I must admit the latest post here got me laughing because I can so much relate to this scenario of trying to fix something only to realize that it is never going to work in a disassembled state because a switch or sensor must be activated in a certain position which only occurs when assembled :-)

But good for you that you found the culprit in the end although you might have been better of with the proces of fault finding in this case

I've got a Sony CDX-A55 inbound that I bought for $30 off eBay which has the same pinout at the A20 - a slightly newer configuration to the original setup.  I'd like to definitively know how easy it would be to add a 10-disc CD changer to an 80's - 90's Beosystem. Controllers tend to run $60 or so on eBay, so for under $120, you can add a 10-disc changer to your pizza box system for parties. Login to view image Clearly it would not have the panache of a 9000, but it would retain most of the function.  On that note, I can report that the system works just fine on a Beomaster 5500 Tape or Tape 2 input with fully functional control via a Beo4 or MCP 5500, as I had expected.  I have not attempted it yet, but I'd expect it to work with a 5000/MCP5000 as well, as the Datalink '80 commands required to make it respond should be identical. The Sony packaging is basically a metal endo-skeleton surrounded by a molded-plastic shell, with large rubber suspension bushings to deal with rough roads - something unnecessary when installed in the home.  Unfortunate that B&O didn't really bother to repackage everything in something a bit more B&O-ish.  There's absolutely no reason why the system & controller together could not fit in a form factor similar to the pizza boxes (it would admittedly need to be slightly taller) with a metal sliding door to cover the carousel - even the eject button in the usual left corner location would be compatible, and require nothing more than a wire extension to function. Add a switch to choose between Aux and Tape 2 communication - a trivial addition for a competent programmer, and the system would have been quite versatile. Shoulda coulda woulda.  

I think this would have done better, both in age and reliability........admittedly. You cant put it in the trunk of your 1980s VW Gold GTI

 

 

 

IIRC the "definitive" B&O way was their CMI-5 (OEM'ed for B&O by Raster Displays Inc.), plus the Sony CDP-CX100 carousel 100-disc changer.  Alas, it was only IR output and audio input, so the controls worked as described above, but there was no data stream back to the system.  (The CMI-5 also supported the Pioneer PD-F904 units which could daisy-chain to 300 discs.  IR control means later Sony & Pioneer units should work too, so up to 600 discs!)