Hi All,

I'm a new user, so apologies if this question has ever been asked before.

I currently have an ageing Beosystem 2500 together with Beolab 6000's. Despite their age - very tidy condition. However, what i really want to do is to exchange the 6000's for Beolab Penta's. I have read info on the Penta's on this site and elsewhere - but i still have a couple of queries i would like clarifying.

1) I believe the Penta Mk 1 did not have powerlink connections - therefore i'm thinking i couldn't connect them up to my System 2500..?

2) I've looked at the specifications posted on this site for Penta Mk 2 & 3 - is it right that the weight of the Mk 3 is only 12kg as opposed to 24Kg for the Mk 2..?? or could this be just a type error? Could anyone tell me what are the significant differences between Mk 2/3's)..?

3) So, for my System 2500, could anyone give me advice as go which Penta's i would be best buying (Mk 2's or 3's)?

If there happens to be anyone out there who is looking for a pair of Beolab 6000's who have a good condition pair of Penta's...i'd be happy to discuss a swap deal....

Many thanks, Michael R.

Hi there, and welcome!

The best penta is the MK3. I've had the MK2 and my parents have the MK3.

1. The MK1 did not have PL.

2. The information is wrong, there's no significant weight difference between MK2 and MK3.

3. The newest is often the best. 

Many thanks for your info Bayerische...

Yes, I am seeking a pair of Mk 3's ideally.

How is Finland? I used to live in Norbotten, Sweden...I miss it!!!

Regards.

Finland is boring without snow! OK, there's snow but not in the south.

I'm one of the Swedish-speaking-minority-finns. And Proud of it!  

Move to Overtornea....or Overkalix where i was

Much snow!!

I believe you!

I only like the snow, not the cold...  

There is not really much difference between the MkII and MkIII - the displays changed from orange to green!  The Mk II was not on the market for long ( a couple of years) compared to about 8 for the Mk III. 

I would think either in good condition would be okay - though obviously the older they are the greater the ravages of time.  However an old one in good condition would be preferable to a new in poor.  Watch for damaged trim, frets and the rubber surrounds of the drive untis decaying.

Brian   

Cheers Brian,

Yes, i'm looking for a (relatively) 'newer' pair of Penta's. I believe they made em up until 2000 - so a mid to late 90's pair would do me. As i would be looking to offset them with trading in my Beolab 6000's, do you know what i could expect for my 6000's..? (they are in pretty good condition).

How easy/costly is it to get new frets for Penta's - or to have the speaker itself serviced..? Do you know..?

Cheers Michael.

Michael,

judging by current prices the MK3 Penta's should be worth around the same as the BL6000's if the condition is comparable. You may have to put an extra £100 - £200 towards the price.

As far as I know frets are still available form your dealer but they aren't cheap, around £100 per set I believe. You can recloth them if they aren't damaged but this is not a job for the feint hearted and requires very lightweight speaker cloth or they will vibrate off occasionally.

Cost of servicing seems to vary vastly depending on which service centre you use - assuming they will accept them these days.

Chris.

Hi all

Frets run about £70 per speaker currently - I have a pair of new frets (unfortunately in France) that will be in UK end of Feb - not been mounted - you could have em for £125 ? £130 inc p&p pm me if interested!

tony

There's a pair of MK3's on ebay now with a Buy It Now price of £699 which is about as cheap as I've seen them. There's no indication of the condition though so you may need to ask about that. The seller is a regualr trader of B&O so they should be kosher.

Chris.

Hi Chris..yeah i've seen the £699 ones myself - i'm tempted. There's also another pair on auction currently at £560 - with 8 hrs to go (and another pair with new frets at a grand). I'm assuming the beolab 6000's have never altered internally? The ones i got, although in very good nick must have been some of the earliest made - i bought them together with the System 2500 (replacing a Centre 9000 i had with Redline 60.2's) - so i guess it must have been around 1994/95..!

Are the 6000's still exactly the same nowadays? - and could i reasonably expect say £400/500 for mine? U wouldnt know anyone who's looking would ya?

Cheers. Michael 

Cheers Tony...I need to find & buy the speakers yet! But sure - if i happen to buy some that could do with new frets....I'll be interested in yours....

Cheers, Michael

Hi,

You can use Mark 1's with the adapter cable if you wish.

I'm fortunate enough to have a set of each and the Mark 3's give off smaller information on the LCD's than the Mark 2's.

P.S. the 'Green'of the LCD is a small strip of see-through plstic so in theory you could change them to any colour!

Large48:

P.S. the 'Green'of the LCD is a small strip of see-through plstic so in theory you could change them to any colour!

Well, not really.

The MK2 have a real custom LCD thing, the MK3's I've seen have a green Siemens/Infineon 5x7 12 char LED Matrix Display.

Information is slightly different as on the MK2 the text "track" and "volume" appears in the upper line - that's missing on the MK3's.

Never had a MK3 but the same displays (yellow and green) were used on the BL3000/5000 (yellow) and BL4500 (green).

Best,

  hx

Cheers chaps!

All interesting info..!