I believe some CD5500s just have a 7 pin DIN socket rather than the captive lead. Just attach this to the Beomaster via a 7 pin DIN lead. The RCA sockets are there to allow you to attach it to other makes of amplifier though the lack of remote makes this less than useful. There is also a digital out which means that you can use it with Beolab 5s!

You need to check with Martin on that one! Not needed to do mine yet!

Sound OK - the input switch should be set to the three line position. What colour is the light on the front of the Penta amplifier?

Do you mean the Beocord 9000? If so, you need an amplifier. The Beocord 9000 produces Line Out constant level so you cannot really connect loudspeakers directly to it, even active ones. The obvious amplifiers to use are the Beomaster 8000 and 6000 which match the Beocord, allow remote control and both have very good performance. The 6000 will be cheaper

Have you set the switches correctly? In particular the Audio/Video switch on the base?

Common fault - you need new belts. Martin can provide them.

The orange display makes me think that they will be Mark 2 Pentas. Do they have Powerlink sockets as well? If using speaker link and a 9000, set the volume to the middle setting - 40-80W .

Sounds odd! My S120s are really very good as are the others I have heard. Check the cross over before doing anything else. I never found the bass booming - my S75s were far more guilty of that , though in my youth this always seemed rather attractive! I agree with the thoughts that these may have been tampered with.

I'm considering either Sony Super Metal Master or Maxell Vertex. Overall reviews are Sony SMM is the best, with Vertex a distinct second. Many enthusiasts don't seem to have as high opinion for TDK tapes. I almost always use TDK SA. Easy to obtain and very quiet. Some Maxell tapes have the reputation for being a bit abrasive. I have a few TDK

[quote user="henrik"] [quote user="Peter "]The heads on a 9000 are smaller than the 8004 simply to fit in the third head which is only used for the CCC[/quote] Is this really true? So the 9000 isn't a true three head design with separate recording and playback heads, then? [/quote] No it is a three head machine but the record