Beomaster 1900 family

(1976-1979) FM stereo/MW/LW receiver, 2x30W

Type numbers: 2903, 2904

Beomaster 1900 is a very famous B&O product, and one of the most successful in terms of sales. When launched, its radical appearance marked a true departure in receiver design, and its descendants remained part of the Beomaster range for over 20 years. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

As well as being an all-new model technically, Beomaster 1900 established a new division in the Beomaster range. It was too powerful and too expensive to sit happily with the “audio” models (such as the Beomaster 1100), but lacked the facilities and ultimate quality for the “high fidelity” line, so it became a range in itself. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The most obvious technical innovation was the touch sensitive controls. These worked smoothly and reliably, using a technique which would in time come to be known as “sensi-touch”. The controls are not pressure sensitive and do not work by reflected light or conduction. When one touches the panel, one’s whole body becomes an antenna, which couples random electrical noise into a plate just beneath the Beomaster’s front panel. This turns on a sensitive transistor which then instigates the desired function. The touch sensitive controls operated electronic signal switches, very similar to those used in Beomaster 6000 4 channel. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Another attractive feature of Beomaster 1900 is that the functions were divided into “primary” and “secondary” groups, with the primary functions arranged on the front panel and the secondary functions concealed under a full width aluminium lift up lid. Secondary functions included the tuning of 5 FM stations, treble, bass and balance control, AFC/FM stereo selection etc. The position of the sliding controls for treble, bass and balance could be seen without opening the lid on the light displays on the control panel. They looked like “electronic” readouts but were in fact made from clear plastic film carefully printed with a black pattern, and a red lamp behind. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

When launched, a suitable cassette recorder was not available to match the Beomaster 1900, so Beocord 1100 had to be used instead. Beocord 1900 came later, and while it had a similar appearance to the Beomaster, the height was different so it wasn’t quite a perfect match. Furthermore, it could not be wall mounted, unlike the Beomaster for which a special bracket was available. Beogram 1900, and later Beogram 1902, were the recommended turntables. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Such was the demand for Beomaster 1900 that production of the remote controlled version (Beomaster 2400) had to be delayed. The design remained in production with only minor alterations for many years, and was only changed substantially when Beomaster 2000 appeared. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1977-1979) FM stereo receiver, 2x30W, ultrasonic remote control

Type numbers: 2901, 2902

The Beomaster 2400 was in simple terms a Beomaster 1900 with ultrasonic remote control. The empty area of printed circuit for this already existed in the 1900 so all that was required was to populate all the empty spaces with the necessary components and to provide a remote control unit. This unit, known as the Beomaster Control Module, was similar in both principle and construction to the Beovision Control Module that was provided with the Beovision 4402 etc, though it offered only 8 functions instead of 16. The Beomaster 2400 also offered a restyled primary operating panel which looked, if anything, even more modern than that of the Beomaster 1900. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

As well as remote control, later Beomaster 2400s introduced an important new feature to the B&O range, the ability for units in an audio system to interact. In the case of the Beomaster 2400 this meant that the record player could be started, stopped and paused using the “PH” control, either on the Beomaster itself or on the Beomaster Control Module remote control unit. For this to work a specially prepared Beogram was required, initially the Beogram 4004 and latterly the Beogram 2400 and 2402 as well. The extra connections were made by adding two pins to the 5-pin PH socket. The geometry and functions of the other pins remained unaltered however, so that a conventional Beogram model could also be used without the need for adaptors. This system preceded the digital “Datalink” system that would appear a few years later but was not compatible with it. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The Beomaster 2400 was replaced in 1979 by the slightly updated and improved Beomaster 2400-2. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1979-1982) FM stereo receiver, 2x30W

Type numbers: 2903, 2904

The Beomaster 1900-2 was an updated version of the original Beomaster 1900. Although similar in appearance, the new model had been improved and revised in a number of important areas. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Most significant of these changes was made in the volume control circuit. The original model had only 16 steps of adjustment between fully muted and maximum output. Adding an extra digital counter to the Beomaster 1900-2 increased this to 32 steps, giving a useful extra precision to the adjustment. Engineering changes were also made in the general construction of the set, with improved chassis mouldings that required fewer fixings and different plug and socket interconnections between the circuit modules that were less labour intensive to assemble. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Externally, new display graphics were a feature of the primary operating panel. The bold coloured squares of the original model had been replaced with illuminated numbers and letters for the sources and the word “stereo” for the multiplex indicator. The tuning balance and the volume displays were also slimmer and neater and the light displays for the treble, bass and balance controls were simplified. The type face used for the markings on the aluminium parts of the primary operating panel was also slightly smaller. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

