I just bought my first B&O, a second hand 9500 that I remember seeing in my youth and that in my opinion is a design icon! I made speaker cables with 2-pin DIN plugs for my non B&O speakers. But they only seem to work when plugged into the the "Speakers 2" ports (marked Local control system (MCL) on the diagram in the setup guide). The ports themselves are 3-pin (Speakers 2) and the main speakers ports (Speakers 1) are 4-pin?

This is not a big problem, but it annoys me to not know how it works and if it is a fault or not. Also, the "Mute"-function is only working for the main ports.

Maybe it could be just a setting on the beocenter to switch between the speaker pairs?

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Best regards and thanks for any help!

Welcome to Beoworld!

You're right that the muting function only affects speaker port 1, and this is by design. The Beocenter doesn't have other means of switching passive speakers on and off. Therefore, I think it's the muting relay that is at fault. I believe this is a common problem with all Beocenters and Beomasters that have a muting relay; the contacts get dirty and the signal is interrupted. Try working the muting function on and off a number of times, this might help.

If you don't hear the "click" from the relay at all, there's something else wrong. Anyway, the only downside of using only speaker port 2's is the lack of muting function and maybe a faint "thump" when switching the BC on and off, so it's safe to use as is if you are not too annoyed

Hi, thanks for the instant reply!

I'm glad there's no problem to use only the "speakers 2" ports (apart from my annoyance ;-) )

The mute-relay certainly clicks and I think that it also worked when we were testing the Beocenter with active speakers before I bought it... 

So wiring of the speaker plugs should be no different on the different speaker ports?

Do you know what the 3rd (speakers 2) and the 4th (speakers 1) pin in the speakers DIN connections are for?

 

Hello

The extra pins in the speaker 2 sockets are to run the old Master Control Link (MCL) system.  This pre-dates the current Mastr Link (ML) system.

You may be able to pick up an "Xtra speaker kit" from somewhere and add some speakers to another room. In order to do this, you will need to resolve your issue with the Speaker 1 socket.

Opman

 

Hello again, thanks for all help, but I am still a bit confused to what exactly the 4 pins in speaker pair 1 are for?

and the 3 pins in speaker pair 2 (marked MCL)?

 

It seems to me that the speaker 1 sockets of my Beocenter are broken, does this sound likely at all? could this be due to a broken fuse?

Can I also make a 7 pin DIN plug and get the signal for my passive speakers through one of the active speaker sockets? 

What is the line connection for? 

Thanks! 

jonblund:

Hello again, thanks for all help, but I am still a bit confused to what exactly the 4 pins in speaker pair 1 are for?

and the 3 pins in speaker pair 2 (marked MCL)?

I don't know the details and I don't care  The extra pins carry control & data for active (speakerlink) speakers and connections to other B&O equipment in link rooms. The 2 "normal" pins are just that, normal pins for passive speakers and ports 1&2 are identical with regards to them. The only difference is that the port 1 sockets are routed through the muting relay.

jonblund:

It seems to me that the speaker 1 sockets of my Beocenter are broken, does this sound likely at all? could this be due to a broken fuse?

Umm, no. The most likely culprit is the muting relay, as I already suggested.

The powerlink sockets can't be used for passive speakers. The line in/out plug connects the pre & power amps of the Beocenter, like pre in/out in many other integrated amplifiers by other makes. Just leave it there unless you want to connect an equalizer, or something...

Unless you have left a headphone adapter in the headphone socket (which will mute the Spk1 sockets) your problem is most definitly the mute relay. I have replaced several (more than 10) and the problem is cured for another 15 years or so!

The other two pins in the Spk1 sockets are data and data ground which are used with Beolab speakers with displays when utilising speakerlink cables.

The third pin in the spk2 sockets is the switch signal in the MCL system.

OK, thanks everyone for good explanations and tips! You have been most helpful and I now know enough to settle down and relax on the issue.

I'll work the mute-relay and hope it gets better and if not, I'll learn to live with it and have it replaced if something else needs service one day...  

 

Hello again, 

I did not manage to settle down yet, I would like my beocenter to be 100%..,  

When trying to wake up the mute-relay yesterday, I could actually see the relay moving inside the cabinet close to the power unit. Could it be worth a try opening the cabinet and cleaning the relay, or is it a fairly cheap part I can change myself? I didn't start opening the unit, but access to the relay seemed to be quite easy. How do I get to it? Does someone have dissassembly instructions for the 9000- series?

 Is there an easy way to check that it isn't the headphone socket that is faulty, giving the Beocenter the idea that headphones are connected?

Thanks again!

jonblund:

I didn't start opening the unit, but access to the relay seemed to be quite easy. How do I get to it? Does someone have dissassembly instructions for the 9000- series?

The service manual is on site, but you'll need to be a silver or gold member to download it.

I've never touched the relay - getting that particular PCB out for relay replacement might be a bit of work - but opening the center itself is not too hard. There are three screws under the front edge which you need to remove. At the upper edge, there are five (I think) more screws. They are marked with arrows, leave the rest alone. One or two of them are under the flap which covers the sockets, after them you can slide the top grille to the side and remove it, then you find the rest. The top of the machine then lifts from the rear, there are hinges on the front. There is a holder which will keep it in upright position (little bit like the support for the hood in many cars), but the clips might be fragile - be extra careful not to crash the top!  The CD lid must be closed when both opening and assembling the unit.

I believe the relay itself is a fairly common Omron type, but the only easy source for it might be the B&O dealer (at a considerable markup). I haven't bothered to replace it in my Beomaster 6500, I have to momentarily crank up the volume to "open" the right channel... It's possible to clean the contacts, but I've heard that solution doesn't last for too long.

I wouldn't expect the headphone socket to be the problem, usually nobody is using it anyway.

I believe the dismanting instructions are on the underside of the unit. Stand the unit on it's back and you can read them. 

The headphone socket will not be the problem unless you have left a 6mm to 3.5mm adapter in it by mistake. Easy to check...... the socket should be 6mm. If it is 3.5mm then you have an adapter in it and the speakers will be muted!

The mute relay is on the long vertical board at the back of the unit and is inboard of the heat sink. Easy to remove. B&O charge around £20 for the relay!

If it was mine I would leave well alone and plug the speakers into the Spk2 sockets.

It never ceases to amaze my that people will pay a relative fortune for speaker cable and connectors and then feed the speakers through a crappy relay!!!!!

@ jonblund

prior to doing any dis-assembly -esp rotating the top into the service position...

please, please, please make sure that the glass panels are either firmly attached to their foam surrounds or are removed.

i had the pleasure of having the bottom one crash to the floor and explode into pieces.
worst thing was: i knew it was loose, and forgot until that millisecond as it fell from its perch and passed my kneecaps.

they are available...

Dear Graham, what type of new mute relay did you use? The old one I took out of my BC9500 is the Omron G2R-2012P-V-AP, 6VDC. I can't find that type anymore. Thank you. Best Regards. René Stam, Holland.

I use these

http://www.maplin.co.uk/6-and-12v-6a-miniaturerelays-2525