ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Does the Beomaster 4500 have a built-in RIAA pre-amplifier? From my reading of the User’s Guide, it does not. And unless I am mistaken, the Beogram 8002 does not have a RIAA pre-amplifier so with this combination an external RIAA pre-amplifier is required.
I have been experiencing a ground problem with my new pre-amplifier and this is the latest message from the company: “That's almost certainly because the 4500's input was set at the time to TP2 instead of PH... Our business was a Bang and Olufsen warranty repair station (the only one in southern New England) back when your equipment was new; we really do know what we are talking about here. Your friend in CA made an assumption, that your receiver had no built-in preamp. Your 4500 owner's manual and the setup guide excerpt we sent you earlier both clearly state otherwise; all you needed to do was activate it by selecting PH instead of TP2.”
So who is right?
Jeff
Beogram 4000, Beogram 4002, Beogram 4004, Beogram 8000, Beogram 8002, Beogram 1602. Beogram 4500 CD player, B&O CDX player, Beocord 4500, Beocord 5000 T4716, Beocord 5000 T4716, Beocord 5000 T4716, Beocord 8004, Beocord 9000, Beomaster 1000, Beomaster 1600, Beomaster 2400.2, Beomaster 2400.2, Beomaster 4400, Beomaster 4500, Beolab 5000, Beomaster 5000, BeoCenter 9000. BeoSound Century, S-45.2, S-45.2, S-75, S-75, M-75, M-100, MC 120.2 speakers; B&O Illuminated Sign (with crown & red logo). B&O grey & black Illuminated Sign, B&O black Plexiglas dealer sign, B&O ash tray, B&O (Orrefors) dealer award vase, B&O Beotime Clock. Navy blue B&O baseball cap, B&O T-shirt X2, B&O black ball point pen, B&O Retail Management Binder
The BM 4500 has no RIAA, the RIAA was build into the BG 4500, the BG 8002 has no build in preamp, so you will need a preamp, as the 8002 has a MMC cartridge I recommend a preamp with gain win adjust.
Collecting Vintage B&O is not a hobby, its a lifestyle.
Separate ground from TT to preamp to amp is recommended.
Piaf: Does the Beomaster 4500 have a built-in RIAA pre-amplifier? From my reading of the User’s Guide, it does not. And unless I am mistaken, the Beogram 8002 does not have a RIAA pre-amplifier so with this combination an external RIAA pre-amplifier is required. I have been experiencing a ground problem with my new pre-amplifier and this is the latest message from the company: “That's almost certainly because the 4500's input was set at the time to TP2 instead of PH... Our business was a Bang and Olufsen warranty repair station (the only one in southern New England) back when your equipment was new; we really do know what we are talking about here. Your friend in CA made an assumption, that your receiver had no built-in preamp. Your 4500 owner's manual and the setup guide excerpt we sent you earlier both clearly state otherwise; all you needed to do was activate it by selecting PH instead of TP2.” So who is right? Jeff
Hello Jeff,
I'm afraid that they really don't know what they are talking about!!!! The Beomaster 4500 definitely does NOT have a built in RIAA pre amp on ANY of it's inputs. The company is talking through it's back passage!!!
The 4500 series RIAA is in the Beogram 4500. You can put your house on it.
I use the same pre amp as you recently purchased and I use it with many types of Beograms including 4000, 4002, 3300, 5500, 9500 and TX2 as well as an 8002, mostly with a Beomaster 6500 (my test amp) and I have NO hum problem. In fact, I evaluated many low cost pre amps because the ones offered by the usual suppliers in the UK had too much hum and too low output for my ears.
My TC-770LC is brilliant. Higher, adjustable output and no hum!
Are you using the correct ouput lead from your 8002? You should not need a separate earth lead.
I have never used a separate earth lead (other than with the TX2) with an 8002. With the TX2, I simply connected the flying earth lead to the earth connection provided on the pre amp.
Regards Graham
The devil is in the detail?The Beomasters 35/4500,6500/7000 while being designed for use with their respective system turntables,(where the phono pre-amp is incorporated in the turntable unit)could be adapted to accept a standard phono input.This is what the Dealers meant about setting up for TP2 or Phono,but it only applies if the mod is done first.
