Hello eveyone.  I have just been given (!) some amazing Mark 1 Pentas, they are Mark 1 I think because the connectors on the bottom are NOT the beolink 7-pin, but the four-pin, plus srung loaded holes.  I have a Beovision 7 with the Beolab 7-1 active underneath.  PLEASE would anyone be able to tell me how the Pentas work - and most importantly, how / if they are compatible with the Beovision as my front right and left speakers... Thanks.  I'm new to this, so please indulge me!

Hi,

Are they BeoVox Penta or BeoLab Penta ?

If you have BeoVox, you have to use an additional amplifier...

 

Tux
 

If they have the 4 pin connectors, they should be the Beolabs. You will need a Powerlink to RCA connector and if you want displays you might be able to connect them with a 4 pin DIN as well. The displays could prove problematic! The handbook is on site. Lovely speakers - I have a pair of Mk3s myself and still like them as much as any speaker I have heard - except the 5s!

Thanks All.  They're definitely Beolab (i.e. amps built in).  Any ideas where I can get the Powerlink to RCA connectors?  SHould I ask my local Beo shop to help?  What I don't understand (and this is probably an astoundinly stupid question) is how the speakers know how loud I want things?  Does the BV7 tell them? (stop laughing!).  Thanks.

Not stupid at all. The output from the BV7 is at what is called pre-amp out or variable line level. Most power amplifiers actually simply amplify by a set amount and the volume depends on the input. Therefore the volume is dependent upon the output of the BV7; the Pentas just amplify what they are given. So your remote works on the BV7 and not the Pentas. So yes, the BV7 does tell them!

Your dealer can supply you with cables - there are special cables especially for what you want to do but he will need to order them. 

Thanks, Peter. I'll call him tomorrow!  If I can't get the readouts on the speakers to work, then not to worry - but I'm looking forward to hearing them at least.  It's a bit worrying as the manual says only Power Link speakers can be used, but I guess that is why I need these cables.  I'll let you all know what happens. Kaka.

What will probably happen with your displays is that you will get very little. Audio sources will work, within the limitation of the two-letter display, but no volume readout and no video sources. Also, there is a chance the displays won't switch off correctly. This occurs despite the proper use of the PowerLink to SpeakerLink cables. Consider Ridax's upgraded displays to fix some of these issues. Also, have you checked the midranges for foam rot?

Well - it has been a few weeks since I started this question when I got a 'job-lot' of the MX7000, Beolink 5000 and MkI Penta's for (not a lot) of Euros, making me a very lucky boy.  And a special thanks to Peter, Beoworld, AVLifestyle (Matt) and the boys at B&O Greece who have just left the house - because, joy of all joy, the Pentas work beuatifully (except for displays which don't work at all) with the BV7.  I can choose BL7-1 only, Pentas only or all three for TV, Music or DVD and the sound on all is totally amazing.  Probably I'm preaching to the converted, but the whole setup is just beautiful.  I will post a photo.  Thanks everyone, for all the help with cables advice / advice on foam rot etc....!  I'll be back...

P.S. If anyone can suggest someting that I'm not doing which I should be doing for the displays, that would be great.

The displays won't work under any circumstances (except possibly if the BV7 is playing a CD or linked to an Audio Master.) Best to replace them with one of Ridax' newer models: 

http://home.swipnet.se/ridax/display.htm 

I had a look at the site - is this what I need?

C

169

Ready built unit with small display mounted in enclosure. You just connect it to your equipment.

How difficult is it to link to the speakers?  I am not a technical genius (in any way). 

And in any case, it appears that I was too fast to praise B&O Greece - they took the speaker away, turned it on and tested it - it seems that they didn't leave it on for very long, as soon as it gets hot (the amplifier) then it cuts out - they are now suggesting that I need to replace the amplifier - but it seems that this might not be possible.

I need to see a good engineer!  Anyone have any ideas??

I would guess that the amplifiers need servicing - components of this age do go out of spec and you can often find that a few misbehaving variable resitors can cause all sorts of problems. The fact they work when cool would suggest that they are certainly fixable. Your problem is getting someone to do it. The service manual is on site so a good electronics repairer should be able to cope!

Thanks Peter.  I have downloaded the wervice manual (doesn't mean a lot to me).  I will now wait for what B&O say, here in Greece.   They seem to think that they need an entire new amplifier - it makes me suspect that they aren't able / willing to really service thm, which is strange.  Maybe I'm wrong.  If they say they cannot get new amps, or that they are inordinately expensive (i.e. more than used Penta Mk Is would be at Lifestyle then I might see if I can just get a good engineer / electrician, but I suspect that there are few of those willing to tackle a Penta here in Greece.  I guess if anyone at Beoworld wants a free weekend in Athens, and think they can fix the amps on a Penta at the same time, then the plane ticket's in the post!!  Matt at Lifestyle suggested that I also speak to their engineer, which I'll do as soon as possible to describe the problem.

Ho hum - I wonder if it is all worth it, but think it probably is!!  It would be really nice to have the setup complete, and it's probably all the fault of one tiny transistor!

 

Tim Jarman would probably fix these for you. You can actually detach the amplifier from the speaker though they are still quite heavy! If you cannot find someone in Greece, this could be an answer!

How would I get in contact with Tim?  I don't want to be a pain for anyone, however this might be an answer, as I come back to the UK regularly, and I guess the amp alone will be able to go into  my luggage reasonably easily, as long as it is packed carefully.  Is it possible to test and repair such an amp without the speaker part attached?

The amplifier is a completely separate unit so it is perfectly possible to do so. Tim lives in Farnborough, just on the outskirts of London. I'll PM you his contact details.

Thanks.  I've sent him a mail via his absolutely brilliant site (am I allowed to say this on Beoworld?) Beocentral www.beocentral.com which I urge anyone to visit - I've wasted / spent (depending whom you ask) several hours already - time now to go and feed my child... Thanks again though Peter, I hope that either the Lifestyle AV technical person or Tim can help with my poor Penta 1 amp...

Beocentral is indeed a brilliant site - good pictures and excellent descriptions! Can't be too enthusiastic as I did do a number of the pictures and the odd write up!!

Beoworld and Beocentral seem to co-exist very happily as they complement each other very well! 

In the gap between Beoworld.co.uk going down and Beoworld.org giong live, Beocentral was our only lifeline. I can't imagine any Beoworlder having anything but positive things to say about Messrs Jarman and Beocentral.

Andy T.

Well here we are now in September, and it must have been a few months now since I started this topic when I received these Pentas.  Well, with the help of everyone here on Beoworld, especially in getting the right cables, and after I convinced the local Greek B&O chap to change the amp in one of them (at a shockingly good value EUR125!) I can finally announce (as the picture should say) that my Pentas are living happily with the BV7! Films are great on 3, music is great on 2, and TV is great on 1, and all together it looks kind of cool as a set-up, don't you think?, so all round I'm happy!

Thanks to you all!

All I need now is a stand-alone music system to sit in the middle between the TV and the RH Penta...

Congratulations! But why stand alone? Link something to the BV7. A BS4 would be quite a good match  or a BS3000 if you are looking for a bargain price! Delighted to welcome another member of the Penta fan club.