A 7-pin socket for the connection of the latest Beogram models, such as the 2400 and 4004, was fitted but the extra two pins intended for control signals were left unconnected. The Beomaster 1900-2 was replaced by the Beomaster 2300. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1979-1982) FM stereo receiver, 2x30W, ultrasonic remote control

Type number: 2901

The Beomaster 2400-2 included all the improvements that had been made to the Beomaster 1900-2 model. Even though the primary operating panels of the two models were different, similar styling changes were made to the indicators and displays. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The Beomaster 2400-2 was dropped from the range in favour of the non remote-controlled Beomaster 2300 but the full range of facilities would return a year later with the introduction of the Beomaster 3000, which included Datalink for both a turntable and cassette recorder along with infra-red remote control. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1983-1984) FM stereo receiver, 2x30W

Type number: 2905

The replacement for the Beomaster 1900-2 and indeed the only model in this series for a year, the 2300 was a rebadged 1900-2 with a plastic strip below the Perspex display strip replacing the aluminium strip of the 1900-2. It had no remote facility though the cut out for the receiver as built into Beomaster 2400-2 was present. It was also fitted with a 7 pin DIN socket for the Phono connection which was another hang over from the 2400, as the recommended record player was the Beogram 1700 which was fitted with a 5 pin plug. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Very much a stop gap whilst the Beomaster 2000 and 3000 were readied, the Beomaster 2300 was available for only a year and was directly replaced by the Beomaster 2000. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1985-1986) FM stereo/MW/LW receiver, 2x30W, Datalink

Type numbers: 2911, 2912, 2913, 2915, 2917, 2919

A replacement model for the Beomaster 2300. Various changes include new flush touch-sensitive controls, cleaned up detailing and grey side panels. Inside, the 30 watt amplifier was based around a hybrid module, unusual for a Beomaster, which up until this point had always been fitted with discreet transistor output stages. The radio section was available in many versions, though for the British market, most had both AM and FM coverage. 4 preset FM stations could be stored, using thumbwheel controls, in addition to the normal tuning dial (under the top cover), which covered all wavebands. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The most important change though was the inclusion of the Datalink system. This enabled the Beomaster to send and receive control signals to and from a suitable Beogram turntable and Beocord cassette recorder, so that the complete system was much easier to use. Complex functions could be executed with only one touch, such as stopping a record and starting the tape playing, and selecting the correct input of the amplifier, were all done automatically just by touching the “TP” control. Datalink codes were standardised across the B&O range, so components from the 5000, 6000 or 8000 ranges could be used, though Beocord 2000 and Beogram 2000 were introduced for use with Beomaster 2000, with carefully matched styling. The Beocord in particular matched the Beomaster very well in both height and profile, unlike some of the earlier models!

(1985-1987) FM stereo/MW/LW receiver, 2x30W, Datalink and multiroom, remote control

Type numbers: 2931, 2932, 2933, 2935, 2937, 2939

This replaced Beomaster 2400, and very similar to Beomaster 2000, but with an infra red remote control system. Otherwise, the performance was identical, and appearance little changed, except that the illuminated indicators for the radio preset stations now had numbers on, so they could be read accurately from a distance. The remote control range could be extended to another room with the Link 30 multiroom system. This was different and incompatible with the Link 82 system, as used with the Beocenter 7000 range and Beosystem 5000, and only ever used with this model. The terminal was known as Terminal 3000, and could control the basic functions of the Beomaster, Beocord and Beogram. Beocord 2000 was the recommended tape recorder, there was never a Beocord 3000 of this type. Beogram 3000, an attractive turntable with a black anodised top deck, was made to use with Beomaster 3000, though it was not possible to move the arm by remote control via Terminal 3000. Beogram 3000 was also recommended for use with Beocenter 9000, before Beogram 9000 was introduced. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1988-1989) MW/LW/FM stereo receiver, 2x30W, Datalink, Beolink