You don't need extra earthing with B&O turntables,except with the TX2 (and RX2?)as these were designed to be used with other brands of amplifier(shock,horror?)
As Graham say's,the vast bulk of cheapy pre-amps are horrid.Poorly screened,low noisy outputs etc.These things don't have to be part of the vinyl experience.
Nick
Hi Nick,
Thank you ever so much for this clarification. My Beomaster was obviously not altered at the factory or by a dealer.
So I am back to my original pre-amplifier. The new one I purchased has a problem with the ground and it was the manufacturer of this pre-amp that told me my Beomaster 4500 had its own pre-amp.
Hi Graham,
I no longer use that particular pre-amp as mine developed a hum. The quote I copied and pasted into my post was from them so let’s just say that this was not a good experience.
My Beogram 8002 has factory RCA plugs, not the DIN cable, so it has a separate black ground wire.
Speaking of which does anyone sell the removable cable for the 8000 Beograms with DIN connections?
Piaf: Hi Nick, Thank you ever so much for this clarification. My Beomaster was obviously not altered at the factory or by a dealer. So I am back to my original pre-amplifier. The new one I purchased has a problem with the ground and it was the manufacturer of this pre-amp that told me my Beomaster 4500 had its own pre-amp. Jeff
I would send the pre amp back and ask for a replacement or your money back. You have not had it very long so they ought to respond positively.
I have had many Beomaster 4500's but I've never seen one with an RIAA pre amp built into the Phono socket!
This pre-amp has a minor ground flaw. Put it down on the table and there is a hum which changes with every touch of a wire or anything near the pre-amp. However either press on it hard or physically hold it in the air and the hum disappears.
Personally I think the manufacturer should have offered a replacement right from the start. They suggested removing all the screws and then putting them back to stop the hum. The consumer should not have to do that with a brand new item.
Honestly I was delighted with this recommended pre-amp initially, but something happened when I swapped Beomasters and quite frankly I can’t imagine what unplugging 4 RCA plugs and a ground wire could do to in any way negatively effect this pre-amp.
So I went back to my original pre-amp which is not as fancy, not as attractive as the new one, but at least it doesn’t hum.
Piaf:Honestly I was delighted with this recommended pre-amp initially, but something happened when I swapped Beomasters and quite frankly I can’t imagine what unplugging 4 RCA plugs and a ground wire could do to in any way negatively effect this pre-amp.
Bad connection / solder somewhere, and now it finally let go.
--mika
Piaf:Speaking of which does anyone sell the removable cable for the 8000 Beograms with DIN connections?
I think its this one
This one is better
http://www.soundsheavenly.co.uk/bando-beogramcable.htm
I would choose the one with internal earth.
joeyboygolf: This one is better http://www.soundsheavenly.co.uk/bando-beogramcable.htm I would choose the one with internal earth.
Right, and don't order to long, I made mine myself, just to fit, I think Steve make to size as you wish.
I'm using this and it works excellent and it's cheap. And it has 5 pin DIN In/Out as well!
Brengen & Ophalen
joeyboygolf: I have had many Beomaster 4500's but I've never seen one with an RIAA pre amp built into the Phono socket!
Then You haven't seen mine They did actually made a module with RIAA pre amp to build into the BM 4500.
When I bought my BM4500 in 1992, I had a Beogram 3300. I asked the dealer if I could get a RIAA module mounted in the Beogram (as I knew it was the same as the BG 4500, 6500 etc.). He said that it was not possible to buy a module for the Beogram - but B&O did make a module for the Beomaster. They changed the Module with the TP2/Phono and Powerlink sockets to one with a RIAA. It costed 500 DKKr (approx. 50£) back then in 1992.
Hi Mika,
I rather think you are right, but it does seem odd with a brand-new pre-amp. The company wants me to remove all the screws and then put them back as a fix which strikes me as even more odd.
Yes indeed,the phono pre-amp used the same circuit as the Beogram 4500,and came as a tiny smt module that bolted above the powerlink outlets inside the Beomaster.We had to fit them for clients who naturally wanted to retain their earlier Beograms when upgrading the system.
I will never be too old to learn Nick!
Respect.