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The BeoGram 3500, BeoGram 4500, BeoGram 6500 and BeoGram 7000 all had RIAAs fitted as standard.
And although not fitted as standard, RIAA may have been retro-fitted into the following:
BeoGram 3000, BeoGram 3300, BeoGram 5005, BeoGram 5500, BeoGram 8500, BeoGram 9000, BeoGram 9500, BeoGram TX
EDIT: And further research shows that a RIAA Pre-Amp module could also be fitted to BeoGram 1000, 1200 and 1800 (BeoParts (now: Danish Sound Parts) sell kit replicas of the original modules)
EDIT 2: I also just noticed that OneRemote sell an RIAA pre-amp that passes the datalink through, useful for datalink era non-RIAA Beograms such as BG9500: https://shop.oneremote.dk/shop/69068-riaa-amplifier/
Location: Warwickshire, UKMy B&O Icons:
I was able to switch my BL3500 to A.Aux using Link>Shift>Phono.
Are you sure it wasn’t LINK>SHIFT>RADIO?
Location: Warwickshire, UKMy B&O Icons:
The Beolab 3500 will probably not support the A.AUX command. according to this thread https://archivedforum.beoworld.org/forums/t/36474.aspx this is first supported from SW ver. 3.33 in the BL3500
My BL3500 is at SW2.0 and supports A.AUX (whereas my BL2000 at SW1.1 doesn’t). I think Keith’s post in that linked thread is a bit confusing – there were a few other anomalies spotted when we were testing BL3500 with BL1611.
Location: Warwickshire, UKMy B&O Icons:
One annoying thing though – the Beo4 does not seem to have ‘L-A.Aux’ available as an extra button, so I would not be able to select that source using my Beo4 on my Beolab 3500. It has L-V.Aux but not L-A.Aux. What a strange omission!
If using link commands (L-etc) frequently, you could put a Beo4 in permanent link mode and then simply use A.AUX.
To set in permanent LINK mode:
- Standby + List together
- Press List till CONFIG appears
- Enter 2002, the display should read LINK ON
- Press Exit
Repeat the above process to return the Beo4 to normal mode.
EDIT: The later Beo4 NAVI (with the little joystick) may well have L-A.AUX as an option – it is listed in the Lexicon.
Location: Warwickshire, UKMy B&O Icons:
Thanks for testing those voltages. My Essence doesn’t seem to be supplying any voltage to a disconnected IR wire, so perhaps there is a Firmware problem (hopefully not a hardware problem, but we’ll see).
I am still waiting to hear back from B&O Tech support, and will post back here when I do.
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I think it’s actually a 1500 not a 1401, I just assumed it was a 1401 but the eBay seller didn’t specify the model and it doesn’t have the model number on it. The buttons are a bit different that a 1401. This may explain why I was unable to find the location of the batteries in the 1401 user manual. That’s my excuse anyway.
The BeoCom 1400 and 1500 look very similar (similar small keyboards), the difference being that the 1500 has a memory facility, and a volume control for the handset itself. The BeoCom 1401 followed the Beocom 1400 and 1500, and has a much larger, easier to use keyboard with memory and handset volume also. Of similar form factor is the BeoTalk 1400, with built in answerphone.
I love having volume controls to hand, right there on my desk. Using them every day – so useful.
Yes, I think that the AV volume controls are far better placed on the ‘base’ rather than the handset – with the latter you have to move them away from your ear to operate which defeats the object. Nevertheless, they were moved to the handset for the BeoCom 5000 (analogue cordless), BC6000 and BC2.
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I re-fitted the dust cover today, using small dabs of super glue gel at the right hand end (other side from laser) and found two small screws to hold down the left hand side where it had previously been sitting proud and rubbing the CD. Screws circled in red below (only one visible) – these weren’t there before, I think by design because the rubber suspension mounts should actually hold the cover down if they hadn’t been cut off too short. You can also see the glue below from a previous owner’s repair, in the hole from which the rubber suspension mounts should extend:
All is re-assembled now and CD plays nicely without rubbing.
Location: Warwickshire, UKMy B&O Icons:
Many thanks for checking with the NL/ML converter – it’s useful to know that works with the ML eye and just the three wires connected.
