Hi, I am new to this forum. I just bought a pair beolab 8000 and I want to buy a beolab 3500. I can't afford beolab 7000 to use as a center speaker with my denon 4311. So my plan is make 3500 as active speaker. I amy able to get one used fro $400 usd mark. I was looking at the service manual and it does have some pinout where I can get RCA hooked up. But digital signal must be fed from B & O system to activate and turn on 3500. I am impressed with the casing so thats why I am heading that way. Did anyone has found any option how to use 3500 as active speaker without linking with any B & O system? It would save me lots of headache if someone has done it already. Next option is buy active speaker amp and wire up speskers inside. So Existing circuit in 3500 will be replaced with B & O amp to accept RCA signal.Thanks in advance.

You will have to get a trigger signal from your source, seach the forum for Peter Pan connections

Thanks for the reply. getting there. Just found a third party box that will allow to use it as active speaker but 200 EURO for a PCB board is a rip off and it is not B & O supported. 

Search this forum for "BeoLab 3500 center speaker".

Daniel:

Search this forum for "BeoLab 3500 center speaker".

And in those threads, I believe the general opinion was that a BL3500 (like any integrated stereo speaker) will suck as a center due to combing effects etc...

A topic much discussed in this forum. Do follow Daniel's advice and search the forum for the many threads dealing with this issue.

I'm afraid that in my opinion, you're headed down a very long dark path with this. The black box that you found is the only "easy" way of doing what you're suggesting. I for one have discouraged others from going down this path. I own a BL3500 and like it very much for what it is. I just can't imagine using it for a center channel, something it is not designed to be. But I do understand the temptation.

Much luck.

Slighty off topic, but a bit relevant.

I just wall mounted a bL3500 in our bedroom, and it just occured to me that when I listen L&R are reversed, as it is on the wall above our bed.

So - a really good upgrade to this product would be a switch that reverses Left & Right channels. 

From  my days installing, I know link speaker positioning is often a compromise - and 3500 often go in kitchens and bedrooms in a location that is, in effect, behind the listener.

I will at some point break into the ML and reverse the L&R feed - I'm fairly sure there are no implications for the rest of the house - there are 4 other ML rooms, but if I reverse the L&R localy to the bL3500 should be OK.

He, he, that's why I placed mine on the wall opposite to our bed. On topic again, our sponsor sells a Loewe centre speaker for 400£, maybe that's a path to try? Click on the ad for Life Style AV on top of this page.

@Daniel

I think you're right about the Loewe speaker. I have no idea how it sounds as a center channel, but at least it was designed for that purpose.

I have seen a BL6000 used as a center channel (with a special end cap fitted on the bottom). It looked ok and sounded ok.

Unfortunately for Monkab, this approach might still be out of budgetary reach.

beo-ap:

@Daniel

I think you're right about the Loewe speaker. I have no idea how it sounds as a center channel, but at least it was designed for that purpose.

I have seen a BL6000 used as a center channel (with a special end cap fitted on the bottom). It looked ok and sounded ok.

Unfortunately for Monkab, this approach might still be out of budgetary reach.

Loewe speaker is my last option and there are few on sale in ebay. Though I want BL3500 or BL6000 just to match with other beolab 8000. I don't have a option to check how good is loewe center. BL6000 is my next option but I have to buy a pair which is really out of my budget bracket. And not sure if I can find one BL6000 speaker for this purpose.

I know this is a little off-topic, but I had a spare Beolab 6000 lying around, so I've fitted it with a Beolab 3500 wall bracket, relocated the wiring to the centre of the column and added an extra end cap (where the base used to be).  This now sits happily up on our playroom wall (out of the reach of tiny fingers) and runs directly from a Beosystem 3500 in the next room via Powerlink.

It looks just like a Beolab 3500 but without the display - I'll try to post some pictures if anyone is interested?

