Connecting Master Control Link (MCL) and Master Link (ML). Devices needed?

Gentlemen,

I have been looking for the below information on Beoworld & other sites without luck. Sorry if this has been discussed many times before.

Let's say we have a setup of...

Main room:
- Beocenter 9300
- Beovision MX 7000

Link room:
- Beolab 3500 

How should these be connected?

Option 1:

If the Beolab 3500 is old (serial number < 19343452), it has a MCL port, so we can connect them directly (usinfg a (special 3-pin DIN speaker plug) cable connected to the speaker 2 ports:

 

• Question 1: Is this correct? Have I misunderstood something?

 

 

Option 2:

If the Beolab is too new (= does not have the MCL port) or if we need to connect to other Master Link (ML) products, we can use the 1611 Datalink/ML converter:

• Question 2: Is this correct? Have I misunderstood something?
• Question 3: I understood from Søren from Radio og tv-eksperten that the Datalink cable could be splitted using a special splitter as in the drawing. Is this correct?
• Question 4: What does the Powerlink connection do? I find some confusion about whether this is needed or not (example 1, example 2). If it occupies one of the Powerlink sockets, does this prevent active speakers to connect to the Beocenter 9300?

Option 3:

In this thread, Stefan suggests connecting the Beovision MX 7000 to ML through a 1615 converter:

• Question 5: Is this correct? Have I misunderstood something?
• Question 6: Now I'm confused. What does the 1615 do? I understand from this post, that the 1615 is just missing a Powerlink socket. Can a 1611 then be used instead? What's the difference? And why does the 1615 not need a PowerLink connection as the 1611 does?
• Question 7: Advantages / disadvantages to option 2 above?

Which would you prefer? Comments are very welcome and very appreciated...

 

Best Regards

-- 

Jakob

 

See page 17 ->

http://www.bbdownload.dk/pdf/diverse/ML_Handbook_DK.pdf

MM

Millemissen:

See page 17 ->

http://www.bbdownload.dk/pdf/diverse/ML_Handbook_DK.pdf

Thanks! -

I get more and more confused about the signals carried by MCL/Powerlink/Datalink, as they all carry signals to be used for connecting link rooms, but not always... Do you know if there is an overview somewhere; The ML Handbook does not provide a lot of details on which device that does what...

 

-- 

Jakob

 

I agree that it's all a bit confusing, and often your best approach is trial and error, as long as you are not spending much on new equipment!

One thing missing from your diagrams is what speakers you are listening to the BC9300 on?  BeoLab, Beovox, or though the TV?  This may effect the answers given!

With respect to your Options/Questions:

Option 1 looks fine, simple and there is nothing to add.

Option 2: 

Firstly I am not convinced that this will work 100% of the time.  If the TV is powered up, you may reduce the audio output from BC9300 to 1611.  I have similar problems using an Aux Splitter to connect my BC9500 with both Playmaker (input) and BV6 (in/output via 1611).  

Secondly, if the BC9300 has it's own speakers (BeoLab or BeoVox) then you do not need the Powerlink connection to the 1611.  The PL cable is only required to send volume data - ie adjust the volume manually from the front panel of the BC. Remember that the BC's aux output is fixed line level. 

Option 3 looks fine too, although there is more eqpt required.  Again, the Powerlink cable is not required to the 1611 if the BC9300 has its own speakers.  The 1615 does not require a Powerlink connection because of course the TV does always have its own speakers.

I hope this is useful!

EDIT: I should've summarized to say that I would go with Option 3!  Dare I say, it's most 'future proof' and gets you set up for an upgrade to a ML-capable TV.

EDIT 2: And I also should have said that Stefan is indeed the mixed system expert, and has assisted me greatly in the past!

 

Thanks, Guy!

Guy:

One thing missing from your diagrams is what speakers you are listening to the BC9300 on?  BeoLab, Beovox, or though the TV?  This may effect the answers given!

