I don't think that the older Beo4s will go into link mode.

With reference to the BL3500 User Guide: Where it states 'control the main room source' it basically means everything except the volume/sound controls.

One anomaly relates to using the BL3500 in an older MCL system - with this system the audio was distributed at speaker level.  Hence adjusting volume in link rooms can effect the volume in a main room even when using an active speaker.  This is of no help in your situation.

I would try the 'Beolink Active' option that I mentioned above, or get the BS9000's IR board fixed!

Yep, I think a new IR board is on the cards. There's a place here in Melbourne who can do it. 

Once the IR is working, can you see any reason why the 3500 cannot operate with the 9000 and a pair of 8000's in the same room.

I like the 3500 hanging on the wall giving a bit of background sound in my office, and then when you want to punch it, just lift the volume and the 8000's come into play.

In your experience, with the 9000 in the correct mode, will the 3500 control all three volumes?

uzz32soarer wrote:

Yep, I think a new IR board is on the cards. There's a place here in Melbourne who can do it. 

Once the IR is working, can you see any reason why the 3500 cannot operate with the 9000 and a pair of 8000's in the same room.

I like the 3500 hanging on the wall giving a bit of background sound in my office, and then when you want to punch it, just lift the volume and the 8000's come into play.

In your experience, with the 9000 in the correct mode, will the 3500 control all three volumes?

It's not a neat solution!  Basically your remote will be controlling both the BS9000 and the BL3500 independently (i.e via the two seperate IR sensors), but at the same time.  You could experience volume mis-match between the 8000s and the 3500.

If you still want to use the BL3500, then it could be worth setting it up in L.OPT 4 and then controlling it from a separate Beo4 (set to permanent LINK mode).  A similar setup is shown on page 10 of the reference document that I linked to earlier.