Basically, where I'm coming from is that there can be all sorts of options with Beolab speakers, especially if you're willing to make a few minor alterations.....

Cheers, Steve.

Steve at Sounds Heavenly:

I know this is a little off-topic, but I had a spare Beolab 6000 lying around, so I've fitted it with a Beolab 3500 wall bracket, relocated the wiring to the centre of the column and added an extra end cap (where the base used to be).  This now sits happily up on our playroom wall (out of the reach of tiny fingers) and runs directly from a Beosystem 3500 in the next room via Powerlink.

It looks just like a Beolab 3500 but without the display - I'll try to post some pictures if anyone is interested?

Basically, where I'm coming from is that there can be all sorts of options with Beolab speakers, especially if you're willing to make a few minor alterations.....

Cheers, Steve.

Wish I could do that. What happened to your other BL600 0 in the set? Sell it to me.

Steve,

Is it mono'd somehow or is there a channel missing ??

Yes, its mono, so ideal as a centre speaker!  The only issue is that the tweeter is slightly offset from the middle of the speaker when it is hung horizontally...... (as is the centre of balance, due to the power supply being at one end)!

It was quite a strange aquisition - a friend of mine who is also a B&O collector was given the chance to clear out a hotel that was updating its B&O system.  Much of it was battered and broken, but he offered me one Beolab 6000 and one Beolab 8000 in exchange for a big box of cables (hence, there is no matching speaker to sell - sorry Monkab!)

The 8000 now sits in the corner of my dining room and it looks surprisingly good as a single speaker for background music.  The original aim was to use the 6000 on the living room wall as a centre speaker with an LCD projector, but then my daughter started asking for music in the playroom......

Cheers, Steve.

Steve at Sounds Heavenly:

The 8000 now sits in the corner of my dining room and it looks surprisingly good as a single speaker for background music.

I used a single 8000 as PA at the in-law's 50th anniversary party (the wedding film was obviously mono, so that was not a problem...). Worked great and looked good - in other words, nobody noticed it

Steve at Sounds Heavenly:

Yes, its mono, so ideal as a centre speaker!  The only issue is that the tweeter is slightly offset from the middle of the speaker when it is hung horizontally...... (as is the centre of balance, due to the power supply being at one end)!

It was quite a strange aquisition - a friend of mine who is also a B&O collector was given the chance to clear out a hotel that was updating its B&O system.  Much of it was battered and broken, but he offered me one Beolab 6000 and one Beolab 8000 in exchange for a big box of cables (hence, there is no matching speaker to sell - sorry Monkab!)

The 8000 now sits in the corner of my dining room and it looks surprisingly good as a single speaker for background music.  The original aim was to use the 6000 on the living room wall as a centre speaker with an LCD projector, but then my daughter started asking for music in the playroom......

Cheers, Steve.

Stecve,

Lucky you....I am not lucky enough to source BL6000 or BL8000 locally unless buying new one in australia. I have a question...about the cable. I am using RCA input from my amp to BL8000. Will it be better using powerlink cable through DIN socket? Since you are making cables for B & O you may havr notice the difference. 

Steve at Sounds Heavenly:

Yes, its mono, so ideal as a centre speaker!  The only issue is that the tweeter is slightly offset from the middle of the speaker when it is hung horizontally...... (as is the centre of balance, due to the power supply being at one end)!

It was quite a strange aquisition - a friend of mine who is also a B&O collector was given the chance to clear out a hotel that was updating its B&O system.  Much of it was battered and broken, but he offered me one Beolab 6000 and one Beolab 8000 in exchange for a big box of cables (hence, there is no matching speaker to sell - sorry Monkab!)

The 8000 now sits in the corner of my dining room and it looks surprisingly good as a single speaker for background music.  The original aim was to use the 6000 on the living room wall as a centre speaker with an LCD projector, but then my daughter started asking for music in the playroom......

Cheers, Steve.

