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Posted on June 5, 2024October 28, 2025 by multicare

BeoSound Ouverture

“BeoSound Ouverture: the design may be a Bang & Olufsen classic, but BeoSound Ouverture and BeoSound 3000 refuse to rest on their laurels. Access to new musical sources and fresh loudspeaker options ensure that the concept remains an open invitation to make something special out of your music” (B&O catalogue 2001 -2002)

This stereo has two different names: BeoSound Ouverture in Europe and BeoSound 4000 in the rest of the world. This is the only stereo system, so far, to support the new MasterLink system without any add-ons. It’s really a follow up to the Beocenter 2500 which was the first and original stereo with this somewhat different look. Along with the launch of this unit in 1991 (as the BeoSound 2500) Bang & Olufsen also started selling the new remote control – Beo4. The difference between the Ouverture and Beocenter 2500 is that the newer model doesn’t feature two-way communication and it has instead a completely new CD mechanism. It also holds some new features when it comes to the CD. But the most important difference is the MasterLink connection. With this system you can connect the unit to, for example, a BeoLab 2000 or BeoLab 3500 without any further electronics. Reach out and the doors glide quietly aside, while a gentle light spreads from within. It’s BeoSound Ouverture’s way of saying, “welcome” and part of the experience every time you put on a new tape or CD. CD player with programming, tape recorder with auto reverse, FM/AM radio with pre-set, timer function, optional Beo4 remote control operation, connections for Beolink® and headphones, optional wall bracket and floor stand. BeoSound Ouverture’s unassuming rubber key pad hides a contact foil, which, in turn, covers a matrix of vertical and horizontal cords. When a control is pressed, the cords connect and the microprocessor is activated.
Design
Music is more than just something you listen to, it’s an emotion you experience. So isn’t it time your favourite music was played on something that lets it express itself to the full? BeoSound Ouverture stands up and invites you to make something special out of your music – over and over again.
Features
Bring new life to old CDs by changing their track sequence with the Random Play function. Or programme it to skip over any unwanted tracks and to play the ones you want in the order you prefer. Transferring the music of a CD onto tape doesn’t have to mean poorer quality. The Ouverture constantly monitors and adjusts the signal during any recording to ensure a uniform sound level throughout – and will automatically stop recording when the CD finishes playing. There’s room for up to 30 pre-set stations on the Ouverture’s intelligent AM/FM radio.
So how do the sliding glass doors work?
The glass doors on the BeoSound 3000 and BeoSound Ouverture are opened and closed by steel wires driven by an electric motor via a gearbox. The motor is triggered by an infrared system that detects your approach… Why wake up to an annoying alarm clock when it could be your favourite piece of music instead? The timer function on the Ouverture can be programmed for the entire week and will automatically turn itself off again after playing for any length of time you choose.
Specials
Just raise a hand and watch as the glass doors glide silently aside. It’s the Ouverture’s way of saying “welcome” and reveals that a special experience is about to begin. Of course, a simple on/off button would do, but then what would be so special about that?

Easily Placed
It’s a dream come true – a music system that can fill your life with music without filling your home with equipment. The flat upright design of BeoSound Ouverture means that it’s slim enough to sit by itself upon the narrowest shelf or light enough to be hung directly on a wall with a pair of loudspeakers.
Use
With its mix of glass and aluminium, the Ouverture grabs the attention without shouting out loud. Its compact size and visual presence ensures that it enhances rather than dominates the surroundings in which it’s placed – which makes it the perfect audio system for the home and place of work. The stereo can also be controlled by the optional Beo4 remote control.

Mounting Options
This classic design was reincarnated over a 21 year period with various mounts and stands. Floor stands were available with a pole stand or CD and tape storage, wall mount solutions allowed for the Hi-Fi only, or with BeoLab2500 speakers until these were discontinued

Posted on May 13, 2024October 27, 2025 by multicare

BeoLab Penta

These tall and elegant speakers were developed according to a totally new acoustic principle. They sounded just as magnificent as they looked. Because there were no parallel surfaces in the pentagonal cabinet, the design reduced the internal standing waves and reflection; it was a simple and beautifully effective way of eliminating distortion. The cabinet provided the ideal conditions for the loudspeakers. It was an acoustically ‘dead’ construction, with a moulded inner cabinet surrounded by a stainless steel exterior. Whatever the dimensions of your room, and regardless of the furnishings, BeoLab Penta always sounded wonderful. It also needed very little floor space; head room was all that’s required!

