What to do with Beolab 3500, BeoLab Penta, Beosystem 5500 without the Beomaster ?

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Trang Dao Posted: Sun, Dec 8 2013 11:09 PM

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Hello, I am new here.

I have been a very happy owner of the Beosystem 5500 (3 piles, no vinyl player), the Beolab 3500 bar, the pair of Penta towers, and their accessories (Owner's Manuel, 2 sticks and a Master Control Panel) for more than 13 years.

A few years ago, the Beogram lazer burnt (model made prior to 1986 according to Adrian the B&O technician in our area), replacement parts are nowhere to be found. So I streamed CDs from a Mac via Apple Airport Express. Still happy.

4 months ago, lightning struck the BeoMaster dead while it was playing the radio. It seems to be quite vulnerable to lightning that thing, again according to Adrian. No, I did not plug it on a good surge control, damn it. Now, the BeoMaster can still play tapes from the Beocord out to the Pentalab, but no more radio. Not happy anymore.

I have 3 questions :

1 - Does anyone know what was hit by the lightning in the Beomaster ? Since parts for the CD lazer are discontinued, will this one be repairable ?

2 - Without the BeoMaster, everything else are orphans : 3500 Beolab bar, PentaLab, Beogram, sticks, Master Control Panel and the glossy beautiful Manuels. How can I still play the Penta and 3500 ? What is compatible with those speakers ?

3 - eBay does not even mention Pentalab, 5500 Beosystem. How much should I ask for the whole set ? I am in Montreal. Please PM me if anyone is interested.

Many thanks.

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Steffen replied on Mon, Dec 9 2013 3:24 AM

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I can not help you with the Beomaster (but I hope someone else can).

But about the CD player:
Are you sure the laser is 'burned'..? Those old Philips mechanisms are very reliable and long-lived.
Often when they stop playing CD's it's  because of some electrolytic capacitors on the servo board that dries out.
If they are changed it will play again.  

Sadly the most common 'diagnosis' from B&O repair shops is that the laser is dead and 'no spare parts available'...
Mostly because they can't or won't repair it.
A bit sad to think about how many B&O CD players that have ended up in the scrapyard because of that...

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Beobuddy replied on Mon, Dec 9 2013 7:06 AM

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Lots of (spare) parts and skills available for both master and cd-player here in Holland.

Apparantly your master stil reacts to commands, so most likely the lightning didn't hit the processorboard.

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Trang Dao replied on Mon, Dec 9 2013 9:46 PM

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Thank you Steffen and BeoBuddy for giving me a thought.

Indeed, the technician claimed that it's the lazer head that is compromized. He is not in any sale department so I guess his opinion is not biased that way. If you know of a serious center that sells lazer head, please give me a shout.

There may be a relationship between the dead CD Player with the opening flaws that occured from time to time : before I finished installing the CD in its plate, the plate retracted and dropped the innocent CD on the floor. Could it be just a mechanical breakeage ?

BeoBuddy : the penta lab (1st generation ?) may be playing with their own ampli without needing the Master ?

NB : One thing I really like in B&O is how simple and userfriendly it is for dummies... And the design of course. However, they are exclusive to themselves and cannot be mixed matched with other components. Plus, they discontinue servicing to their iconic mascot.

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Trang Dao replied on Mon, Nov 30 2015 9:16 PM

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News update:

The insurance paid for replacement of the 3 pieces of 5500, 3500, Pentalab, 2 sticks and Master control with a set of Beosound 5, Beocenter 5, 3500 newer generation which can communicate with the Beocenter 5, 3 sticks and installation.

Now, I am left with a perfectly working set of:

- 3500 Beolab tube,

- 2 sticks (without the glass window, one shinny silver, one darker silver),

- Master control Panel for the 5500,

- Beocord 5500.

The Beomaster still plays the Beocord nicely, and probably the Beogram as well if I could test it with another CD player. My Beogram CD player is dead, can't tell if the electrolytic capacitators are still good).

I will be happy to sell those items in Montreal area only, shipping is a hassle for me. PM me if you prefer. Happy sound.

Trang Dao.