Playmaker, Penta Mk3, and Beo4 setup

17 replies
P(
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PLom (archived2)
Bronze
Posted May 8, 2013 at 20:27 GMT
#1994514

Hi,   My first post here, really enjoy this forum. Hope one of the experts can help me.

I've acquired a Playmaker to replace an Apple Airport Express previously connected to a BeoSound2300 via Aux in. Speakers are Penta Mk3.  This setup has worked fine for me, in particular  being able to control it with the Beo4. Volume, balance and bass/treble etc can be set via the Beo4. A very nice feature is the fact you can see the volume level on the Penta display.

I was hoping that the Playmaker could replace the BeoSound2300, which I really do not use much anymore, all my CD are ripped and reside on a MacBook Pro. Playing has been with AirPlay. The new setup connects the Penta speakers directly to the Playmaker (via new RJ45 Powerlink cables). The system works (sort of), the sound is good, but there is a problem. The display on the Pentas now show: A.TP2 __ __ - and while it is still possible to control the volume with the Beo4, there does not seem to be any way to control balance, treble etc. But more annoying is the fact, the display flashes LOAD TAPE every time the volume is changed, after 2 flashes it goes away and finally shows the volume, e.g. A.TP2 __ 48, but the whole process is kind of awkward. On top of it, the Playmaker makes the Pentas go to standby when no music is streamed (as expected), but the display on the Pentas stays on! I've never seen anything like this before. At first I thought it was my aging Beo4, but I've borrowed a brand new one from my dealer and it has no effect. A.AUX or A.MEM has to be activated on the Beo4 of course. According to the dealer this is just what I have to live with, but it seems to me a simple firmware update to the Playmaker could fix this, but perhaps this is too much to expect from B&O at this point in time. I'm sure they would rather have me scrap the Pentas and get a set of new BS9 😉 .

My question, have any of the experts here found a way around this issue or any suggestions to how it could be fixed? I'm just running an impossibly combination of devices?

Many thanks,   -Peter

 

Millemis
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Millemis
Bronze
Posted May 8, 2013 at 21:48 GMT
#1994515

Hi here and welcome to BeoWorld,

there is no way to get the display working properly with the Penta's connected direct to the Playmaker.

This nice feuture was ditched years/decades ago.

Only 'workaround' is to connect the Playmaker to the Besystem exactly as you had the APE connected.

Your dealer will know which cable to use, and how to connect it. Or please ask again, if you are interested.

The BS won't harm you - and will still be there if you should gome across a CD and want to hear it the easy-way.

And please keep your Penta's - they are great loudspeakers.

N.B.  the sound settings of the PM can be made via Beo4 - depending on the version of the Beo4.

Greetings Millemissen

Location: Flensborg————Danmark

P(
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PLom (archived2)
Bronze
Posted May 8, 2013 at 23:09 GMT
#1994516

Thanks very much for your post Millemissen, you confirm what I suspected regarding the display.

I've seen mentioned on a Danish forum, that you can connect the PL out of the Playmaker to Aux-in on the BeoSound2300. I guess this way I would still have the old control and display, but would there be any sound loss/degradation form using the old BS2300? Also, this seems to require a special cable PL -> 7 pin DIN male. I will check with my dealer if they have such a cable, but if not  -  would you know where I can buy such a contraption? Unfortunately I'm not able to build one myself.  Again many thanks.

Cheers,   -Peter

ST
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Stan
Bronze
Posted May 8, 2013 at 23:19 GMT
#1994517
Steve at Sounds Heavenly has such a cable. He is a site sponsor, and, in my experience, a fine chap.

Stan
P(
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PLom (archived2)
Bronze
Posted May 9, 2013 at 01:53 GMT
#1994518

Thanks Stan - I'll check him out if my dealer can not come up with something.

Cheers,   -Peter

Millemis
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Millemis
Bronze
Posted May 9, 2013 at 10:35 GMT
#1994519

Hi Peter,

You can see the cable and how to connect it here: 

http://www.hifi4all.dk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23818&PN=0&TPN=43

in the post from:

03 April 2013 kl. 09:15 

Actually the cables in the photo are mine.

You can buy the RJ45/PowerLink to Phono-male at your B&O-dealer (itemno. 6271216)

The rest is just a 'normal' adapter and a 'normal' Phono to 5-pin DIN.

Or get it - as Stan writes - from the BeoWorld sponsor Steve (just klick the link right below).

He will be glad to advice you if you send him a mail - I am sure.

And don't worry, the sound will be perfect with your BS 📻

P.S.

And you can see my setup with the Playmaker here:

http://www.hifi4all.dk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=46053&PN=1&TPN=235

In the post from:

03 oktober 2012 18.32

 

Greetings Millemissen

 

Location: Flensborg————Danmark

P(
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PLom (archived2)
Bronze
Posted May 9, 2013 at 20:02 GMT
#1994520

Thanks very much Millemissen, I think this should solve me cable problem. I may go with the custom cable, just to avoid the RCA/converters, but should not be a big deal either way. Thanks also for the links (Jeg kan sagtens læse dem - jeg var født i Danmark - bor i US nu, - I will continue in English so others who may be interested can follow here), very informative posts on the Danish forum. One question, you write that the Playmaker has to be set to 'Option 0' - fixed level output. I understand this is needed so the Playmaker does not respond to the Beo4 signal (which should go to my BS2300 instead). But, how do I get the Playmaker set in this mode? I can not find a way with the BeoSetup app.

Thanks again for all your help.

Cheers,   -Peter

B(
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Beofan53 (archived2)
Bronze
Posted May 9, 2013 at 23:37 GMT
#1994521
In this thread /forum/beoworld-en-espaol/beosound-6#post-1765966 is explained how to configure your Playmaker.

Suc6!

(Thanx to our sponsor Steve and Millemissen!)
P(
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PLom (archived2)
Bronze
Posted May 10, 2013 at 00:51 GMT
#1994522

Thanks very much BeoHut - solves my problem 😁

Cheers,  -Peter

Millemis
Offline
Millemis
Bronze
Posted May 10, 2013 at 08:19 GMT
#1994523

Hi Peter,

nice being able to help you.

Please let us hear what you think of the handling and the sound, once you have got it set up!

Greetings Millemissen

Location: Flensborg————Danmark

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