Any idea why such a relatively low output from beocenter 2500 when connected to a reasonbly good mp3 player?

Turn up the volume of the MP3 player...

Lol!
I thought just the same when I connected my Beosound 2 to my 60s 5000 system! Was dissapointed until I found the volume control on the Beosound.
My Kikinoko MP3 didn't have a volume control.

Andy T.

any more intelligent technical advice please?...

It is true. Most MP3 players have a variable output and if not put to full voulme, the sound will be low. Some however have a special setting in the set up menu - the Sony ATRAC player has a full line output you can select. I would look at the MP3 player more than the 2500 - try another known line source if you are convinced it is the 2500. How are you connecting it? If mini jack to 5 pin DIN, have you the correct type of lead? There are both in and out leads so make sure you have the correct one.

Hi patroclos,

Many MP3 players (including most Apple iPod models) have volume limiters built in to prevent the manufacturers being sued by customers who deafen themselves......

However, this does mean that the players will often fail to give sufficient output when connected to a home audio system, as they will not provide the voltage that the audio system is expecting to see (typically around 2 volts RMS).  As you haven't mentioned the type of MP3 player you are using, you may wish to Google the your MP3 player, followed by the words "volume limiter" to see if your player is affected.

There will often be instructions on the net explaining how to bypass the volume limiter on your player.

As Peter says, you also need to check that you have the correct cable, although an incorrect cable will normally give you no output rather than low volume.  Please get in touch with me if you need help finding the correct cable.

Best regards,

Steve.

Thank you,

the above problem occurs with the sony walkman NWZ-S639F.

There is a setting for AVLS (automatic volume limiting system) but it makes little difference by switching it off: to get a decent sound the mp3 volume needs to be set at maximum (30) and the beocenter 2500 at more than 70 and then it starts to sound 'noisy'.

Google search reveals no known method to crack any possible volume restriction on the sony nwz series (if there is one).

I also tried to connect the 2500 with my pc soundcard and the  output is still inadequate, which makes me think it has to do more with the beocenter. The AUX line has 7 holes. Does it matter if my cable, illustrated below) is only 5 PIN?

Hi patroclos,

You only need a five pin DIN plug, as the other two pins are for signalling to other B&O products.  I wonder if your cable is faulty?

Assuming that the sound was turned up on your PC soundcard (usually about 75%), then you should get loud clear sound with a good cable.

Let me know if you need a replacement cable!

Best regards,

Steve.

I would like to thank Steve because the above problem ended with the new cable I received today from 'Sounds Heavenly'!

Hi patroclos,

Glad to hear your problem is solved!

Best regards,

Steve.

Very pleased to hear you have a result and well done Steve.

Nice one! Good on ya Steve.

FWIW, it sounds as though the problem patroclos was having was to do with the inputs and outputs being wired the wrong way round in his cable, a problem I've encountered before.

If you wire an iPod (or any other source as a matter of fact) into the output part of a DIN socket as opposed to the input part, you will still hear the source, just very quietly and on all inputs! This is surprisingly easy to do as a lot of sources (esp. online) seem to refer to inputs + outputs the wrong way round.