If you wanted to indulge yourself with the finest sound quality then you’d do no better than listening to your favourite pieces of music on Bang & Olufsen’s Beogram CD 6500. Beogram CD 6500 was a replacement for its predecessor, Beogram CD 5500.
It played both 12cm and 8cm compact discs, and housed sophisticated and advanced digital technology. And it offered sound reproduction which would satisfy even the most demanding of listeners.
Beogram CD 6500 could be used as part of the Beosystem 6500 hi-fi system.
The sound reproduction achieved by Bang & Olufsen’s CD 4500 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 chosen 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 4500 could be used as part of the Beosystem 4500 hi-fi system.
Like many Bang & Olufsen turntables, Beogram 7000 was designed with a tangential arm, which ensured optimal playing of the record. It also came equipped with the patented OPP system (Optimal Pivot Point), so that the pick-up – MMC2 – was not disturbed by vibrations.
Fully automatic and remote controlled via Beolink 7000
Integrated MMC 2 pickup cartridge
Tangential tonearm with OPP (Optimum Pivot Point)
Pendulum suspended sub-chassis
Built-in RIAA amplifier
By the mid-1990s the CD had rapidly become a replacement for the black vinyl record with many new albums released only in the CD format. This is why Bang & Olufsen ceased production of its record decks, with Beogram 7000 being the last in a very long line of high quality turntables. However, even today the vinyl format is alive, as so many treasured record collections were originally based on the vinyl format in its heyday, with many more of the more esoteric albums still awaiting CD reissue. The requirements that have to be met by a record player have become threefold:
“The preservation of precious vinyl records in as perfect a condition as possible
The ability to pick up information from the grooves and reproduce them faithfully
The operation must be made as similar to the other sources in a system as possible.”
Beogram 7000 met and exceeded all these requirements. The MMC2 pick-up cartridge weighed only 1,6g – the lowest own weight of any pick-up cartridge – and had a very high compliance and low effective tip mass. The result was a very good tracking ability with little record wear and in combination with the contact line nude diamond the optimal contact with the groove walls was ensured – to pick up the full music information. The MMC principle – Moving Micro Cross – gave a high channel separation, especially in the bass range, a low distortion and very little channel difference, which are all elements that significantly contribute to the achieved sound quality.
The MMC cartridge was mounted in a tangential tonearm, which eliminated tracking errors. The unique Optimum Pivot Point and the pendulum suspended sub-chassis made the reproduction virtually immune to vibrations from the outside.
The tonearm’s axis for horizontal movement was positioned behind the vertical axis and thus behind the tonearm’s centre of gravity. If the pivot point for horizontal movements vibrated, the rear part of the arm with the counterweight also vibrated, whereas the stylus remained still, because it was in the centre of the vibrations. The MMC was completely integrated with the tonearm and the low weight of the cartridge meant that the tonearm resonance could be optimised to the ideal value of 10 – 15Hz.
The pendulum suspension efficiently insulated the inner chassis with tonearm and platter from the outer cabinet to prevent vibrations to affect playback. The suspension consisted of three pendulums and leafsprings and gave the inner chassis an inherent resonance of 5 – 6 Hz.
Operation of Beogram 7000 was via Beolink 7000. The turntable automatically determined record size and selected playback speed accordingly (33 or 45 rpm.). If no record was registered, playback did not begin. It was only possible to lower the pick-up cartridge if there was a record on the platter. When you operated Beogram 7000 from Beolink 7000 you could not by accident lower the stylus outside of the record surface. By preventing unauthorised operation of Beogram 7000, Bang & Olufsen gave priority to both the preservation of the pick-up cartridge and the vinyl records.
Beogram 7000 could ideally, be used as part of Beosystem 7000
To complement Beocenter 8500, a dedicated record player – Beogram 8500 – was designed specifically for this particular hi-fi centre.
The technical aspects of Beogram 8500 were identical to Beogram 9500; it was only the finish that was different which was coloured soft grey to complement the rest of the system.
In design, technology and operating philosophy, the Beogram 9500 turntable was a perfect match for the Beocenter 9500 system.
Using a light-weight MMC2 cartridge, its electronic tangential arm played each record at the exact angle it was cut giving the most precise reading of the grooves ensuring that every nuance of a recording was captured.
