Hi, just moved from London to Singapore. Set my BeoCenter2 up yesterday, linked to BeoSound 4000 speakers. It worked fine for a few minutes, then switched off. Despite trying various combinations of switching off from the mains, pulling plugs out etc, it won't come back on. The red light stays on, but nothing else - no menu, won't open, nada.

I noticed the aluminium frame vibrating when I touched it. Felt like it needs to be earthed. Is this common for this system? Any ideas? Thanks.

This "buzzing" under your fingertips with your BS2 happens with Beosound 9000's as well and sometimes I feel it with Beocenter 9500's and 9300's.

It happens even when they are on standby.

I am assured that none of these systems needs to be earthed, indeed they are all equipped with 2 core mains cables.

The subject has been discussed on the forum before and I believe that Keith Saunders, our Technical Specialist, went part way to explaining the phenomenon.

As far as I can tell, the equipment is quite safe but, as with all electrical items, if you are in doubt, you should get it checked by an expert.

It sounds like you may need a service tech anyway so it is worth mentioning this vibration at the same time.

I can feel this with just about any B&O kit that has exposed aluminium surfaces. They usually have to be turned on (in case of old kit that has no standby) and you have to drag your finger along the surface to feel it. Somebody explained to me that it might be caused by the AC voltage field created by the current flowing near the metal and requires a very thin isolating layer on top of the metal surface. The anodizing layer or lacquer that all B&O kit has will serve that purpose, and the effect is clearer with uncoloured aluminium.

Whenever I've mentioned this, most people classify it as flim-flam, similar to allergy to electricity, but I have managed to get one of them to admit they feel it as well

Anyway, it is normal - but worth checking in any case since an earthing problem or misconnection elsewhere in the wiring or with a totally unrelated device might cause similar phenomena.

The BC2 is an interesting example as (I understand) the power suppy is in the socket unit and not the head unit, therefore any magnetically or AC field induced theories may fall a little flat as the head unit contains (unless I'm wrong about the psu) no 50Hz alternating voltages or transformers etc.

Another possibility is if the isolation barrier that is the mains transformer or power supply is bridged with Class Y capacitor(s) for RFI/EMI reasons and the exposed metal panels are connected to the same "ground" or 0V line on the secondary side as the capacitor. A leakage current may then be felt but would not be a safety issue due to the very low level.

All this is, of course, speculation on my part.