I picked up a used MK3 BS9000 9 months ago, as an upgrade from my BS5500 that I'd loved since1988. I needed something that was N.MUSIC capable, oh, and a credible upgrade from what I had (so BS3200 and BS4 were out). Anyway, I played CDs all day long until... I picked up a used Beomedia 1. But the Beomedia didn't work too well with my AVANT as I didn't have the IR sensor for the Beomeda (but it worked ok via link rooms and N.MUSIC etc, as normal). But now, finally, I have also (for the digital switch over) replaced the AVANT with a BV10-40 which of course means I can now fully operate te Beomedia via ML data from the TV (which the AVANT couldn't do).
So in the space of a year, I've gone from having access to1xCD (Beogram 5500), to 6 CD but really now that I've got access to 500CD strorage then I can't look back. Only used the BS9000 for radio and th N.MUSIC oh, and to just look at. I've never really figured out why you still need an audio master to access N.MUSIC. Why can't you just access digital files direct from Beomedia. I mean, when I select N.MUSIC why does BS9000 still need to be in the loop if the Beomdia is Master Linked in its own wright. Does Beosound 5 depend on another audio master being present, I doubt it does, since it includes power link outputs. Though I like the 9000 I'd rather not have to keep it simply for the fact that it's critical to the setup. Yes I know I can access Beomedia from my Link room TV via L-PC (or DTV2 as I have it set) but the sound is just the modulated (mono) via the RF distribution from the BV10. The only way to get stereo is via N.MUSIC (but then the tv screen is blanked). Is there some other configuration that could be used to have stereo sound and picture from Beomeda via a linked TV.
So I can see why the decision to drop BS9000 has now come... I would upgrade again to BS5 if it was worth it, i.e drop the fancy head unit, that you have to get out of your seat to see / operate and just make BM5 on its own, but with a VERY GOOD gui that can be output to Beovisions (Apple TV !) The beosound 5 head unit is lovely by the way, but usless as it's neither a remote (unless you make it wireless ?????) nor is it a worthy display (small screen) smaller than my 40" TV at least.