Thanks everyone for their input and to your suggestion Keith.  The power supply seems like a logical thing - such a pity when I haven't had them long.

I don't really want to go back to the retailer again, but ultimately that's what I think would be best *sigh*

Jonathan, I'll PM you with my BS5E stuff

Cheers

Michael.

Hi Michael:

I recently had a problem with one of my BeoLab 3's and it too was in the power supply board. 

I, unlike you, did not get a yellow LED, as the fault blew out the fuse and the speaker was completely dead. I took the unit apart (very easy) and first tested the fuse and it was open (blown). Further sniffing and viewing showed it to be the transformer.

I called down to Atlantic Systems in Hanover, Massachusetts (USA) and they explained to me that, fortunately, there is in place an exchange program whereby you can turn in the entire internals - which is referred to as the chassis - in exchange for a rebuilt one. I ended up paying approximately $300.00 USD plus shipping as opposed to approximately $1,200.00 for a new one. I installed it myself and it now works perfectly. This is a very "black-box" approach as the chassis assembly includes everything except the driver, passives and case. It is all self contained and attached to the mounting frame. Also, no need to remove any of the many cables from the boards themselves as the replacement will come with them attached and they want the defective one to have them left on there. Take photos as you go to ensure that you run your wires in exactly the same paths as things are really tightly packed in there.

If you are at all adept with a torx driver, you can service the speaker yourself. I would start by downloading the BeoLab 3 Service Manual here on BeoWorld as it has some great drawings that will guide you along. When you pull the chassis, do remember to also remove the very small LED board as they require that too. I had not known this and had to ship that down to them separately.

If you decide to go ahead and replace the chassis yourself, do be careful on reassembly in that you do not strip any of the screw insertion points in the case. The screws are steel and the case is aluminum. Tighten just enough to do the job. I learned this lesson with plastic parts and use a very light touch when torquing down screws. Also, lay out a soft towel so you don't mar the soft rubberized color coat as you move forward with disassembly.

Should you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Michael

 

Michael wrote:

If you decide to go ahead and replace the chassis yourself, do be careful on reassembly in that you do not strip any of the screw insertion points in the case. 

I wouldn't do this on any of my in-warranty B&O products. Indeed, I doubt I'd do that on out-of-warranty B&O loud speakers. You're best just taking them back to your dealer. Most dealers are pretty good at sorting out problems and I've never paid a single repair bill, so far, on any B&O product I've owned (in or out of warranty).

moxxey wrote:

Michael wrote:

If you decide to go ahead and replace the chassis yourself, do be careful on reassembly in that you do not strip any of the screw insertion points in the case. 

I wouldn't do this on any of my in-warranty B&O products. Indeed, I doubt I'd do that on out-of-warranty B&O loud speakers. You're best just taking them back to your dealer. Most dealers are pretty good at sorting out problems and I've never paid a single repair bill, so far, on any B&O product I've owned (in or out of warranty).

Wow moxxey, you are one very lucky or one very charismatic guy if you have NEVER had to pay for a repair to your out-of-warranty Bang & Olufsen gear.

Please let us all know who your B&O dealer is as I'll pay for the shipping all the way from here in the USA to the UK to get that kind of deal!

I also just installed a new B&O sourced  Philips VAM1250 CD laser unit in my BeoSound 9000 Mk III for the $190.00 USD cost of the part (also purchased from Atlantic Systems) but I had to do the install myself otherwise it would have cost me around $650.00. So, am I to assume that your B&O dealer would have waved that $450.00 labor charge? If so, I'm suffering from some serious envy right now.

I, personally, don't have that kind of cash. It was either do the BeoLab 3's and the BeoSound 9000 repairs myself or not do them at all. And I also happen to enjoy working on my B&O and I'm constantly reading BeoWorld contributor threads to help me along.

However, when I wrote my response to Michael's inquiry with my suggestion that he tackle the chassis replacement himself, I was assuming that his BeoLab 3's were out of warranty and that he'd perhaps benefit from the cost savings. If they are in warranty, then of course there would be no reason to consider doing one's own work. That is just logical. Also logical is the fact that if one is not at all comfortable with working on his or her gear, then by all means, bring it to your dealer or to a qualified electronics repair service. Self repair is not for everyone.

 

 

 

Michael wrote:

Thanks for the suggestion. As the speaker is practically new I'd be reluctant to replace anything myself at this stage

 

 

:)

Hi Michael:

I agree!

Are your BeoLab 3's still under warranty? If so, yes, of course you should bring them in and not repair them yourself! And if uncomfortable doing your own work, then by all means, secure the expertise of those who do it on a regular basis.

Best of luck and please let us know how things work out.

(All I know is that I had to look at my dead BeoLab 3's for almost a year before I got ahead enough in my strained budget to drop the $300.00 for the rebuilt chassis. And it was depressing! Kind of like a fireplace that cannot be used!

 

Michael wrote:

Wow moxxey, you are one very lucky or very charismatic guy if you have NEVER had to pay for a repair to your out-of-warranty Bang & Olufsen gear.

More likely, he displayed moxie.

Buddy.  What happened to the 3's?  Take them back to Richmond and be bossy!!  You paid decent money for them. 

 

B&o service after sales service is normally pretty good (not my experience with Richmond.. anyhow.) 

I thought they were a bit rude......  if you want me to go in and have an argument, I will on your behalf.  I read your post.

If it is not fixed, take the dodge speaker in mate. 

I had 3's, and I used to crank them all the time with no problem at all, so it sounds weird.

A couple of days ago when I was playing music from my dining room, other half goes "are you only playing music out of one speaker", so went and checked and the light was orange and must have been that way since I started playing music

It had done it twice before and once whilst playing music and sounded like a light globe blowing (from memory).

Now I have had the speaker in stand by for the last couple of days to see that it doesn't go orange.  I don't even use those speakers much - I mean about 3 times since I got rid of the BeoSound 5 Encore, when it goes orange next , it's going in to the store.

Hope you're well Rexy

Chaka Khan! Chaka Pow!

:-)

Just an update.

I was playing music out of the PM this morning via the BeoPlayer app on my phone and then changed the source from Radio Abalone to music to listen to Rhianna.  Speaker goes pop straight away.

I hopped straight away on the blower to B&O and Simon was perfect - come in, we will give you a loan speaker and send it off for service.

We were able to replicate the issue in store.

Thanks Collins Street for speedy and efficient service (especially in this heat).

Now... just the wait for service lol.

Just a quick update, i have received my speaker back from service.

Played music last night for about 15 minutes.  Seems all ok now.

Now waiting for the other one to blow up lol.