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
Hello everyone
I am UK based and have been lucky enough to be handed down a Beomaster 6500 system with Beolab 5000 active loudspeakers.
Unfortunately the speakers (one in particular) do not appear to be working properly and persistently shows a red flashing standby light with accompanying clicking. I'm using 8-pin cables to both speakers from the amp. Occasionally I have got them going but each time the amp is turned on and off the problem recurs. Any advise on this and please be gentle as I'm no expert by any means and this is my first post so this could be very straight forward!
Thanks in advance for your help.
Tarpon
I'm bouncing this in the hope of getting some advice before having to potentially shell out. Thanks
I'm not an expert either but you said "one in particular". Does this happen with the "one in particular" if you swap the cables?
Brengen & Ophalen
Thanks for the reply. Yes - have swapped cables and channels and the issue is with the speaker/speaker amp.
Or maybe your 6500 receiver? You don't have any other equipment with PL to test? Display is working alright?
Disconnect everything, including the mains from everything in the system. Reconnect everything to the Beomaster BEFORE connecting the mains to the Beomaster and Beolab speakers. Is it the full system? - Beomaster, CD, Tape, Phono?
Ensure that the Powerlink cables (from the Beomaster 6500 to the speakers) are fully wired, B&O Powerlink cables . I assume they came with the system and were previously working OK?
As Leslie says, if it's one speaker that has a problem, swap the cables around. Does the previously working speaker now have the problem and the problematic one now work? Do you have each Beolab 5000 connected independantly to the Beomaster - i.e. one seperate cable for each - one into each of the 2 powerlink outputs? If yes, try to daisy chain them such that one powerlink cable goes from one of the Beomaster outputs (try 1 first) directly into Powerlink socket 1 on the good Beolab 5000. Now take another Powerlink cable from the Powerlink socket 2 on the back of the good speaker to either of the Powerlink inputs on the 'bad' speaker. Any change? If still a problem, use the second powerlink outlet from the Beomaster.
Make sure that all interconnect cables are in the correct connections at the rear of the Beomaster. Check the Powerlink cable to ensure there is no damage - try new cables. An unseen fault in a cable can lead to all sorts of strange issues.
Have any settings on the Beolab 5000's accidentally been changed? Ensure the Audio/video/off switch on the sides of the speakers are set to 'Audio' and that the mode switch is set to the appropriate location of the speakers (left - L or right - R).
The red standby light obviously should not be flashing. If the relay is clicking it may indicate a power fault , cable problem or a signal problem from the Beomaster. Following the previous steps will help a diagnosis.
Best of luck as it's a great set-up.
Dave.
Many thanks Dave & Leslie I will do as advised and report back!
Here's my update after following the advice above.
1. Speaker A is fine with both cables to and from either PL source to either PL input.
2. Speaker B will not operate with either cable from either PL source to either PL input.
3. Speaker B will not be daisy chained through Speaker A.
4. Speaker A cannot be daisy chained through Speaker B.
5. Any power to Speaker B sees the stand by light come on.
6. Unless switched to standby and/or automatic Speaker B clicks (diff settings diff frequency)
Conclusions appear to be:
1. The cables are OK
2. Speaker A is OK
3. The Beomaster is OK.
4. Speaker B is faulty.
Anymore comments or ideas before I spend money on this & any idea what I should / could be paying?
Is it worth getting the whole system serviced & if so any recommendations in Sussex?
Thanks
Hi again,
Speaker problem it is then. Hopefully just a relay or simple power fault such as a loose connection or dry solder joint. Although with point 6 seems to indicate a triggering fault which must be in the speaker.
There is a repairer in Crawley (used by Lifestyle AV - the main sponsor and owner of this site). They recently looked at my Beolab 4500 speaker which had a fault. Try looking up AVA services in Crawley (Simon) and speak with them. Where in Sussex are you? I used to live in Horsham many years ago.
http://www.avaservices.co.uk/
Older systems always have electronic components likely to fail over time - electrolytic capacitors primarily.
This is an excellent system and worth keeping. If you look on eBay, you'll be pleasantly surprised at resale values of these components (Beolab 5000's can be up to £800 a pair and the individual components of the 6500 system anything up to £250 - 300 each). Spending a bit on servicing these will be well worth it and they will last for another 30 years.
Excellent. Many many thanks for the pointers.
The system has been handed down by my dad so am very keen to hold onto it and get it going again.
I'm in Brighton & will contact AVA Services. There is also a place in Hailsham, do you know of them?
http://www.quality-dream-audio.co.uk/
Thanks again.
I've had the exact same problem and in my case it were defective cables. I'm not even sure wether they were at fault or not. However, I initialliy used the original cables. Same problem as in your case. Then, I had B&O manufacture two new cables for me. Again, same problem. However, after swapping speakers around unplugging and replugging I suddenly found a canfiguration where I had the problem with the other speaker. I reported back to B&O and they sent me newly manufactured cables. Suddenly it was all working. So make sure it is not the cables. In my case, three cables didn't work and only one was fully operational. Symptoms were exactly the same. So my guess would despite all tests still be that it is a cabling/connection issue. Also make sure that you connect the speakers to power only after you have conncted the powerlink cables. Connecting source and then power can also cause problems like that with the Beolab 5000. I haven't encountered anything like it with other B&O speakers but the Beolab 5000 seem to be highly sensitive when it comes to connection! Don't give up too early. I doubt that it is anything in the amplifier. It has to do something with the connection.
