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BeoGram CDX 2

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram CDX2

BeoGram CDX 2

This advanced CD player was straight from tomorrow’s world – but it would still marry up happily with any Bang & Olufsen system created over the previous decade. It was as simple to use as a tape recorder. The track search system was invaluable for finding your way quickly around the disc. A display indicated the number of the track you’re on.

Recording was just as straight forward. And you could time recordings to the second – just press the sensi-touch panel and you could find out how much time was left on a particular track or on the whole disc.

This replacement for the former Beogram CDX used at that time, new 16-bit technology and an all-new optical system. The player itself though, was derived from the Philips CD150 machine; the same as that in the Beocenter 9000. After one year the machine was discontinued and replaced by the Beogram CD 3300 – a similar sensi-touch CD player – as part of Beosystem 3300.

BeoGram CDX 2 Product Details

Type Numbers

5161 (1988 – March 1990)
5162 (GB) (1988 – May 1989)

Designer

Manufactured

1988 – 1990

Colour Options

Black, Silver

BeoGram CDX 2 Product Specification

Frequency range: 3 – 20,000 Hz +/- 0.3 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: > 96 dB / 100 dB A-weighted
Dynamic range: > 96 dB
Harmonic distortion incl. noise: < 0.003% at 0 dB; < 0.03 at -20 dB
Channel separation: > 94 dB
Channel difference: < 0.5 dB

Converter system: 2 x 16 bit, 4 x oversampling 176.4 kHz
Low pass filter: Digital + Bessel/elliptical analogue

Damping: > 20,000 Hz > 50 dB
Phase error between L and R 0 degree at 20 – 20,000 Hz
Output analogue: 2 V RMS at 0 dB
Output, signal: for digital equipment

Power supply:
5161: 220V
5162: 240V
Power consumption 30 W
Dimensions W x H x D: 42 x 7.5 x 31cm
Weight 4.9 kg

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BeoGram CDX

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram CDX

BeoGram CDX

A featherlight touch on the glass control panel brought up an illuminated display of numbers which corresponded to the tracks on the disc. You could select tracks in any order; you could see how long a track lasted and a motorised dust cover and automatic light were among the features that this stand-alone CD player possessed.

The CD player was based around the Philips CD104, built in Belgium.

As a standalone player, it lacked the Datalink and remote control facilities that its predecessor, the Beogram CD50, possessed. A good-looking CD player which performed well, it was later superceded by the Beogram CDX-2 in 1987.

Bang & Olufsen Sales Training System

Beogram CDX

Beogram CDX is a Compact Disc player in a classical Bang & Olufsen design

Features:

Top operation

Motor driven dust cover

Sensi-touch operation

ADVANCE and RETURN functions

Replay up to 4 times

Display with indication of playing time of individual tracks, elapsed time and index

Analogue and digital filter (176.4 KHz over sampling)

Connection with Phono plugs

Operation

If Beogram CDX is in standby position and there is a compact disc on the platter, one push at the PLAY button will start the playback.

If there isn’t a compact disc inserted, you push the EJECT button and the motor driven dust cover will open, the platter will lift and the compact disc can be inserted.

Apart from the above-mentioned PLAY and EJECT buttons, all operations are sensi-touch fields, which are operated with a slight touch.

When pushing the field PLAY, the dust cover closes automatically and playback starts.

The display indicates the individual tracks on the inserted Compact Disc. If it has more than 20 tracks, the two first digits in the time display will show the total.

The time display has 3 main functions, which can be ordered by pressing DISPLAY, namely the time of the individual tracks, the elapsed playing time and index, which is a sub-division of the time of the individual tracks.

ADVANCE and RETURN are used for jumping to the next or the previous track and are indicated with a flashing of the selected track on the display.

With the digits 1 to 0, a track can be selected at random and the jump is marked on the display.

With STORE and CLEAR you can select or leave out up to 40 tracks on the Disc.

REPEAT replays the Disc up to 4 times.

One push at STOP gives pause, and by keeping the finger on the field till the Disc stops, you get actual STOP. << and >> are used for fast search within the individual tracks.

When activating it once, you search in jumps of 1 second

By keeping the finger on the field you search in jumps of 10 seconds and after 10 seconds the jumps are 1 minute

Connection

Beogram CDX is provided with a fixed signal cable with Phono plugs and can be connected to all LINE inputs. For amplifiers with TAPE inputs which are already being used, we can deliver a CD/TAPE adaptor, type 8950060 (accessory at additional price)

1985 Magazine Review

” The CDX is one of two ‘Beograms’ which have been promised by B & O for some considerable time. It would seem that to a large extent B & O have edged, their bets, for the CDX is a Philips-based machine while the alternative model uses Sony-sourced assemblies. The CDX is an extraordinarily beautiful machine yet, as we shall learn, is based entirely upon the ever so humble Philips CD?101 (the same player as used by Meridian for the MCD conversion). The styling is obviously intended as match the other B & O units and so the company has an untapped market of existing owners who have been patiently waiting for a CD player. But it is a player well worth considering in its own right as a separate purchase.