BeoLab Penta was the top-of-the-line speaker from Bang & Olufsen. It was around from the late ‘eighties to the mid-1990s and was upgraded several times. The last version of the active Penta was the Penta 3. In the late 1980’s – when the Penta range was introduced – there was also a passive version, Beovox Penta. But since Bang & Olufsen decided in the 1990s just to concentrate on active speakers, these and some other models, such as the Beovox 4500 and most of the RedLine speakers, were discontinued.

Did you know that the display in Penta I and Penta II was orange and and on Penta III it turned green?

Why build amplifiers into the loudspeakers instead of keeping them separate?

Because you can reduce the size of the cabinet volume to one-third of the size of a conventional loudspeaker with the same sound capacity.

The principle is called Active Loudspeakers, and what you get is a compact loudspeaker that can play at high volume without distortion or damage to its drive units. Furthermore, when amplifier, treble and bass units are paired for the same task, they can be tailored to compensate for each other’s shortcomings. What you hear is music that sounds exactly like the instrument it originally came from.

BeoLab Penta had nine individual loudspeaker units that were accurately positioned in a vertical line to produce a sound dispersion which was so precise that reflections from the floor and ceiling were eliminated. Consequently, Penta speakers could be placed almost anywhere in a room, irrespective of its size or furnishings. The operating panel at the base of BeoLab Penta allowed for the fine tuning of the bass reproduction at three levels.

The speaker’s cross section was a pentagon. The benefit of this design was that it cannot house standing waves which normally are a problem in speakers. The choice of using polished stainless steel was made to help the speaker blend into its surroundings by reflecting them. This gave the speaker the same colour as the surroundings which helped to make the speaker more of a subtle fixture,

Sound with as many facets as a diamond

The location of the speakers within the column was carefully planned to control the sound waves so that they weren’t reflected by the floor and ceiling. The resulting sound quality simply beggared description.

BeoLab 150: Controlled overdrive

At the base of BeoLab Penta was the BeoLab 150 amplifier with a power output of 175 watts DIN/IEC. This could give your music a tremendous boost, both to the quality and the actual power output. It was ideal if you love partying but had a relatively small music system. Big power needs careful control – so the amplifier was equipped with Dynamic Soft Clipping system. When there was any overloading, the system softly rounded off the sound; distortion becoming a thing of the past.

Speakers that more than measure up

Top quality music systems need the best speakers available – or you’re missing out. BeoLab Penta was the natural partner for Bang & Olufsen’s Beosystem 5000 and Beocenter 9000, with their built in CD players. The laser-pure quality of compact disc makes heavy demands on speakers, and both these systems had extremely fine amplifiers. Using BeoLab Penta with these systems and you’d enjoy some of the best sounds in the world. You’d also appreciate handy features such as the light display at the base of the column, which indicated which music source was being used. Of course this was even more useful if you installed Beolink® to give you music all over the house.

Posted on May 13, 2024October 26, 2025 by multicare

BeoLab 4000

” 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

Squeeze a pair of BeoLab 4000s into the bookcase in your study and link them to the music system in the living room, via a Beolink® ‘eye’, which responds to your remote control. Whether it’s a matter of placement or simple colour co-ordination, BeoLab 4000 turns flexibility into an art form. Placing amplifiers directly in the loudspeakers themselves not only improves sound quality but allows the manufacturer to reduce the cabinet’s overall size. The result is a compact loudspeaker that can sit on a shelf, bookcase or hang, at almost any angle, from the wall or ceiling. Available in six vivid colours, BeoLab 4000 is equally at home in a stereo setup, a surround sound system or as superior multimedia speakers for your computer.

Features:

BeoLab 4000 fills the room with sound

You can’t see sound, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be totally invisible. BeoLab 4000 is formed from aluminium that’s polished until it shines like a mirror. It also comes in an array of colours – not only to suit your interior decoration, but because life itself is full of colour

Aluminium

Aluminium is the perfect material for BeoLab 4000. It’s light, but offers an impressive stiffness despite a thickness of only a few millimetres. It also makes it easier to obtain the loudspeaker’s unique curved form, which is important for avoiding problems with audible artefacts due to internal standing waves in the cabinet

Active loudspeaker

The equation used to be a simple one; the louder the sound, the bigger the loudspeaker – but not anymore. Placing the amplifier directly into the loudspeaker allows us to reduce the overall size of the BeoLab 4000 to one third of a conventional loudspeaker with the same sound capacity.

Adaptive Bass Linearisation

Adaptive Bass Linearisation (ABL) is a process patented by B&O and is incorporated in BeoLab loudspeakers. The idea is to use the surplus capacity in amplifiers and driver units, arising by normal listening levels, for a bass extension – a sound reproduction with more bass, than the loudspeaker otherwise would be able to produce.

The function is adaptive. This means that the loudspeaker adapts to the signal it receives. Loudspeaker drivers are therefore fully exploited, without suffering mechanical or electronic abuse, and the built in amplifiers are not subjected to signals would otherwise create an overload situation.

ABL gives stunning bass reproduction considering the size of the loudspeaker in which it is incorporated, under normal listening levels.

Why build amplifiers into the loudspeakers instead of keeping them separate?

Because you can reduce the size of the cabinet volume to one-third of the size of a conventional loudspeaker with the same sound capacity. The principle is called Active Loudspeakers, and what you get is a compact loudspeaker that can play at high volume without distortion or damage to its drive units. Furthermore, when amplifier, treble and bass units are paired for the same task, they can be tailored to compensate for each other’s shortcomings. What you hear is music that sounds exactly like the instrument it originally came from.

The cube

During the development phase, all BeoLab loudspeakers are put through their paces in ‘The Cube’, Bang & Olufsen’s own acoustic measurement facility. In the 12 x 12 x 13 metre room, the entire audible spectrum is played through the loudspeaker to give a perfect picture of it’s sound ‘fingerprint’.

Performance

To ensure an optimal performance every time you listen to it, a BeoLab loudspeaker constantly fine-tunes the signal received from the sound source before distributing it out to the separate bass and treble power amplifiers.

The listening panel

Since it’s humans that will listen to BeoLab 4000, it’s important that a human ear should also measure its quality. That’s why Bang & Olufsen employs its own Listening Panel to scrutinise every step in a loudspeaker’s development. If any sonic shortcomings are discovered, the whole project is returned to the drawing board.

Individual Calibration

Since no two loudspeaker units have exactly the same physical characteristics, we calibrate them individually to make certain that the sound of each and every BeoLab 4000 loudspeaker leaving the factory is identical.

Appearance

Using aluminium for the cabinets is not just about looking good. Despite a thickness of only a few millimetres, it’s a remarkably strong metal that’s easily shaped to eliminate the problems with audible artefacts due to internal standing waves in the cabinet.

Rule of thumb

Substitute cabinet volume (the amount of space a loudspeaker takes up) for amplifier power (which doesn’t take up much) and cabinets like that of the BeoLab 4000 can be reduced to one-third the size of a conventional, passive loudspeaker with the same sound capacity.

Flexibility in placement

You can use BeoLab 4000 as your main loudspeakers or as extras in a Bang & Olufsen surround-sound set-up. Their ability to fit into the smallest of spaces, or to be hung on the wall at almost any angle, also makes them the perfect loudspeaker for the Beolink® system. BeoLab 4000 owes its shape to the fact that active loudspeakers produce heat if they have to play for a long time without a pause. Squeeze it into a bookcase and it will still have sufficient cooling air around it, no matter how many books it shares its space with. Raised on the optional stand, BeoLab 4000 presents itself at the same angle as BeoSound Ouverture.

Even Cooler?

2007 saw the introduction of the Beolab 4000 Mk2 . Almost unheralded, the main change was the use of ICE amplifiers to replace the AB type. At first glance it would appear that the amplifiers from the Beolab 4 were being used. These offered a power output of 35W each with 2 being used. This was remarkably similar to the real output of the older amplifiers and not surprisingly the maximum sound levels achievable were not changed. Indeed it was unlikely that any customers would have noticed the change if not told.

Part numbers: BeoLab 4000 front covers

Green 1603894
Grey 1603895
Black 1603896
Yellow 1603897
Blue 1603898
Red 1603899

Mounting Options

Wall mounting brackets were supplied with this model. Pole mounted Floor Stands were the only other option.

Posted on May 13, 2024October 26, 2025 by multicare

BeoLab 3500

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.

Posted on May 13, 2024October 26, 2025 by multicare

BeoLab 3000

Quality loudspeakers provide well-modulated sound expression, and at the same time a visual personality that also commands attention. Bang & Olufsen’s BeoLab 3000 and Beovox 3000 loudspeakers had both the voice and the looks for a leading, acoustic role. Because of their thin shape, they became known as Panel loudspeakers.

Panel loudspeakers were one of the most exciting examples of how Bang & Olufsen united advanced technology and stunning design to achieve totally new effects. They didn’t look like high specification loudspeakers,, but their sound gave them away. Even at full volume they kept the total sound picture in perfect balance.

