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LC2 Light Controller

LC2 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.

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.

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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The Control Center VTR was withdrawn alongside the rest of the Beosystem AV 9000.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 MS 6000

BeoVision MS 6000

Beovision MS6000 was basically an MX 6000, but the bass reflex loudspeakers were replaced by full tone units and it had no connections for Beolink® and A/V integration. It did however, have stereo loudspeakers and its equipment was otherwise similar to the MX 6000. It was controlled by the remote control Beolink 1000 handset and was available in a dark grey finish. Later editions featured the MS6000 in a silver-grey finish. Teletext was included, together with the option of Beo4 control.

The TV was an upgrade from Beovision ME6000 in 1996 and was a TV featuring all the fundamental Bang & Olufsen qualities, at the same time representing “simplification, innovation and common sense”. With the slightly tinted contrast screen and the VisionClear system with Automatic Picture Control, it offered excellent, sharp pictures under all lighting conditions.

The MS6000 could be placed on an optional motorised BeoStand and could be fitted with an optional BeoSat LM receiver.

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BeoVision MX 4000

BeoVision MX 4000

The MX range was the first to bring the TV out into the open and it continues to show alternative ways of living with television. Beovision MX4000 was the little brother of the MX6000 having the same functions but with some minor differences when it came to sound and picture. The speaker was not a 2-way bass reflex as in the MX6000 but a 2-way Logline speaker.

Complete with a choice of colours, the specially-designed wall brackets of the MX 4000/4002 gave you the option of placing the MX on the wall. The placement options of the MX 4000/4002 also included a motorised stand with room for your VCR/DVD player.

The TV had a 51cm screen, the same features as MX 6000, but with conventional loudspeakers, optional wall bracket, available in pearlescent shades of: green, blue, red, grey, black or glossy white. With a Beovision MX 4002 as an extra TV in the bedroom, you could access the video and satellite options of the Avant in the living room or wake up to music from the radio and CD of the Ouverture or BeoSound 3000. Beovision MX4002 was replaced with the MX4200 in 2003.

Beovision MX 4000 was the smallest television of Bang & Olufsen televisions in the late 1990s and right up to 2003. It had a 51cm screen, and was equipped with the latest generation of the Black Line picture tube, contrast screen and VisionClear technology. Together they provided an optimum picture quality under any lighting conditions – even when faced with direct sunshine. In spite of their modest size, the log-line loudspeakers located under the screen gave full-tone stereo with great depth and amplitude. MX 4000 had both A2 and NICAM Stereo decoders and Teletext-functions.

Beovision MX 4000 was probably the most flexible television as far as placing was concerned. You could place it directly on a floor, and using the spring bar underneath the set you could tilt it in order to improve viewing angle. You could place the MX 4000 on the wall with an optional bracket, which also came as a motorised version. When on the wall, you could tilt the screen downwards, towards a bed, for example. Or you could of course place the TV on a stand on the floor, or on a stand on a table. Both stands were available in motorised versions and the floor-stand had an optional video-shelf available. The motorised stand was operated via the Beolink® remote control, that also operated the television and video (shown) as well as all B&O audio systems and light control units.

Beovision MX 4000 was a great addition to a multi-room Beolink® system, where it acted as one link itself and could play audio from the audio system that was located elsewhere in your home. And on the other hand, you could direct the sound from the television to the speakers of your audio system.

It had the same beautiful, sleek and modern design as all other Beovision televisions; the design of which has even been compared to sports cars!

MX Design

Filling a television with every conceivable gadget that technology offers is easy enough. What’s more difficult is identifying what really improves the overall experience of watching TV and eliminating the things that don’t. That’s the philosophy behind the MX range. In both form and function, it’s a clear-cut case of less being more.

Complete with a choice of 6 colours that included green and white, the specially-designed wall brackets of the MX 4000 gave you the option of placing your MX on the wall. The placement options of the MX 4000 also included a motorised stand with room for your VCR/DVD player. The TV was controlled by the provided Beo4 remote control.

Beolink® – Beovision MX 4002

Beovision MX 4002 was the Beolink® variation of the MX 4000. This model gave you numerous options when you were setting up your Beolink® system and needed an extra television in your bedroom, study or kitchen. The MX 4002 was available in the same colours as MX 4000 and had the same placement possibilities as well.