The arm was suspended by a patented Bang & Olufsen system which helped prevent vibrations from any source reaching the cartridge. And the chassis suspension acted as an effective buffer against external vibrations.
Beocenter 8000 gave you a powerful receiver – with CD player and cassette recorder hidden under covers which glided to the side when you wished to use them. Bang & Olufsen’s high quality and distinguished design made a dexterous duo with this Beocenter. Grace and simplicity emphasised Bang & Olufsen’s basic principle that technology exists for the sake of humankind – and not the other way around!
Easy Operation:
Light touches on Beocenter 8000 gave you free access to the simple operation. The illuminated display led you through all the functions by showing you what to do at every step. If you preferred, you could also use Beolink 1000 which controlled all the functions from a distance.
FM/AM Receiver:
At the core of Beocenter 8000 was the receiver – the ‘command centre’ of the system. Here you could preset up to 20 FM/AM stations which you could locate easily by choosing a number from 1 – 20 on the display panel.
CD player:
Beocenter 8000’s CD player accepted both 12cm and 8cm compact discs. At any time, you could choose a single track, or change the order in which you wanted to hear the tracks. The option was there too to skip a track.
Cassette recorder:
Both recording and playback on the cassette recorder in the Beocenter 8000 offered the highest quality. One reason was Bang & Olufsen’s patented HX-PRO system which ensures optimal sound reproduction, particularly in the sensitive treble range.
When you were listening to a tape, you could change the listening order of the tracks. You could skip individual tracks, or skip to a certain track regardless of where it was on the tape. Auto Reverse is so sophisticated that you will never hear the tape change sides unless you really listen for it.
The cassette recorder automatically registered the type of tape you were using. And you could choose Dolby B or Dolby C Noise Reduction when you recorded.
Connections: Beocenter 8000 had connections for an extra cassette recorder plus two pairs of speakers. Thee was also a contact for you to connect a turntable, for example Beogram 9500.
Features: CD player with programming, tape recorder with auto reverse, FM/AM radio, finger touch control, optional Beolink 1000 remote control operation, connections for headphones, optional BeoStand.
The mirrored exterior of aluminium and smoked glass gave no hint of the power hidden beneath the surface of Beocenter 9500. Central to the concept was the AM/FM receiver. On the flanks, CD player and cassette recorder awaited their turn in the spotlight. When they were needed, a light touch on the display panel was all that was required to make lids glide to the side giving immediate access to disc or cassette. The Beocenter was designed by Jacob Jensen and was the direct descendant of Beocenter 9000. The two models features here were superceded in 1994 by Beocenter 9300.
Simple logical operation
A light touch directly on Beocenter 9500 was all you needed to access its operation. The illuminated display led you logically through the programming and other functions always showing you what to do next. This ease and simplicity of use was the first impression you obtained of the music system. And equally easy to use was the optional remote control Beolink 1000 terminal.
Entertainment and information from three reliable sources
You could preset up to 20 FM and AM stations on the Beocenter 9500 receiver. And when you made your choice, search and fine tuning were completely automatic. Also, you could preset the receiver to switch on automatically to catch the news, or perhaps a favourite serial at just the right time. If you were out, the cassette recorder could be programmed to record and you could play back at your leisure.
You could also use the Beocenter 9500 receiver as a guaranteed alarm. In the event of a power failure during the night, the clock instantly switched to its own built-in batteries to ensure that you awoke at just the right time.
The CD player which accommodated both 12cm and 8cm compact discs was also ready for your commands. It gave you instant access to a specific track anywhere on the disc and allowed you to change the order in which the tracks were played, or to simply choose only those tracks you wished to listen to. Technology at its most convenient best. When used with Beogram 9500 the music system was known as Beosystem 9500.
The fine art of control of Beocenter 8500 & 9500
The unfailing sensi-touch control of the Beocenter 9500 works through a condenser effect. A graphite area is printed on the underside of the glass panel, and charged with a high frequency current. Even the lightest touch of a finger will spark the reaction.
Beocenter 8500
For individuals who could live without time-programming but wanted the advanced features of the Beocenter 9500, Bang & Olufsen created the Beocenter 8500. There was no difference in the quality of the sound, but the cabinet was finished in a soft grey as an alternative to the polished aluminium finish of Beocenter 9500.
