Beomaster 901 family

(1971-1975) FM stereo/MW/LW radio, 2x20W, with built-in speakers (2x3.5W)

Type number: 2601

A replacement for the Beomaster 1600K, comprising a Beomaster 901 set into a cabinet with two 4W loudspeakers. The loudspeakers included a resistor each to prevent possible damage by the 20W amplifier. Special loudspeaker sockets were fitted at the back, so that when external loudspeakers were connected one could either have the internal loudspeakers muted or connected as well. The Beomaster 800 was the last of the “mains radio” format models, this type of set was no longer popular by the mid 1970s, having been replaced by “unit audio” and mains powered portables (such as the Beolit 707). Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1972-?) FM stereo/MW/LW receiver, 2x20W

Type number: 2602

The Beomaster 901 marked the start of a long overdue “tidying up” of the B&O Audio (as opposed to High Fidelity) range. Before Beomaster 901, the lower end of the range comprised models which were elderly, difficult to make economically or styled so as not to match anything else currently in production. A new model to simplify things was welcome. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The Beomaster 901, styled to look discreetly expensive and elegant, was just what was needed. In some ways it looked like a smaller, simpler Beomaster 3000, a clever trick indeed. The Beomaster covered the FM, MW and LW bands, offered 2x20W of output power and could be used with a turntable and a tape recorder. An FM stereo decoder and magnetic pickup RIAA stage were not only included, they were integrated into the design and were part of the main assembly. The bulk of the electronics were in fact assembled into one large printed panel, greatly reducing the amount of wiring and interconnections and thus making mass production easier and more efficient. The simple cabinet comprised three machined aluminium sections for the front and rosewood or teak for the top and sides, finished with a matching aluminium trim at the back. Elegant slide controls and slim keys protruded through the slots between the aluminium bars at the front, and everything that one would expect from a receiver in this class was included, with the addition of a “balanced light” tuning light which doubled as a power indicator in the other operation modes. This, along with the matching FM stereo indicator, were fitted discreetly into machined slots in the fascia. The tuning and volume sliders were large and had clear plastic indicators to aid accurate adjustment. Both used cord drives inside, this was made necessary for the volume control as slide potentiometers were not made in the length required. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

At the rear, two sets of loudspeaker sockets were fitted, along with a headphone socket. The latter item was badly placed as it restricted where the set could be placed if the socket were to be used, but at least it was fitted in an upward facing recess to the plug could be inserted “blind” by feel alone. Inserting the plug switched out one pair of loudspeakers. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

A complete system could be built around the Beomaster 901. Beogram 1202, Beocord 900 and Beovox 1702 would have been suitable choices and were all available in matching finishes. The Beomaster 901 also formed the basis for B&O’s first cassette music centre, the Beocenter 1400. The 901 was a very popular and successful model, and after a long production run it was replaced by the Beomaster 1500. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1974-1977) FM Stereo tuner

Type number: 2607

The matching tuner for the Beolab 1700 amplifier. In most respects a conventional design and offering identical performance to the Beomaster 1100 receiver, it is difficult to see why these models were offered. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

The styling was very much in the mould of the Beomaster 5000 tuner of 1968, an obvious difference being that the front panel was black instead of natural aluminium. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Preset tuning was included, though curiously only 3 selections were available, in contrast to 4 on the Beomaster 1100 and derived types. There were also technical differences in the pre-set tuning circuitry which, despite an elaborate stabilising circuit, was left powered all the time, even when the off button (which acted to cut off the main regulator, another unusual feature) was pushed. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Two outputs were provided, for an amplifier and a tape recorder. One of these outputs included a level control, which took the form of a small spindle on the rear panel. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

(1976-?) FM stereo receiver, 2 X 22W

It is easy to see the Beomaster 1100 as an FM-only version of the Beomaster 901, after all, they use a very similar cabinet and were sold at a very similar price. However, the Beomaster 1100 is more accurately Beomaster 1700 and Beolab 1700 integrated into one piece of equipment, a none too complex task given how much empty space each of the other two model’s cabinets contain!

The Beomaster 1100 was nevertheless offered as an alternative to the Beomaster 901, and though by choosing it one lost the AM radio, one did gain 4 FM pre-set stations, a headphone socket mounted on the front panel and 2W extra power (!). Other details remained the same, including the tuning balance lamp and FM stereo indicator. The set was constructed similarly inside, though because an electronic varicap tuner was used the dial drive was different. Also, a slightly altered layout to the sliding controls meant that they now all had the same travel, so a cord drive for the volume control was no longer needed. A stranger alteration was that two links were provided that could be changed over so either a Beogram turntable with a magnetic pickup (such as the Beogram 1100/MMC 3000) or a line level source could be connected through the turntable input. It was possible to make this change to the Beomaster 901 too, but the work was more involved and required the wiring around the switches to be modified. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Although Beomaster 1100 did not sell as well as Beomaster 901, it did provide three Beocenter derivatives: the Beocenter 1600 (cassette), Beocenter 1800 (record player) and Beocenter 3600 (both sources). Beomaster 1100 was replaced by the Beomaster 1400. Text copyright © Beocentral. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.