BeoCord 5500 Cassette Deck
Manufactured: 1986 - 1990
Designer: Jacob Jensen
Colours: Metal grey, aluminium
As part of Beosystem 5500, this advanced tape recorder was as close to professional standard as could be made at the time, bristling with features you just loved to use!
There was Auto Reverse, letting you play or record both sides of a cassette as one continuous tape. And automatic adjustment of sound levels avoided annoying volume changes from one recording to the next. Then there was Bang & Olufsen's famous HX-Pro recording system which gave vastly superior sound quality on the higher frequencies, creating a richer, more detailed sound image.
Beocord 5500 automatically adjusted itself to match standard, chrome or metal tapes. You had the option of Dolby B or C during recording. During playback, the recorder automatically switched itself to the noise reduction system you recorded with. Automatic track search was also included - just key in the track number and the recorder did the rest.
The cassette recorder could be controlled via the two-way Master Control Panel 5500 as part of the Beosystem 5500.
Auto Record level
One of the less-pleasant chores in making a recording is setting level control to its optimum position. Setting it too low raises the level of background noise on the recording. Setting it too high makes the recording distorted at high music levels. With this in mind, Bang and Olufsen introduced an automatic record mode which was called 'Auto Record'.
Auto Record worked in two steps: when the record button was pressed for the first time, the cassette recorder went into a record pause mode, where the incoming signal was monitored. Under microprocessor control, the highest level was monitored and the record level was set at the optimum level for that music. On pressing the record button the second time, the tape was set in motion and the recording started, but continuing to make minor adjustments. If at any time during the recording, the level of music rose above the monitored level, the level control was lowered by exactly the amount required for the new optimum recording level.
This method of setting the level control closely imitated the action of a highly skilled recording engineer, if asked to set the level for a recording. It was the best that could be done when the full recording could not be monitored before recording started.
This feature incorporated a new method of monitoring the signal, which proved to be a more effective method over conventional methods. It was patented by the company with the patent number 158702.
BeoCord 5500 Cassette Deck Product Specifications
Type:
4931 (1986 - Sept 1990)
AUS 4935 (1986 - Aug 1989)
GB 4932 (1986 - Jan 1990)
J 4934 (1986 - Jan 1990)
USA 4933 (1986 - Jan 1990)
Compact cassette: C46-C60-C90-C120
Recording system: HX PRO
Tape transport system: Auto reverse
Search system: Track numbers
Record level: Auto Recording level
Noise reduction: Auto Dolby B and C
Tape switch: Auto. ferro/chrom/metal
Tape head: Sendust
Wow and flutter DIN: <+/- 0.15%
Fast forward and rewind: C60 75 sec
Frequency range chrome: 30 - 18,000 Hz +/- 3 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio metal Dolby NR: B: >66 dB, C: >73 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio chrome Dolby NR B: >64 dB, C: >74 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio ferro Dolby NR B: >62 dB, C: >72 dB
Power supply 4931 220V
4932 240V
4933 120V
4934 100V
4935 240V
Power consumption: max. 25 W
Dimensions W x H x D 42 x 7.5 x 32.5cm
Weight 8 kg
Connections: AUX IN 7 pin
Microphone DIN 0,3mV /3kohms
Audio Link
Related Products
- BeoGram 5500 Record Deck
- BeoMaster 5500 Tuner/Amplifier
- BeoGram CD50 Compact Disc Player
- BeoGram CD5500 Compact Disc Player
- Master Control Panel 5500
- Beolink 1000 Remote Controller
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Created: 15th December 2006
Modified: 20th February 2007
Author Notes:
