cozza:

The two way infrared protocol has a header packet which identifies the type of remote control, it was simply a software decision on B&O's part as to which models could communicate to which remote controls. MCP 5000 uses a different protocol, although in theory all the later two way systems could have addressed the MCP5500 and 6500. Shame really!
 

Hmm.  I wonder if anyone has hacked this "header packet" business at either end? If it is only matter of IDs then it should be easy to sort out, shouldn't it?

Ray

Another thought....  can any 4500 owner please tell me the overall length of the master, cord,cd and gram placed side by side?  I am all of a sudden wondering if it will actually fit on my sideboard.....

Ray

Dimensions can be found in the products section from the main page.

 

Chris.

Or 146cm! for the BM, BC, BG (CD).

I do not use my beogram at the minute, but would probably have this below the 3 rather than alongside.

It's a bit more complex than changing the header packet. Depending on the remote terminal type, I believe that different responses are generated by the audio and video masters. You'd have to de compile the software and figure out how it works for each micro in each product to change the remote operation - a near impossible task without the original source code. 

Thanks for sizes guys.  I might have *accidentally* just bought some Beolab 4500's with red frets on eBay.  they'll go nicely with the 4500, all the red LEDs, and my red Beocom 2500.....   :)

Ray (skint)

cozza:

It's a bit more complex than changing the header packet. Depending on the remote terminal type, I believe that different responses are generated by the audio and video masters. You'd have to de compile the software and figure out how it works for each micro in each product to change the remote operation - a near impossible task without the original source code. 

That's a PITA.  I still don't understand why they'd want to nobble compatibility within their own products...

cozza:

It's a bit more complex than changing the header packet. Depending on the remote terminal type, I believe that different responses are generated by the audio and video masters. You'd have to de compile the software and figure out how it works for each micro in each product to change the remote operation - a near impossible task without the original source code. 

I wonder if it is feasible to use an intermediary box, something like a Lutron to "translate" codes on the fly... in theory it should work.

Ideally a tcp/ip wifi conversion would be the best solution, but I think that is perhaps a little out of my league at the moment...or is it? :)

Of course I meant Lintronic..medication is kicking in.. :(

The lintronic solution seems like it would be able function as a protocol converter, but when you consider the sheer number of infrared codes produced in a two way system, a TT455-RT-238 simply wouldn't have enough learnable code space to perform this task. As an example, there is a different code produced for every volume state, every tone state, every input state, all possible combinations of 8 character RDS (if fitted) and so on. These are just the confirmation codes produced by the audio / video product, then you have to consider the requests sent by the terminal to update any of these values, timer programming, clock setting etc.

 

 

rayfenwick:

Thanks for sizes guys.  I might have *accidentally* just bought some Beolab 4500's with red frets on eBay.  they'll go nicely with the 4500, all the red LEDs, and my red Beocom 2500.....   :)

Ray (skint)

Never seen them with red frets before, I assume they have been done by the previous owner. Will you please post some pictures for us when they arrive Ray? I'm intrigued as to how they look.

 

Chris.

cozza:

The lintronic solution seems like it would be able function as a protocol converter, but when you consider the sheer number of infrared codes produced in a two way system, a TT455-RT-238 simply wouldn't have enough learnable code space to perform this task. As an example, there is a different code produced for every volume state, every tone state, every input state, all possible combinations of 8 character RDS (if fitted) and so on. These are just the confirmation codes produced by the audio / video product, then you have to consider the requests sent by the terminal to update any of these values, timer programming, clock setting etc.

 

 

Yes, I see what you mean... I think a PC based solution might be the way to go then, as I have a media PC connected to the  B&O anyway.  it should be a fairly simple matter to put together a list of IF THEN's for the infrared send/receive, and even a list of several hundred could be processed quickly enough to avoid lag.  I have a few friends who are professional programmers who should be able to knock something up if none of the "of the shelf" stuff is suitable.

I see lots of possiblities (what else can the Beolink 7000s RDS display feature be made to display, for example), but of course all of this will take some work....

Medogsfat:

rayfenwick:

Thanks for sizes guys.  I might have *accidentally* just bought some Beolab 4500's with red frets on eBay.  they'll go nicely with the 4500, all the red LEDs, and my red Beocom 2500.....   :) (and now red Beocom 2000 :) )

Ray (skint)

Never seen them with red frets before, I assume they have been done by the previous owner. Will you please post some pictures for us when they arrive Ray? I'm intrigued as to how they look.

 

Chris.

Well, the eBay item number is  150142639437.  They look a little pink in the picture, but  if they are I will look at replacing the fret cloth anyway.  I'd really like them with red frets (as everything else in the room is either black/white/red/mirror, except for a sideboard made from 200 year old reclaimed pine, that is just waiting for the Beosystem 4500  :) I will be happy to post some pics of my growing B&O collection when the new and important stuff gets here :)

Best wishes,

Ray

Well, I did it. A round trip of almost 500 miles later and got back home with my Beosystem 4500, complete with Beogram 4500 and a Beolink 1000 for £450.  A few minor scratches on the mirror panels (my polishing gear will be coming out I think), a smallish scratch on the Beocord glass, and some light swirls in the Beogram perspex, but other than that, perfect

I missed out on the wall brackets (I'd seen a set go on eBay for £100 recently, so thought they'd be out of budget.  I could have had them for £30, so was slightly gutted there, but I DID get the turntable shelf thrown in. I hadn't planned on wanting to wall mount it, but as it won't all fit on the sideboard (everything but the turntable fits nicely, so it is sitting on a (built in) cupboard next to the sideboard).

