Beosystem AV 9000

(1991-1999)

Type numbers: 4730, 4732

Often dismissed as merely a centre loudspeaker, the AV 9000 Control Center was in fact the most important part of the system. Without it, the AV 9000 was just a collection of components that were easily available elsewhere in the B&O range. The main functions of the control centre were those of signal routing, surround sound processing and system control, though it also housed the centre loudspeaker and its amplifier. It also provided the structure that held the system together, securing the monitor and video recorder together and joining them to the stand. The stand motor and bearing were also in the control centre, so that the whole assembly could be programmed to rotate to face the viewer. The control centre also housed a red LED display next to the VTR that showed which source or programme was in use. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

There were surprisingly few connections that could be made to the control centre. Once the monitor, VTR, loudspeakers and master panel were connected little else was possible, though with such a complete system little else was necessary. Ordinary B&O audio equipment could not be connected directly, though an adaptor was made to allow a Beosystem 4500, 6500, 7000 or a Beocenter 9500 to be used in place of the Master Panel AV 9000. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1991-1999)

Type numbers: 4300, 4301, 4303, 4304, 4305, 4306, 4310, 4311, 4316, 4320, 4322, 4323, 4326, 4329, 4330, 4333, 4334, 4335, 4336, 4340, 4343, 4352, 4360, 4363, 7900, 7901, 7903, 7904, 7905, 7906, 7910, 7911, 7913, 7914, 7915, 7916, 7920, 7922, 7923, 7926, 7929, 7930, 7932, 7933, 7934, 7935, 7936, 7939, 7970, 7971, 7972, 7974, 7975, 7976

The AV 9000 monitor was the most visible part of Beosystem AV 9000. It was a 28” television set based on the MX 6000 in a new cabinet and including modifications to allow full integration with the rest of the AV 9000 system. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Because the audio sources of the AV 9000 were handled by the Control Center, the monitor required no loudspeakers, volume/tone controls or sound routing circuits. The tuner, which was still present, provided the sound for off-air broadcasts, but this was the full extent of the sound equipment in board. Also fitted in the monitor was the IR receiver for the whole system, mounted along with the standby/power indicators in a raised dome on the top of the set. The designers were clearly pleased with this detail as it later returned as part of the BeoVision 5. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Of all the features of the AV 9000 system, one of the most memorable were the curtains that covered the screen whilst the set was not in use. Placed between the glass front of the set and the screen, these curtains were rolled open automatically by a motor and gearbox when the picture was ready to be seen. Whilst the mechanical aspects of this system was not repeated in other models, a similar effect was achieved electronically in the Beovision Avant range. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1991-1999)

The Beosystem AV 9000 was B&O’s first complete “home cinema” system, comprising audio and video sources with a surround sound processor, a large screen monitor and five loudspeakers. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The complete system was made up from the AV 9000 Monitor, the Control Center, the stand, the Control Center VTR video recorder, the Master Panel AV 9000 (similar to a Beocenter 2500), one pair of Beolab 8000 loudspeakers and one pair of Beolab 6000 loudspeakers. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The complete setup was very expensive, costing as much as a decent family car in the UK. Despite being state of the art when new, the home cinema field was a fast moving one at the time, and the setup became quickly outmoded by innovations such as 16:9 aspect ratio TV sets, DVD players and Dolby Digital surround sound. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1991-1999) VHS VTR for Beosystem AV 9000, hi-fi stereo, SP/LP speeds, Datalink, Nicam stereo decoder

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. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

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. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

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. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.