Unusually the CDX is a top loader but the lid assembly is powered and in response to the eject button the lid assembly smoothly folds back to allow the disc to be loaded. With the exception of the Eject and Power switches, all the controls are touch sensitive (using a type of capacitive sensing) a choice which I found far from reassuring since I kept wanting to use extra finger pressure to ensure a good contact! My overall lack of confidence was further encouraged by the all black control panel which reveals nothing until the power is applied. Perhaps it’s too much like computer screen ‘soft keys’ for me for I kept wondering if the Play switch would be still in the same place every time I went back to this player!

Two types of display are provided; a digital readout to show track time, total elapsed play time, and track numbers up to 99; and a bar scale of 20 LEDs to show the status of the first 20 tracks. A reasonable range of facilities is offered with both track skipping and fast searching (both backwards and forwards). Tracks can be pre-selected for playback and programming is possible for combinations of up to 40 tracks stored in the memory. Finally a Repeat mode allows continuous playback of the whole disc or of individual tracks.

Once the CDX is opened some idea of B & O’s inventiveness can be gained. Into the plastic casing has been dropped a Philips CD101 player complete down to the signal and mains supply cables but less the Switch/Display board. Instead B & O plug in wires from their own front panel and wire connections to their Eject and Power switches. The whole conversion is very neat and since the Philips player is left unmodified all the standard parts fit thus ensuring ease of service.

It has to be said that providing the last word in performance is not needed; the Philips CD?101 is an excellent choice with the CDM mechanism being recognised for its good build quality and reliable operation (it is also to be found in the expensive Revox B225 player). The electronics design largely follows the familiar Philips circuit with 4 times oversampling conversion using a separate 14-bit DAC for each channel.

In the laboratory the performance was much as expected with a generally flat frequency response except for a mild dip of 0.25dB around 7kHz; very low noise (?104dB); low crosstalk between channels and quite reasonable linearity. No problems were experienced when using the error testing discs and this player did very well in playing back some of my badly scratched discs with very few garbled passages.

Auditioning was conducted through my usual system of passive control unit and Krell power amplifier with LC connecting cables. Essentially in terms of sound quality this was very much a case of re-reviewing a Philips CD101 (or Marantz CD63) and the expected high standards were

achieved. The sound can be characterised as open, exciting with a fine sensation of space and depth, and good stereo focus. The weaknesses were primarily at the extremes of the audio band with a warm, stodgy bass and a degree of harshness at high frequencies. However within the context of the B & O system the sound quality of this player would be considered quite excellent.

VERDICT: A beautiful model which will appeal to a wider market than just the traditional

B & O owner. The overall performance of the CDX is excellent and this player can be considered as good value

PROS: Good sound quality. Very good value for money. Beautiful looks

CONS: Rather fiddly to use. Old fashioned top loading “

‘Which Compact Disc’ November 1985

BeoGram CDX Product Details

Type Numbers

5121 (1985 – May 1988)
5125 (AUS) (1985 – May 1987)
5122 (GB) (1985 – Nov 1987)
5123 (USA) (1985 – May 1988)

Designer

Manufactured

1985 – 1988

Colour Options

Black, Silver

BeoGram CDX Product Specification

Frequency range: 3 – 20,000 Hz +/- 0.3 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: > 96 dB
Dynamic range: > 96 dB
Harmonic distortion: 0.003 % at 0 dB
Channel separation: > 94 dB 20,000 Hz
Channel difference: < 0.5 dB
Converter system: 14 bit, oversampling 176.4 kHz
Low pass filter: Digital + analogue
Damping: > 20,000 Hz > 50 dB
Output: 2 V RMS at 0 dB

Power supply:
5121: 220V
5122: 240V
5123: 120V
5125: 240V
Power consumption: 25 W
Dimensions: W x H x D: 42 x 7.5 x 31cm
Weight: 6 kg

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BeoGram CD 7000

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram CD7000

BeoGram CD 7000

Beogram CD 7000 was distinctive because of its authentic sound reproduction as well as its large dynamic range. It was equally suitable for symphonic music and rock. Its many functions allowed you to pre-programme tracks for playback in any desired order. This CD player was the last in line as far as separates were concerned, replaced with the likes of Beocenter 2300 and Beocenter 2500.

Features:

Exclusive computer-controlled CD loading mechanism with extremely fast access time

CD tray machined from a 4mm solid aluminium plate for maximum mechanical stability and convenient loading

Disc tray cut-outs with rubber lining for 12 and 8cm discs

Spring-suspended CD mechanism and magnetic disc clamp

Special functions, such as scan and sequence programming, were carried out from Beolink 7000

Dynamic readout on Beolink 7000 of all functions, track bar, remaining time, elapsed time, scan, etc.

CD players are now among the simplest constructions in the electronic world and standard players are based on very few components, a simple electronic layout and use of economical materials, both inside the product and in the cabinet. In the construction of CD7000 the main objectives were the achievement of excellent mechanical stability, convincing sonic qualities and easy access to the CD functions.

