Release Date: 1996

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Beolink 5000

Bang & Olufsen Beolink 5000

To keep up with Beolink’s ability to move sound and picture not only from one product to another, but from one room to another, Bang & Olufsen developed remote control units capable of two-way interactive and visual communication. The handheld Beolink 5000 provided a visual display which helped guide you through every stage of an operation giving you visual feedback of each system’s current status even when you were in a different room.

As the expanded capability of the terminal called for more operating buttons, Beolink 5000 had visual displays and operational buttons on both sides of the unit. Secondary-function buttons were recessed and placed to the rear while primary control buttons were positioned at the front.

Beolink 5000 added a new dimension to Bang & Olufsen’s remote control range in the early 1990’s. A fascinating transparent display, with numbers and letters apparently hanging in mid-air kept you constantly informed about the status of the Bang & Olufsen equipment that you were either watching or listening to. The layout of the unit was similar to that of Beolink 1000. However, because of its expanded capability it called for more operating buttons. To maintain its slim design, these were found on both sides of the hand-held unit. At the front, under the visual display, were the source selection buttons. Below these were the multi-function buttons arranged in a circle and designed for easy thumb operation. The circle contained buttons for analogue operation and menu-operated functions; a total of eleven buttons.

On the back were the secondary function buttons such as programming and recording, recessed in a channel to help prevent accidental operation.

Beolink 5000 was the ideal terminal to use where extra speakers or a second television were linked to a central system in a different room. Its display gave you feedback about the system’s current status to assist you in issuing your instructions.

It allowed you to fully utilise the timer recording, play and play next facilities on the Beosystem 4500 and Beocenter 9500. It was also particularly well-suited for Beosystem 2300. The remote control also maximised the programming capabilities of Beocord VX5000 video system and, via Beocenter 9500, allowed you to program LC1 and LC2 light control units.

Features
Beolink 5000 had the added benefit of a transparent display panel to guide users through complicated operations. Combining this display with fixed buttons which were positioned to provide a clear distinction between primary and secondary operations, allowed for simple and logical overall operation. The unit was light and slim, its display had low power consumption (LCD supertwist which produced map definition and detail even in bright sunlight) with a dot matrix display capacity of two lines, each with seven characters. The display could be read from either side of the handset dependant on which operations were carried out (to be read from either the back or the front).

Other important highlights of Beolink 5000 were:
Hand-held terminal for all video, audio and AV operation in central rooms and Local Control Systems

Two-way operation with display feedback

One-button source selection, video and audio

Logical layout with grouping of related functions

Secondary functions placed on the back to prevent inadvertent operation

Comprehensive secondary functions, e.g. record/time programming with display support and guidance

Companion infra-red remote control units that were available at the time of Beolink 5000’s introduction, were Beolink 1000 and Beolink 7000.

Component features
Beolink 5000 was the key to TV and video systems of the early 1990s. It was recommended for operation of such TV/video packages as Video System 5500 or Video System 6000, because these systems contained numerous advanced functions, especially in the fields of recording- and timer-programming. Beolink 5000 was optimised for the operation of such complex functions where you were guided through the options via prompts on the display of the terminal.

The display responded whenever you activated a function. When you carried out a primary operation, e.g. selected a source, you received status feedback. The feedback was dynamic, i.e. it changed according to the operation you carried out and the subsequent response the terminal received from the system. An example of this was in the adjustment of sound, where the centre balance function was only displayed when the function was available at that time in the system.

When you were in the secondary operation mode, e.g. for recording and programming, the display acted as a menu for operation, i.e. it became an active part of the operation. Thus the display was a reassuring response to your actions when you were in the primary operation mode, and an active guide when you were in the secondary operation mode.

The display was transparent, because some of the operation where the display is an active part, was initiated on the back. One example of this is when you activated the RECORD buttons on the rear of the remote control, the display read out the appropriate cues as seen from the back of the terminal i.e. V.REC PAUSE and the source you selected for the recording.

As most of the timer programming procedure was by the circle buttons on the front of Beolink 5000, the display read out the appropriate cue seen from the front as soon as you activated the PROGRAM button in the back recess. In this way it prompted you to turn the Beolink 5000 around for the rest of the programming procedure.

The advanced functions available via the Beolink 5000 included e.g. clearing TV stations, or making advanced (timer) recordings on your Bang & Olufsen VCR. The hazard with the record and program functions of course is that you could by accident clear or erase programs that you’d already made e.g. a recording on a video tape. So it was vital that the advanced functions were kept separated from the other main functions. By placing the buttons for operation of the advanced functions on the back of the terminal, Bang & Olufsen were able both to extend the number of secondary functions, and to make timer operation a real asset without risking inadvertent operation and confusing clutter on the front. Beolink 5000 was the first hand-held Beolink terminal where timer operation was possible with all recommended systems and even in stand-by.

