BeoWorld North America

Re: can you hook up a beolink passive amp type 1658 to a beomaster5500 system?

Russ — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:21:58 GMT

As to the pre-amp output, see my previous posts. No that won't work.

See, you keep adding information, and the situation changes: 8 RL speakers is going to be a somewhat different thing. I presume that your using both speaker 1 & 2 at the moment for the first 4 speakers; and that'll have to change. The MCL network uses the Speaker 2 output, so you'll need to run all 4 of your current set off of the Speaker 1 output. This shouldn't put too much strain on the BeoMaster 5500, but it (and the amp in the second room, will run a little warmer than normal, so ventilation is key here.

As an alternative, you might consider building your system on the current MasterLink network, as opposed to the old MCL network. The 5500 should support that (I'll double-check, and certainly I'll be corrected again by Peter or Keith if I'm wrong). In that case, you'd leave the 4 current speakers connected as normal on Spkr 1&2, connect a New BeoLink Converter to the Tape 2 socket on the 5500, run an ML cable to the other room, attach an ML Active kit, then use the fully wired PowerLink cable, to the amp as before. This will cost a bit more, and does nothing to lighten the load on the Amp in the link room; but on the up-side, it protects the 5500 from a high current load, and gives you a network compatible with all of the current gear.

And, yes, several of us here might be able to help you find all of the parts you need.

Re: can you hook up a beolink passive amp type 1658 to a beomaster5500 system?

beo5500 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:26:18 GMT

Hey thanks for the info folks! So I can run this off of a 5500? It sounds like I will be needing an MCL-2/AV and those two cables? You wouldn't happen to know where I could order them from would ya???

If I wasn't planning on running 8 RL140's through the 5500 I wouldn't have even ventured down this passive amp path but now that I'm on the path I'm on a mission!

One other thought I had which will probably sound sacrilegious and probably won't work was to reverse attach this B&O CD/Tape adapter thingymagig I have (it has the circle connector that fits into the amps power link hole) then the two RCA cables to the 5500 via the line out connections?

Probably wishful thinking???

Re: can you hook up a beolink passive amp type 1658 to a beomaster5500 system?

Russ — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:58:58 GMT

Well, see now, that's a very different thing. Once you're onto an MCL system, what you'll want is the MCL starter cable, some MCL cable to make the run to the other room, an MCL-2/AV, a fully wired PowerLink cable, and your Amplifier.

That all makes perfect sense. You'll have a little bit of leeway in the volume levels between the 2 rooms, and the 4 speakers ought to be no trouble for your amp.

Russ

Re: can you hook up a beolink passive amp type 1658 to a beomaster5500 system?

beo5500 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:03:43 GMT

Appreciate the info folks! I was just hoping to use it in a link room capacity. Didn't want to overwhelm the 5500 by adding 4 more RL140's in the basement into the mix so I thought the amp would cover the load for those.

Re: can you hook up a beolink passive amp type 1658 to a beomaster5500 system?

Russ — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:27:13 GMT

Good catch Peter! My mistake, and I don't know why I keep thinking that the PL sockets appeared on the 5500 as opposed to the 6500.

Given that, I don't think you can use the MCL2-A/ML-MCL converter with the 5500. No.

Don't be fooled by the pre-amp outputs either, the B&O amp doesn't switch on by itself, it is looking for a trigger from the B&O system, which won't appear.

Once again we wonder 'Why?' The amplifier in the 550 (unless it's damaged) is better, and much more powerful that the external device.

Re: can you hook up a beolink passive amp type 1658 to a beomaster5500 system?

beo5500 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:12:17 GMT

So it is possible? I thought I explained what I was trying to connect in the subject of my post?

Re: can you hook up a beolink passive amp type 1658 to a beomaster5500 system?

Peter — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:48:23 GMT

The 5500 does not have Powerlink sockets. The question does have to be why though - the amplifier in the 5500 is better! The Beolink passive is about 30W a channel - good for a link room though. However really designed for a newer system.

Re: can you hook up a beolink passive amp type 1658 to a beomaster5500 system?

Russ — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:20:09 GMT

Welcome to BeoWorld!

The answer is "Yes; but why?" In order to use the amplifier you will need a fully wired 8-pin DIN cable, PowerLink in B&O parlance, running from one of the PL sockets on the 5500 to the amp. The thing is that the 5500 has a perfectly serviceable amplifier built in to it, with 2 pairs of speaker-level outputs (SpeakerLink, if memory serves).

So, what is it that you're trying to connect? The more information you give, the better (and perhaps more entertaining and contentious) the answers get.

Russ

can you hook up a beolink passive amp type 1658 to a beomaster5500 system?

beo5500 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:34:22 GMT

Of course the amp came with no cables so I am staring at it scratching my head. I did find a power cord and it powered up with the red light. I do have a DIN CD Tape adapter that I was thinking I may be able to use to hook it up to the beomaster5500? I just don't want to electrocute myself or fry my system! Anyone have any familiarity with this amp/5500 system?

Any help will be greatly appreciated as I am starting to think I just bought an expensive paperweight!

Mike =)