The loading mechanism, the way the clamp function and the suspension of the CD mechanism were all points that received special attention. The high quality of the mechanical solutions was continued in the electronic circuitry and both were highly integrated and interdependent of each other.

The CD tray was very solid and elegant and the loading mechanism extremely durable. The tray was made from a 4mm thick sheet of aluminium and the conical recess for the CD was milled and diamond polished to the smallest of tolerances – to prevent dust gathering in the recess. The circular rubber profile protected the disc during loading and unloading, while the triangular cut-out facilitated unloading. To avoid static build-up the tray was connected to ground and to avoid ‘ringing’, a damping plate was placed at the innermost part of the tray, inside the cabinet.

The motorised movement of the CD tray was very fast and gentle. The movement was controlled by the microcomputer via an optocoupler and was a very stable mechanical solution with two parallel chrome plated brass rail tubes and precision plastic roller bearings. A nylon coated steel cord wire was applied for maximum duration and quiet transport. The electronically governed transport was very smooth, started the movement slowly, then speeded up very quickly, decelerating when the disc approached the clamp. Furthermore, it secured against possible damage occurring from obstacles either in front of the tray or in between tray and cabinet.

While the tray approached the clamp the disc was gently lifted off the tray and clamped between the CD mechanism and magnet. The magnet was placed on a bridge across the CD mechanism and when it engaged the disc the magnet was lifted away from the bridge. While the disc was rotating, the magnet was not in contact with the cabinet, but only the disc and CD mechanism.

This assembly was insulated very efficiently from the cabinet to prevent vibrations from the outside. A special suspension was designed, with 4 steel springs, encased in rubber. The springs ensured that the CD mechanism was fixed in the horizontal plane (i.e. across the disc), while a certain amount of movement was allowed in the vertical plane (i.e. up and down). Test showed that the servo system counteracts movements in the vertical plane better than in the horizontal plane, and the suspension thus was a good compromise with regard to immunity from external vibrations. The inherent frequency of the suspension was placed at 25 Hz to avoid tracking and focusing errors, which were prone to emerge if the CD mechanism was subjected to vibrations around 100 Hz and upward. Furthermore, at this frequency interference with the inherent frequency of the CD cabinet was also avoided.

The electronics

The CD format is one of the most precisely defined audio formats, but it is still possible to design differentiated products. The electronic solutions in CD 7000 were just as elaborate, the computer controlled loading just being one of the elements. Separate power supplies were available for the digital and analogue parts, and in connection with a careful print layout Bang & Olufsen achieved the most respectable electronic specifications. The digital-to-analogue filtering was special as well. First, a standard digital filtering (4 x oversampling) was applied to filter away the sidebands below 176,4 kHz. The analogue filtering at 176,4 kHz was carried out by a modified order filter. To avoid remnants of the 176,4kHz sideband having an effect on the filtering, a special suction circuit cut off the frequencies above 156,4 kHz. The modified filter was known as a ‘Bessel elliptical filter’. It had a very gentle filter characteristic and was not susceptible to ripple phenomena, phase distortion or ageing.

The functions

As with the other sources, operation was via the Beolink 7000, with full display readout of all functions. Special functions available included: the space function, where a pause of 4 seconds was added between tracks to facilitate track search on a tape recorded from CD 7000. Scan gave playback of the first 15 seconds of each track and was especially useful in connection with a sequence programming.

While you were scanning the CD, tracks could either be selected (compiled) or omitted and when the last track had been scanned, playback of the programmed sequence commenced. Sequence programming could also be carried out independently of the scan function and if you used the select programming, playback could be non-chronological. If you used the reject programming to leave out specific tracks, playback would be chronological.

Beogram 7000 could, ideally, be used as part of Beosystem 7000

BeoGram CD 7000 Product Details

Type Numbers

5151 ( 1992 – May 1995)
5155 (AUS) ( 1992 – May 1985)
5152 (GB) ( 1992 – May 1995)
5154 (J) ( 1992 – May 1995)
5153 (USA) ( 1992 – May 1995)

Designer

Manufactured

1992 – 1995

Colour Options

Silver, Black, White

BeoGram CD 7000 Product Specification

Frequency range: 3 – 20,000 Hz +/- 0.3 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: > 100 dB / 110 dB A-weighted
Dynamic range: > 96 dB
Harmonic distortion incl. noise: < 0.0025% at 0 dB;
< 0.025% at -20 dB
Channel separation: > 101 dB
Channel difference: < 0.08 dB
Converter system: 2 x 16 bit, 4 x oversampling 176.4
Low pass filter: Digital + Bessel/elliptical analogue
Damping: > 20,000 Hz > 50 dB
Phase error between L and R 0 degree at 20 – 20,000 Hz
Output analogue: 1.3 V RMS at 0 dB
Output, signal: For digital equipment

Power supply:
5151 EU 220 V
5155 AUS 240 V
5152 GB 240 V
5154 J 100 V
5153 USA 120 V
Power consumption: 23 W
Dimensions W x H x D: 42 x 7.5 x 32.5 cm
Weight: 6.3 kg

Link compatibility: Datalink

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BeoGram CD 6500

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram CD6500

BeoGram CD 6500

If you wanted to indulge yourself with the finest sound quality then you’d do no better than listening to your favourite pieces of music on Bang & Olufsen’s Beogram CD 6500. Beogram CD 6500 was a replacement for its predecessor, Beogram CD 5500.