The instructions for IR with Essence only mention that it requires A.OPT 1. It’s explained here: https://support.bang-olufsen.com/hc/en-us/articles/360041742571-How-do-I-activate-sources-using-BeoRemote-One-or-Beo4
Option setting is one of my concerns. As we know, when Option setting is done with the Beo4, a B&O product is usually in ‘stand-by’ (powered up but not turned on). I can’t be totally sure what state the Essence should be in when setting options. It can either be ‘off’ (but powered), at ‘network standby’, or ‘on’. I am guessing that ‘network standby’ is right for option setting, but have tried all three states just to check. It would be far easier if there were a drop down A.OPT menu in the settings like your NL/ML converter.
Anyway, I am hoping that there’s a bug with the current firmware; I sent a query to B&O last night and they have responded to say that it has been forwarded to their technical team.
Location: Warwickshire, UKMy B&O Icons:
The new laser arrived a few days ago while I was distracted with my ‘new’ BeoSound Essence.
Here’s the one that I ordered – one of the cheapest on Amazon and when I ordered I was given a further £2.62 discount for some reason, hence total of £30.12 with free postage from deepest China. It arrived in just six days.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D2D47SR8
I have just fitted it, using the helpful guide here: https://encosystems.net/instructions/cd-pro-2-with-opu2-vau-125411-31-31lf/
I put the re-assembled CD module back in the freshly cleaned ‘donor’ BeoSound 1 shown above and … it works perfectly!
Fitting was straightforward, only two things of note: Firstly, the two small screws holding the white nylon sledge guidance plan had stripped threads – luckily I manage to find some suitable replacements in the garage. This re-confirms a previous badly executed repair. Secondly I noticed a slight difference in the new laser module. The faulty module has a small metal spring that is designed to press against the metal sledge guidance shaft. You can make out the spring in this picture:
Whereas the new module has no such spring – picture shows sledge guidance shaft inserted:
The anomaly doesn’t seem to effect CD playback so far but I will test and monitor. By the way, I didn’t lubricate either guidance shaft or cog mechanism – just left it all as it was.
A final picture showing the laser module in place before I replaced the retaining clips:
I still haven’t replaced the CD dust cover to I need to find a way to fix that securely to the top of the CD mechanism, and the CD module suspension is still not secure, so unless I can find a fix I will have to be careful to keep the Beosound upright at all times.
Location: Warwickshire, UKMy B&O Icons:
Ah that is interesting. I already have 2 of those older rectangular IR receivers which came with MCL2A and MCL2AV. Of course they have bare wires rather than a DIN connection that the 1657 requires, but it’d be easy enough to fit one and I think I can see how I would wire it up on other thread you posted a link to!
You just need a 7-pin DIN plug. Here are the pin numbers from the soldering side:
Then the IR transceiver cables need soldering as follows:
Brown – Ground – pin 2
Green – 5v – pin 6
White – IR data – pin 7
Leave the yellow and grey wires unconnected.
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As madskp said above, many of the sensor are interchangeable – I did a few tests here to show the limitations of each: https://forum.beoworld.org/forums/topic/beolink-passive-ir-eye/page/2/#post-45813
Tests were done with a BL Active, but connection to a Passive would be similar.
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If I recall correctly Beocenter 9000 has a 12v ‘relay’ output, designed to be used to switch on auxiliary devices. It wouldn’t take much to use this 12V output, reduced to 5V, to trigger the Beolab speakers over powerlink. Perhaps this has been done before.
Alternatively, something like this would work to trigger powerlink speakers with a line-level input: https://shop.oneremote.dk/shop/69116-powerlink-aux-adaptor/4154-powerlink-aux-expander/
EDIT: A second hand Playmaker (or even Beosound Essence) would also work if set to fixed volume output and with IR disabled. Playmaker/Essence both have an auto-sensing 3.5mm aux input (twin phono input for Essence) and powerlink output, albeit you’d need to convert the latter from RJ45 to normal powerlink with adaptor cables.
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A little down this page looks to confirm that the wirering for the Essence and the NL/ML converter is the same although different color coding is used in the examples https://forum.recordere.dk/bo-din-kabler-connection-div-diy_topic7820_page47.html
Thanks for that – useful to know that I am at least trying to get it right, albeit without the Tx Rx connections!