Type numbers: 2951, 2952, 2953, 2955, 2957

Beomaster 3300 is best viewed as a replacement for Beomaster 3000, but with two important changes to include new technology. Firstly, provision was made for a properly integrated CD player, with remote control, to be added to the system. Secondly, the remote control codes were altered to work to the Beolink 1000 standard. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The rest of the receiver was much the same as before, though a few detail points are worthy of mention. The connection for the CD player was a 7 pin DIN socket. This was fitted where the four RCA phono sockets for TP2 had previously been on the Beomaster 3000. This meant that the TP2 facility was no longer offered on Beomaster 3300, leaving a place to fill on the “secondary operating panel” under the lid where the TP1/TP2 switch had been. The answer was to add a loudness switch, something that had not appeared on the Beomaster 2000 or 3000. Other than this, the switch functions remained as before. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The second point of interest was the remote control. Terminal 3300 was provided with the set, which was pretty much the same as Terminal 3000 in appearance, other than the fact that a “CD” key had replaced the tape rewind key. However, the terminal was more different than it appeared, for it sent the same IR codes as the Beolink 1000. Terminal 3300 was in effect a simplified version of the original A/V Terminal, constructed from cheaper materials. It was the last of the eight terminals that were produced in that case style. A Beolink 1000 could also be used to control the Beomaster 3300 (and other datalink components attached to it), so the system integrated nicely with the television sets, video recorders and light controls on offer at the time. Extra loudspeakers could also be connected in other rooms using Xtra speaker kits, forming a simple multiroom setup. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

B&O are famous for their timeless styling, but the Beomaster 3300 and the other components that make up Beosystem 3300 seem in retrospect to be an exception. Their grey finish and bold graphics were very fashionable in the 1980s, but now appear more dated than Beosystem 3000 and other products from the same range, such as Beocenter 9000. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Beomaster 3300 and the rest of Beosystem 3300 were only available for a short time. As CD player technology advanced, it became possible to make the new Beogram CD models small enough to match the Beomaster and Beocord cabinets, and light enough to hang on the wall. Beosystem 4500 included a CD player with these improvements, and this replaced Beosystem 3300. later, a simpler version, Beosystem 3500, was added to the range, and this was the true replacement for the Beosystem 3300. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1989-1992) LW/MW/FM Stereo receiver, 2x40W, Datalink, Power Link

Type numbers: 2961, 2962, 2963, 2964, 2965

The Beomaster 4500 was to be the final version of a long line of models that started with the Beomaster 1900. Replacing the somewhat basic Beomaster 3300, the 4500 was rather more sophisticated and offered all the most up to date features. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

In simple terms, the Beomaster 4500 was all the relevant parts of the Beocenter 9500 put into a smaller cabinet. Thus it inherited the digital AM/FM tuning, two-way IR compatibility, a 40W amplifier, Power Link and the possibility of connection to a Beovision TV set for AV integration. Also from the Beocenter 9500 were the cabinet finishes: polished steel and black glass. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Keen observers would notice that the cabinet was now a slightly different shape at the front, though the overall size and style remained the same as before. The set could still be wall-mounted, and since both the Beocord 4500 cassette recorder and the Beogram CD 4500 CD player could also be hung on the wall, this final version of the system could be displayed in a most elegant manner. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The use of two-way IR communication meant that the user had a choice of terminals, with the Beolink 1000 and the Beolink 5000 being the recommended choices. The IR transceiver in the set could also be used to switch LC 1 and LC 2 light controls on and off as required using the built-in programmable timer. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The Beomaster 4500, along with the rest of the 4500 system, remained in the catalogue for some years, but the fall in popularity of LP records and new models such as the Beosystem 2500 and Beosound Century eventually spelt the end for separates systems, so when the end came it was not replaced. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1990-1992) LW/MW/FM Stereo receiver, 2x40W, Datalink, Power Link

Type numbers: 2966, 2967, 2968

A more basic version of the Beomaster 4500. This model, never that popular, is best understood as the radio and amplifier sections of the Beocenter 8500 in a smaller cabinet. In contrast to the Beomaster 4500, there was no programmable timer and no two-way IR communication. Also inherited from the Beocenter 8500 was the finish of the metal parts, flat grey instead of polished steel. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The 3500 system was deleted in a cull of the range that saw many obscure, low volume basic models discontinued. In future there would be no more such sets, the need for lower-cost, simpler equipment would be met with new designs such as the Beosound Century. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.