One of my setups is an old Beocenter 9500 with a pair of Beolab 8000. The Beocenter is installed in the first part of a large L-shaped room, so when I am in the second part of the room the remote control IR signal does not reach the Beocenter at all. Note that I usually start the Beocenter from standby when I am in the first part of the room, and when I am in the second part of the room I mainly need to remote control the volume.

I guess I need an additional IR sensor in the second part of the room. However the Beocenter 9500 has no connection for an external IR sensor (unlike e.g. the Beomaster 7000). Therefore I intend to adapt this setup as follows:
- keep the Beolab 8000 connected to the Beocenter 9500, as is currently the case;
- add a MCL2A (without a second pair of speakers) and install the MCL2A's IR sensor in the second part of the room.

In this case:
- I will be able to fully remote control the Beocenter from the second part of the room, including the volume (as the volume commands through the MCL2A typically impact the volume of the main room speakers);
- however, I will be able to start the Beocenter from standby either directly or remotely from the first part of the room, but not from the second part of the room (because it will be as if I am in a Link room and the Beolab will be muted), but I have no problem with that.

Now, I have two questions:
- do you have any better setup idea?
- obviously I should use the old MCL2A's rectangle-shaped IR sensor, but could I use a current round-shaped sensor instead in order to use the built-in volume buttons in addition to the IR sensor functionality? Would that work?

Thank you for your advice. Cheers, js

1- No. I think everything should work. I would set it up in the same way. But why not add passive speakers (CX100 ?) to the MCL? You could activate BL8000 or CX100 or both. You could start the BC9500 from the second part of the room. You will also be able to shut down the BC9500 from your MCL by pressing Standby system. 

But be careful. There will be a place in your large  room where IR commands will reach both IR eyes. This will result in double commands. For example: pressing CD 1 will play CD 11... You could also set the MCL to A.OPT 4 and control the BC9500 in Link mode.

2- Yes use the white MCL IR receiver. I`m not quite sure but I remember the new one won`t work, because it has different electronics...(?). In any case you would lose 2 way communication. It is possible to (timer-) control LIGHT - LC2, AluDIM - via BC9500 and MCL.

Alternatively to MCL2A  you can use a Beovision for this setup.

Hope this helps.

Stefan

Thank you Stefan. I understand from what you say that the current round-shaped IR sensor with built-in volume buttons does not work with the MCL2A. Too sad, it would have been convenient in this setup. Cheers, js