It played both 12cm and 8cm compact discs, and housed sophisticated and advanced digital technology. And it offered sound reproduction which would satisfy even the most demanding of listeners.

Beogram CD 6500 could be used as part of the Beosystem 6500 hi-fi system.

BeoGram CD 6500 Product Details

Type Numbers

5136 (1989 – Feb 1992)
5140 (AUS) (1989 – Sept 1991)
5137 (GB) (1989 – Oct 1991)
5139 (J) (1989 – Oct 1991)
5138 (USA) (1989 – Dec 1991)

Designer

Manufactured

1989 – 1992

Colour Options

Silver, Black, White

BeoGram CD 6500 Product Specification

Frequency range: 3 – 20,000 Hz +/- 0.3 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: > 100 dB / 110 dB A-weighted
Dynamic range: > 96 dB
Harmonic distortion incl. noise: < 0.0025% at 0 dB
< 0.025% at -20 dB
Channel separation: > 101 dB
Channel difference: < 0.08 dB

Converter system: 2 x 16 bit, 4 x oversampling 176.4
Low pass filter: Digital + Bessel/elliptical analogue
Damping: > 20,000 Hz > 50 dB
Phase error between L & R 0 degree at 20 – 20,000 Hz
Output analogue: 1.3 V RMS at 0 dB
Output, signal: For digital equipment
Power supply:
5136: 220 V
5137: 240 V
5138: 100 V
5139: 120 V
5140: 240 V
Power consumption 23 W
Dimensions W x H x D: 42 x 7.5 x 32.5cm
Weight 6.3 kg
Link compatibility: Data Link

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BeoGram CD 5500

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram CD5500

BeoGram CD 5500

The quality of the Beogram CD 5500 CD player took time to fully appreciate. For example, the elegant disc tray with its completely smooth and silent drive. Or the way that the disc drive system was mounted to isolate it from vibrations. Perhaps you were most impressed by the way that a built-in circuit in the player compensated for the tiniest faults on the disc itself (contrary to popular belief they’re not always perfect!). Finding tracks was both fast and easy – it was necessary to just ask the Master Control Panel for the track number you wanted. You could programme tracks to be played in any order, or sample each track briefly. There was a light display which showed you the length of the track you were playing and the remaining time on the disc – invaluable for recording.

Though very similar to look at to Beogram CD 50, this all-new Philips-based machine was a radical departure, both in manufacturing and technical terms. Beogram CD 5500 was the first CD player to be entirely designed by Bang & Olufsen and with the exception of the optical deck, it was entirely made by the company too. The performance and reliability of the Beogram CDX models probably influenced the choice of the Philips radial single beam pickup system and brushless DC spindle motor.

Externally, a slim aluminium plate machined out to the size of a compact disc replaced the Beogram CD 50 door and drawer loading system and it moved quickly and silently, again in marked contrast to its predecessor. The deck was on the right-hand side side of the fascia as opposed to Beogram CD 50 left-hand side arrangement, so that the loading of a cassette into the new Beocord 5500 tape recorder, which you had the option of placing below, was not obstructed. Later versions had a concentric 8cm circular recess machined into the loading plate, to accept CD singles.

With the Beogram CD 5500 there was no infra-red sensor option, and the front panel controls were even more basic, so at very least a Beomaster 5500 and Beolink 1000 terminal were needed to use it properly. On the back panel, there was a 7-pin Datalink socket for Beomaster 5500, and a single phono digital output connection, for which there was never a use within the B&O range.

The performance of this outstanding machine was never bettered, and with the exception of minor styling and software revisions, it remained virtually unchanged until the end of the separates system range with the Beogram CD 7000.

Beogram CD 5500 could be controlled via the two-way Master Control Panel MCP 5500 as part of Beosystem 5500.

BeoGram CD 5500 Product Details

Type Numbers

5131 (1986 – May 1990)
5135 (AUS) (1986 – Aug 1989)
5132 (GB) (1986 – May 1990)
5134 (J) (1986 – Jan 1990)
5133 (USA) (1986 – Jan 1990)

Designer

Manufactured

1986 – 1990

Colour Options

Aluminium, White

BeoGram CD 5500 Product Specification

Frequency range: 3 – 20,000 Hz +/- 0.3 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: > 100 dB / 110 dB A-weighted
Dynamic range: > 96 dB
Harmonic distortion incl. noise: < 0.0025% at 0 dB;
< 0.025% at -20 dB
Channel separation: > 101 dB
Channel difference: < 0.08 dB