The buttons for recording were grouped in the back recess to preclude inadvertent recording. To further secure against the inadvertent start of a recording, it was necessary first to point out the recorder and secondly start the recording on a second button.

Recording operation was refined with the Beolink 5000: all record buttons are grouped in the recess, you could address two video recorders, and no matter which one you used, you had direct access to start or stop of the recording and to make a record return.

Once you had summoned the source you wanted to record on to the TV, all you had to do was to turn the Beolink 5000 around and activate the [V.RECORD][REC.START] sequence to initiate a simple recording.

If you wanted to make an advanced recording of a TV programme as a background job, in RECORD PAUSE you selected V.TAPE + the programme number on the front before starting the recording on the back. The REC STOP button was a useful refinement here. When you had commenced a recording and switched to another source, e.g. TV, [REC STOP] gave you direct and instant access to stop of the background recording.

The third record level, timer record, was also initiated on the back, by means of the PROGRAM button. Beolink 5000 allowed you to make the timer operation both when the system was playing and when it was in stand by. In this way you would not disturb other uses of the video system and you need not even switch the system on to make a timer programming.

Picture adjustment was shown on the TV screen, and not on the Beolink 5000. In this way you could monitor and judge the changes directly on the screen, e.g. with regard to contrast. Sound adjustments were displayed both on the screen and on the terminal. In this way the feedback was always placed at the optimal point for operation and adjustments.

Teletext contains a number of secondary functions to enhance its user value, such as enlarging the page, mixing Teletext with the TV program, revealing a hidden information (e.g. VPS information on TV program page), etc. Many users never access these secondary

functions, because they have been assigned low priority on the remote controls and therefore it is difficult to access them. Beolink 5000 accesses the functions easily and as guided by its transparent display. In TEXT-mode, if you pressed MENU the display would read out:

TEXT

MENU?

If the answer was ‘yes’ [PLAY] gave access to the first item of the menu, as shown here:

Secondary Teletext functions available via [MENU]:

MENU (Teletext time programming)

LARGE

MIX

REVEAL

UPDATE

SUBCODE

As an alternative you could step through the options or leave the menu. The menu operation procedure simplified access to the secondary Teletext functions considerably and showed the advantage of using two operation logics: one for routine operations and one for important, but rarely-used, operations.

Beolink 5000 was the key to video systems such as Video System 5500, comprising Beovision MX5500 and Beocord VX5500. It was recommended for operation of such systems because this system contained numerous advanced functions, especially in the fields of recording and timer programming. Beolink 5000 was optimised for the operation of such complex functions, where you are guided through the options via prompts on the display of the terminal. Other important highlights of Beolink 5000 were:

Hand-held terminal for all video, audio and AV operation in central rooms and Local Control Systems

Two-way operation with display feedback

One-button source selection, video and audio

Logical layout with grouping of related functions

Secondary functions placed on the back to prevent inadvertent operation

Comprehensive secondary functions, e.g. record/time programming with display support and guidance

The display responded whenever you activated a function. When you carried out a primary operation, e.g. the selection of a source, you received status feedback. The feedback was dynamic, i.e. it changed according to the operation you carried out and the subsequent response the terminal received from the system. An example of this was in the adjustment of sound, where the previously mentioned centre balance function was only displayed when the function was available in the system. When you were in the secondary operation mode, e.g. for recording and programming, the display acted as a menu for operation, i.e. it became an active part of the operation. Thus the display was a reassuring response to your action when you were in the primary operation mode and an active guide when you were in the secondary operation mode. The display of Beolink 5000 was transparent, because some of the operations where the display was an active part, was initiated on the back. One example of this was when you activated the RECORD buttons on the back when the display read out the appropriate cues as seen from the back of the terminal, i.e. V.REC PAUSE and the source which you had selected for the recording.

As most of the timer programming procedure was by way of the circular button on the front of Beolink 5000, the display read out the appropriate cue as seen from the front as soon as you activated the PROGRAM button in the back recess. this way it prompted you to turn the Beolink 5000 around for the rest of the programming procedure.

The advanced functions available via Beolink 5000 include e.g. clearing (satellite) TV stations, or making advanced (timer) recordings on your VX5500. The potential problem with record and program functions was that you could by accident clear or erase previously-recorded programmes. So with Beolink 5000 the advanced functions were kept separate from the other main functions. By placing the buttons for operation of the advanced functions on the back of the terminal, Bang & Olufsen were able both to extend the amount of secondary functions, and to make timer operation a real asset without risking inadvertent operation and confusing clutter on the front. Beolink 5000 was the first hand-held Beolink terminal where timer operation was possible with all recommended systems, even while in stand by.

