General Forum

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

phult — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:01:06 GMT

I have not noticed any difference in sound. Before and after they both sound great.

I think the question being asked is does the synch cable only control volume, power on/off, or does it somehow control any of the DA converters word clock. To this I have no idea.

thanks once again for all the help

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

Steve at Sounds Heavenly — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:00:57 GMT

Hi Guys,

Thank you for a very informative discussion! I have updated my comments on the configuration of the sync cable to avoid causing any confusion to future readers of the thread.

For reference, if you choose to pre-set a pair of 'Lab 5's to maximum volume and use a non-B&O analgoue source to control the volume, there should not normally be an audible background hiss present, unless you listen closely with an ear to the tweeter lenses. Audible hissing would suggest either a poor quality source component, or an impedance mis-match at the line input socket (this can happen where a pre-amplified headphone output is connected to a line input). Hope this helps,

Steve.

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

soundproof — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:25:35 GMT

Congratulations, phult. Now, after having tried every which way, did you have the peace of mind to notice any change in the sound, pre & post sync cable?

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

bayerische — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:41:51 GMT

Didn't you tell us you had the right cable?

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

phult — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:37:10 GMT

Mystery solved. I pulled out a soldering iron and made my synch cable a crossover cable (ie red goes to white and white goes to red). Now everything works perfectly.

Lesson: The B&O synch cable is not standard. It is not complicated to make its just not standard.

Thank you everyone for all the ideas and help. Soundproof your last comment was the clue that solved the mystery

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

soundproof — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:42:47 GMT

I first got a standard non-B&O cable, with the correct minijack plugs, but got no connection. Then I ordered the B&O ones, plugged them in, and everything worked as it should.
My only reference for the cables having been reversed (plus from one plug to minus on the other plug) was a comment here, in another thread - I do not know whether this is actually the case. Though my experience with the two cables seems to indicate that something is different in B&O land ...

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

phult — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:13:27 GMT

Soundproof

Do you have original B&O synch cables? I have some made up custom and they have been tested, but if they are somehow reversed ends they would not work. Do you know anything about the composition of the cables?

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

soundproof — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:49:03 GMT

Thanks, Dave. You wrote " I've never been confident about the sync cable, and I use non-B&O gear." -- and that had me wondering whether you felt the sync cables weren't doing what they are supposed to do.

Very happy with my sync-enabled speakers!

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

Alex — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:32:56 GMT

Correct me if I'm wrong Dave, but isn't the sync cable there to also syncronise the word clocks when using the analog inputs - meaning it's not strictly necessary to get the best out of the speakers when using the digital inputs as the word clocks will automatically lock on to the source?

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

Dave Moulton — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:18:31 GMT

Soundproof wrote: "Interesting that you're sceptical of the sync-cable, Dave. What are the specific reasons? I had a regular minijack cable, and that didn't work. Worked fine when I ordered the B&O one, which was a mystery, as I couldn't understand what was different between them. But again - would very much like to hear why you are sceptical of the sync cable, Dave." I have very early units, and I never got the sync cable to work. Because of my work, I have a nicve workaround, and never bothered to chase the problem down, that's all. Best, Dave Moulton

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

soundproof — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:55:09 GMT

That's a shame, and very strange. I agree, if the connector is there, and there's no mention in the manual that only specific BL5s can use it ...

But Dave may have some reasons that will make us not want to use one!

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

bayerische — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:28:13 GMT

Well I'm just super-angry with the whole "sync" thing.

I order the cable, and it doesn't work, only to find out that my version of Beolab 5's are too early models... Why on earth put the sync connection there in the first place=! And tell me from the manual that this works...?

I'm also getting no help from my dealer, I'm not buying anymore stuff from him.

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

soundproof — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:20:40 GMT

Interesting that you're sceptical of the sync-cable, Dave. What are the specific reasons?

I had a regular minijack cable, and that didn't work. Worked fine when I ordered the B&O one, which was a mystery, as I couldn't understand what was different between them. (Someone in another thread here stated that the connections are switched around on the B&O version, though I doubt that.)

I'm not comfortable with the "turning the volume to maximum" as Steve suggests. Both because of the hiss the speakers then produce, but also because you might risk that some other user will turn the volume on the non-B&O unit "to 11" with a resulting blast of sound that will clean teeth.
Before I had a working sync cable I set the volume as high as the speakers could go without producing any hissing (this may be dependent upon what you are connecting them to - but all speakers will produce some hissing.)

I then stored that level,and had it easily retrievable through the Beo4, as Dave mentions.

But again - would very much like to hear why you are sceptical of the sync cable, Dave.

Cheers!

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

phult — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:37:16 GMT

I have now checked with B&O technical and they say it is not a set up issue and that it should work no problem. I am not able to do as you guys (steve and dave) say as I am running a digital signal directly into the speaker and thus controlling the volume from the speakers (and not from a pre-amp before the speaker...)

Next step is to change the cable and make 100% sure that there is no issue there. After that I fear the moving van will have to come haul them off. Hope not.

thank you for all the advice

best

Re: Beolab 5 Sych problem any ideas

Steve at Sounds Heavenly — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:29:50 GMT

Thanks Dave,

That is a good solution, which I will suggest to my customers in future.

Best regards,

Steve.