Converter system: 2 x 16 bit, 4 x oversampling 176.4
Low pass filter: Digital + Bessel/elliptical analogue
Damping: > 20,000 Hx > 50 dB
Phase error between L and R 0 degree at 20 – 20,000 Hz
Output analogue: 1.3 V RMS at 0 dB
Output, signal: For digital equipment

Power supply:
5131: 220 (100 – 110 – 120 – 240) V
5132/5135: 240 (100 – 110 – 120 – 220) V
5134: 100 V
Power consumption 23 W
Dimensions W x H x D 42 x 7.5 x 32.5cm
Weight 6.3 kg

Link compatibility: Data Link

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BeoGram CD 4500

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram CD4500

BeoGram CD 4500

The sound reproduction achieved by Bang & Olufsen’s CD 4500 CD player was truly outstanding.

It played both 12cm and 8cm compact discs and had an ingenious ‘step’ function which allowed you to go straight to a chosen track selected from anywhere on the disc. The CD player was one of the most technologically-advanced pieces of hi-fi on the market at the time and yet was one of the easiest to operate. The explicit display always indicated what the CD player was doing all the time – for example, which track was being played, and how many tracks there were on the played compact disc.

Beogram CD 4500 could be used as part of the Beosystem 4500 hi-fi system.

BeoGram CD 4500 Product Details

Type Numbers

5171 (1988 – Jan 1994)
5175 (AUS) (1988 – Feb 1994)
5172 (GB) (1988 – Feb 1993)
5174 (J) (1988 – March 1992)
5173 (USA) (1988 – May 1994)

Designer

Manufactured

1988 – 1994

Colour Options

Silver and Black

BeoGram CD 4500 Product Specification

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BeoGram CD 3300

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram CD3300

BeoGram CD 3300

It’s a fact that not all compact disc players are ideal for all types of music. Some of them seem to highlight certain parts of the frequency range. But you can be confident that Bang & Olufsen’s CD players never discriminate between rock and roll and classical. They smooth over faults in the CD very cleverly too, because not all compact discs are perfect. So it’s just as well that Bang & Olufsen CD players are!

Beogram CD 3300 was part of Beosystem 3300 although it could have been used as a stand-alone item.

BeoGram CD 3300 Product Details

Type Numbers

5141 (1987 – April 1990)
5145 (AUS) (1987 – June 1988)
5142 (GB) (1987 – April 1990)
5143 (USA) (1987 – May 1989)

Designer

Manufactured

1987 – 1990

Colour Options

Grey

BeoGram CD 3300 Product Specification

Frequency range: 3 – 20,000 Hz +/- 0.3 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: > 96 dB / 100 dB A-weighted
Dynamic range: > 96 dB
Harmonic distortion incl. noise < 0.003% at 0 dB;
< 0.03 at -20 dB
Channel separation: > 94 dB
Channel difference: < 0.5 dB
Converter system: 16 bit, 4 x oversampling 176.4 kHz
Low pass filter: Digital + Bessel/elliptical analogue
Damping: > 20,000 Hz > 50 dB
Phase error between L and R 0 degree at 20 – 20,000 Hz
Output analogue: 2 V RMS at 0 dB

Power supply:
5141: 220V
5142: 240V
5143: 120V
5145: 240V
Power consumption: 30 W
Dimensions W x H x D: 42 x 7.5 x 31cm
Weight: 4.9 kg

Link compatibility: Data Link

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BeoGram CD 50

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram CD50

BeoGram CD 50

Beogram CD 50 was Bang & Olufsen’s very first CD player designed to be part of a stacking system and first featured in the 1983/84 product catalogue and allowed Beosystem 5000 owners to use all the buttons on the Master Control Panel 5000. Beogram CD 50 was a front-loading CD player.

The disc was placed in the motorised drawer which opened at a touch and closed either by light finger-tip pressure or by operating the PLAY control. If the disc was inserted incorrectly (upside down as compared to most other CD players of the time) the drawer opened automatically to allow the user to replace it.

Although the CD50 is quite limited in operation from the front panel as a stand-alone unit, it is a very nice sounding and very functional machine utilising Burr-Brown decoders and a large array of RAM buffering. RCA outputs are available as well as the traditional DIN connection.

Since Beogram CD 50 was designed as a component of Beosystem 5000, it had a Datalink connection to allow remote control of all functions via the Beomaster’s Master Control Panel. Two phono output sockets and a 7-pin Datalink connection were provided for this purpose. However, since it was the only CD player in the B&O range in 1984, it was chosen for use with other Beosystems. An optional remote keypad – Terminal CD 50 – that could transmit commands to an infra-red sensor on the Beogram’s display fascia was provided to allow remote control of the unit when not used with Beosystem 5000. The optional Terminal was also recommended for those wishing to combine Beogram CD 50 with non-Bang & Olufsen hi-fi systems.

Strengths: the laser device is very beefy with plenty of heat sinking. Lots of shielding and grounding. Burr-Brown IC decoders utilised.