The buttons for recording were grouped in the back recess to preclude inadvertent recording. To further secure against inadvertent start of a recording, it was necessary first to put the VCR into a recording pause mode before commencing the recording by way of a second button.

Recording operation was refined with Beolink 5000: all record buttons were grouped in the recess; you could address two video recorders, and no matter which one you used, you had direct access to start or stop of the recording and to make a record ‘return

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MMC1

Bang & Olufsen MMC1

The MMC1 was the top of the range of B&O’s new cartridge range.

It was only available as an upgrade – even the top of the range Beogram 8002 was only fitted with the MMC2. The MMC1 had a line contact diamond mounted on a tubular sapphire cantilever.

The tubular construction offered less weight than a solid cantilever but with immense stiffness. The diamond profile was similar to that of the MMC20CL being line contact. The way to look at these cartridges was to imagine an elliptical profile but with both the front and rear facets being scooped out. In this way the vertical contact surface was maximised and the horizontal element kept to a minimum.

The MMC1 and MMC2 were essentially the same cartridge with the MMC1 using the best specified diamond tips. The MMC system was carried over from the SP series but taken to an even smaller level.

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MMC3

Bang & Olufsen MMC3

This cartridge was in many ways the replacement for the MMC20EN as it had a tapered cantilever and naked elliptical stylus.

It was fitted as standard to the Beogram 6002.

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MMC4

Bang & Olufsen 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

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MMC5

Bang & Olufsen 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.

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BeoSound 9000

Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 9000

BeoSound 9000 makes a strong statement with your music – but leaves it up to you to decide exactly how.

Music may not be essential to life, but it’s hard to live without it. That’s why BeoSound 9000 makes such a big thing about bringing your music out into the open and letting you create your own personal jukebox with the music that means the most to you. Combine BeoSound 9000 with the latest Beolink® PC 2 software application and you can access the digital music files on your computer’s hard disc. Place it upright in a bookcase, lay it flat on a shelf, or hang it directly on the wall – either vertically or horizontally. It can stand between a pair of BeoLab 1 or BeoLab 8000 loudspeakers, or with any other speaker in the BeoLab range. With BeoSound 9000, the possibilities – and the enjoyment – are endless ” (B&O Catalogue 2001 – 2002)

BeoSound 9000 represents the latest technology from Bang & Olufsen today. The 6-CD changer is the fastest in the world. If allowed to continue its momentum it would travel 100km/h in just 5,5 seconds… faster than a Ferrari from a stop position! It can be positioned in several different ways and the display text automatically adjusts itself to be readable. The unit too features a FM/AM tuner with RDS and is equipped with the new MasterLink connections and can be connected directly to the Beovision Avant and AV9000.

The CD returns to its original position
The discs are easily loaded and held by spring suspended jaws. Discs not in play can be replaced without interrupting the playback. The auto-positioning feature ensures that CDs are always returned to the position in which they were first placed. With the CDs visible and positioned correctly, there is easy access to the text information printed on the label. The glass-covered natural aluminium plate holds the CDs and the rails for the CD carriage, while a backlit acrylic plate illuminates the CD currently playing.

Glass cover to counteract gravity
BeoSound 9000 offers unprecedented flexibility for a product of this type, and to ensure the same uniform movement of the glass cover regardless of the placement of BeoSound 9000 vertically or horizontally, upright or flat. To counteract the effect of gravity, a digital time control constantly monitors the movement of the cover and adjusts the motor, keeping the complete movement within 3.5 and 4 seconds.

Safety first
Such an abundance of fast moving mechanics means that special measures have been taken to ensure that BeoSound 9000 is safe to operate. Small prismatic lenses are placed at each end of the aluminium frame, controlling an infrared beam across the front of BeoSound 9000. If the beam is violated, the CD clamper will stop immediately.

If the glass door is lifted while the clamper is in motion, it will decelerate immediately. A power failure feature ensures that the clamper is not damaged in a gravitational free-fall, if BeoSound 9000 is mounted vertically.

Ingenious engineering solutions and intricate mechanical movements in a product that continues to surprise and delight users today – and all this from the inspiration of old vinyl records spinning on the record player’s turntable.

The unit may be played in one of seven different positions. In each one, gravity has a different effect on the CD clamper (the aluminium ‘arm’ which rests over each CD when it is being read), yet it still works with the same precision and speed: a good example of how Bang & Olufsen uses technology to overcome acceptable limitations. Place BeoSound 9000 upright in a bookcase, lay it flat on a shelf or hang it directly on the wall – either vertically or horizontally. It can stand, for example, between a pair of BeoLab 1 or BeoLab 8000 loudspeakers (as above), or with any other speaker in the BeoLab range. With BeoSound 9000, the possibilities – and the enjoyment – are endless!

