[Madskp]

swo wrote:

That brings me to one more use case.
If I connect the MK2 version of this project between a Powerlink source and the BL3500, and PIN 4 (5 V+) is enough to power the ESP32, I can transform a BL3500 into a normal Powerlink speaker. just send the init sequence to BL3500 when ESP32 boot. (and it boots every time Pin4 gets +5v 🙂 will test it soon

That could be usefull for some pepople. There have from time to time been questions on the forum on how to use the BL3500 as a center speaker for a TV where that solution could be used

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

swo wrote:

What I wanted to point out with that post was that with the MK1 you have volume control / source selection, but with the MK2 you don’t — just like with the BeoLab 6000.

That makes sense. One can only wonder why B&O choose to make the “complicated” activation of the MK II via the Powerlink connecter instead of just using the 5V power on signal like other Beolabs. My best guess is the B&O only needed to redesign the Plug and Crossfield PCB and could leave the rest of the internals of the BL3500 like the MK I.

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

bab wrote:

It’s now August, and since April I have acquired a BL1611, a 110-220V step-up voltage converter (to enable me to use the 1611 in the US 😀), and a special PL-AAL cable from Steve @SoundsHeavenly. However, I am not able to hear any audio generated by the Beoconnect Core on the ML part of the system (as described in my original post; I simplified it by connecting the ML cable directly to the Beolab 3500). I am not convinced the 1611 is actually working since I bought it off a random website. Is there a simple test I can do to determine if it’s dead or alive?

I’m also unsure about the configuration of the Core, particularly how to set a fixed output level. In the app, under the “Connected speakers” menu, I selected “Add 3rd party speaker”. This only lets me check Power Link 1 Left and Right; I don’t see an option to set the output level. This may have something to do with how the Core senses the 1611…

All advice welcome!

Depending on how the PL-AAL cable is configured you will have to choose either a Audio source (CD, A.MEM,RADIO etc.) or Video Source (TV, V.MEM, DVD etc.) to activate the Beolab 3500. Try to see if changing between an Audio and Video Source makes a difference.

If you have a minijack to DIN cable you can also try to check the 1611/BL3500 with an other analog audio source to see if it is getting through.

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

First of, very nice with these relatively simple solutions for making the BL3500 works as stand alone speaker 🙂 Might have to try that out when I have some spare time.

A little comment to your earlier statement:

swo wrote:

When the Beolab 3500 Mk II is in PL mode, it behaves like a normal BL speaker (BL6000, BL8000): no IR reception, no SelectSource, and also no Vol+/Vol-. A speaker like that having its own display doesn’t really make sense in the first place.

Just to clarify from my own and other peoples testing the BL3500 MK II  can only work as a normal Powerlink speaker when used with a Beolink Wireless 1 which send the correct signal to wake it up. I have not been successful at getting the BL3500 MK II going with other Powerlink sources.

 

 

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

swo wrote:

Beolink3500-Standalone (only MK1 so far)
With the help of this project and AI, I created an ESP32 that simulates an MCL/ML master via PL. With this solution, the trick Menu 004 is not necessary. That means after power off you do not need to open MCL anymore. Theoretically it’s possible to connect several sources and switch between them. In other words you can use Beolab3500 as Soundbar or Standalone Speaker.
for more info see github.com/wolfgangschneider/Beolab3500-Standalone

This project sounds very interesting. When you mention that it theoretically is possible to connect several sources I guess that the switching of them would have to be a separate device controlled by the ESP32 depending on which source is selected with the remote control?

Regarding the MK1 only I don’t know if my earlier post (and the following post) in this thread can help figure out how this could also work for BL3500 MK2 https://forum.beoworld.org/forums/topic/bl3500-and-the-mcl-pl-connector/page/3/#post-44582 The circuit in the MK2 has been changes so part of it is connected to the Powerlink Pin 4 on signal.

 

 

 

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

matador wrote:

Hi Mads,

I (vaguely) a topic on BW1: a guy who used to do lot of cosmetics repair (Leslie…) did polish the glass – maybe with some sort of acid) where the black square is then painted it then use epoxy glue. The result was nice.

About epoxy glue not holding well: I glued the glass of a BS9000 with 2 components epoxy and it is still holding strong 3 years in vertical position and 3 years in horizontal hinges down. Moreover one hinge is lacking the spring which must put some more strain on the glue. Also glued many BS2500 glasses without issue. I would do the same if I needed again.

Cheers.

Edit: One more tip from the past:

Thank you so much for this extra input 🙂 . Glad I have kept these extra glasses with broken of hinges instead of just throwing them out

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Thanks for clarifying. I might try this on some of the panel with broken of brackets I have

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Thanks for the answer about the glue type 🙂

Was the black coating broken because of the glue or was i from the removal of the brackets?

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Gustav M wrote:

Would the set up with the BL3500 require the MCLAV, given that it’s an active speaker? How would you rate the sound of this speaker? It seems you can still find them quite cheap.