** Beovision 4000/4002 at the time of its introduction, was fitted with a plexi-glass (acrylic) screen. However, since the late 1990’s, the model has a glass screen, the same as the rest of the model range.

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BeoVision MX 4002

BeoVision MX 4002

The MX range was the first to bring the TV out into the open and it continues to show alternative ways of living with television. Beovision MX4000 was the little brother of the MX6000 having the same functions but with some minor differences when it came to sound and picture. The speaker was not a 2-way bass reflex as in the MX6000 but a 2-way Logline speaker.

Complete with a choice of colours, the specially-designed wall brackets of the MX4000/4002 gave you the option of placing the MX on the wall. The placement options of the MX 4000/4002 also included a motorised stand with room for your VCR/DVD player.

The TV had a 51cm screen, the same features as MX6000, but with conventional loudspeakers, optional wall bracket, available in pearlescent shades of: green, blue, red, grey, black or glossy white. With a Beovision MX 4002 as an extra TV in the bedroom, you could access the video and satellite options of the Avant in the living room or wake up to music from the radio and CD of the Ouverture or BeoSound 3000. Beovision MX4002 was replaced with the MX4200 in 2003.

MX Design
Filling a television with every conceivable gadget that technology offers is easy enough. What’s more difficult is identifying what really improves the overall experience of watching TV and eliminating the things that don’t. That’s the philosophy behind the MX range. In both form and function, it’s a clear-cut case of less being more.

Complete with a choice of 6 colours that included green and white, the specially-designed wall brackets of the MX 4000 gave you the option of placing your MX on the wall. The placement options of the MX 4000 also included a motorised stand with room for your VCR/DVD player. The TV was controlled by the provided Beo4 remote control.

Beolink® – Beovision MX 4002

Beovision MX 4002 was the Beolink® variation of the MX 4000. This model gave you numerous options when you were setting up your Beolink® system and needed an extra television in your bedroom, study or kitchen. The MX 4002 was available in the same colours as MX 4000 and had the same placement possibilities as well.

** Beovision 4000/4002 at the time of its introduction, was fitted with a plexi-glass (acrylic) screen. However, since the late 1990’s, the model has a glass screen, the same as the rest of the model range.

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BeoVision MX 6000

BeoVision MX 6000

Beovision MX6000 delivers the same uncompromising picture quality as the MX 7000. The only difference is the loudspeaker system which has conventional amplification using built-in passive speakers.

The MX television range was the first to bring the TV out into the open and it continues to show alternative ways of living with television. With the current MX range, the TV finally becomes a discreet part of your interior decoration. Choose between a 51cm or 66cm screen, 6 different colours and a versatile range of stands and brackets – with or without motorised turning. What comes as standard however, is an uncompromising sound and picture quality that has set the reference for modern television.

The Beovision MX series has become a classic. Designed by David Lewis in the 1980s, this television set has gradually developed through the years to become the most well-known TV in the world today. Much has happened however, since the first version. Today the Beovision MX6000 is equipped with the latest in picture and sound technology. This is the first, and probably only, TV with an built-in active speaker system. By using the same technology as used in all their stand alone active speakers, Bang & Olufsen have managed to provide sound quality that is hard to believe. The MX6000 is really the same machine as the MX7000 but without the active speakers. It features a passive system instead.

When it comes to the picture, the current version features a 28 inch BlackLine S CRT along with the contrast screen and the other VisionClear components. The MX series can, of course, be equipped with built in satellite receiver/Positioner and a Picture-In-Picture (PIP) module. For those wishing to use the Teletext subtitles when a programme is using them the MX sets automatically turns them on and, in conjunction with a Beocord VX7000, it can also record a TV programme with subtitles. All versions can be connected to the motor stands giving the possibility to adjust the viewing angle remotely.

With two colours and five placement options to choose from, the MX 6000 will suit almost any purpose and room environment. The Beovision MX6000 is basically an MX7000, but with a conventional speaker system instead of active loudspeakers.

Design
Filling a television with every conceivable gadget that technology offers is easy enough. What’s more difficult is identifying what really improves the overall experience of watching TV and eliminating the things that don’t. That’s the philosophy behind the MX range. In both form and function, it’s a clear-cut case of less being more.

Features
With 2 colours and 5 placement options to choose from, the MX 6000 will suit almost any purpose. Optional brackets are available; Beovision MX6000 is available in glossy black and glossy white only. The TV is controlled by the provided Beo4 remote control. It is a 66cm TV with VisionClear; stereo loudspeakers; improved Teletext; Beo4 remote control; connections for Beolink® VCR and headphones; BeoStand and motorised stands are optional.

