Bang & Olufsen Beolab 1700

Details

The Beosystem 1700, along with its image, might seem paradoxical to some readers. In fact, you’re not wrong. However, Bang & Olufsen intentionally separated this otherwise integrated high-fidelity system for a clear reason. Essentially, the Beosystem 1700 offers many combination possibilities. As a result, for many, owning the entire system may feel unnecessary. At its core, the most important component is the BeoLab 1700, a 2 x 20 watts RMS amplifier with ambiophonic stereo capabilities.

BeoLab 1700 Amplifier: The Heart of Beosystem 1700

Bang & Olufsen designed the BeoLab (type 2605) specifically to work with the Beomaster 1700 tuner, forming the system’s foundation.

Complete Your Beosystem 1700 with Beomaster 1700, Beocord 1700, and Beovox Loudspeakers

Additionally, the Beomaster 1700 tuner, Beocord 1700 cassette recorder, and Beogram 2000 record player (not shown) cover nearly all available music sources. To complete the system, the Beovox 2702 loudspeakers deliver immersive sound. Moreover, if you want ambiophony, the Beovox 1702 loudspeakers serve as ideal side speakers. Ultimately, the Beosystem 1700’s flexibility allows you to create your perfect setup.

1700 BeoLab Exceeds High-Fidelity Standards

The BeoLab 1700 far exceeded the DIN 45500 high-fidelity standards. For instance, its frequency range covered 20 to 30,000 Hz, and its power bandwidth extended from 10 to 50,000 Hz. Harmonic distortion remained below 0.1% at standard output (50 mW) and under 0.5% at maximum output (2 x 20 watts RMS). Consequently, the total music output reached 80 watts. With four loudspeakers—two in front and two at the sides—you could achieve ambiophonic sound.

Advanced Features of the BeoLab Amplifier

Besides the loudspeaker connections, the BeoLab included sockets for a tuner, tape recorder, record player, and headphones. It featured slider controls for volume, bass, treble, and balance. Additionally, the LOUDNESS button allowed you to switch between objective and subjective linear reproduction. Furthermore, if your tape recorder had separate recording and playback heads, the BeoLab enabled AB switching for monitoring.

Product specification

Type Number

2605 (1973 – Dec 1977)

Designer

Jacob Jensen

Manufacturing Period

1973 – 1977

Available Finishes

Rosewood, Teak

BeoCenter Product Specifications

Power Output at 1000 Hz (RMS)

Music Power

Speaker Impedance

• 4 ohms

Harmonic Distortion

• < 0.1%

Intermodulation Distortion

• < 1%

Frequency Range

• 30 Hz – 30,000 Hz

Signal-to-Noise Ratio

• 52 dB

Channel Separation

• 40 dB

Bass Control

• ±17 dB

Treble Control

• ±14 dB

Power Supply

• 110-130V / 220-240V

Power Consumption

• 15 – 120 W

Dimensions (H x W x D)

• 7.5 cm x 50 cm x 23 cm

Weight

• 5.2 kg

Service manual

Beolab 1700 service manual can be downloaded here for free.