Keith Saunders wrote:

RJ45 is used for a lot of other applications these days. But, I sure we will not have to wait long before someone plugs their local area network cable into one thinking its a network connection.

I don't agree that it is confusing.

There have always been a few different connectors around the Hi-Fi world - not to mention just around the house generally - - 3 pin mains, 2 pin mains, Fig 8 mains, phono, din, 4mm ( banana) speaker, bare wire speaker, 2 pin din speaker, odd din variants ( B&O, Naim, Quad). 

Plus a few others.

Trying to plug a phone charger into a mains socket (or whatever your student mate did) is just not being careful. 

There are various mini-usb connections around - some carry voltage to charge phones, some don't.  Even some connectors that look the same can be fully / partially wired ( scart, DVI, din ) leading to errors.

This has always been the case, in some form or other. 

Anyone who wrongly plugs a power cable into a signal socket, or vice versa, is simply rushing without reading the labels/manuals first. 

Please note, I am not being unsympathetic - I have done things like this myself - but the fact that something could be done wrong by a user is no reason for a manufacturer to not use a style of plug/socket - as long as they label it correctly.

If you put the wrong fuel in your car,  is that the makers fault ?  No, its yours.🙁

folkdeejay wrote:

I don't agree that it is confusing.

There have always been a few different connectors around the Hi-Fi world - not to mention just around the house generally - - 3 pin mains, 2 pin mains, Fig 8 mains, phono, din, 4mm ( banana) speaker, bare wire speaker, 2 pin din speaker, odd din variants ( B&O, Naim, Quad). 

Plus a few others.

Trying to plug a phone charger into a mains socket (or whatever your student mate did) is just not being careful. 

There are various mini-usb connections around - some carry voltage to charge phones, some don't.  Even some connectors that look the same can be fully / partially wired ( scart, DVI, din ) leading to errors.

This has always been the case, in some form or other. 

Anyone who wrongly plugs a power cable into a signal socket, or vice versa, is simply rushing without reading the labels/manuals first. 

Please note, I am not being unsympathetic - I have done things like this myself - but the fact that something could be done wrong by a user is no reason for a manufacturer to not use a style of plug/socket - as long as they label it correctly.

If you put the wrong fuel in your car,  is that the makers fault ?  No, its yours.🙁

I don't agree at all. Being foolproof is an important aspect of good design. 

I'm wondering if the new connection might make running the cable through speaker stands easier. Am I the only person who has trashed powerlink cables trying to run them through the BeoLab 4000 floor stand? 

Keith Saunders"]RJ45 is used for a lot of other applications these days. But, I sure we will not have to wait long before someone plugs their local area network cable into one thinking its a network connection

 Keith, sadly this has all ready happened ! I was asked to help a student (from a very flash university) as she could not plug her phone in. She could not understand why her rj11 would not go into a 3pin power (240v) socket... rj45's now thats even more confusing.

That in Eire then? If so explains it!!(bad English humour sorry!)

Keith Saunders wrote:

from January all speakers listed below ... will be fitted with RJ45 sockets

oh cool ... internet music at last

😂

tournedos wrote:

Installers (and anyone else) will also save about 95% of their time by using crimp tools to make custom length speaker cables instead of struggling with a DIN and a soldering iron.

But one side will still need a DIN as TVs etc will still ship with the older powerlink sockets? ie. it's not going to be as easy as just grabbing an RJ45 and connecting your B&O TV on one end to your speakers on another? I guess connecting two speakers will be a lot easier. Howevr, RJ45 cables are much thicker than powerlink, which will make them more tricky to hide.

I wonder if you can buy RJ45 face plate for the wall, connect a cable from your TV and then your speakers to another RJ45 face plate elsewhere in the room?

moxxey wrote:

But one side will still need a DIN as TVs etc will still ship with the older powerlink sockets?
ie. it's not going to be as easy as just grabbing an RJ45 and connecting your B&O TV on one end
to your speakers on another?

DIN 8pin to RJ 45 PowerLink Adapter Cables are available from B&O in different leghth -  
easy to customise these cables by cutting and crimping a RJ45. 

The above also applies to ML <> RJ45 MasterLink Adapter Cables! 

moxxey wrote:

Howevr, RJ45 cables are much thicker than powerlink, which will make them more tricky to hide.

Yes, compared to the discontinued fully mounted MK 2 types and
the thin MK 3 PL types (which should only be used for short distances).

No, if compared to the strongly recommended "5.5 mm fully mounted double screened PL-cable"  
-  the new 5mm version is slightly thinner.  

The layout of a (larger) BeoLink installation designed today will be completely different to an
installtion planned 3 or 5 years ago ...