden note pad which could be used by raising the lid on the right-hand side of the unit!
Up to 1993 Beocom 2000 was produced with different coloured keys. However, from this time a more mellow design was offered with all the keys complementing each other. On its bright display with large characters the Beocom 2000 could offer you the last three numbers for redialling
BeoCord VX4500
Beocord VX4500, Type 4535 was a basic version of the BeoCord VX5000. It lost the digital video effects but looked very similar outwardly.