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BeoVision MX 7000

BeoVision MX 7000

The MX range was the first to bring the TV out into the open and it continues to show alternative ways of living with television. Beovision MX7000 was Bang & Olufsen’s first television set designed with active speakers.

Beovision MX 7000 comes with the same Active loudspeakers technology that’s found in the BeoLab range of loudspeakers. By building the amplifiers directly into the speaker cabinet we’re able to ensure a sound performance that’s second to none. With the MX 7000 you have a full range of 6 colours and 5 placement options. Whether you prefer blue to red or a motorised stand to a non-motorised stand, the MX 7000 will give you a number of possibilities: 66cm screen with VisionClear, active loudspeakers, improved Teletext, Beo4 remote control, connections for Beolink®, VCR and headphones, optional module for satellite, BeoStands and motorised stands and available in pearlescent shades of: blue, green, red, grey, black or glossy white.

The Beovision MX series has become a classic. Designed by the famous David Lewis in the ’80s, this television set has gradually developed through the years to become the most known TV in the world today. Much has happened, however, since the first version. Today the MX7000 is equipped with the latest in picture and sound technology. This is the first, and probably only, TV with an built-in active speaker system. By using the same technology as used in all their stand alone active speakers, Bang & Olufsen have managed to provide sound quality that is hard to believe. The MX6000 is really the same machine as the MX7000 but without the active speakers. It features a passive system instead. When it comes to the picture, the current version features a 28 inch Backline S CRT along with the contrast screen and the other VisionClear components.

The MX series can, of course, be equipped with built in satellite receiver/Positioner and a Picture-In-Picture (PIP) module. For those wishing to use the Teletext subtitles when a program is using them the MX sets automatically turns them on and, in conjunction with a Beocord VX7000, it can also record a program with subtitles. All versions can be connected to the motor stands giving the possibility to adjust the viewing angle remotely. The MX7000 is available in the same colours as the Avant, namely pearly red, blue, black, green and grey.

With the MX range, the TV finally becomes a discreet part of your interior decoration. Choose between a 51cm or 66cm screen, 6 different colours and a versatile range of stands and brackets – with or without motorised turning. What comes as standard, however, is an uncompromising sound and picture quality that has set the reference for modern television.

Design
Filling a television with every conceivable gadget that technology offers is easy enough. What’s more difficult is identifying what really improves the overall experience of watching TV and eliminating the things that don’t. That’s the philosophy behind the MX range. In both form and function, it’s a clear-cut case of less being more. Beovision MX 7000 is controlled by the Beo4 remote control.

Beovision MX 7000
With the MX 7000 you have a full range of 6 colours and 5 placement options. Whether you prefer blue to red or a motorised stand to a non-motorised stand, the MX 7000 will give you a number of possibilities.

Bang & Olufsen have a long lasting commitment to the principle of Active Loudspeakers, i.e. the idea that each loudspeaker unit is powered by an individual amplifier with a specific crossover network, to ensure perfectly natural sound reproduction. The principle has definite advantages in the field of television sound.

Despite critical operating conditions, Beovision products succeed in providing sonic performances which surpass those of many hi-fi systems. The active loudspeakers in Beovision Avant, for instance, reproduce a sound quality equal to a pair of BeoLab 2500s.

And if your demands exceed those of the average viewer, the speakers’ modularity allows you to enhance the sound performance with any choice of loudspeakers in the BeoLab range.

In October 2002, Beovision MX7000 was replaced with Beovision MX8000.

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BeoLab LCS 9000

BeoLab 3500 was the first-ever dedicated Beolink® speaker ever released from Bang & Olufsen.

At first it was designated LCS 9000 (Local Control System 9000 from 1992 to 1993) and was manufactured for the old Beolink® system, Master Control Link. But since one of Bang & Olufsen’s great advantages is compatibility it was of course already prepared for the new Master Link system.

Being a Beolink® speaker it houses all the electronics within it required to work as a part in a Beolink® system. No additional boxes are needed – only a cable between the hi-fi and the speaker. Even an infra-red transceiver is built in. BeoLab 3500 also has a display and a digital clock built in.