BeoSound 9000 starts with the technical excellence of the CD, but moves on from its limitations. A couple of good old-fashioned mechanical virtues make a welcome comeback. You can see it work and understand how it reacts when you touch its buttons. Or you can sit back with your Beo4 remote control and browse through over 7 hours of musical pleasure.

BeoSound 9000 makes a virtue of displaying the features that so many manufacturers try to hide away” welcoming the user with open arms to use it.

Features
BeoSound 9000 works so fast and so quietly that the change-over between two CDs seems no longer than the normal interval between tracks. Using the inaudible initial lead information on the discs, each CD can be named and memorised, and will be left in the same position as it was loaded, with its title clearly legible. Enter up to 200 titles in the memory and they’ll appear on the display whenever one of those CDs is played.

The FM/AM radio has memory for up to 60 stations which can be identified by their names instead of their frequency numbers. Set the timer and wake up to your favourite programmed CD sequence or radio station.

The fine art of control of BeoSound 9000
Lift the lid on BeoSound 9000 and the extensive control panel with timer, editing and sound adjustment operations is at hand. Since the BeoSound 9000 can be placed in a great number of positions, the control panel can turn as you prefer. The display follows the same orientation, of course!

Auto Positioning
Auto-positioning was one of the challenges that Bang & Olufsen’s engineers had to meet because of BeoSound 9000’s clear versatility in placement. Using the inaudible initial lead information present on most compact discs, the BeoSound 9000 is able to detect and memorise a desired position for the CD.

When it’s time to stop the CD, a servo system decreases the speed of rotation, the position mark is detected, and this effects the final braking and halt. A servo calculates the braking length for the CD, processes and stores the information. So the next time the CD will stop even faster, because BeoSound 9000 now knows where and when to apply the brakes. A total of 360 perforations ensure that your CD will stop precisely at the point at which you placed it in the rack.

The secret behind the precision of the movable clamper lies in two sensors which monitor its exact position and speed more than 60 times a second, and in its digitally-controlled motor, which compensates for even the slightest variation in movement.

Note: For owners of BeoSound 9000 who wish to use BeoLab 5 with this particular CD player, another feature of these new active speakers will be a direct digital feed from the optical output of BeoSound 9000 – the output not used at present!

BeoSound 9000: an evolutionary movement
Since the early days of the gramophone, record changers have been known and appreciated for their long playing time. The modern version of the record – the CD – adds a new perspective to the old old idea.

In designing BeoSound 9000 from scratch, a number of design models were created in order to illustrate various ideas.

The ‘library machine’ was one of them. It could hold an entire CD collection ready for playback. However the stored discs disappeared out of sight into the innards of the machine. This was seen as a problem because compact discs are not able to give a readout of a library’s contents, making an automatic catalogue display impossible, and since the design group felt a primary manual entry of all CD data was out of the question, the idea was quickly abandoned.

In returning to square one, the dominating feature – as in a CD changer – is the ability to play continuously for a long period of time. In coming up with a solution for this problem, together with presenting visual feedback, the discs were placed with their covers upwards and in a line next to each other, protected, under a lid of transparent glass. This was the main idea behind the very first design model of BeoSound 9000.

However, David Lewis, as Bang & Olufsen’s chief designer presented the first design model of BeoSound 9000 in two editions: the one which we know today with its 6 CDs, as well as another model comprising ten compact discs laid out in a line next to each other (see picture above).

The design group liked the 10-CD edition; it looked stunning, but in use it was limited to just once placement (unlike the eight different placements that the currently-produced BeoSound 9000 offers). The 10—CD version was subsequently shelved with the 6-CD version going into production in 1996.

David Lewis’ BeoSound 9000 from 1996 makes a virtue of showing its function. It clearly displays, by the 6-CD slots, that its function is the playing of music It can be placed horizontally on a wall or vertically on a special column when it becomes almost a sculpture for the home. Like B&O’s other products BeoSound 9000 contains the most advanced techniques around but shies away from technical mystique with its interface being simple and self-explanatory.

Control
Lift the lid on BeoSound 9000 and the extensive control panel with timer, editing and sound adjustment operations is at hand. Since the BeoSound 9000 can be placed in a great number of positions, the control panel can turn as you prefer. The display follows the same orientation, of course. BeoSound 9000 may also be controlled by the optional Beo4 remote control.

Placement
On the optional bracket, the BeoSound 9000 displays itself raised at an angle, or standing tall. Attach it horizontally and watch all the CDs stop in exactly the same positions as they were loaded in. Or you might opt for the floor stand as a bold musical statement. Hang BeoSound 9000 vertically on the wall and see how the display automatically changes orientation if you reverse the control panel.