You do not need the MCL2AV for this. The Beolab 3500 is a link room speaker with built in IR eye and can work both as a Masterlink or an MCL2 (only for the MK1 version of the Beolab 3500) speaker. To use it in the MCL 2 system you will need to connect it via it’s 8 PIN din connector which has a special pinout. You can find a wirring diagram for this a little over half way down this page https://beoworld.org/wiring-diagrams/

Alternativly you can connect a Beolab 3500 to a Beolink converter type 1611 via Masterlink, and then use a 7Pin Din cable from the Beolink converter to the Beomaster 5500 TP2/AUX connection

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

This should not pose a problem as the older B&O remote controls to the best of my knowledge worked on other frequencies than the Beolink 1000/5000/7000/Beo4 remotes.

Just to be a little more sure I just tried to use my Terminal 5000 in the same room as my Beocenter 9300 (both in standby and when playing a CD), and I saw no reaction to any key press on the Terminal 5000

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Great to hear that you got it working ind the end and that it was not a fault in the Essence or a software issue. I guess this also confirms that its only the IR eye with the join button that works on the Essence MK2.

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

speedsixdave wrote:

(2) Madskp and Guy have suggested elsewhere that the 15v power supply is only vital if you have a MCL2AV which also has passive speaker outputs and you want to use it (effectively) as an MCL2A. I’m not sure if there’s any real bonus to doing this (rather than just an MCL2A) as I don’t think it gives you independent volume control. Most MCL2AVs don’t have the passive speaker ports anyway.

Just to clarify, the MCL2AV will need an external power supply for powering it in all uses cases whether it is acting as a MCL2A or a MCL2AV since the pink wire with power in the MCL cable is not connected internally. I am not sure about the reference about this, but it might be a misinterpretation of what was meant.

speedsixdave wrote:

(3) MCL2 is a pretty good system. In my experience (detailed here) it’s much easier to set up an MCL2 system that works as you’d like than with Masterlink (ML), especially with older kit like yours. In theory the sound quality is better with ML but you’d need good ears to tell. ML has the additional advantages of volume control on the IR-eye transceivers and the option for standard CAT6/7 cabling and RJ45 plugs though.

Just to add to this: It is possible to ad Masterlink zones to the Beomaster 5500 by use of a Beolink converter type 1611. This might give some other options for link rooms with independent volume control.

 

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Guy wrote:

Yes to all the questions that you have asked in this paragraph. Be aware that the MCL2AV requires a 15v power supply so ideally look for that when you purchase. If you can find one, the predecessor to the Beolink Passive was known as an MCL2P, and had the advantage of a built in 15v power output designed to power the MCL2AV.

Actualle I have tested that a 12V power supply can also be used. However be avare that the polarity on the connector is reverse to what is common (+ is on the outside of the connector and minus is on the inside), so if you do no use an original power supply be sure to find one where the tips can switch position in order to change polarity.

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Gustav Månsson wrote:

Do you think it could work with some other, older B&O remote, provided the Beomaster 5500 could interpret the signal?

Yes and no.

The MCL82 can be controlled with a remote for a Beomaster 5000 or a Beocenter 7xxx as mentioned by Charlie.

The Beomaster 5500 can however not interpret those remote signals so the only function you would get is to activate the relay in the MC82 boxes just like when you press the button on the transceiver and make the music already started on the Beomaster 5500 be played in the speakers. All other functions like volume control, and play, stop, forward and rewind and source selection will not work.

So like Charlie I will also suggest you go for at MCL2A box and the try to sell of the MCL82 to someone who has a compatible system.

One thing worth mentioning about the MCL2A is that the volume will follow that on the main speakers, so if you raise the volume in the main room the link room volume will also be raised and vice versa.

If you wan’t individual volume control you should go for a MCL2AV, but that will also require a Beolink passive amp if you want to use passive speakers with it. If you want to know more about this please let me know and I will try to explain the needed setup

 

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Glad to hear you got it all working as intended 😀

 

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

If you still have the cable you used with the BS9000 and it is long enough it might be easier to just connect the airport express to that again.

Also the remote control command A.MEM is easier to acces than V.AUX2

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

If you activate the command for the input it is currently connected to on the BS3 it should work.
This will probably be a VIDEO related command, but these can be configured freely so only way to see what command is attached to that input is in the setup menu on the BS3.

 

The way your BC2 is connected it will not be able to share its AUX input with the rest of the system.

 

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

For this to work, one of your Airport express units should still have a cable form the sound output to the AUX input of the BS9000.

A.MEM should activate the AUX input on the BS9000 which it also sounds like it does.

on the Mac you will have to choose Airplay to the Airport Express that is currently connected to the BS9000

Hope this helps

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

One supplement to Guy’s suggestion.

Everytime you disconnect a Masterlink cable be sure to power down all connected units in the main room and the link room to avoid the risk of damaging anything.

Also good practice for power up is to get the main room running first, and the the link rooms

Location: Denmark

[Madskp]

Thanks for the news about this 🙂

Great work, hopefully this will make these forum an even better place

Location: Denmark

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