Well, I have access to both active and passive speakers and were planning to connect them to the Beocenter 9300, but now you mention  it, the active set could maybe just as well be connected through the Beovision?

Guy:

The 1615 does not require a Powerlink connection because of course the TV does always have its own speakers.

Can a 1611 be used instead of a 1615, then?

Guy:

I hope this is useful!

Extremely! Thanks again!

Guy:

EDIT 2: And I also should have said that Stefan is indeed the mixed system expert, and has assisted me greatly in the past![

Acknowledged!

-- 

Jakob

 

Fod:

Guy:

The 1615 does not require a Powerlink connection because of course the TV does always have its own speakers.

Can a 1611 be used instead of a 1615, then?

Tried to elaborate in this new post...

-- 

Jakob

 

Fod:

Millemissen:

See page 17 ->

http://www.bbdownload.dk/pdf/diverse/ML_Handbook_DK.pdf

Thanks! -

I get more and more confused about the signals carried by MCL/Powerlink/Datalink, as they all carry signals to be used for connecting link rooms, but not always... Do you know if there is an overview somewhere; The ML Handbook does not provide a lot of details on which device that does what...

 

-- 

Jakob

 

 

You have forgotten Masterlink and Netlink......Have a look into the Beolink Handbook and to the Beotech site here on Beoworld. There is so much information and explanation including wiring diagrams.

To make it short:

MCL (Mastercontrol link) contains 4 speaker level signal wires (stereo) and 3 wires for datalink, power (5V), ground.

It`s built for connecting older audiosystems (BM 4500,6500,7000, BC950, 9300...) with MCL link room products like MCL2A, MCL" AV, Extra Speaker Kit, Extra Active Speaker kit.It`s one way.

ML (Masterlink) has 12 audio wires for stereo audio signal and some wires for ML data, power, ground...

It`s for connecting audio- and videosystems (AV master in the main) and link room products like BL2000,3500, BL active, BL passive...

It is fixed line level balanced audio two way (bidirectionel).

PL (Powerlink) is simply a speaker cable for active speakers containing 3 wires for audio signal (stereo) plus power (5V) for Beolab turning on/off ,

some Powerlink cables also have more wires for additional datalink, ground, protection mode...

It is volume level controled line level connecting pre amp output of an audio- or videosystem with power amp input of a Beolab speaker or power amp like MCL 2P. One way - of course..

Audio Aux Link (AAL) is a 7 pin cable with DIN plugs containing 5 wires for audio signal ( stereo fixed line level unbalanced, bidirectionel) and additional wires for data, ground..)

It`s for connecting older audiosystems like BC9500, 9300, BS 3300, 3500,4500,6500,7000...) with videosystems like LX, MX Beovisions to build an AV setup.

Netlink - should someone explain with more experience in this than me...

Hope this makes sense...(?)

Stefan

 

 

Guy:

Option 3 looks fine too, although there is more eqpt required.  Again, the Powerlink cable is not required to the 1611 if the BC9300 has its own speakers.  The 1615 does not require a Powerlink connection because of course the TV does always have its own speakers.

I hope this is useful!

EDIT: I should've summarized to say that I would go with Option 3!  Dare I say, it's most 'future proof' and gets you set up for an upgrade to a ML-capable TV.

 

That`s exactly why I recommended this solution.

Guy:

EDIT 2: And I also should have said that Stefan is indeed the mixed system expert, and has assisted me greatly in the past!

 

Mange tak for the kind words Guy, but it`s just the virus, I think...

Stefan

Fod:

Fod:

Guy:

The 1615 does not require a Powerlink connection because of course the TV does always have its own speakers.

Can a 1611 be used instead of a 1615, then?

Tried to elaborate in this new post...

-- 

Jakob

 

Now I`m a bit confused.

You are running 3 threads about the same topic (your planned setup) with some variations - why?

Stefan