BeoLab 3500 is an active loudspeaker with two speakers for stereo sound and an integrated Beolink® receiver-unit complements the unit. It has been specially designed for the distribution of sound to rooms in which one moves around a lot, such as the kitchen. For the bedroom, a workshop, basement or even a children’s room, a BeoLab 3500 could be the right solution with full remote control via Beo4. A dedicated Beolink® loudspeaker, it fits into its standard bracket on the wall, on top of a book case, or over the door in the dining room. Its red LED display keeps you informed about which source you are playing.

With two bass and treble loudspeakers, each with its own amplifier, the sound level can be adjusted independently of the other loudspeakers in the system. Hang BeoLab 3500 on the wall on its standard wall bracket or use the optional polished aluminium stand to display it on a shelf or table.

“When it comes to sound reproduction we believe there’s only one relevant parameter: How close can we come to the originally recorded sound. We feel an obligation not to disturb the intentions of the artist by adding unnatural elements to the acoustic image. Therefore all Bang & Olufsen loudspeakers share the same goal. They differ in size and shape and in terms of sound pressure level. But they are all developed to reproduce the natural, unaltered sound as closely as possible ” – Bang & Olufsen catalogue 2001 – 2002

BeoLab 3500 as part of a Beolink® system:

BeoLab 3500 is an integrated link-room active loudspeaker comprising a Master Link (ML) connection, an IR receiver and a digital display. BeoLab 3500 also has Master Control Link (MCL) connection and a built-in clock.

BeoLab 3500 is supplied with a mains lead, a Master Link cable and a bracket for wall mounting is available as an optional accessory.

Application

BeoLab 3500 is used in link rooms where you wish to have an integrated active speaker. From the BeoLab 3500 it is possible to listen to both audio and video sources from the main room. There is built-in sound control, which means that tone, volume, balance and loudness controls can be adjusted independently of the main room.

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BeoSystem AV 9000

Bang & Olufsen Beosystem AV 9000

Bang & Olufsen’s Beosystem AV 9000 was a complete home theatre system introduced in 1992 and was designed by the company’s chief designer, David Lewis. The superlative system – in production for seven years – comprised a Beovision AV9000 TV set, a pair of BeoLab 8000 speakers, a pair of BeoLab 6000 speakers, and a Master Control Panel AV9000, similar to a BeoSound Ouverture. In addition, Beovision AV9000 contained not just the television, but also a Dolby Surround Sound processor, a modified Beocord VX7000 and an active centre speaker.

Beosystem AV 9000 was, in the early 1990’s the most advanced combination of sound and vision from Bang & Olufsen and was the B&O approach to complete home entertainment. The TV, video and music system used the same set of loudspeakers, so the sound always comes as close to reality as possible. AV 9000 gave you the freedom to choose one of five different sound-settings for every audio/video source – ranging from Dolby Surround Sound to monologue newsflash. Surround Sound was built into the AV 9000 monitor-unit, while the CD, radio and cassette was handled by BeoSound Ouverture, all seamlessly connected to each other. The whole system was surrounded by two set of loudspeakers: tall, slender BeoLab 8000 in front and BeoLab 6000 at the rear. A fifth source was the central loudspeaker in the triangular bottom-half of the television set. The whole system was controlled by one remote control, the Beo4.

Today it is relatively easy to build a television. But at Bang & Olufsen the company is more committed to bring customers the best possible experience. VisionClear is a simple name for a list of advanced electronics which the viewer experiences, but hardly notices, simply because they work. Automatic picture control, current colour balance correction, automatic cut-off and fine tuning of the aerial signal and a contrast screen.

If you often watch television during the day, you will recognise the problem of carpets, furniture and other home furnishings reflecting in the screen. The solution to this problem is an ultra-thin coating on the contrast screen, which reduces reflection by 90% and makes the black areas appear pitch black.

The anti-reflective contrast screen is standard on the Beovision Avant and was supplied as standard on the Beosystem AV9000. On the AV 9000 even the picture tube was coated with anti-reflective material to ensure 100% reflection-free viewing comfort.

A small electronic sensor in all Beovision TV sets registers the prevailing light conditions in the room and adjusts the picture, so that it’s always sharp, no matter whether a reading lamp is on or the rays of the sun suddenly breaks through the window. Automatic Picture Control is part of the VisionClear concept and only available on televisions available from Bang & Olufsen.

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 were being made for the performance. The lighting and sound were adjusted and the actors took their places. The curtain only went up when everything was ready. The first television to have a curtain was 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!

