Beocord 5000 family

(1984-1986) Stereo cassette deck, Dolby HX Pro B/C NR, Datalink

Type numbers: 4921, 4922, 4923, 4924, 4925, 4926, 4927

The Beocord 5000 was the cassette deck for Beosystem 5000, a new mid-range system that was geared towards multiroom operation. Beosystem 5000 was styled so that each component looked as similar as was possible, allowing a greater freedom of placement than was possible with previous models. The overall size of the system had been dictated by the size of the turntable, a sensible decision as electronics for each component could be packed into the available space, but this left a problem in the design of the cassette deck. All previous Beocord cassette models had been top-loading in some way or another, this being the ideal way to design a slim cassette machine with good mechanical performance. This would have not worked with the Beocord 5000, as one placement option was to have all the units stacked on top of each other with the turntable (top loading by necessity) at the top. The other solution, adopted almost universally in every other cassette deck of the period, was so stand the cassette upright and load it into a vertical door. This would have made the Beocord 5000 over twice as tall as the other units, so was not a practical solution. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The answer to the problem was to lie the cassette flat and allow the whole body of the machine to slide in and out. This most elegant solution solved all the packaging problems with no drawbacks, except for a slight increase in mechanical complexity. The drawer, which was powered by an electric motor, also made the machine instantly appear different and “hi-tech”, no bad thing as it was quite expensive compared to alternatives from other manufacturers. In order to keep the cabinet stable, the power supply and mains transformer (the heaviest part of any cassette recorder) were separated from the drawer and fixed along the rear of the main cabinet. This prevented the machine tipping forward when the drawer was opened. The opening and closing of the drawer was controlled by pressing the left most end of the aluminium strip on the front of the machine. The right hand side, following the theme of the other Beosystem 5000 components, activated “on/play” and “off”. Switching off also closed the drawer, and this happened also after 20 minutes of non-use. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Other than the drawer, the Beocord 5000 was fairly conventional. It fitted in the range between Beocord 2000 and Beocord 8004, and used parts and ideas from both. The mechanism came from the 2000, though it was fitted with extra sensors for automatic tape type recognition. Also from the 2000 came the “music search” function, though this was more advanced in that it was possible to search more than one “track” in each direction. The signal processing electronics were based on those of the 8004, and the same Dolby B/C circuit and HX Pro arrangements were carried over. The microcomputer was far more basic, and lacked facilities such as a timer (which was incorporated entirely in the Beomaster 5000) and real time counter. The “marker” system remained though, and a “start-go” key was added which made the machine automatically play from the start of the tape. Again following 8004 practice, a socket for an auxiliary line source and a stereo microphone was provided, complete with a selector switch. To avoid spoiling the clean lines, this too was placed inside the drawer, though the user had to remember to remove the plug before switching the machine off as the plug would then jam the closing drawer and possibly mark the cabinet. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Beocord 5000 could be used completely and correctly on its own, but it could also be remote controlled to a degree beyond what was possible with any previous Beocord, when used with the Beomaster 5000 and Master Control Panel 5000. Possibilities included setting up a number of timed recordings from any source from a linked room, though the Beocord 5000 retained the “record open” key on the machine itself, to reduce the chance of recording onto the wrong cassette and spoiling existing recordings. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Beocord 5000 proved very successful and many were sold. It was replaced by Beocord 5500, which looked identical and worked in a very similar way, though it offered extra features such as auto-reverse and the ability to monitor the recording level by remote control. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1987-1989) Stereo cassette deck, Dolby HX Pro B/C NR, Datalink

Type numbers: 4931, 4932, 4933, 4934, 4935

While the Beocord 5500 looked very similar to the Beocord 5000, the new machine was very different. The most obvious change was that the cassette transport had moved from the centre to the left of the machine and now had an auto reverse function. In addition, the sliding level controls were replaced with a choice of automatic or manual level control modes operated by a slightly larger keypad than had been fitted before. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The Beocord 5500 was both mechanically and electronically very similar to the cassette section of the Beocenter 9000. The cassette mechanism itself had 3 motors (one capstan, one reel and one mode control), and offered auto reverse with a rotating head assembly and optical tape end sensing. This mechanism was fast acting, and it was argued that the disruption to the programme material at the point of reversal was so slight as to be negligible. This logic meant that the cassette was treated as having one continuous side rather than two separate ones. A track search system that noted and logged the tracks in a numbered sequence would then find any track, regardless of which side of the tape it was on. The tracks could also be played in any order, as with a compact disc player, though a Beomaster 5500 and Master Control Panel 5500 would be required to set up the program. By similar means, timer recordings of radio programmes could also be made. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Other automatic features made operation easier for the beginner. There was a choice of automatic or manual recording level adjustment, which offered the user the chance to record using the most suitable setting. Operation in automatic recording mode was very easy, unlike the manual mode which was very complicated. The fact that there was only one level meter (that also doubled as a track indicator during playback) did not help, nor that it was difficult to adjust the recording level on one channel only to create a balanced recording. Despite the limited metering on the machine, there was one novelty in this area: the level meter could be displayed on the Master Control Panel 5500, even in a link room. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Rather more sensible was the automatic Dolby switch, which recognised which NR system, if any, had been used during recording and selected the appropriate setting on playback. The system worked by recording low frequency control codes during loud passages of recording, and worked very well. HX-Pro was also included, helping to make for good recording performance. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

It becomes clear when comparing the Beocord 5500 and 5000 that the 5500 had been geared towards allowing the novice user to make reasonable quality recordings, whereas the 5000, in the hands of a skilled operator, was capable of far better results. This change in emphasis marked the start of the decline of the Beocord as a serious recording instrument, and would end up with the final B&O tape recorders being the basic additions to music centres that would remain 10 years later. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1990-1991) Stereo cassette deck, Dolby HX Pro B/C NR, Datalink

Type numbers: 4936, 4937, 4938, 4939, 4940

The Beocord 6500 and 5500 were very similar, though the new numbering and choices of finish were required in order for it to match the rest of Beosystem 6500. The design evolved in detail along with its counterpart in the Beocenter 9500, therefore during the production run the cassette mechanism was changed to a simpler type with only one motor. This brought with it new software, and the opportunity was taken to make the operation of the auto reverse system slightly more logical. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1992-1994) Stereo cassette deck, Dolby HX Pro B/C NR, Datalink

Type numbers: 4941, 4942, 4943, 4944, 4945

The final version of this range of machines, and the last audio Beocord, was not altered from the previous Beocord 6500 in any significant way. Though not by any means “state of the art” at this stage, it was still a fine machine and a fitting end to the Beocord line. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.