BeoSound Century/2000 Portable CD/Tape/Tuner

Manufactured: 1993 - 2004
Designer: David Lewis
Colours: Black

If you want superior sound, but not the size, and a full array of functions but without the complication - then take a look at the BeoSound Century. Designed by David Lewis, it has a very slim depth and brings together CD, tape and FM radio into a slim-line form that can stand by itself or hang from a wall. Everything is operated by buttons that light up to guide you quickly through the various playing options.

BeoSound Century is a clever combination of excellent performance and ease-of-use. This system is known in fact by two different names - BeoSound Century in Europe and BeoSound 2000 in North America. With everything built in, this is the perfect stereo for those who with a limited space as it's only 11cm deep. It's for those who don't want Beolink® capabilities and can be equipped with a handle with a built-in active antenna making it very portable. The speakers use the active construction as that of all BeoLab speakers. In the late nineties the Century was released in a special limited series with polished aluminium instead of the black plastic on the CD holder. This became so popular that it became the standard! There are two different stands available: a wall stand and a special table stand. The unit may also be controlled by the optional Beo4 remote control.

Deep bass

BeoSound Century integrates a powerful sound reproduction system: two active loudspeakers with electronic crossover network and Adaptive Bass Linearisation, for the optimum relationship between bass reproduction and sound pressure level. The very small two-way bass reflex loudspeakers comprise a net volume of only 1,1 litres, but the large front grille gives room for fairly large woofer membrane diameters.

Bass and treble have separate power amplifiers, which means that they can be tailored to compensate for one another's shortcomings and deliver a sound spectrum as close to reality as possible. On top of that, BeoSound Century can play at high volume, but cuts out before it has an opportunity to burn out its units.

The fine art of control of BeoSound Century

The backlit push buttons of the BeoSound Century are cast in opalescent plastic, painted black on the inside and the text is then burnt away with a laser. The light of a diode behind each button is muted for even distribution, and the button is hinged in four places. A sturdy and relatively inexpensive construction, but it takes just a bit more work!

Operation of BeoSound Century

How do you make operation easy when there are 26 buttons to push? On BeoSound Century, only the buttons you need for the specific function will light up and guide you step by step through operations.

BeoSound Century was awarded the Danish Design Centre's IP Prize in 1994.

Mounting Options

Supplied with a table mount foot for mounting on top of a cabinet. The optional wall mount bracket allowed for wall mounting.

Bang & Olufsen's preferred supplier for brackets and stands, STBbrackets, have remade a version of the wall bracket, since the original was discontinued in 2005. Distributed throughout the World by the Bang & Olufsen store network, this STB option allows this much loved Hi-Fi to be wall mounted.

»Wall Mounting Bracket

Wall Bracket for BeoSound Century/ BeoSound 2000

Our Wall Bracket for Bang & Olufsen BeoSound Century allows this classic HiFi to be fixed to the wall. BeoSound Century, known as BeoSound 2000 in the USA, was a popular CD & radio unit for many years.

BeoSound Century/2000 Portable CD/Tape/Tuner Product Specifications

Tuner: Built-in
Pretuned radio programmes: 30 FM (or AM according to type)
Radio ranges: According to type

Compact disc: Built-in
Disc sizes: 12 cm, 8 cm
Frequency range: 20 - 20,000 Hz
Signal-to-noise-ratio: > 91 dB, A weighted
D/A converting: Bitstream
Features: Random

Tape recorder: Built-in
Recording system: HX PRO
Tape transport: Auto reverse
Noise reduction: Yes
Frequency range: 50 - 14,000 Hz
Signal-to-noise-ratio: > 64 dB, noise reduction, chrome
Power amplifier: built-in

Loudspeaker system: Built-in
Sound pressure level: 95 dB
System frequency range: 70 - 20,000 Hz

Connections:
AUX (input only)
FM aerial, 75 ohm
AM aerial (Dedicated)
Headphone/Mini jack

Recommended remote control: Beo4

Accessories:
Type No. 2088 Wall bracket
Type No. 2036 Handle/antenna, FM
Type No. 2035 Handle/antenna, FM, Japan

Dimension W x H x D / Weight: 75 x 37 x 17 cm / 12 kg
Cabinet finish: Front cloth; green, red, blue, yellow, grey, black
Power consumption: Typical 20 W, standby <1 W

Related Products

Created: 2nd February 2007
Modified: 19th September 2012

Author Notes:

Beoworld says: Looking old now compared to the BS1 but can show the new kid on the block a few things about sound quality. Materials used are however of an older generation so less tactile. The selective button illumination is reminiscent of the 9500.