The elegant, flat loudspeakers were designed to be hung on the wall. And with their calm surfaces of blue or grey fabric coupled with beautiful, polished steel they looked like works of art presented in their own right. The idea of the panel speakers was based upon an advanced, acoustic principle that uses the wall as an active part of the sound reproduction, without causing the wall itself to vibrate.

They were available with or without amplifier and display showing which source was playing, at what volume, and which track number on a CD or tape you were listening to.

With display and amplifier the panel, speakers were called BeoLab 3000. Without, they were known as Beovox 3000.

The options depended on which Bang & Olufsen sound system was connected. You obtained maximum utilisation from Beosystems 6500, 4500, 3500 and Beocenters 9500 and 8500.

Why build amplifiers into the loudspeakers instead of keeping them separate?

Because you can reduce the size of the cabinet volume to one-third of the size of a conventional loudspeaker with the same sound capacity.

Mounting Options

Wall mounting brackets were supplied with this model. No other mounting solution wall offered.

Bang & Olufsen’s preferred supplier for brackets and stands, STBbrackets, have made a range of solutions specifically for this model. Distributed throughout the World by the Bang & Olufsen store network, the STB options add to the diversity of mounting options and positions available.

»Wall Mounting Brackets

Wall Bracket for BeoVox & BeoLab flat panel speaker range

WB3000 has been introduced to meet a growing demand to mount Bang & Olufsen flat panel speakers to the wall. The bracket (sold as a pair) is a faithful reproduction of the original which was supplied with the speakers. These beautiful speakers can now be installed on to the wall, where they are a genuine and authentic Bang & Olufsen statement.

Posted on May 13, 2024October 26, 2025 by multicare

BeoLab 2500

BeoLab 2500 are active loudspeakers designed to match the BeoSound Ouverture and the BeoSound 3000. With their built-in amplifiers, they sound as if they’re three times their size. Hang them on the wall or place them on bookshelves.

They match both the Beocenter Ouverture and 3000 (previous to this they were used with both the BeoSound 2300 and 2500 music systems) with perspective and clarity, despite their modest dimensions. The explanation of the wide sound lies in the built-in amplifiers in each cabinet: one for bass and one for treble, so that they never have to compete for the same amplifier.

Features:

BeoLab 2500 are active loudspeakers with 2 built-in power amplifier modules to combine with the current (2002) BeoSound 3000 and BeoSound Ouverture. As speakers for the BeoSound 2300 and 2500 music systems, they were available in Blue Lapis, Black Granite, Red Garnet, Green Malachite, Yellow Dolomite and Silver Galena. However, new metal frets were introduced at the end of 2001. From the previous replaceable cloth fronts, they are now manufactured in pearlescent aluminium (see below). These new perforated metal frets presently come in 5 different colours – natural aluminium, black, blue, green and russet to match those of BeoSound 1.

Adaptive Bass Linearisation

ABL gives stunning bass reproduction considering the size of the loudspeaker in which it is incorporated, under normal listening levels.

Mounting Options

BeoLab2500 were originally mounted to the HiFi with wall bracket 2087 or physically separated and mounted onto furniture as a bookshelf option.

Posted on May 13, 2024October 27, 2025 by multicare

BeoCenter 9300

Beocenter 9300 really defined the word ‘classic’. It was for those who preferred to enjoy the music rather than to pore over the product manual. The design of the 9300 was around for many years before production ceased in the late 1990’s. It was available in many different versions; for example 8000, 9000, 9500 and the this last version: Beocenter 9300.

The differences between the 9500 and the 9300 was that the 9300 had a new and improved CD mechanism fitted which was faster than the previous versions. Some minor differences were that the 9300 lacked two-way remote communication and an equalizer loop-through. However, the 9300 still is still among the Bang & Olufsen greats!

BeoCenter 9300 could operate with active as well as passive loudspeakers. A mere touch activated BeoCenter 9300 and a line of sensi-touch options glowed on the lower glass display. The 9300 was a complete music system for people who prefer to enjoy music rather than poring over a product manual.

Features:

2 x 80 watt amplifier, CD player with programming, tape recorder with auto reverse, FM/AM radio with 30 preset stations, finger touch control, optional Beo4 remote control operation, connections for Beolink® and headphones, Master Control Link. There was also the option of using the BeoCenter with or without active speakers, such as BeoLab 4000 (shown above). A stand could also be bought as a separate item

Posted on May 13, 2024October 26, 2025 by multicare

BeoCenter 9500

The mirrored exterior of aluminium and smoked glass gave no hint of the power hidden beneath the surface of Beosystem 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.