HI Stefan

Where did you find this information ?

In the instruction for the ML wall socket.
I've never seen a picture of the original diagram for full mounted ML connection earlier...

I searched here on the site and found some information about Beosystem AV 9000 "AV 9000 Audio Kit with switch cannot be used with the new 9-pin Master Link cable". 

So there we seems to have a product that seems to have been using the extra audio channels in the ML  communication between the products. I've not own this set so I'm not shore if it had some extra possibilities that later ML products did  not have.

 

If my memory serves me well (enough).....which it does not always do with these old things - that was used for the connection between the AV9000 and the AV9000 audio panel.

They had prepaired ML for further purpose (distribution of two channel of stereo at the same time), but these plans weren’t pursued.

I guess some of the old, retired guys at B&O (if still alive) could clarify.

Interesting theme, though.

Would be nice with some exact information!

MM

Maybe you could as Stefan: 

As I understand it.

ML was designed to allow for multiple audio masters. Allowing for CD in one room from a CD Master and say Radio from another via a Radio Master. There was also some other complexities to ML including video as well.

Ultimately as it was explained to me B&O felt that the technology would be impossible to explain reliably to customers. So a simpler version of ML was released.

The tech also acknowledged that as ML was rolled out that there was only a small percentage of installations that would suit the original specification. Over time I suppose that percentage may have decreased.

Good luck Beoaus.

beoaus wrote:

Ultimately as it was explained to me B&O felt that the technology would be impossible to explain reliably to customers. So a simpler version of ML was released.

I think there might be lot more to it, and I wish someone could step forward with some "insider knowledge"

Not only was the ML scaled down but the two way communication was abandoned at the same time. I for one was extremely disappointed to find the AV9000 I bought turned out to be the late one way system, and the AV panel was substituted with an Overture.

The ML system turned into a goldmine not only for B&O, but installers as well, and had the system allowed for a bit more complexity (multiple masters and addressable units) and the two way communication, I am sure it could have lived on for decades. The Audio quality of the ML easily matches the NL thanks to the differential signals, and there are no issues with delay or restriction of distributed content.

So if anyone knows the true story of why this shift happened,- do tell.

PS By now I have both versions of the AV9000 and thanks to the modulators in the newer BVs they are still in use😁 

Stefan E wrote:

Thanks for that input. The original spec would clearly have solved one of the limitation with the MCL technology - that you only could transmit one source at the time. Pity they remained with that...

Thanks for bringing it up, I have always wondered about that unusual AV9000 cable 😁