A brilliant problem
We all know the frustration of trying to watch television in daylight when the brilliance of a window reflection on the picture tube makes it impossible to see a part or all of the picture. This also happens to a smaller degree when light-coloured furniture or a lamp is reflected. In general, reflections lower the quality of the picture on a television screen and reduce the pleasure of watching a TV programme.

The optical process of what happens in such a case is that the contrast of the picture is effectively reduced. The Bang & Olufsen solution to the problem has traditionally been to incorporate a contrast screen. Ensuring that ambient light (which creates the reflections) travel twice through a light absorbing contrast screen whereas the picture formed in the picture tube travels only once, the brightness of the reflection is substantially reduced.

If it were possible, a better solution would be to reduce reflections directly. One method is to make the surface of the picture tube rough, either by sanding or etching the front surface of the tube or spraying a matt coating on the glass. This type of treatment does not actually reduce reflections, but by making reflections more diffuse, reduces their visibility. However, it also makes the picture itself fuzzy and less sharp, so that the overall quality is reduced.

A more attractive method is to use coatings. Coatings for glass surfaces have been used for a long time and for many purposes. The first use was probably for camera lenses, where coatings corrected for optical faults in the lens. Later, coatings were used to reduce reflections and also to correct colour reproduction when colour films became available. Most people will know of coatings from the more expensive spectacles, where coated glass is used to reduce reflections.

Anti-reflection coatings can reduce reflections to between 5% and 10% of their original brightness. They work by what is known as destructive interference and use the fact that light travels in waves of specific wavelengths. By coating the picture tube or other glass surfaces with a transparent layer of a thickness of one quarter of the wavelength of light, the light failing on the surface is reflected twice – once from the front surface and again from the rear surface of the coating. The two reflections are now half a wavelength apart and therefore in opposite phase and thus virtually cancel each other to destroy the reflection.

Of course, this happens perfectly for just one wavelength of light (or light of a single colour) and to lesser degrees for the wavelengths close to this. By adding more than one coating of different thicknesses, a more broadband removal of reflections can be achieved. Thus, for example, three coatings are used for the front screen of the Beosystem AV9000. One of the reasons that antireflection coatings are not used more often is that currently the manufacturing process is extremely expensive for large screens, allowing its use only in high-end television sets. However, as it is considerably less expensive for small screens, especially where only a single coating is used, it is a reasonably popular feature for computer monitors.

One of the features of coated picture tubes is that although reflections are drastically reduced, the coated glass appears to have a residual colour. This happens because some light is still reflected from the surface, the colour of which depends on the number and thickness of the layers. The colours that are not perfectly removed result in the colouring of the glass. This does not affect the colours of the picture, which is viewed through the coating and does not depend upon its thickness.

Also, the effectiveness of the anti-reflection coatings falls off at an angle to the screen, as the effective thickness of the coating changes. Seen from an angle, the colour of the reflections changes for the same reason.

The AV9000 also uses another coating, a thin layer of chrome on the back of the contrast screen. This is an anti-static layer, which is earthed to prevent the build-up of static charge, which can give problems with electrostatic shock. An appealing side effect of the anti-reflection coating of the AV9000 is that when the black curtain behind the contrast screen is closed, the effect of the coating is apparently considerably reduced, so that the whole screen surface appears to reflect. As soon as the curtain is removed, the anti-reflection coating takes full effect, forming a window in which the brightness of reflected light is reduced.

“There was a time when people bought TV and radio in order to keep informed. Today, TV and radio have developed into entertainment media, and here at Bang & Olufsen, we are convinced that this trend will continue. At any rate, that is the reason for what is perhaps our greatest innovation yet.

Beosystem AV 9000 is not just an independent video system and independent music system. It is an epoch-making combination of picture and sound options contained within an exciting Dolby Surround System. What is Dolby Surround anyway?

You have probably had the experience of sitting in a cinema, where the film was so real you almost ducked at the sound of horses’ hooves approaching your seat. That is Dolby Surround. With Beovision AV9000, you can benefit not only from film, but also from the many televised recordings and sports events that are produced and transmitted today with Dolby Surround.

Technically, Dolby Surround is created with the help of three front and two rear speakers. By delaying the sound in the rear speakers relative to the front speakers, you get a three-dimensional sound picture, and suddenly you are in the midst of a giant soccer stadium, a concert hall, or the action of a film. I am not exaggerating when I say that even in smaller rooms, Dolby Surround is incredible.