The RJ45 cable that I used matches the T-568B standard colours of the second diagram. It would seem that B&O use those cables for 20m and great, but have a bespoke cable colour scheme for their 10m version.
Interesting that the photo at the link actually shows an Essence Mk1 – on the Mk2 the IR socket moves to the right of the Powerlink (one of the things I was checking when I bought mine!)
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Glad it worked!
I have often found them full of leaking batteries – clearly the owner never knew there were batteries fitted and probably thought that they were powered from the phone line. There’s also an A/V volume control that will clip onto the side of the Beocom 1600/2400/2500 landline phones – just add a 4.5v battery box to make a useful under table remote! (not the first time I have shown this photo! 😀)
Location: Warwickshire, UKMy B&O Icons:
I can’t remember if I ever dif try an IR eye on my NL/ML converter. If I find some time I will take a look at how that reacts
Thanks – that would be useful. It would also be useful to know if there is anything in the NL/ML converter’s menu that enables IR control.
I have just tried an MCL transceiver (brown, green, white wires as gnd, 5v, and IR). Only difference here is that I get a re-assuring red light in the transceiver when I transmit (I didn’t get that with the ML eye).
(BTW. Each time I try something different I am trying first to set the Essence in A.OPT 1 – I’ve also tried L.OPT 1.)
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One thing i note when looking at the wirering diagrams for the IR eyes in the Beolink Handbook is that Essence and Core for that matter is not mentioned. I would expect the wirering to be as for the Beolink Converter NL/ML, but you never know.
Yes I noticed that, but every other B&O sensor with RJ45 is using pins 1, 4 and 7 for 5V, Gnd and IR data respectively, so I see no logical reason to be different! Steve at Sounds Heavenly used to sell a cable to connect an older ML IR eye to the Essence, but he can’t comment on DIY solutions such as this. Relevant thread here: https://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/p/20753/170471.aspx#170471
I just set up a BL1611 with BL Passive and ML IR eye and checked sensor voltages. Fully connected, IR data voltage is approx 4.2V dropping to 3.7v when IR is transmitted (similar to your MCL results). Interestingly, if I then disconnect the ML sensor pins 1 and 2 (SCL and SDA), remote control still works but IR data voltage drops to 1.8V, increasing to about 4v when IR is transmitted. I can’t work out any logic to this, as SCL/SDA seems to be a discreet circuit within the sensor, other than sharing the 5V supply. (Also, the red standby light doesn’t work if SCL/SDA are disconnected, but I was expecting that.)
BTW. could there be a software issue with the Essence, like feature removal in newer versions og first added after ceartain software revision? Pure guesswork from here
Yes, it’s quite possibly SW related. I updated the Essence to the latest version 2.5.55678.170713653, but past updates have addressed IR control issues, as you can see from this list: https://update.bang-olufsen.com/products/58ba6c9e15524870a403957cdfbee6ab
It wouldn’t be the first time that a SW update has cancelled an earlier fix!
Not sure where to go from here – maybe I’ll approach B&O Tech Support?
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I just tried to disconnect the IR data pin on the MCL2 AV. On the screw terminal of the MCL2AV I hav 4.95V. on the loose wire from the IR eye I have arround 2.6 volt. As I understand this type of signaling the tramitting part should try to pull the voltage down.
Where you are measuring the 1V and 0.4V could you try to disconnect the wires to see if voltage from the IR eye differes from that from the Essense?
Thanks for checking that. Measuring IR wire when disconnected gives 0v at Essence, and 1.2V at sensor, the latter increases to approx 4V when IR transmitting. It is behaving as if the Essence is expecting IR data on a different pin!
I just repeated everything with BS3 sensor – same results.
I will find something else to connect the ML sensor to – maybe BL Active or Passive, and see how the voltages change.
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Under the little flap where the notepad goes?
Yes – this is where it is.
A bit awkward but folds down from the top.EDIT: Folds from right to left – see photo attached to Beozips post here: https://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/p/42465/309140.aspx#309140
EDIT 2: From Beocom 1401 manual:
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