Weaknesses: without the remote control the unit will only carry out a few operations from the front panel: Open, Close, Display options, Play, Skip to selection, and Standby/Off. The CD must be inserted upside down as in some older Pioneer-type CD players.

The SCAN function was a feature unique to Beogram CD 50. You could sample the first 12 seconds of each track and either reject it from your programme or STORE its location for inclusion in a later playing sequence. A comprehensive display capability meant that you always knew what was happening, what CD track was playing or due to be played, elapsed and remaining time of each track, and so on.

Bang & Olufsen CD50 review

” This review was approached with more than the usual interest. B&O announced the fact that they were to introduce a CD player to match their 5000 system in the region of two years ago. For a long time however the promised player was not forthcoming, the main reason according to B&O being that they didn’t think the medium sounded good enough.

A few months back, B&O released first player, the CDX, and just before this went to press the CD50 designed to match the 5000 system was finally announced. The sample sent was a prototype and guaranteed to be ‘in accordance with specifications’. The usual warnings apply with such products and detail findings should be treated as tentative.

The CD?50 is one of the most impressively finished players in group; arguably the most impressive with its acres of brushed aluminium and immaculately moulded plastic parts The machine operates with utmost decorum, but allows the user plenty of thumb twiddling time whilst it laboriously retracts the drawer, reads the contents and initiates play. Tracking performance was good through to exceptional and immunity from shocks even better.

Description

A physically large player, the CD50 is an aesthetic match for B&O’s 5000 system and can be operated by the system remote control, which allows access to the play and programming features – the latter accepting sequences up to 36 tracks long. But it an also be used in foreign, non-B&O systems, either as is, or with an optional remote control. This is the £34 Terminal CD50, which is also advantageous even for 5000 system owners as many functions are not available without its help. System 5000 owners will therefore find themselves in the uncomfortable position of requiring two remote controls. I spoke to the company about this, who tell me that this will be taken into account (whatever that means) in a revamp due probably late 1986.

As a standalone item, the only facilities available to the user (unless I’ve missed something – there are no instructions) are play from the beginning or any other track, but the search is strictly sequential and in the forward direction only. The controls are micro switches behind the front panel: hit the right-hand edge and play starts, hit it again and the track count increases by one, though this can only be done with the disc loaded and table of contents in memory. The middle section toggles the excellent display between various time and track/index indications. The remote control, which was not ready in time for the review, adds the following: intro scan (which plays the first few seconds of each track), cueing (presumably with an audible output), index search, programming controls and a numeric keypad for direct track selection.

The Technical Bit

The CD?50 is based on an Aiwa transport, a fact betrayed by the upside down disc loading requirement. Even for a prototype the insides are a bit of a mess, the unit being crowded with wires everywhere and modifications by the bucket load. Decoding is 16 with 2x oversampling using a Yamaha chip and steep L-C aliasing filters. Component quality is just average. Measured performance is about average too. The frequency response is a bit wayward: there’s a small dip between above 1kHz, recovering to peak at 16kHz before slowly rolling away. Other figures were about average, but the low level waveform was better than usual.

Listening

B&O have accomplished in the CD-50 something which they may not have set out to do: to make a player that emulates much of the euphony and openness of good analogue sources e.g. records and combines it with typical digital strengths – low noise, convenience and the rest. There is a certain consistency, despite the 16KHz output peak, and the overall impression is one of pleasantness and clarity. However, the bass end is not ideally controlled and there was also some masking of fine detail.

Verdict

An excellent but costly player, sound quality is better than average and facilities pretty comprehensive if purchased with the remote control.

Pros…

A very pleasant sounding player that clearly benefits from the change that Bang & Olufsen have wrought to the off-the-shelf components used inside. Styling is excellent if you like this kind of thing – the player will suit those allergic to the knob-bedecked run of the mill.

… and Cons

Good as the B&O sounds, it’s a doubtful proposition in value for money terms ? the price is definitely on the high side. B&O also seem to have got their knickers in a twist with the control system and the 5000 system remote control, which controls every other part of the system, only accesses the most basic of facilities on the CD player. “

‘Compact Disc Review’, January 1986

BeoGram CD 50 Product Details

Type Numbers

5111 (1985 – May 1988)
5115 (AUS) (1985 – April 1987)
5112 (GB) (1985 – Oct 1987)
5114 (J) (1985 – Sept 1987)
5113 (USA) (1985 – May 1988)

Designer

Manufactured

1985 – 1986

Colour Options

Aluminium, Black

BeoGram CD 50 Product Specification

Frequency range: 4 – 20,000 Hz +/- 0.3 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: > 95 dB
Dynamic range: > 95 dB
Harmonic distortion incl. noise: < 0.003% at 0 dB
Channel separation: > 94 dB
Channel difference: < 0.5 dB

Converter system: 16 bit, 4 x oversampling 88.2 kHz
Low pass filter: Digital + analogue
Damping: > 20,000 Hz > 60 dB
Output analogue: 2 V RMS at 0 dB

Power supply:
5111: 220V
5112: 240V
5113: 120V
5115: 240V
Power consumption: 28 W
Dimensions W x H x D: 42 x 7.5 x 32.5cm
Weight: 8 kg

Link compatibility: Data Link

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BeoGram 4000

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram 4000

BeoGram 4000

In 1972 and with Beogram 4000, Bang & Olufsen developed the world’s first electronically controlled tangential gramophone. The innovative and extremely stylish record deck was designed with usual flair by Jacob Jensen.

