Beocord 1200 was a 4-track reel-to-reel tape recorder explicitly designed as part of a system of matching components. It was also the last to be produced in any quantity as by the 1970s cassette tapes had driven away from the demand for expensive and bulky reel-to-reel tape recorders. So this was to be the final leg in the race for supremacy which ultimately would be won by the compact cassette system developed by Philips.
Quite sophisticated for its time it was these features which made it so famous and its ability to record sound-on-sound. It also had inbuilt mixing facilities as well as automatic recording levels. Another useful feature was the built-in PA amplifier which could be operated without the motor running. This made it very popular for groups such as community centers and churches who liked the sturdy aspect of the player knowing that they could trundle it around without its knocks and bruises causing no particular internal damage.
Tape speeds 19 and 9.5 cm/sec. (7 1/2 and 3 3/4 in/sec.)
Number of tracks 4 tracks record and playback
Real size Max. 18 cm
Playing times Tape Speed 19 cm/sec:
360M 2 x 30 min
540M 2 x 45 min
720M 2 x 60 min
1080M 2 x 90 min
Tape Speed 9.5 cm/sec:
360M 2 x 60 min
540M 2 x 90 min
720M 2 x 120 min
1080M 2 x 180 min
For mono, multiply above playing times by 4
Fast forward and rewind Approx. 200 sec for LP tape
Counter Pushbutton reset, 4 digit readout
Wow and flutter 19 cm/sec +/- 0.15% (DN 45507)
Speed deviation Less than 1 %
Tape stop Photo-electric stop at end of tape
Amplifier:
Frequency response 19 cm/sec: 30 - 20,000 Hz (DIN 45500)
Equalization 19 cm/sec: 50 µsec, 3180 µsec
Distortion Less than 5% over tape at VU 0
Less than 1% in amplifier
Signal-to-noise ratio 65 dB (DIN 45500, 4 - 2.5)
Cross-talk select Mono: Better than 60 dB at 1000 Hz
Stereo: Better than 40 dB at 1000 Hz
Erasure Better than 70 dB
Erase frequency 100 kHz
Dimensions W x H x D: 44 x 14.7 x 33 cm
Weight: 11 kg
Voltage: 110 - 130 - 220 - 240 volts AC
Power consumption: 20 - 52 W
The brand names Bang & Olufsen, B&O, trade mark and many of the product names and details together with on-site photographs are the property and copyright of Bang & Olufsen. The information on this website is provided only as a guide to Bang & Olufsen collectors and enthusiasts of the marque.