Don't despair - you need to use SHIFT+RESET to toggle loudness (and SOUND+STORE thereafter if you want the current setting to stay as a power-on default, it stores current volume etc. as well).
Tuning the radio presets goes as well with a Beolink 1000. You can either
- GOTO + < / > to search for a station
- or GOTO + key in frequency, including the tenths + wait a couple of secs for the Beomaster to actually tune
STORE + <preset number> + STORE will store the current frequency to a preset. I've never used the AM range on mine but I guess the band is toggled with TURN. Display will show either F or A.
If you really want to have an MCP, any of MCP5500, 6500 or 7000 will work, but if you have an aluminum coloured BM5500, only the MCP5500 will be a good cosmetic match (the later ones are polished instead of brushed).