Using ML and MCL together

[speedsixdave]

Hi all,

I have a Beosystem 6500 connected to a fairly basic Master Control Link multiroom system – an MCL2A with some passive speakers (C75) and a Beolab 3500 in the conservatory. I’m quite interested in extending a bit further, maybe with the very cheap Beolab 2000 and the tempting Beolink Wireless One to avoid cabling the house too heavily. To do this I’d need the Beolink Converter, which is fine, I used one previously with a BC9500 and understand that bit of the process.

 

My question is this: can I have both a Beolink Converter and the existing MCL2 system connected directly to the Beomaster 6500 at the same time and use them both, or do I have to go BM6500 > Beolink Converter > ML/MCL converter > MCL2A system? The latter seems like one additional bit of kit and yet more attenuation and reamplification so although clearly possible I’d like to avoid it if I can.

 

Thanks,

 

Dave

 

[Madskp]

You can use both the MCL2 system and the converter with the 6500 at the same time without that beeing an issue.

No need for the ML/MCL converter which is intended for system without built in amplifier/MCL capabilities

Regarding the Beolink Wireless 1 will not advise using that if you can avoid it. Many bad stories about it here on the archived forums. It operates on the 2,4Ghz band like Wifi, Bluetooth, babyalarms, doorbels and microwave ovens so all sorts of inteference possibilities. Also it is no possible to change the channel it uses without the B&O servicetool which is only available for dealers.

Also the first software version only allowed for use of powerlink in the receiving end which will not work with the Beolab 2000. As software is also only dealer upgradeable it can be hit and miss to get the right software version of the Beolink Wireless units

Hope this helps

Location: Denmark

[speedsixdave]

Thanks Madskp, that’s very helpful. And good to know too that the Wireless One can be problematic. I’ve read about the importance of having the same software version on both units. Foolishly I passed up buying a pair quite cheap a year or so ago but might give them a go if I see another pair equally cheap one day. I was also sorry to see the demise of Hall Audio as I had great intentions for their ML to RJ45 converters.

Can I ask another Masterlink question I’ve never quite understood? Greedy man that I am, I’d quite like a Beosound 9000 one day in addition to the Beosystem 6500. Is it possible to have two audio masters in different rooms on the same Masterlink setup? All the manuals I’ve seen talk about an audio master and a video master in one Masterlink system but I’m not bothered about having a connected TV anywhere. Ideally I’d like to be able to play records from the Beogram 6500 either through the BM6500 in the living room or the future BS9000 in the kitchen diner, or CDs from the BS9000 through the BM6500. Even better would be to access any of the sources connected to either master from any connected room. Is that asking too much of a Beo4?

Thanks from the UK!

[Madskp]

speedsixdave wrote:

Can I ask another Masterlink question I’ve never quite understood? Greedy man that I am, I’d quite like a Beosound 9000 one day in addition to the Beosystem 6500. Is it possible to have two audio masters in different rooms on the same Masterlink setup? All the manuals I’ve seen talk about an audio master and a video master in one Masterlink system but I’m not bothered about having a connected TV anywhere. Ideally I’d like to be able to play records from the Beogram 6500 either through the BM6500 in the living room or the future BS9000 in the kitchen diner, or CDs from the BS9000 through the BM6500. Even better would be to access any of the sources connected to either master from any connected room

Hello again, and yes follow up questions are very welcome.

You are right in that the Masterlink systems is based on having one Audio Master and one Video Master which can server their sources to link rooms. This also limit that there can only be one of each source eg. only one CD source.

If you wan’t the sources to be acesible to both systems from bot systems and in your link rooms there is a workaround. However it will require some more equipment.

What you can do is divide the systems in to separate Masterlink networks and use NL/ML converters to connect the ML networks through your home network. In the NL/ML converter you can specify which sources can be passed through and give them other source names. for example can the CD on the BS9000 be accesed with the DVD command from the Beomaster 6500. Only requrement is that the “replacement” source is not in use already for example i you have a B&O TV in that room.

For the link rooms to be able to acces both systems they also have to be on a separate ML network so a NL/ML converter is also required for those, and if you keep your MCL rooms also a ML/MCL converter.

It can sound like a lot of equipment, but note that the NL/ML converters can also be used as link rooms with a IR eye and a set of active speakers connected, so if placed strategicly they could maybe replace some older equipment.

To hopefully make more sense of this take a look at this post where user Tignum has a drawing of his system with several NL/ML converters https://forum.beoworld.org/forums/topic/possible-to-use-two-ml-nl-converters-instead-of-ml-cable/#post-62861

Other members has also done something similar so there should be help enough on the forum for this.

Location: Denmark

[speedsixdave]

Thanks Madskp, that’s really helpful and interesting. I had not considered the NL/ML converter before, will have a good read up on it. It does start to become a complex (and expensive) system but I do like the idea!

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