Internet Music
Combine BeoSound 9000 with the latest Beolink® PC2 software application and you can access the digital music files on your computer’s hard disc directly from your music system in the living room. And if BeoSound 9000 is part of a Beolink® setup, you can enjoy your virtual music collection in any room in the house.

Auto positioning: stopping in the same place every time
Six CDs presented neatly in a row, with all the titles legible. After playback, BeoSound 9000 simply stops its CDs in exactly the position in which they were first loaded.

Auto-positioning was one of the challenges that Bang & Olufsen’s engineers had to meet because of BeoSound 9000’s clear versatility in placement. Using the inaudible initial lead information present on most compact discs, the BeoSound 9000 is able to detect and memorise a desired position for the CD.

When it’s time to stop the CD, a servo system decreases the speed of rotation, the position mark is detected and this effects the final braking and halt. A servo calculates the braking length for the CD, processes and stores the information. So the next time the CD will stop even faster, because BeoSound 9000 now knows where and when to apply the brakes. 360 perforations ensure that your CD will stop within just 1° of the position in which you put it on!

BeoSound 9000’s CD reader is propelled back and forth by a powerful motor. An optical system allows a microprocessor to monitor the reader’s movement between the six CD stations. The total distance of 63 cm is divided into 1,040 separate positions so that the reader can be positioned to an accuracy of just 0.6mm. Given that the reader accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in just over five seconds, it’s vital that the electronic and mechanical components are in perfect harmony. BeoSound 9000 is one of Bang & Olufsen’s most compact products, housing no fewer than 2,910 different components.

Mounting Options
Bang & Olufsen boasted 6 mounting positions for BeoSound 9000 from the range of stands and brackets launched with this super flexible icon. The table stand and floor stand were complimented with a pair of wall brackets giving the choice of horizontal or vertical mounting

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BeoSound Century

If you want superior sound, but not the size, and a full array of functions but without the complication – then take a look at the BeoSound Century. Designed by David Lewis, it has a very slim depth and brings together CD, tape and FM radio into a slim-line form that can stand by itself or hang from a wall. Everything is operated by buttons that light up to guide you quickly through the various playing options.

BeoSound Century is a clever combination of excellent performance and ease-of-use. This system is known in fact by two different names – BeoSound Century in Europe and BeoSound 2000 in North America. With everything built in, this is the perfect stereo for those who with a limited space as it’s only 11cm deep. It’s for those who don’t want Beolink® capabilities and can be equipped with a handle with a built-in active antenna making it very portable. The speakers use the active construction as that of all BeoLab speakers. In the late nineties the Century was released in a special limited series with polished aluminium instead of the black plastic on the CD holder. This became so popular that it became the standard! There are two different stands available: a wall stand and a special table stand. The unit may also be controlled by the optional Beo4 remote control.

Deep bass
BeoSound Century integrates a powerful sound reproduction system: two active loudspeakers with electronic crossover network and Adaptive Bass Linearisation, for the optimum relationship between bass reproduction and sound pressure level. The very small two-way bass reflex loudspeakers comprise a net volume of only 1,1 litres, but the large front grille gives room for fairly large woofer membrane diameters.

Bass and treble have separate power amplifiers, which means that they can be tailored to compensate for one another’s shortcomings and deliver a sound spectrum as close to reality as possible. On top of that, BeoSound Century can play at high volume, but cuts out before it has an opportunity to burn out its units.

The fine art of control of BeoSound Century
The backlit push buttons of the BeoSound Century are cast in opalescent plastic, painted black on the inside and the text is then burnt away with a laser. The light of a diode behind each button is muted for even distribution, and the button is hinged in four places. A sturdy and relatively inexpensive construction, but it takes just a bit more work!

Operation of BeoSound Century
How do you make operation easy when there are 26 buttons to push? On BeoSound Century, only the buttons you need for the specific function will light up and guide you step by step through operations.

BeoSound Century was awarded the Danish Design Centre’s IP Prize in 1994.

Mounting Options
Supplied with a table mount foot for mounting on top of a cabinet. The optional wall mount bracket allowed for wall mounting.

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BeoSound 2000

Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 2000

If you want superior sound, but not the size, and a full array of functions but without the complication – then take a look at the BeoSound Century. Designed by David Lewis, it has a very slim depth and brings together CD, tape and FM radio into a slim-line form that can stand by itself or hang from a wall. Everything is operated by buttons that light up to guide you quickly through the various playing options.