In this pioneering concept, the pick-up moved in a straight line towards the centre of the record parallel with – or tangentially in relation to – the groove. By doing so, the small angular error which would otherwise occur when the pick-up arm moved in an arch on a conventional gramophone was removed. This was possible because the pick-up arm was electronically controlled by a light spot reflected off the record.

This method also ensured that the gramophone started automatically, selected the desired speed – and that the pick-up actually touched the grooves of the record. The combined cartridge/stylus used on Beogram 4000 was the ultra-lightweight SP15 which was engineered by Subir Pramanik especially for this deck.

Yet another sophisticated mechanical design, the double tone arm, demonstrated the break with the past. By using two arms, it was immediately clear that this was a gramophone which worked in a new and different way.

Beogram 4000 was the first of the many tangentially-tracking record players that followed, finished in wood veneer, aluminium and plastic. Designed by Jacob Jensen, Beogram 4000 and seven other B&O products were selected by the Museum of Modern Art in 1972 for its permanent collection of modern design. Jensen aimed at creating a record player which in its simplicity and panache was both timeless and up-to-date in its technical construction. The record player made use of the most advanced techniques; for instance, the electronic tangential pick-up arm, which by moving in a straight angle from the end of the record player always played the record at the correct angle – that which it was created with in the factory. The delicateness of the pick-up arm was also a part of making the design simple and attractive to look at. The same year, Beogram 4000 won the ID Award.

The design and development process of the Bang & Olufsen Beogram 4000 turntable was carried out somewhat different to the normal procedure. Jacob and K G Zeuthen, a civil engineer – who had been one of Denmark’s pioneers in aviation design – developed and constructed a full size working model ready for presentation to B&O. The design incorporated a parallel twin-armed pick-up, one arm for the pick-up and the other arm with an optical device which read the size of the record. Beogram 4000 was put into production without alteration and became a tremendous success. It gained many international design awards and contributed in maintaining B&O’s sharp design profile. In 1972 Beogram 4000 won the iF Design Award and in 1973 it received the Danish ID Award; that same year it was included in the New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Design collection. It also received the English Blue Ribbon award that year for outstanding design who labelled the deck as “the most awarded product within the Radio trade”

With his design work, Jacob Jensen helped shape Bang & Olufsen’s product design with its characteristic use of discrete, clear lines and high functionality. It is a design which has helped manifest B&O’s easily-recognisable product identity. Through the assistance of Jacob Jensen, B&O was awarded the Danish Design Centre’s ID Classic Prize in 1990 for its product design through 25 years.

While the CD player has now replaced the gramophone, Beogram 4000 was regularly updated for many years, bearing different names and Type numbers – for the continued pleasure of music lovers who refused to give up their beloved LP collection.

BeoGram 4000 Product Details

Type Numbers

5215 (1972 – Dec 1974)

Designer

Manufactured

1972 – 1974

Colour Options

Rosewood, Teak, White

BeoGram 4000 Product Specification

Speeds: 33 – 45 rpm. electronic section
Pickup-arm System Tangential
Automatic Record-size Scanning Yes
Automatic Pickup movement Control Yes
Automatic Speed Selection Yes
Cueing Control Electronic air pressure damped
Drive system: Belt
Motor Synchronous electronically controlled

Stroboscopic Scale Light indicator 33 and 45 rpm: 50 and 60 Hz

Wow and flutter: < +/- 0.05 %
Rumble A: > 46 dB, B: > 65 dB
Speed Control Range: > 6 %

Pick-up: SP 15
Stylus ‘Pramanik’ elliptical naked diamond: 5 x 17µ
Recommended, Stylus Pressure: 1 g
Stylus Pressure Range: 0 – 1.5 g
Power supply: 110 – 130 – 220 – 240 V / 50 – 60 Hz / 40 W
Dimensions H x W x D 10 x 49 x 38cm
Weight 12 kg

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BeoGram 4000 Training Notes

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5215

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BeoGram 4002

Bang & Olufsen BeoGram 4002

BeoGram 4002

The replacement for the Beogram 4000, this deck actually existed in a number of forms, the first using the AC motor of the 4000 and later ones using a DC motor. Simplified compared to the 4000, it was cheaper to produce, if not buy, but maintained a very similar performance.

In terms of concept, performance and technical design, this record player was very much ahead of its time. All functions were governed by computer-like logic circuits. You just pressed START, that was all. Through the unique detector arm (parallel to the pickup arm) these circuits could judge the size of the record, determine its normal playing speed and instruct the pick-up arm to lower the stylus into the lead-in groove. Within a few seconds you would hear the music. If there was no record on the platter the stylus could not be lowered, so the system was safe as well as simple.

