My unit is only delivering sound to one speaker. I have been advised by a B & O tech service rep that the part "balance control" is no longer available and the unit cannot be repaired w/o this part. Does anybody have any ideas or can your unused Beomaster 1900 be canabalized to provide the part?

I may have a spare 1900 available. Where are you located?

Hi,

Did the rep actually inspect your Beomaster 1900?

If not, most likely the BM1900 needs to be recapped. Much has been written on the 1900 in this forum. Do a search.

It is rare for the balance controls to go.

Some B&O service centers will not touch the 1900 because it is a lot of work. They just tell customers that due to parts shortage the unit can not be repaired, but this is not entirely true. Most of the parts are off the shelf and those that are not don't really go.

Derek

For slider poti repair check here have fun

Hi Derek,

Thanks for the quick reply. Yes, my technician did a thurough analysis. I also followed up with the B&O office in San Francisco that confirmed that the 35 year old part (balance control) is no longer available, so I am left with finding the part from someone else unit I guess. I will discuss the "recapping" you referred to once I am able to find the balance control.

Thanks,

Len

I am in Walnut Creek but would be happy to travel to find access the part that I need.

Regards,

Len

@auric I would personally say the opposite - very common for this style of pot to fail causing channel loss, and is fully repairable!

Step1:

@auric I would personally say the opposite - very common for this style of pot to fail causing channel loss, and is fully repairable!

With a little patiense and care the sliders are normaly repairable, I did it on my BM 2400 and my BM 900.

Hi Len, if your slider is not repairable I have one that I can remove from a BM2400. I think it should be the same as is used in the BM1900.

John

Hi Len:

The balance control generally does not go. And the reason is they are seldom used. Most users set them once and forget them.

So unless he's pulled the tone control board out and verified that pot is bad... I would suspect something else such as the caps are the culprit.

Recapping would fix many problems in that unit as they are unreliable now at this age.

Derek

Do you know if the the balance control on your Beomaster 1900 is functional? If so I would like to buy your spare unit and cover the shipping from the SE USA to California.

Len

The breaking of the balance control is a very common problem with these BeoMasters (also in BeoMaster 2200, BeoCenter 3300 and 4000) and it has nothing to do with use. The bass and treble control are also almost never used, you change it once and that is it. The breaking is caused by hardening of the plastic because of age. If you can't get a hold of a balance control, you can solve the problem by replacing it with normal resistors. You won't be able to change the balance anymore, but you can still use the BeoMaster. And if you do it right you can't tell the difference from the outside!

There are actually two different kinds of potentiometers used! One has a square axle on which the slider slides and one has a round axle. One of them never breaks and the other does. But at the moment I don't know which one is the good one and which one isn't.

Regarding the cap's, I would change them while you are in there. They are mostly worn out in these BeoMasters.

Hi John,

Thanks for the follow-up. Sorry for not replying earlier. The holidays kind of got in the way. If you believe that the part is interchageable I would be appreciative if you could send it to me, and most pleased to pay you for the part and the shipping costs.

Let me know and I will forward my address in California.

Thanks,

Len

Hi Derek,

I believe that he did do a thurough check. He has in inverntory 3 or 4 other Beomaster 1900s in inventory from previous customers, all with the same problem.

Len

Hi Blackrix,

Thanks for the feedback. Your assessment confirms what my technician has been telling me - the problem is in the design not in the operation. He and I have not discussed any alternative repair, nor that which you have suggested (replacing it with normal resistors )  I can live with not being able to change the balance any more. Your other suggestions regarding the caps seems like the right thing to do once the unit is opened up. I'll keep you posted on any success I may have.

Regards,

Len

Hi Len ,I'll try to get that part in the mail tomorrow. Right now I'm on my way out to look at a BM6000. 

John

Just wanted to pipe in with what I've learned in the last day or two about my BM1900 currently in the shop.  One of the faults with my BM1900 (and something I didn't even know because i never used them) is completely failed potentiometers in the bass and treble controls.  My shop tells me the failed potentiometers are no longer available, but a modification can be made with new parts to give me workable tone controls - if I want them - for <cost redacted>.

Also, I have a BM2400/BM1900 capacitor and lamp kit from Martin (Dillen) that I bought 18 months ago.  I will never use it.  If you'd like to buy it from me, send me a PM.

John,

I was away this past week in Mexico and was very happy to see your package at my house when I returned. I called my B&O repair shop and will be taking it in later this  week. I'll keep you posted on my success.

Thanks again,

Len

HI Len, I hope your BM1900 is up and running again soon. I can't blame you for not doing the repair yourself, these receivers are a challenge to reassemble. Good Luck.

John