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
Please community, does anyone know which generations exist of the Beolab 5?
I am going to buy a pair of Beolab 5. I do strongly consider to by a second life pair, instead of a new one.
They will be run as a surround sound system, together with four Beolab 3 speakers, driven by a B&O television that still needs to be acquired, and with a Beosound 9000.
What would I have to pay attention to? In which years did the product generations change? Did any change affect the sound quality? Did any change affect the compatibility with other B&O devices?
Thank you for your valuable help.
Kind regards
Carsten
Hi Carsten,
Welcome to Beoworld! The only major change to Beolab 5 that I am aware of was the activation of the "Sync" socket from April 2004 (at serial number 17772145 and software level 2.5), but this only really affects owners who are using Beolab 5 with a non-B&O system.
Basically, the Sync socket allows a pair of Beolab 5 speakers to play at matched volume levels when used with a non-B&O source via the S/PDIF or Line inputs, via this Sync cable: http://soundsheavenly.com/beolab-5-and-beolab-90/41--sync-beolab-5-.html
For earlier Beolab 5 versions used with a non-B&O system, you need to ensure that each speaker has line of sight from the remote control to keep the volume levels matched. For use with a B&O TV or music system, the Powerlink cable provides volume data to each speaker, so the Sync function isn't needed.
Hence, any version of Beolab 5 should work well for your setup.
Kind regards, Steve.
Steve.
www.soundsheavenly.com
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Steve at Sounds Heavenly: Hi Carsten, Welcome to Beoworld! The only major change to Beolab 5 that I am aware of was the activation of the "Sync" socket from April 2004 (at serial number 17772145 and software level 2.5), but this only really affects owners who are using Beolab 5 with a non-B&O system. Basically, the Sync socket allows a pair of Beolab 5 speakers to play at matched volume levels when used with a non-B&O source via the S/PDIF or Line inputs, via this Sync cable: http://soundsheavenly.com/beolab-5-and-beolab-90/41--sync-beolab-5-.html For earlier Beolab 5 versions used with a non-B&O system, you need to ensure that each speaker has line of sight from the remote control to keep the volume levels matched. For use with a B&O TV or music system, the Powerlink cable provides volume data to each speaker, so the Sync function isn't needed. Hence, any version of Beolab 5 should work well for your setup. Kind regards, Steve.
Hello Steve,
I follow your youtube channel.
Meantime, can you please provide us some insight regarding Beolab5 generations and serial number ?
I have these following datas, but they aren't complete for the last versions of Beolab5 (2014, 2015, 2016 ?)
BV10 46" - BL5 to come... BS Ouverture, BC6000, BT1100
Old sold : BV Avant 28", BL8000 - BL4000 - BL2
Hi GuyHUI,
Thanks for this information, it is very helpful. My understanding was that mk.2 speakers are from 199xxxxx when the power cord changed. The best way forward to not to worry too much about exactly which version you have:-
1) If you have not yet bought them, get the latest ones you can (ideally with new chassis fitted recently)
2) If you already have the speakers, enjoy them!
GuyHUI: From serial number xxxxxx new ? From serial number xxxxxx ? last version 2016 ?
I'm looking at 5's with serial numbers 23xxxxxx, these where bought in 2013.
I would also like to know what the serial numbers of the last series are.
Steve at Sounds Heavenly: Hi GuyHUI, Thanks for this information, it is very helpful. My understanding was that mk.2 speakers are from 199xxxxx when the power cord changed. The best way forward to not to worry too much about exactly which version you have:- 1) If you have not yet bought them, get the latest ones you can (ideally with new chassis fitted recently) 2) If you already have the speakers, enjoy them! Kind regards, Steve.
Thanks Steve,
In fact I am looking for a Beolab5 from 2014, the seller told me the serial number starts with 219XXXX but it seems 219 is for older version from 2012... to be confirmed...
Which version (year/ serial) has the new chassis fitted recently ?
Thanks for your help
Old topic but due to having both my Beolab 5’s getting a new chassis/main board I can add something to that.
my t’s have serial: 18883817 and 18883823. One of them failed every few hours with violent noises and the other one was not able to play anything without ticking noise over 48khz. I decided to have them both replaced. (1800€ But basically latest version speakers, refurbished with warrantee)
first repair went well and fw was updated from 2.6 to 3.20a
second repair seemed to work well but as soon as a fed a source of 96/24 that one had cracking sounds, 88.q and lower played wel. The service engineer said, they have to be able to play 96khz so we swapped the speakers to make sure it wasn’t a cable problem. i have proper 75ohm cabling, connecters and termination so the problem moved with the speaker.
A firmware check showed that the speaker with the problems had firmware 2.61. This should be possible as B&O only sends out repair kits with latest version HW and firmware. So apparently this “refurbished” kit had slipped somewhere in the QC process. After that the engineer tried to read the error-log to send to B&O and wanted to install the 3rd unit he had in his van. While doing that we heard loud noises, the speaker kept playing after these noises. But the speaker was very hot so he opened the speaker and we were treated with a smoke show. Something defenitely had burned on the main board, so this was to be send back to Denmark.
installing the 3rd main board also failed because he rushed a bit too much and broke the connector on the subwoofer. Finally he gave up and took the speaker back to the store for proper repair and analysis. he wanted to take some time to do this properly so they offered me a temporary loaner Beolab 5, from someone who upgraded to 50’s recently.
so far the i troduction:
the difference in power jacks ise purely cosmetic, there is no ground/earth connection internally in the speaker.the old three wire jacks only have 2 wires connected anyway. The switched the system after a request of many installers. The 2 wire cables are easier to fit through wall holes and easier to bundle with audio cables. Also most other Beolabs have these smaller connectors so upgrading would be easier.
second: the loaner beolab I now has serial 17958321 so is significantly older than my own set. Again this one is not capable of playing 96khz but also this one plays 6 db louder by default. The repair man did not know this was the case, we tried to reset everything and used different inputs put the volume difference remains. You can correct using the Beo4 but every time you power up it is back. Fortunately I use Roon so I can compensate this in the DSP setting for speaker distance.
Eriperi: first repair went well and fw was updated from 2.6 to 3.20a
Means you went from mk2 to mk3 chassis. You will never find a 3,20a software in a mk2. Latest software mk2 is 2.61a.
B&O still has differents replacements for different mk's.
I called B&O in Denmark before ordering the repair at my local dealer. They specifically said they would be upgraded to latest version regardless of what the old version is.
ps: I placed the order in February, so waited 7 months for delivery. But they also told me: “now they have spares available in stock”