Records could be tracked more accurately because the tangential arm traced a straight line from the record’s edge to its centre, instead of tracing an arc as radial arms do. This method entirely eliminated inward bias (skating effect) and tracking angle error was almost non-existent.

The naked elliptical diamond stylus in the MMC 20EN (former MMC 4000) pickup cartridge helped ensure that Beogram 4002 got all of the information out of your record grooves while handling them in the gentlest possible way.

Bang & Olufsen’s Beogram 4002 turntable was awarded the ‘Gold Sim 74’ and ‘Top Form 74’ prizes in the category of electro-mechanics.

Beogram 4004/4002 could be made up as part of the Beosystem 4400 or the quadraphonic Beosystem 6000 when linked together with other compatible Bang & Olufsen products.

Beogram 4004/4002 was an electronically controlled stereo record player with tangential arm. The unit utilised a belt drive system to control the record deck. Thanks to the incorporation of advanced electronics, several advantages were gained from this new concept in record-players: high specification, supreme automation of all functions and the most gentle treatment of records. The tangential arm moved the pick-up in a straight line towards the centre of the record, reducing tracking error to a mere 0.04%. The record player was fitted with the MMC 4000 pick-up cartridge (later MMC 20EN) which had a frequency range of 20-25.000 Hz ±1.5 dB. It had an integrated, elliptical naked diamond stylus with a stylus pressure of 1g. Rotation of the turntable was governed by a synchronous motor which was power-driven via a stabilised oscillator which made it independent of mains voltage and frequency fluctuations. Wow and flutter was less than ± 0.05 % and rumble better than 65 dB. DIN B weighted. A photocell in the record-player’s second arm registered the size of the record and the speed at which it should be played. Advanced electronics governed the actions of the pick-up arm: lifting, lowering, etc. However, the record-player could be operated manually by use of the large “easy-touch” control plate. Operation of the record deck was very easy as all functions were governed by computer logic circuits. With its tangential detector arm that was parallel to the linear tracking tonearm, the unit could sense the size and speed of the record to be played and lowered the stylus into the lead-in groove. It had cueing controls to raise and lower the tonearm to where you wanted it on the record. If there was no record on the turntable and you pushed START, it would not lower the stylus on the turntable. Manual selectors to determine the speed of the record player were incorporated; however, the turntable was fully automatic so all you had to do was put on the record and press START.

Beogram 4004/4002 was fitted with a hinged dust lid which could be opened to any angle up to about 60 degrees or completely removed by easy sliding action.

BeoGram 4002 Product Details

Type Numbers

5501 (1974 – April 1976)
5511 (1976 – Feb 1978)
5521 (1977 – June 1980)
5504 (GB) (1974 – April 1976)
5514 (GB) (1976 – Dec 1977)
5524 (GB) (1977 – June 1980)
5503 (USA) (1974 -April 1976)
5513 (USA) (1976 – Feb 1978)
5523 (USA) (1977 – April 1980)

Designer

Manufactured

1974 – 1980

Colour Options

Rosewood, Teak, White, Oak

BeoGram 4002 Product Specification

Sound system Stereo, matrix
Output 2 x 0.6 mV
Speeds 33 – 45 rpm.

Tonearm: Tangential
Automatic record-size: Yes
Automatic pickup movement: Yes
Automatic speed selection: Yes

Wow and flutter DIN: < +/- 0.05 %
Rumble DIN unweighted: > 45 dB
Rumble DIN weighted: > 65 dB
Speed deviation: < 0.02 %
Speed control range: > 6 %
Dial for speed: 2 pointers
Stylus pressure range: 0 – 1.5 g

Tangential tracking: < 0.04°
Lift system: Electronic
Antiskating: Parallel tracking, error angle

Motor: Servo controlled DC
Drive system: Belt
Turntable 30cm / 1.3 kg

Power supply: 110 – 130 – 220 – 240 V
Power consumption: 20 W
Dimensions W x H x D: 49 x 10 x 38cm: Weight: 11 kg

Pickup: MMC 4000
Stylus: elliptical naked diamond
Radius of curvature: 5 x 17 µm
Frequency range: 20 – 25,000 Hz +/- 1.5 dB
Recommended stylus pressure: 1g

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User Guide

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BeoGram 4002 User Guide

Assembly Guide

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BeoGram 4002 Assembly Guide

Specification

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BeoGram 4002 Specification

Service Manual Part 1

EN

5501,5502

BeoGram 4002 Service Manual

Service Manual Part 2

EN

5501,5502

BeoGram 4002 Service Manual

Service Manual

EN

5501, 5504

BeoGram 4002 Service Manual

Service Manual

EN

5503

BeoGram 4002 Service Manual

Service Manual

EN

5513, 5523-5526

BeoGram 4002 Service Manual

Service Manual

EN

5514, 5515

BeoGram 4002 Service Manual

Service Manual


EN

5524-5527

BeoGram 4002 Service Manual

BeoGram 4002 FAQs

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