Hello fellow B&O owners, I have been working on this project on and off for quite a long time, even had to restart from scratch at one point when it turned out the hardware I had selected was a dead end, but it's now becoming a reality. Let me introduce : the BEOTOOTH 5500. Login to view image Short version : It’s a Bluetooth receiver that happens to be very friendly with my Beomaster 5500. Longer version : It’s a Bluetooth receiver that happens to be very friendly with my Beomaster 5500... by impersonating a Beocord 5500 tape player on the Datalink bus, and makes playing music from a phone / PC on a B&O system an experience as enjoyable as using any other B&O device from the same era. Bluetooth related features :

• Support AAC audio codec for proper quality sound restitution.
• Can be paired with up to 6 Bluetooth devices (Only 1 connected at the same time).
• Pairing entered by pressing the button at the back. Long press unpairs all devices.

Datalink related features :

• Connects to a B&O system using the usual 7-pin DIN Datalink connector.
• Provides audio signals at the same level as other B&O devices.
• Communicates using the Datalink-80 protocol.
• Converts the Datalink commands from the B&O system to AVRCP (1.0) commands for the Bluetooth device.
• Notify the B&O system of link status (Bluetooth disconnected shows as “NO SOURCE”)
• Turns off the system after 5 minutes without Bluetooth link, or 15 minutes without audio activity on the Bluetooth link (Usually means no sound on a mobile device, but means another audio output selected on my Linux PC).

When paired with an AVRCP 1.3 Bluetooth device :

• Notify the B&O system of current playback state (Playing / Paused / Seeking)
• Shows the current track number and live elapsed time on the MCP5500.
• Automatically turns on the B&O system when playbacks begins (AVRCP Status shows "playing". I did not want the system to turn on as soon as sound is available on Bluetooth, to prevent it happening for every notification my phone receives, and waking up the whole house by the same occasion).

Misc features :

• Powered through a standard USB-C connector (5V 100mA).
• Red LED at the back to show its status (Not connected / Pairing / Paired).
• Small form factor, making it easily concealable.

Missing features :

• Select track by entering track number. At the time being, it seems my phone does not support the AVRCP version (1.6) required to select tracks from their track number, despite claiming otherwise, so I was no able to implement that feature yet.
• Trigger pairing from a special code on the remote. I did not need that one in the end, as I only have 2 devices paired, but I could look into that.

Here is a video of it in action (Please excuse the blurriness of it, my camera is getting a bit old, and we have been so spoiled with perfect 1080p video on internet these last years that I even forgot that not every camera could film that way) :

That is highly interesting - thanks and congratulations on the result.

I see the benefits of using the 5500 and the panel, but it would potentially work with any B&O master/system with a datalink-based A.Tape input port…..as I assume.

Will be interesting to hear how high the costs will be and how many ‘subscibers’ you’d need, befor starting making a batch.

P.S.
The video is ok!

MM

 

 

Absolutely stunning development. This is Beoworld! Thank you, tank you, thank you!

Except for the name… BeoTooth? Honestly, it scares me like an MLGWNL (whatever) box profoundly dug in my human body.

Jokes apart, you just made raise BM 5500 prices (jokes not so appart after all…).

 

Nice, congrats!
Which BT chip are you using?

Very nice project ? thanks for letting us know about it. Unfortnuate that the status text is not shown on newer system ( I guess that it is other than the BS2500 where this applies?)

If it only is a hobby project and you dont want to be a manufactur /seller of these units an option could be to make the plans available for others to build it themeselves. I am aware that is not for everyone to do, and there might also be an issue with programming of the chip holding the software, but in the end it could save you some trouble, and worldwide distribution could be easier.

Depending on price I might be interested

 

VERY nice! I'd be surely interested in buying (either pre-made or kit-form, latter preferred) at least a couple!

Lovely, count me in as well if the price is right.

I still daily use pilatomic previous Beolnik 5000 upgrade project.

link

[...]  it would potentially work with any B&O master/system with a datalink-based A.Tape input port…..as I assume.

Indeed. I have also tried it with a Beosystem 2500 where it works nicely, providing controls from the Beosystem and its remote, and automatically turning it on / off. Btw it works on A TAPE but also TP2 input (except that on the BM5500, you loose the live status display when using it on the TP2 port).

link

Absolutely stunning development. This is Beoworld! Thank you, tank you, thank you! Except for the name… BeoTooth? Honestly, it scares me like an MLGWNL (whatever) box profoundly dug in my human body. Jokes apart, you just made raise BM 5500 prices (jokes not so appart after all…).

Thank you for your enthusiasm, means a lot to me, as I tend to quickly lose my drive after completing a project, and often move to something else without talking much about it. Regarding the name, I know BEOTOOTH sounds a bit cheesy, but it does match the beo* pattern, and it's cheesy enough that I shouldn't get in trouble with B&O for using it. If you have a better name in mind, feel free to propose it, nothing is set in stone yet !

link

Nice, congrats! Which BT chip are you using?

I did a proof of concept about 2 years ago using an ESP32, but couldn't get a reliable sound stream with anything other than the default SBC codec (which really isnt that good). I then attempted to pivot to Qualcomm chips, but they are really interested in small volume orders. I ended up using the Microchip BM83 module, which works quite well for my use case, except for its really arcane documentation !

link

[...] ( I guess that it is other than the BS2500 where this applies?) If it only is a hobby project and you dont want to be a manufactur /seller of these units [...]

Indeed status display is only on the BM5500 as far as I know (not too familiar with the entire B&O lineup from that era). But control features works on BS2500, so they should work on any Datalink compatible device, and I have yet to test it with my BS9500 (which is currently in storage).

link

VERY nice! I’d be surely interested in buying (either pre-made or kit-form, latter preferred) at least a couple!

I'll see what I can do regarding a kit but I think the only solderable item left would the wiring to the datalink connector. Would that still count as a kit for you ?