BeoCenter 1500
Manufactured: 1976 - 1978
Designer: Jacob Jensen
Colours: Rosewood, Teak
Beocenter 1500 was a combined FM/AM tuner, hi-fi stereo amplifier and cassette recorder with a specification level that was unique for combination units in that price bracket. In the AM section, which covered long and medium waves, Bang & Olufsen placed an emphasis on the set's ability to separate stations from each other. The FM section had outstanding channel separation and stereo reception. The amplifier's technical specifications were way above the average and fulfilled accepted hi-fi norms by a wide margin.
The built-in cassette recorder had its own operation panel but was otherwise fully integrated with the rest of Beocenter 1500. There was a switch for normal and chrome tapes; recording level was monitored on an illuminated indicator: red signified overload and green meant that all was well. The tape heads were of a super Permalloy and had a higher performance level and longer useful lifetime than ordinary heads.
Beocenter 1500 had connections for record player, two sets of stereo speakers, headphones and an extra tape deck.
Beocenter 1500 and Beocenter 1600 were, at the time of their production, two of the market's most compact audio systems, but despite their small external dimensions they could fill a large room with sound. All the push buttons of Beocenter 1500 were of solid aluminium, and the solid aluminium front panel on the Beocenter 1600 was anodised - a process which was more expensive and more demanding but which also made the set more robust and resistant to marks and scratches.
BeoCenter 1500 Product Specifications
Type: 2603 (1976 - Jan 1978)
Power output: 2 x 20 watts/ 8 ohms
2 x 19 watts/ 4 ohms
Music power: 2 x 40 watts/ 8 ohms
2 x 25 watts/ 4 ohms
Speaker Impedance: 4 ohms
Harmonic Distortion: < 0.1 %
Intermodulation: < 1.0 %
Frequency Response: 20 - 30,000 Hz
Signal-to-noise ratio: > 50 dB
Channel separation: > 50 dB
Bass control:+/- 17 dB
Treble control: +/- 14 dB
FM tuner: Range 87.5 - 104 MHz
AM tuner: Range 147 - 350 kHz
520 - 1610 kHz
Compact cassette: C60 - C90
Tape head: Super Permalloy
Iron oxide tape: Yes
Chromium dioxide tape: Yes
Indicator system: Dual light
Stop at end of tape: Yes
Wow and flutter, DIN: < +/- 0.3 %
Speed deviation: < +/- 1.5 %
Fast forward and rewind: 90 sec.
Frequency range, DIN chrome: 40 - 12,500 Hz
Signal-to-noise ratio DIN chrome: > 52 dB
Erasure: > 65 dB
Power supply: 110 - 130 - 220 - 240 V
Power consumption 20 - 170 W
Dimensions W x H x D: 66 x 8.5 x 26cm
Weight 8.8 kg
Connections: Phono DIN
Headphone jack
Extra tape recorder DIN
Related Products
- BeoGram 1203 Record Deck
- BeoMaster 901 Tuner/Amplifier
- Beovox S25 Passive Loudspeakers
- BeoVox 1700/1702 Passive Loudspeakers
- BeoVox 2702 Passive Loudspeakers
Created: 2nd December 2006
Modified: 23rd May 2008
Author Notes:
Beoworld says:
A development of the Beocenter 1400, all that really changed was the cassette deck which was now based on the 1100. Same gorgeous design makes this a classic for no money.