What do I think? Well,   my BV3000s and BL4500s aren't here yet, so I only have the RL1000s and CX100s to listen through, and to be honest, there is very little between the 6500 and this.  The 6500 amp is bigger, sure, but not better IMHO - or worse.

Quality?  Hmm the 6500 feels better built, certainly.  But the 4500 doesn't look cheap...and it certainly looks more striking. I am not that impressed with the black plastic "deck" of the turntable... I've had a 3300, 5500, 6500, and the aluminium deck is much better in terms of looks/feel.  Sure, it'd need black anodising, but that's hardly out of B&O's terittory, is it?

I also like the LED bar-graphs of the Beocenter 9500, and it is a pity that the Beomaster 4500 doesn't have these. I similarly think about the absence of 9500-style track selection for the CD player, but frankly I wouldn't use it much anyway. I also miss the Beocord 6500/7000"Knight Rider" display when track searching on the cassette deck, but I can live without it, it just looked cool.

So do I prefer it to the 6500?  Yes!

Ok, it is not as technicaly gifted, not as well built, and not as "new" as the 6500/7000.  I am sad the displays are not better, that there's no MCP compatibility (silly) and no RDS  available for my Beolink 7000.  But, it has that wow factor that the stacked Beosystems just don't have (for me at least).  My last system (DBX amps and Sony ES preamps and sources, with Yamaha floorstanders) was sonically and technically better, also better built. But, it didn't have what the 4500 has, and this is why I bought it...

I'll take some pictures soon, and upload them to the photos section if anyone's interested. Thanks again for the advice.

Ray

 

 

 

rayfenwick:

Well, the eBay item number is  150142639437.

Best wishes,

Ray

Custom job by the looks of it - but still a good buy! and you are happy! 

Look forward to the pictures! 

I think Graham (joeyboygolf) wa actually making and supplying these at one point. They seemed of excellent quality - Graham - are you still doing this?

rayfenwick:

 A few minor scratches on the mirror panels (my polishing gear will be coming out I think)

Please don't be tempted to try polishing the mirror panels - you'll ruin them!

The finish is NOT polished aluminium - it is anodised. Any attempt to polish them will be a disaster.

 

Chris.

Peter:

I think Graham (joeyboygolf) wa actually making and supplying these at one point. They seemed of excellent quality - Graham - are you still doing this?

Yes, still got a few pairs of brackets left. They are EXACT copies of the B&O originals which of course are no longer available.

PM me if you are interested Ray.

Medogsfat:

rayfenwick:

 A few minor scratches on the mirror panels (my polishing gear will be coming out I think)

Please don't be tempted to try polishing the mirror panels - you'll ruin them!

The finish is NOT polished aluminium - it is anodised. Any attempt to polish them will be a disaster.

 

Chris.

Absolutely agree with Chris. Do not polish the panels. You will regret it!!!!!!

Ray this is an absolute stormer of a stereo you're putting together here, I truly love the Beosystem 4500's design and those BL4500's look fabulous (as long as they aren't pink - yeesh!), maybe you could get a cona to compliment them also?

Peter:

I think Graham (joeyboygolf) wa actually making and supplying these at one point. They seemed of excellent quality - Graham - are you still doing this?

 I'd certainly be interested if they are available..

David:

Ray this is an absolute stormer of a stereo you're putting together here, I truly love the Beosystem 4500's design and those BL4500's look fabulous (as long as they aren't pink - yeesh!), maybe you could get a cona to compliment them also?

Thanks David, yes I love it, and I am glad others do too!  Yes, if the frets ARE pink/purple, I will be replacing the cloth with a nice red, and quite possibly changing the display to red also. A Cona is definitely on the list.... :)

joeyboygolf:

Medogsfat:

rayfenwick:

 A few minor scratches on the mirror panels (my polishing gear will be coming out I think)

Please don't be tempted to try polishing the mirror panels - you'll ruin them!

The finish is NOT polished aluminium - it is anodised. Any attempt to polish them will be a disaster.

 

Chris.

Absolutely agree with Chris. Do not polish the panels. You will regret it!!!!!!

Thanks for the tip.  I will refrain then, but will have to consider what to do about the scratches long-term... if replacement panels aren't available I guess I would have to have all 3 panels refinished together so that they match. It is  quite sad to think that the system was apparently flawless until last week,when their teenage daughter moved it... :(

The scratches are quite minor, but of course they still stand out....

rayfenwick:

joeyboygolf:

Medogsfat:

rayfenwick:

 A few minor scratches on the mirror panels (my polishing gear will be coming out I think)

Please don't be tempted to try polishing the mirror panels - you'll ruin them!

The finish is NOT polished aluminium - it is anodised. Any attempt to polish them will be a disaster.

 

Chris.

Absolutely agree with Chris. Do not polish the panels. You will regret it!!!!!!

Thanks for the tip.  I will refrain then, but will have to consider what to do about the scratches long-term... if replacement panels aren't available I guess I would have to have all 3 panels refinished together so that they match. It is  quite sad to think that the system was apparently flawless until last week,when their teenage daughter moved it... :(

The scratches are quite minor, but of course they still stand out....

If you can find a way of re-finishing the panels then EUREKA! I must have thrown 50 polished panels from 9500/9300's in the skip and I have several which are not perfect but are too good to throw away.

joeyboygolf:

Peter:

I think Graham (joeyboygolf) wa actually making and supplying these at one point. They seemed of excellent quality - Graham - are you still doing this?

Yes, still got a few pairs of brackets left. They are EXACT copies of the B&O originals which of course are no longer available.

PM me if you are interested Ray.

I am interestet too, have tried to PM but I cannot get it to work. Nothing happens when I press "Post".

Chr.