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I'm a bit new to the B&O world, but since the house we've recently bought is wired with B&O masterlink and already has some B&O speakers and control units I would like to understand my options a little better.
Below I'll provide a brief overview, but first I'd like to highlight the questions which I'm seeking answers to.
Current situation:
The master unit of the setup is the BeoSound 3000 placed in our living room. We currently don't have any speakers in the living room, but are planning to utilize the powerlink cables available and acquire some pre-owned BeoLab 6000 or 8000.
In several of the other rooms there are BeoVox CX50/100 speakers installed, controlled via, what I believe is a MCL XTRA speaker kit (looks identical to this one), and all connected to the BeoSound 3000.
In one of the rooms we have a BeoLink controller (don't know if it's the passive or active version since no speakers are connected to it, but I do know the cables in the other end is powerlink cables - maybe this indicates it must be active?). Though I've never had anything attached to this, as I don't have any PowerLink speakers, I assume this is also connected to the BeoSound 3000 via masterlink.
Once again, my overall and primary goal is to get rid of the BeoSound 3000 if possible, and replace it with something a bit more current like the BeoSound Essence or Moment. It is not really important that the replacing solution will offer the same degree of controlability as the previous solution. Main requirement is that in the various rooms that are linked to the masterlink, I will be able to turn on/off the sound on the MCL control unit.
As a secondary question - are powerlink cables always connecting active speakers, or could it also be connecting passive speakers? - And if it could, how could I test if it is wired for passive speakers?
Most of the link setup is built into the house very nicely, but with the consequence that most of it is more or less impossible to get my hands on without starting to put holes in the walls.
Appreciate your help! - Thanks!
Hi klauskdk,
getting rid of the BS3000 would be a radical change in your setup, since it is the master of the ML and also the MCL structure.
By the way - it is a bit difficult to give exact advices for what you could/should do without knowing a bit more of the details of the setup (the cabling etc).
The best thing would be to ask someone, who has experience with B&O infrastructure, to have a look at it at your place.
If I were to advice anything right away, it would be to keep the BS3000 (and the setup as is) and add an Essence (box only) to the 3000.
The BS3000 has an A.Aux connection, that can easily be used for that.
On the forum you can find some people, who has done things like that - including myself.
This would give you many new possibilities for listening to music/netradio...
It would also be possible to add new NL-based components (a new tv as an example or the A6), which can cooperate with the Essence (wired or wireless).
P.S. Powerlink cables are for the active speakers/BeoLabs!
The speakers connected via the old MCL are passive (like the CX50/100), but they have an amplifier (probably a MCL2P or a BL Passive) hidden somewhere to drive them.
Seeing a round ir-eye in a room indicates, that there is a BL Active in that room (and a PL cable somewhere).
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Second thoughts:
If you plan to buy one of the new (NL-based) tv's, you might consider buying the NL/ML Converter as well.
This would make it possible to integrate the existing setup with the new NL infrastructure in a clever way.