There are few things as calming as a Beogram putting on a record. You press start, an arm glides in a straight line across the record, measures it, chooses the speed and lowers the stylus. No fiddling with a tonearm, no scratch on the first groove. The gesture is half a century old and still feels like the future.
Many Beograms still play, and there are more of them than most people think: between 1965 and the 1990s Bang & Olufsen released dozens of models. At Brussee, an official Bang & Olufsen dealer since 1995, we set them out for you, and show what you can do with your own Beogram today.
Contents
- What makes a Beogram special
- Every Beogram at a glance
- The first Beograms: 1000, 1200 and 3000
- 1972: the Beogram 4000 and the tangential arm
- Beogram 4002, 4004 and 6000
- The 1980s: from 1700 to 8002
- Beogram 7000: the last in the line
- Beogram on a CD player
- The Beogram today: 4000c and 3000c
- Having your own Beogram restored
- Connecting your Beogram to a modern system
- Frequently asked questions
- Personal advice in our showrooms
What makes a Beogram special
Most turntables have a tonearm that swings across the record in an arc. As a result the stylus is almost never exactly in line with the groove. With the Beogram 4000, Bang & Olufsen took a different route: a tangential arm that moves in a straight line from the edge of the record to the centre, just as the cutting head once cut the groove in the master.
The second hallmark is automation. Many Beograms measure the record size themselves, choose the speed and lower the stylus. And almost all of them were designed by one man: Jacob Jensen.
Every Beogram at a glance
| Model | Period | Distinctive |
|---|---|---|
| Beogram 1000 | 1965 to 1973 | First turntable to carry the Beogram name |
| Beogram 1200 | 1969 to 1973 | Part of the Beosystem 1200, in the MoMA collection |
| Beogram 3000 | 1972 to 1975 | Automatic: choose the size and press a button |
| Beogram 4000 | 1972 to 1974 | First electronically controlled tangential turntable |
| Beogram 4002 | 1974 to 1980 | Successor to the 4000, simpler in construction |
| Beogram 6000 | 1974 to 1978 | 4002 variant with a quadraphonic decoder |
| Beogram 4004 | 1978 to 1980 | As the 4002, with remote control via the Beomaster 2400 |
| Beogram 1700 | 1980 to 1983 | Press 33 or 45 and the rest happens by itself |
| Beogram 8000 | 1981 to 1983 | Third tangential generation, quartz-controlled drive |
| Beogram 8002 | 1982 to 1987 | Drive with no moving parts or contact with the platter |
| Beogram 5500 | 1986 to 1990 | Tangential, stylus pressure of just 1.2 grams |
| Beogram TX2 | 1985 to 1991 | Tangential, seven repeat functions |
| Beogram RX2 | 1985 to 1991 | The last with a radial arm |
| Beogram 7000 | 1992 to 1996 | The last Beogram turntable of the original line |
Years according to the beoworld.org product archive. Every model in this table was designed by Jacob Jensen.
The first Beograms: 1000, 1200 and 3000
The Beogram 1000, in production from 1965 to 1973, was the first Bang & Olufsen turntable to carry the Beogram name. Jacob Jensen was responsible for the design, and the suspension was arranged so that vibrations from the floor, even from dancing feet, could not make the stylus jump out of the groove.
The Beogram 1200 belonged to the Beosystem 1200, the first system in which Bang & Olufsen deliberately designed its products as a family. In 1969 Bang & Olufsen and Jacob Jensen received the ID Prize of the Danish Society of Industrial Design for the Beomaster 1200, the Beogram 1200 and the Beocord 1200. In 1972 the Beosystem 1200 was taken into the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The 1972 Beogram 3000 made playback simple. You chose the record size, 7, 10 or 12 inch, and pressed a button. The player chose 33 or 45 rpm itself, lowered the stylus into the first groove and switched itself off at the end of the record.
1972: the Beogram 4000 and the tangential arm
In 1972, with the Beogram 4000, Bang & Olufsen introduced what the brand itself describes as the world’s first electronically controlled tangential turntable. The arm was guided by a spot of light reflected off the record. That way the player started automatically, chose the correct speed and knew that the stylus was actually on the record.
The two parallel arms made it clear at a glance that this was a turntable that worked differently. According to Bang & Olufsen, Jacob Jensen’s design is still part of the permanent Architecture and Design exhibition at the MoMA in New York.
Beogram 4002, 4004 and 6000
The Beogram 4002 succeeded the 4000 and remained in production from 1974 to 1980. It was simpler in construction and cheaper to make, with comparable performance. There are versions with an AC motor, as in the 4000, and later ones with a DC motor.
Its operation has a simplicity that still convinces. You pressed START. A detector arm, parallel to the tonearm, determined the size of the record and the correct speed and lowered the stylus into the lead-in groove. If there was no record on the platter, the stylus did not lower. Because the arm moved in a straight line, the skating effect and the angular error of a pivoting arm all but disappeared.
The Beogram 6000 was a 4002 variant with a built-in CD4 decoder for quadraphonic records, intended for the Beomaster 6000 or 3400. It played ordinary stereo records just as well. The Beogram 4004, from 1978 to 1980, had the same technical specifications as the 4002, with one extra convenience: combined with the Beomaster 2400 it could be operated by remote control.
The 1980s: from 1700 to 8002
The Beogram 1700, from 1980 to 1983, made it simpler still: you pressed 33 or 45 and the player did the rest. An electronic servo drive kept the speed constant.
