Beomaster 5000 family

(1984-1986) FM/LW/MW stereo receiver, 2x55W, Datalink, Multiroom.

Type numbers: 2321, 2322, 2323, 2324, 2325, 2329

Though it was not obvious at the time, Beomaster 5000 was to be the last completely new Beomaster model. Of course many apparently new Beomasters were released later, but they were all directly derived from either the Beomaster 5000 or Beomaster 1900 family. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Beomaster 5000 fitted into the range below the Beolab systems, but it was not just another receiver. The aims of the design were clearly focused on advanced multiroom operation, and to take what had been achieved with Beocenter 7700 a step further. It is interesting to note that Beomaster 5000 was really a development of Beocenter 7700, which is most unusual as Beocenters were traditionally based on Beomasters, not the other way round. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Whilst Beocenter 7700 had shown that the two way infrared link was practical, to make this work properly with a system of separates was another matter, and required the Datalink system to be considerably refined. Advances in microprocessor technology are what made the whole thing practical, and as well as providing two way control of the entire system, the microcomputer in Beomaster 5000 also provided for the first time a really sophisticated programmable timer, which could call up any of the sources in the system. There were other advances too, for example the programming allowed a compact disc player to be controlled by Datalink, even though the suitable machine took a few years to appear. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

There were also innovations in the radio section, which for the first time offered AM as well as FM coverage from a phase locked frequency synthesiser circuit. This meant that the 9 preset tuner memories could be set to any station on any waveband, a great improvement over the previous “4 FM + 1 AM/FM” preset arrangement of the Beocenter 7000 series or the FM only coverage of the Beolab range. Both these things are examples of how the Beomaster 5000 was completely geared to being the centre of a really practical multiroom system. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Beomaster 5000 was also unusual for its styling and dimensions, as for the first time these things would be dictated by the other parts of the system. Beosystem 5000, of which Beomaster 5000 was the centrepiece, was the first Beosystem where all the components truly matched in appearance and dimensions, thus giving the owner a far greater choice of positioning options than before. As a result, Beomaster 5000 from above was about the same size as an LP record (as this dictated the size of the Beogram 5000 turntable), and was only as high from the front as the Beocord 5000 cassette recorder needed to be to accommodate its mechanical parts. For such a powerful and complex machine this caused some packaging problems, though the finished result was both neat and easy to work on. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Even though most owners never knew, the amplifier was fitted with a cooling fan, another first for B&;O, as there was no room for a large exposed heat sink like that of the Beomaster 6000. The fan was very quiet in operation, and was controlled by a temperature sensor, so unless the amplifier was working really hard (for example playing really loudly or driving loudspeakers in many rooms at once) it would never come on. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

There were three ways of controlling Beomaster 5000, either with the flip down front panel, which allowed access to basic functions, or with the Terminal 5000 remote control, or with the Master Control Panel 5000, which was the only way to gain access to all the programming possibilities that were available. In addition, it was not possible to alter the treble and bass settings without the Master Control Panel. Multiroom operation used of Link 82 system, which in conjunction with the Master Control Panel allowed two way communication in any connected room. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Beomaster 5000 was a very successful product and many were sold, though the arrival of the Beolink system and the Beolink 1000 eventually rendered it obsolete. The replacement was the very similar looking Beomaster 5500, which offered a slightly different mix of facilities. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1987-1989) MW/LW/FM stereo receiver 2x55W, Datalink

Type numbers: 2331, 2332, 2333, 2334, 2335

The need to replace the Beomaster 5000 with the 5500 came as part of a very welcome move towards rationalisation and integration of the various products in the B&O range, aimed at making the link system more useful and bringing audio and video sources closer together. The introduction of the A, AV and V Terminals (later combined in the Beolink 1000) and the inclusion of 7-pin audio link sockets on products such as the new LX television range and the Beocord VHS 91 video recorder were all signs of this, and what was needed to complete the new range were suitable audio products to complete the systems. The Beomaster 5500 and the Beocenter 9000 were the first of these. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The position of the Beomaster 5500 in the range had changed too, with the Beomaster 6000 deleted it was now the top of the range, so all the latest technical refinements had to be included. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The basic appearance changed very little. One obvious change what that there was now a miniature 3.5mm headphone jack visible below the aluminium strip across the front of the set. This was necessary because the front panel no longer opened, so the large concealed socket that the Beomaster 5000 had featured was no longer a practical fitment. It may have been argued that with remote control the buttons behind the opening front were no longer needed, but the reason for the change is more likely to have been connected with cost cutting. More evidence of this policy could be found inside, with a lighter, simpler build evident throughout. The radio section in particular was drastically reduced in size and complexity, and now relied heavily on semiconductors from Sanyo of Japan. The radio panel was in fact the same as the one used in the Beocenter 9000. The socket panel was also simplified, though an extra DIN socket was provided so that the CD and AUX inputs were now separate, and new 4-pin loudspeaker sockets made their first appearance. These were used with Beolab Penta loudspeakers, the extra pins carried data for the displays fitted to these models. The preamp output connections remained, but these were somewhat of a deception, for instead of tapping off just before the power amplifier as they had done in the Beomaster 5000, they were simply an attenuated output from the loudspeaker connection—very disappointing. In a final attempt at economy, the front panel display was simplified. It was a shame to note that the rigorous attention to detail that had been characterised by the displays of the 5000 system, where all the numbers and the stand-by indicator dots were made to be of identical size, colour, intensity and position had been abandoned in the new system, though few seemed to notice. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

In use, the Beomaster 5500 was as powerful and capable as ever. Operated with either the Beolink 1000 or the redesigned Master Control Panel 5500, a large range of sources and operating possibilities could be called up easily. When used with the Beolab Penta loudspeakers (the recommended choice), as much power was available as had been with the mighty Beolab 8000 system. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The cabinet finishes and colours remained the same as the 5000 system, grey with satin aluminium, though in the final year of production a limited edition all-white system was produced. The Beomaster 5500 was replaced by the very similar Beomaster 6500. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1990-1991) MW/LW/FM Stereo receiver, 2x60W, Datalink

Type numbers: 2336, 2337, 2338, 2339, 2340

The Beomaster 6500 was a mildly revised version of the Beomaster 5500. The changes were needed so that Power Link connecters could be fitted to suit the new ranges of amplified and active loudspeakers being added to the range. At the same time the built-in power amplifier was revised slightly, though one of the effects of this was to create stability problems in Beolink systems when more than one pair of loudspeakers was used. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The introduction of the Beomaster 6500 also brought with it a choice of cabinet colours and finishes, with the white version becoming a standard model. More minor updates were made later, when the Beomaster 6500 became the Beomaster 7000. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1992-1994) MW/LW/FM Stereo receiver, 2x60W, Datalink

Type numbers: 2341, 2342, 2343, 2344, 2345

The final version of this range of receivers (Beomaster 5000, 5500, 6500). The differences were very slight, the only one of any merit being that an RDS decoder was fitted to the FM tuner section. This was of little use in a set that was unlikely to be moved from one location to another very often, its only function was to provide automatic station naming with later versions of the Beolink 7000 terminal. At the time of writing, the Beomaster 7000 was the last B&O tuner amplifier, and was also the last product to use the name “Beomaster”. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1993-2000)

Type number: 2346

No description available yet.