BeoSound Century is a clever combination of excellent performance and ease-of-use. This system is known in fact by two different names – BeoSound Century in Europe and BeoSound 2000 in North America. With everything built in, this is the perfect stereo for those who with a limited space as it’s only 11cm deep. It’s for those who don’t want Beolink® capabilities and can be equipped with a handle with a built-in active antenna making it very portable. The speakers use the active construction as that of all BeoLab speakers. In the late nineties the Century was released in a special limited series with polished aluminium instead of the black plastic on the CD holder. This became so popular that it became the standard! There are two different stands available: a wall stand and a special table stand. The unit may also be controlled by the optional Beo4 remote control.

Deep bass
BeoSound Century integrates a powerful sound reproduction system: two active loudspeakers with electronic crossover network and Adaptive Bass Linearisation, for the optimum relationship between bass reproduction and sound pressure level. The very small two-way bass reflex loudspeakers comprise a net volume of only 1,1 litres, but the large front grille gives room for fairly large woofer membrane diameters.

Bass and treble have separate power amplifiers, which means that they can be tailored to compensate for one another’s shortcomings and deliver a sound spectrum as close to reality as possible. On top of that, BeoSound Century can play at high volume, but cuts out before it has an opportunity to burn out its units.

The fine art of control of BeoSound Century
The backlit push buttons of the BeoSound Century are cast in opalescent plastic, painted black on the inside and the text is then burnt away with a laser. The light of a diode behind each button is muted for even distribution, and the button is hinged in four places. A sturdy and relatively inexpensive construction, but it takes just a bit more work!

Operation of BeoSound Century
How do you make operation easy when there are 26 buttons to push? On BeoSound Century, only the buttons you need for the specific function will light up and guide you step by step through operations.

BeoSound Century was awarded the Danish Design Centre’s IP Prize in 1994.

Mounting Options
Supplied with a table mount foot for mounting on top of a cabinet. The optional wall mount bracket allowed for wall mounting.

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BeoVision Avant 32 VCR

Bang & Olufsen BeoVision Avant 32 VCR

TV isn’t just something you watch, it’s something you experience. That’s why BeoVision Avant makes a big deal about giving you the best in audio-visual entertainment. The BeoVision Avant was created as a video system, but during its design, the idea came up of making the television a picture on the wall. This has been achieved by deceiving the eye: this is a familiar ploy in the very best of designs.

The BeoVision Avant gives you a television that acts like a picture on the wall: a wall you personally position in the room. It has a built-in video which is invisible to the viewer. Everything is operated via the Beo4 remote control. You have full control from the best seat in the living room, and the television turns towards the viewer using the motorised base.

BeoVision Avant – designed by David Lewis – was a totally new concept from Bang & Olufsen and was introduced in 1995. This video system is completely integrated holding a widescreen television, a hi-fi stereo VCR and a couple of active speakers in its attractive-looking cabinet. It was also the first wide-screen TV from Bang & Olufsen ever. Although by the end of the twentieth-century widescreen TVs were taking more and more market share, most TVs still used the 4:3 format. When Bang & Olufsen started planning for this model they originally envisaged to use the same technology then currently used in the MX series but along the way they decided to develop a completely new chassis. This new chassis is much more advanced.

The Avant is also a very environment-friendly TV using a lot of recycled material as well being recyclable itself at the end of its serviceable life. The set can also be expanded with several add-ons. For example: picture-in-picture (PIP), satellite receiver and Dolby Pro-Logic or Dolby Digital decoder. The Avant is the pathway to the future of video systems; a whole new concept of the most advanced video system from Bang & Olufsen to date.

The widescreen format 16:9 picture tube is used for the first time in the BeoVision Avant. This created conflict between designer David Lewis and Bang & Olufsen’s technicians, as the designer could not see the point of it. A new picture tube that could not be filled by the TV picture. Where randomly placed grey stripes on the picture tube were a part of the framing of the picture most of the time. The technicians did not think it could be their fault. Wide format 16:9 was an attempt to consolidate a whole industry around a new market standard. The designer’s talk of trimming and stretching the picture to fill out the frame was, in their eyes, simply distortion. There was no ideal solution to the dilemma.

Together they had to find the solution that would work best in practice. It was not possible to fill the 16:9 format with a 4:3 TV picture. The necessary trimming and stretching annoyed the eye too much. On the other hand, wide format had a lower limit. In the eyes of designer David Lewis, that lower limit lay in the 14:9 format. The technicians struggled to implement the format with as little distortion as possible. They also checked to see whether designer David Lewis would notice the difference if the format was a little bit smaller. Just a few millimetres smaller on the longer element! But David Lewis saw it straight away. There was a distinct limit in the eye’s perception of the transition to wide format, and it lay at 14:9.