Stecve,

Lucky you....I am not lucky enough to source BL6000 or BL8000 locally unless buying new one in australia. I have a question...about the cable. I am using RCA input from my amp to BL8000. Will it be better using powerlink cable through DIN socket? Since you are making cables for B & O you may have notice the difference. 

Hi Monkab,

There is no difference in sound quality between the RCA and the Powerlink inputs (at least to my ears anyway!).  The main difference between these is that the Powerlink input is meant for use with a B&O system or TV as it needs a trigger signal to switch the speaker on when using this socket.

The RCA socket has an auto-sensing circuit that switches the speaker on when the music starts and switches it off 3 minutes afeter the music stops.  This is intended for use with non-B&O products such as AV receivers and portable music players.

Some people find the auto-switching annoying, so I produce a powered trigger cable that allows the Powerlink input to be used with a non-B&O device.  This was originally intended to allow "Powerlink only" speakers like Beolab 2 and the Beolab 7-x and 10 centre speakers to be used with non-B&O AV systems, but it can be used with any Powerlink speaker to give you manual control of when the speaker is switched on.

Hope this helps!

Steve.

Update with the project.

Difference between 3500 and BL 6000/8000 is BL 3500 using DSP where digital audio is getting converted to analog audio where in BL6000/8000 has direct analog input. BL3500 trigger has been sorted to power up the unit without remotecontrol. External 5V can turn it on like BL6000/8000. BL3500 has 4 amp but Active X-over network is in built in DSPO chip which can be only accressed and controlled by beo 4 (Remote control). To make 3500 active speaker I have decided to get rid of DSP chip and install a Active X-over network PCB board just before the the amps. That way it will be excatly same like BL6000 or 8000 but less watt and power which is OK. I have decided to go for BL8000 active X-over PCB board. Now I need two items.

1. beolab 8000 active X-over PCB board. Part number 8000681

2. pdf for beolab 8000 service manual so that I can take the details of channels and circuit diagram.

Does anyone have clear pdf version fort BL 8000 service manual? Type MK1. Type Number 6802. I have one manual but it is scanned and very hazy. Definately don't want to buy service manual fronm B & O yet.

I canb get active X-over PCB board from B & O service center but it is not cheap. So I am looking for a 2nd hand PCB board from a broken BL6000 or BL8000 which is long shot but worth try before I order the new one.

i used beolink converter box #1612 + master link to BL3500 + Y adapter RCA - 7 pin din

piocrony:

i used beolink converter box #1612 + master link to BL3500 + Y adapter RCA - 7 pin din

 

Thanks . I don't have remote control or MCL cable. Do I need to have beo 4 remote control to switch the input mode TV? If I don't have anything plugged into MCL will it start up? I need to find 1612.

MONKAB:

Does anyone have clear pdf version fort BL 8000 service manual? Type MK1. Type Number 6802.

Service manual for 6802 is available on this site. Register as a silver member (or why not gold?) to be able to get the pdf. The manual cover this five versions:

Mains 6801 EU 230V 
6802 GB 230V 
6803 USA-CDN 120V 
6804 J 100V 
6805 AUS 240V

Alternatively, if you're in Australia I will be selling a few pairs of Beolab 6000s in the very near future... for a lot less then the retail price!

Jonathan:

I will be selling a few pairs of Beolab 6000s in the very near future

And I have seen them ... and they are beautiful :-)

Finally Success. Used 1611 converter instead. Works great. ML cable from converter to BL3500 and use 7 pin or 5 pin AUX din cable in 1611. Stored default audio volume, bass and treble. Press TV in beo4 and walla. Very happy with the project outcome. Now I need to find a way how to turn the BL3500 on in TV mode when I turn on the denon 4311 amp. The only way I can do is use a 2nd remote trigger from amp trigger 12v. I need to make a circuit which will short out TV button in beo 4 remote for 2 sec as soon as the amp is ON. Anyone have beo 4 working circuit board?