What happens when you play music through the speakers by the way? Is there a loud hum from one speaker?
Greetings,
Kai
Except he has used the good speaker cable into the 'bad' speaker to no effect. However, it has effected both speakers to some degree as commented on in the OP which would seem to suggest a 'connection' problem - maybe a bent or corroded pin for example. Also, possibly dirt or debris in the Powerlink sockets - try blowing them out to clear dust.
I would be tempted to buy new, correct Powerlink cables (Mk II - NOT Mk I) either from B&O or via the excellent Steve, at Sounds Heavenly (at the bottom of these pages).
Kai also emphasised the point I made about connecting the power last - don't disconnect powerlink cables when the amp is active - this is clearly stated in the user manual for these speakers.
I have bought items from QDA but not used them for repairs. Try AVA services first. Brighton to Crawley is only half an hour.
Thanks for the further comments.
The good speaker works OK on both cables and from both Beomaster PL outputs. There does not appear to any issue with this speaker at all now.
When the bad speaker is connected it makes no humming noise but simply flashes the standby light and clicks (on audio and video) when plugged in and/or when Beomaster turned on.
Probably wise to get new cables anyway so I will do so, try them out and let you know how I get on.
Cheers.
But tell the dealer about the problem you have. As already mentioned, I've encountered the exact same issue. I already got mad at the seller because I couldn't imagine that three cables, two of which were new, didn't work. But it turned out to be like that.
So does the speaker play music then when you play a source? Or does it continue the clicking thing?
Cheers
Hi Tarpon,
It is hard to be certain without knowing whether the products worked previously, but (as mentioned previously in the thread) it is worth noting that Beolab 5000 (as with the 3000, 4500 and Pentas) require fully-wired Powerlink mk.2 cables only, which are thicker than other Powerlink cables (approx. 4 - 5 mm diameter). These cables contain extra wires to trigger the speakers to switch on correctly and to light up the displays.
If you are able to check with the previous owner as to whether everything worked, this may help you pinpoint the cause of the problem.
If you need any further help, please feel free to ask.
Kind regards, Steve.
Steve.
www.soundsheavenly.com
Founder of Sounds Heavenly Cables and Brand Ambassador for Bang & Olufsen
Sounds Heavenly are proud to sponsor BeoWorld!
Please check out my YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/soundsheavenlycables
Thanks all for further comments.
The system & speakers were previously owned by my father from purchase & until recently have worked without issue as far as I know. I assume the 5mm cables are original but not sure (see pic). Earlier I tried again and now it appears neither speaker is happy! Both currently begin flashing and clicking when the cd, tuner or phono are turned on and one continues clicking after they are turned off...frankly I'm at a bit of a loss now!
Steve - I have mailed you at work re cables enquiry - cheers.
Thanks for the email (I've also sent you a direct reply),
You are welcome to try new cables on a "sale or return" basis to see if they resolve the issue before you resort to equipment repairs - simply return the cables within 60 days for a full refund if you don't need them anymore.
By the way, I'm happy to make this offer to all Beoworlders if you think you have faulty cables which may need replacement, but you want to try new ones without any obligation to keep them. You can return the new cables to me within 60 days if you find you don't need them and I will refund you in full, your only cost is the return postage (just please keep them in the same condition that they reached you in!)
You're not the only one at a loss! It's a strange one. Try the new cables provided by Steve - a great and decent offer. His cables are first class as he understands B&O and the cable quality is superb.
If that doesn't change anything, it looks like a Beomaster output failure of some description. AVA services will be able to investigate this and hopefully find a cure - bad solder joints or failing capacitors are not unusual.
Don't give up. It's a great system and given its age, these things are bound to happen but once sorted, it should last a long time to come.
Keep us up-to-date with progress - we like success stories (and pictures).
Good news update:
As advised I purchased new cables from Steve at Sounds Heavenly (on a very generous 60 day sale or return basis), fitted them, had a play about daisy chaining speakers etc and both speakers appear to have re-set themselves and are currently running fine!
Many, many thanks for all the helpful advice and support. Very much appreciated...now to annoy the neighbours...
Cheers!
Michael.
Hi Michael,
That is good news!
Glad to hear that all is working.
Fantastic news and a relief!
It just goes to show that buying the best cables from a reliable source is the best way to go. So many problems are reported by quite often 'new' B&O users with problems with systems but using unknown origin and quality cables. A lot of issues are most often related to cables that it should be the first thing to consider.
Also worth remembering that not all Powerlink cables are equal!
Powerlink cable suitability for speakers;
Mk1 are for non IcePower speakers (for example the BeoLab 6000, early BeoLab 4000, BeoLab 8000)
Mk2 are for everything and can also carry data signals, so are perfect for BeoLab Penta.
Mk3 are for IcePowered (for example BeoLab 8002, BeoLab 6002, BeoLab 3) speakers.
Thanks Dave,
I fully agree with you (but then I would, of course!)
To simplfy the Powerlink versions even further:-
Hope this helps!