With the 1981 Beogram 8000, Bang & Olufsen introduced its third generation of tangential turntables. A quartz-controlled electronic flywheel kept the speed accurate, and a digital display showed it. The Beogram 8002 went a step further, with a drive that had no moving parts and no physical contact with the platter.
The mid-1980s brought, among others, the Beogram 5500, with a stylus pressure of just 1.2 grams that spares your records, and the tangential Beogram TX2 with seven repeat functions. The Beogram RX2 was the last Beogram with a radial arm.
Beogram 7000: the last in the line
The Beogram 7000, from 1992 to 1996, was the last in a long line. A tangential arm with the patented Optimum Pivot Point, an MMC 2 cartridge, fully automatic, controlled via Beolink and with a built-in RIAA preamplifier. When the CD had overtaken the record by the mid-1990s, Bang & Olufsen stopped making turntables.
Beogram on a CD player
A detail that surprises many people: the Beogram name also appeared on CD players. The Beogram CD 50 was Bang & Olufsen’s very first CD player, designed as part of a system and first seen in the 1983 to 1984 catalogue. The Beogram CDX, from 1985 to 1988, was a stand-alone CD player with a glass control panel and a motorised dust cover. For more classic CD players, see our guide to classic Beosound and Beocenter systems.
The Beogram today: 4000c and 3000c
For anyone who wants to buy a Beogram today, Bang & Olufsen offers two routes.
The Beogram 4000c is a restored Beogram from the 4000 series. Bang & Olufsen sources original units, restores them meticulously and releases them as a limited edition; it was the first product of the Classics programme. The version in Natural Aluminium with oak has an SMMC 20 CL cartridge, a tangential arm, automatic size and speed selection for 33 and 45 rpm, and weighs 12 kilos. There are only 50, available in Europe only. Price EUR 20,000. We put together a set of our own with a pair of Beolab 8 speakers: the Brussee special, for EUR 26,300.
The Beosystem 3000c is a complete system: the Beogram 3000c, designed by Steve McGugan, together with two Beolab 8 speakers. You play your records and stream your music in one setup. The edition is one hundred units. The version in Grey Aluminium with Artisan Walnut is EUR 26,000, the Dune Grey version with dark walnut EUR 27,000. Do ask us about current availability.
Having your own Beogram restored
If there is a Beogram from the 4000 or 6000 series in your home, it can be made as good as new again. Through the Beogram 4002 Classics Upgrade, your turntable is professionally restored at the Bang & Olufsen factory in Denmark: fully checked, cleaned, renewed and rebuilt with high-quality parts and finishes.
| Variant | For whom | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Beogram 4002 upgrade (your own Beogram) | You supply your own Beogram | EUR 5,000 |
| Beogram 4002 upgrade (Beogram included) | We supply the base unit as well | EUR 7,500 |
| Beogram 4000C Recreated service | The version matching the Beogram 4000c | EUR 20,000 |
If you are unsure whether your model qualifies, bring it in or send us a photograph of the type plate. We are glad to take a look with you.
Connecting your Beogram to a modern system
A turntable needs a preamplifier that amplifies and corrects the weak signal from the cartridge, known as the RIAA preamplifier. Some Beograms have one built in, such as the 6000 and the 7000. Others depend on a preamplifier in the system they are connected to.
Anyone who wants to combine their Beogram with current Bang & Olufsen speakers arrives at the Beoconnect Core. Bang & Olufsen describes it as the bridge that connects your turntable to your speakers, with a line-in for your source and a Powerlink output for Beolab speakers. Price EUR 1,150. Which intermediate step your own Beogram needs depends on the model; our specialists work that out for you. Which speakers suit it is covered in our guide to classic Beolab speakers and their successors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Beogram 4000 and the Beogram 4002?
The Beogram 4002 succeeded the Beogram 4000 in 1974. Both have an electronically controlled tangential arm and start fully automatically. The 4002 was simpler in construction and cheaper to make, with comparable performance. The 4002 exists in versions with an AC motor and later ones with a DC motor.
Can I have my Beogram 4000 restored?
Yes. For the Beogram 4000 and 6000 series there is an official restoration service at the Bang & Olufsen factory in Denmark. Your turntable is fully checked, cleaned, renewed and rebuilt. The service starts from EUR 5,000 if you supply your own Beogram.
Which was the first Beogram?
The Beogram 1000, in production from 1965 to 1973, was the first Bang & Olufsen turntable to carry the Beogram name. It was designed by Jacob Jensen, who went on to design almost every Beogram turntable after it.
What does a new Beogram cost?
The restored Beogram 4000c costs EUR 20,000 and was made in an edition of 50. The Beosystem 3000c, with the Beogram 3000c and two Beolab 8 speakers, costs EUR 26,000, or EUR 27,000 in Dune Grey. Restoring your own Beogram starts from EUR 5,000.
Does my Beogram need a preamplifier?
That depends on the model. The Beogram 6000 and the Beogram 7000 have a built-in RIAA preamplifier. Other models depend on a preamplifier in the system they are connected to. Our specialists check which connection your Beogram has and what is needed to make it play with your current system.
Personal advice in our showrooms
A Beogram has to be seen working. In our showrooms we are glad to let you hear the Beogram 4000c and the Beosystem 3000c, and to look at your own turntable with you. Do bring a photograph or the type number.
- Brussee Haarlem, Grote Houtstraat 7
- Brussee Amsterdam, P.C. Hooftstraat 73
- Brussee Katwijk, Voorstraat 35
Browse the full Beogram collection, or request a quote without obligation.