However, it is one thing to have cinema experience at home in your living room. The other side is that when we developed AV9000, we wanted to make sure that your living room wouldn’t look like a cinema when no one was using the system. Every element is designed to be a beautiful part of the rest of the decor of the room. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be Bang & Olufsen.“

Movies no longer have to be seen in the cinema. With Dolby Surround and Bang & Olufsen active loudspeaker technology it is possible to create a sound environment that even surpasses that of cinema. The technology makes sound so pure, that it can be called natural – just the same that you would hear in a concert hall. With the AV9000 Bang & Olufsen achieved the goal of perfect sound. But, this was only one half of the secret of reproducing cinema in your living room. The other half is gained when you give Bang & Olufsen’s engineers free hand in pursuit of the perfect picture, achieved in the monitor of Beosystem AV 9000.

The built-in video tape recorder had the same capability and operations as Beocord VX7000. The VCR was PAL/NTSC compatible and discreetly hidden from view, unlike a normal free-standing recorder. Together with the active central loudspeaker, it was positioned in the triangle below the 66cm 4:3 screen. The location of the speaker enhanced the impression that the voice came directly from the screen. To direct the voice to face your sitting position, the monitor could be turned 33 degrees to both the left and right by operating its motorised stand with the Beo4 remote control. As all B&O motorised stands, movement of the monitor was entirely soundless.

Perhaps the first thing that the viewer noticed upon looking at the set, was that there appeared to be no screen! Just like in the cinema, the screen was only revealed when the mechanical curtains parted. When the TV was turned on, a black, completely light-resistant curtain glided to the left and right to reveal the picture, creating further the illusion of a small cinema screen. At the same time the monitor turned toward you to its pre-set position. The picture was incredibly sharp, with deep and clear colours.

Beosystem AV 9000 was more than a music system and more than a video system. It was an integrated approach to home entertainment, which fitted unobtrusively into any living room. The polished aluminium surfaces of the active BeoLab 8000 and BeoLab 6000 speakers took on the colours of their surroundings, while the black cloth covers blended in with outmost grace. In regard to sonic qualities, the loudspeakers are still second to none.

Carlton Sarver, a writer specialising in audio and video, with life long experience within the development of electronic media in Europe as well as the USA concluded that “I feel free to give unrestrained opinion of the Beosystem AV9000 in the larger context of integrated audio-video systems. Which is, that somebody finally got it right”.

The Master Panel AV9000 – or MPAV 9000 – was the ‘audio source module’ designed especially for the AV9000 system and was very similar in appearance to the BeoSound Ouverture. The earlier types of AV9000 were sold with the module and used four active speakers to create a full surround system. It used the Beolink 5000 or Beolink 7000 as a remote and was a two-way system. This was replaced when the system was updated to use the Beo4 remote control and the Master Panel was replaced with the Ouverture.

Besides its ability to play music sources, the Master Panel – as its name implies provided the user with a control interface for the entire Beosystem AV9000. This meant, for example, that it could be used to search, play and rewind all the sources in the system. At the approach of a hand the tinted glass doors automatically slid open and the panel lit up. For CD play, a touch of a button caused the CD player’s motorised clamp to lift upward for convenient loading. At another button touch the clamp moved into place, holding the CD in precise position for play. Tracks could be programmed to play in any sequence, using a Beolink 5000 terminal.

The cassette deck offered the same playback convenience as a CD. Sequential track numbers were automatically assigned to selections on a cassette. Any track on a cassette could be quickly located, simply by entering the track number. Playback in any sequence could be programmed. HX-Pro – a headroom extension system developed by Bang & Olufsen and licensed to Dolby Laboratories – was standard. It secured that high music frequencies were optimised during the recording process.

Bang & Olufsen’s microcomputer-based Auto Record Level controlled the recording level more accurately than would be possible manually. Because it subtly reduces recording level when required, never increasing it, its action is virtually undetectable.

The FM/AM tuner incorporated Bang & Olufsen’s developments that increased sensitivity, selectivity and tuning stability. Its use was exceptionally easy. Touching a station preset button – on either the Panel or the Beolink 5000 terminal – caused that station to instantly start playing, even if the system had previously been turned off. With an optional RDS decoder, FM station identification was automatically displayed on the Panel. Users could also manually name individual FM or AM presets.