I've just bought a Beosystem 6500 on ebay.

I see from the product details page (http://www.beoworld.org/prod_details.asp?pid=687) it has 2 powerlink connectors for speakers - does this mean I can use it with Beolab 8000s?

Is this a good match? 

 

PS: please forgive the newbie question!  I did search around but couldn't find the answer anywhere.

 

There is no newbie questions

 

The Beomaster 6500 har output for both passive (Beovox) and active (BeoLab) speakers. Therefor any B&O speaker will work with your system, including BeoLab 8000 and the any other speaker from the current range.

Whether or not it is a good match depends on you preferences for sound and design. IMHO it is a very good match. The BeoLab 8000 is very beautiful, and sounds good. It might be good with a sub (BeoLab 2) if you really like bass, but besides the very low end the 8000 will not disappoint.

If you like the 8000 go for that, but remember that everything is possible with your system.

 

Best regards

Christian

As Christian says, it'll work absolutely fine. In terms of functionality, this is in some ways preferable to many modern systems.

Fantastic reply, Alex & Christian. That's just what I wanted to know. I love the 8000 design.

Now, I just have to get saving. *smiles*

 

Is there anything to watch out for in particular, when buying used 8000s? For example, is there a particular sub-model (year of manufacture) which is best to go for?
 

You are welcome  

There has resently been an update, but I do not know the details exactly. I do not think there is any common faults or the like, but the newer the better.

Rightho - thanks again for the advice.

You want as new as possible. The first ones had a slight tendency to blow drive units and later ones have improved protection circuits. They are supposed to sound better though this is a little debatable. However they are worth looking for. Serial number 16992475 or above!

Wow - can't ask for more detail than that. At least now, I know what to watch out for.

This is a great forum, BTW - and a brilliant site. I found the product reference section extremely helpful.

BTW, how much did you pay for your 6500-system?

Just curious...  

/Ola 

 

£415 - for Beomaster, CD, Tape & remote (no record player)

 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320144531240
 

Congratulations on your 6500!
You did not say it was in white - that makes system special.
See if you can get BeoLink 7000 to go with your System. 6500 is two way system which can send and receive information to remote.
I am personally a remote freak and own every B&O remote from starting from 1980's  (except Beo1 - hard to find in US)
But this will add very unique experience of 2-way communication.
When BeoLink is most expensive and valued remote you can also look at other suitable 2 way remote controls:
BeoLink 5000 and MCP6500/7000. Master Control Panel (MCP) are available in white however in that color they are hard to come by.

Enjoy your system!

Funny you should say that...

There are a couple of Beolink 7000s I have my eye on, on ebay, but I wasn't sure if they're really worth it - now, I'm tempted. Here's a question you might be able to answer: what do I need to link my 6500 to another room? Can you use the Beolink 7000 to control the stereo from another room, and wire another set of speakers through to there?

 
On remotes, I actually have an old Beomaster 2400 I inherited from my grandfather. It had a sonic remote - which doesn't seem to work any more (might just need a battery). However, the beomaster changes channels by itself when the fridge turns on!

Which systems do you own to go with your many remotes? 

Oh - and thanks for the kind comments about my white 6500. I love the way it looks, and I'm very excited about it. Haven't picked it up yet, so I just have the ebay photos to go on.


 

Definitely go for a Beolink 7000! It is wonderful, especially in the link room where it is like having the system in the room with you. You can get full information regarding all of the system - including the recording level display! - and you have a much greater range of programming options.

To link the 6500 into other rooms, you need either X-tra Passive Speaker kits (MCL2A) or X-tra Active Speaker kits (MCL2AV) . The latter allow you to connect active speakers (no surprise there then!) but also either a TV or a link room CD player or cassette deck. You can connect up to six rooms (more if you get the MCL2E) and I can fully recommend this.

Consider joining as a silver or gold member as there is a number of manuals which you would find useful, including that for the Beolink 7000.  

Thanks for the additional info on active/passive speaker kits, Peter.

As to silver/gold membership, yes that looks good. It's certainly a wonderful site, and I'm sure I would find access to the manuals very helpful, once I've got my new system.

what do I need to link my 6500 to another room?

"Linking to another room" may have few meaning in this case:
1. Link to another stereo system: example BeoSystem 6500 and BeoSound 3000
2. Link to another Set of speakers in the different room.

I assume you are talking about having another set of speakers in the linked room.
You have two option here as well.
Connection to active (BeoLab) and passive (BeoVox or NonB&O) speakers.

For BeoVox or other non-B&O speakers you need to get MCL2 Kit with MCL cables
MCL2A kit consists of transceiver and relay box.
You can also get MCL2P which includes it's own (local) amp.

Transceiver will send and receive IR signals to you remote in the Linked room so you will be able to see source you are listening to volume settings, track etc as well as controlling you system.
This is really cool because you can have two speakers and BeoLink 7000 in linked room and be in (almost) complete control.

You will need to run MCL wires from BeoMaster 6500 to Relay box. From relay box run speaker wires to you speakers and Transceiver comes with wires to connect to relay box. (hope did not confuse you)


I have BeoSystem 7000 which used to be connected to Pair of Blue Room Minipods with BeoLink 7000 in the remote room just the way I described. Currently I have BeoSystem 9000 in this formerly linked room.
I'm moving to a new house and will need to to think about configuring my B&O linking scheme further.

Yes, in my case "linking to another room" means another set of speakers.
One new (to me) B&O system is enough for me - at least for the time being.

Thanks for describing all the options. Now, I just need to source all this stuff - preferably second hand.
 

Lee at Lifestyle AV is a very good source. He also owns this site! There are other dealers as well who appear on site - Joeyboygolf (Graham ) often has good equipment. The Lifestyle site is also useful to look at prices that are charged.

Yes, I've seen Lee's ads. Liked the price for his white BeoSystem 6500 .

I couldn't find any "X-tra speaker kits", though he has ads on ebay for a "Bang & Olufsen Master Control Link 82 Panel" and "Link 82 Transceiver" - guess that's not what I'm looking for.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bang-Olufsen-Master-Control-Link-82-Transceiver_W0QQitemZ320147999693QQihZ011QQcategoryZ86805QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem 

I have MCL2AV available complete with transponder and I have an Xtra active speaker kit complete if required.

Congratulations to your 6500 system! It's truely a wonderful system! I agree that it's cool looking in white, but i miss some black stripes on the sides like the silver/black though.

Ah, a fellow 6500 system owner! What speakers are you using with it? Do you have a MCL2(A) link system?

It's placed in our master bedroom connected to a ML so the only speakers in that room is a BV 6-22. But thats OK for radio at night.

I bet it is. It's all good stuff, isn't it?

Designwise BS6500 is one of my favorites, perhaps immediately after BC9000. To have decent display you need to have a terminal supporting two way functionality.

Thanks, Mico.

Yes, isn't the BC9000 a great design?

It's a bit like a sleeker version of the BeoMaster 2400 my Grandpa left me (http://www.beoworld.org/prod_details.asp?pid=335). That's what prompted me to buy the 6500 in the first place.