Finally, they managed to come up with a method that could handle the problem satisfactorily in practice. A method that has subsequently been further developed to implement the 15:9 format that is close to the aesthetic ideal: the golden rectangle. Programmes recorded and distributed in 16:9 are the ideal way of filling the wide format, but the range is still limited. Bang & Olufsen’s wide-format TV offers a practical solution to filling the screen with ordinary TV and video programmes. It was created by trained eyes.

TOP TIP

Information valid for:

BeoVision Avant 50 HZ MK I MK II

Intermittent jamming of cassettes during eject; VTR fails

Symptom: Intermittent jamming of certain types of cassettes in the tape mechanism during eject.

Cause: An edge of the cassette or a misfitted label, etc. may catch the lower part of the cassette lid and prevent the cassette from being ejected.

Solution: Replace the cassette lid by the new type, which is fitted with two small round knobs on the lower part of the lid.

To avoid colour differences the lid is supplied together with side panels and the small triangle (BeoVision Avant TV, service manual pos. 9016).

This solution is implemented in the production as from Avant serial number 12159658 (week 38 of 1996)

Its standard features were: VisionClear Technology and multi-format picture. It houses a 16:9 widescreen television with automatic picture adaptation, which means that every broadcast, no matter where it originates, is automatically shown with the optimum reproduction, from news reports in standard format, to movies in widescreen.

BeoVision Avant features the same functions as Beosystem AV 9000. When you turn it on, first it turns on its motorised stand toward your favourite watching-place. Then comes the sound, produced by four active loudspeakers hidden directly underneath the widescreen, while behind the black curtain the picture adapts to its format and to the lighting conditions in the room, before the curtains glide aside and reveal a perfect picture.

BeoVision Avant encourages you to lose yourself in a sound and picture experience – and not in the technology. That’s why we hang the 16:9 Real Flat wide-screen on its own smooth wall and conceal everything else behind it – including a set of speakers that will outpace the average hi-fi and a video recorder that tunes itself automatically.

You can choose a built-in DVD player or video tape recorder and from a range of five colours. There’s also the option of a simplified 66cm version with no integrated entertainment source.

Design
Close your eyes and imagine the perfect TV. Open them again and take a look at BeoVision Avant. It’s a widescreen TV that’s easy to understand, effortless to use and always a pleasure to watch.

Though a widescreen TV is never going to be small in size, it doesn’t mean that it has to dominate its surroundings. The Avant has a subtle presence and comes in a range of colours that allow it to compliment any environment in which it’s placed.

At Bang & Olufsen, it is taken for granted that when you watch TV, you want to concentrate on the experience rather than on the technology. That’s why the Real Flat screen is ‘hung’ on its own “wall” with everything else concealed behind.

Widescreen
The picture quality provided by the Avant is as close to the real thing as you can get. Its smooth Real Flat widescreen provides the perfect format for movie watching – and together with the exceptional sound creates a spatial illusion that’s second to none.

Switch on the Avant and it automatically adjusts any broadcast to the optimal widescreen picture – no matter what format it was produced in. News and sports broadcasts are expanded from the traditional 4:3 format into 15:9, while movies shot in widescreen are reproduced in a 16:9 format that’s as close to the original cinema version as you can get. And, if you don’t like the picture as it is, you can easily change to another format with the Beo4 remote control.

BeoVision Avant models:
BeoVision Avant 100Hz MK III (832x)

BeoVision Avant 100Hz MK I MK II (830x)

BeoVision Avant 28 DVD (834X)

BeoVision Avant 32 MK II MK III (842x)

BeoVision Avant 32 DVD (844X)

BeoVision Avant 50Hz MK III MK IV (810x)

BeoVision Avant 50Hz MK I MK II (81xx)

BeoVision Avant CTV (836x)

BeoVision Avant RF 28 (833x)

BeoVision Avant RF 28 CTV (837x)

BeoVision Avant RF 32 (843x)

BeoVision Avant US (8490)

Features
Watching movies should be about simple entertainment, not complicated technology. That’s why the Avant is available with its own built-in DVD player or video recorder. Its presence is only given away by a discreet lid on the front. All cables are hidden in the back of the set.

To ensure even greater viewing comfort, the Avant has its own motorised stand that turns effortlessly through a 70 degree arc. You can program it to turn automatically towards your favourite viewing chair, or use the Beo4 to turn it in the opposite direction. When you switch the Avant off again, it returns silently to its original position in line with your furniture.

A red LED display on top of the cabinet gives you a discreet status of the source you are viewing, without intruding on the picture. It also shows the volume status when you adjust the volume level, and other information related to recording, Dolby Surround and so on. On the back of the display is a hidden push button panel for the most frequently used controls.

