Beocenter 3500 (almost) saved from the bin

I have this fabulous Beocenter 3500 that I have never used since I've got plenty of other toys already in top shape. However, I wanted it to be usable if plugged in an outlet. After a recap of the output amplifiers and a deep cleansing of the front pots. The receiver was back to work.

The number of inputs on this machine is amazing, whether RCA or DIN

However, in the left channel, there was a strange and persistent low white noise in the background, which was independant of the volume setting and which would disappear when the Hi filter switch was on.

My guess was that there was still something wrong in this output. After days and hours of searching, the culprit was found to be a 1K resistor, which showed 22K on the ohmmeter.

It's the second time that a resistor is found to be the cause of my problems. Perhaps it failed because of an old cap ?

Nice: inside the machine, the schematic was included in an envelope. It seemed that someone already  went there before and identified the same problem: the blue pencil marking are not mine. The red circle shows the bad resistor.

 

The access to this machine is amazingly easy. It's also a robust thing: it seems that you would drop it on the floor and it would continue it's job as if nothing happened !

However, it's a nightmare to work in: there absolutely no marking on both side of the boards whatsoever. Removing a simple component is a painful task since you don't know what solder blob refers to which component. The schematic needs to be checked every sec. Moreover, the layout of the output amplifiers is completely symetrical. I had a hard time distinguishing the left from the right.

So another B&O saved. But the stylus is broken. So it will return as a nice decoration piece for now, or a doorstep. Hence the (almost) saved from the bin.

Guillaume

Great thread, good to see this saved. Interesting unit and getting rarer!

I have a 2800 which is also in a bad way, must get round to sorting that out one of these days!

Ben

Ben:

I have a 2800 which is also in a bad way, must get round to sorting that out one of these days!

I never saw a 2800... I wonder if it was sold in North America. Lots of models has not crossed this side of the ocean. I've just realized why these centers are interesting: the whole package in a compact unit. Lots of saved space. I've always considered "Pickups" (that's how we called them in Quebec, using the english word) as crappy thing. And I never was much interested in repairing the 3500. 

It's really getting rarer ? I guess I'm actually learning to love it ! 

Have fun with your 2800. It seems to be a nice compact unit too

Guillaume 

I have an extra cartridge that would work for you. I also have a Beocenter 3500 that works fine, but I just don't have anywhere to put it. PM me if you're interested in the cartridge.