The Beo4 remote control is used to access all the various functions of video-playback and recording, menus, tuning, text-television, picture optimisation, sound properties and so on. Beo4 is designed for user-friendly and ergonomical operation with one hand. The buttons in a star-shape for search, ultra-sharp still-picture, super slow-motion, programme shift and fast forward can be controlled by your thumb only, you don’t even have to move your eyes. Beo4 also controls all the latest B&O audio systems as well – it’s the key to complete home entertainment!

A discreet display on the upper right hand corner of the Avant lets you know what source is playing and a small control panel placed behind it offers hands-on control of all basic functions.

This television became the basis for renewed efforts in the US television market which has been overall successful.

Let the show commence!
It has been said that ‘Bang & Olufsen’s products are enchanting’ ! And the magic, the good idea, often comes into being in the course of finding a solution to some practical problem. The practical problem here was that there was a short time lag between pressing the button and a picture appearing on the screen. So you would sit and wait expectantly for a little while. The experience of waiting reminded designer David Lewis of a theatre before the curtain went up! Behind the curtain, preparations are being made for the performance.

The lighting and sound are adjusted and the actors take their places. The curtain only goes up when everything is ready. The first television to have a curtain was the BeoVision AV 9000. The curtain was a thin steel sheet that was slid to one side by a clever mechanism when the stage was set. Bang & Olufsen’s wide-format television, the BeoVision Avant, is equipped with an electronic curtain. From the moment you press the button until the curtain slides away, the technology is busily working unnoticed. No pop from the loudspeakers, no random flash of light from the screen. Only when the sound is ready and the picture is in place can the performance begin.

VCR
Underneath the loudspeakers is the access to the VCR. The Avant incorporates the same video-technology as the V8000 systems, namely a stereo VCR that can play back recordings of all standards. The video machine has, naturally, record indexing and it can show the elapsed or remaining time of any cassette being played. Dolby Surround is an option, and when installed, Avant can take the place of the AV9000 video system. Another option is a PIP-module (Picture-In-Picture).

Sound
The perfect picture deserves a sound to match and that’s exactly what the Avant offers. A pair of specially developed loudspeaker units – capable of outperforming many traditional hi-fi setups – are discreetly placed below the screen and offer an exceptional sound performance that will enhance the best action-movie or concert footage.

The BeoVision Avant features a built-in Dolby® Digital* module that lets you bring the cinema directly into your living room. With a pair of loudspeakers from Bang & Olufsen’s BeoLab range positioned at either side of the TV and two more placed at the rear, you can put yourself in the middle of a surround sound experience that’s second to none.

The sound quality of the active loudspeakers can compete with any modern audio system. When the herd of horses approaches your seat from within the widescreen, you can feel the tremble of the horses’ hooves – so powerful is the bass. And as a video-master in a Beolink system, Avant can distribute sound and vision all over your home – just as it can play the music from your audio system in its speakers.

The Perfect Illusion
Press a key on the Beo4 remote and the electronic curtain glides aside to reveal a perfect picture. A theatrical gimmick or another technological leap forward? Actually, a bit of both! In the short reaction time before the curtain glides aside, a comprehensive circuit adjusts contrast levels, brilliance and colour to the prevailing light conditions in the room, ensuring the optimum picture reproduction every time.

An anti-reflective coating on the picture tube, as well as on the contrast screen is provided to eliminate reflections from windows, carpets and furniture. If you watch television during the day you’ve probably experienced the glare and reflections caused by direct sunshine. To minimise the problem, the Avant’s picture tube and contrast screen have been given a special anti-reflection coating that reduces reflections by up to 99%.

Home Cinema
There was a time when watching a movie on TV was a poor imitation of the real thing. But not anymore! BeoVision Avant brings the movies directly into your living room with a smooth, true-to-life picture and totally convincing sound.

BeoLab 2 completes this ultimate surround setup and – together with the other four active loudspeakers – allows you to make the most out of the advanced sound opportunities offered by the Avant’s built-in Dolby® Digital* module.

Colours
BeoVision Avant comes as one integrated unit. All you have to do is to plug in the mains and the antenna and you’re ready to watch. There are no other visible cords, allowing the Avant to be viewed from all sides – so it does not have to be set up in a corner or next to a wall. It fits nicely into any kind on home, thanks to the range of many available cabinet colours: pearly blue, pearly black, pearly red, pearly green and silver.

When the system is turned off, it turns back to its original position, the sound fades away and the curtains glide in front of the screen. Just like being in your own private small-screen cinema!

Wax & fix
The weight of the Avant’s widescreen picture tube called for new thinking in terms of construction. High density fibre board turned out to be as solid a solution as it is environmentally healthy. To disguise its low tech appearance, it is treated to a high quality two-component lacquer of the same type as is used at the upper end of the car industry. It will not scratch easily, but should this happen, a minor scratch can be polished away using liquid silicone car wax.

*Dolby Digital is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation