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 all, I'm new to this incredible resource.
A neighbor was recently giving away a Beosystem 5500, so I snapped it up for a basement system. It included a Beomaster 5500, 2 Beocord 5500s, a Beogram 5500, and a Beogram CD-5500, as well as a pair of Penta 1 active speakers. However, it did not include the MCP or any other remote, nor are there any speaker cables.
As I understand it, I can't control the system manually without the MCP or a Beolink or other appropriate remote, and the speaker cables are proprietary. Is that correct? I'd love to salvage the system, but don't really want to invest anything in it until I know it's all functional. (Let's just say I have a history with restoring vintage bicycles and guitar amps, so have burned through virtually all credibility with my wife on this kind of thing!) So far everything appears to be operational when I plug it in, but I still don't know if it actually works.
Do any of you have any advice on how to test the system and see if it's in basic working order before investing any money in it?
Thanks for any tips you can share! Rick
"You think we can slap some oak on this thing?"
Thanks for your replies! How would I connect regular speaker wires to the Beomaster? It seems to require a connecter type that I've not seen before. Thanks again
Hi & welcome to Beoworld.
The first thing to say is that you’ve been given one hell of system that if working correctly is capable of stunning audio performance. In good working condition it’s going to be worth circa £1k+. HOWEVER.... you will almost certainly have to invest some time and money in getting it working as it should; if you don’t have to, you will probably have used up all your good luck for the next few years!
Do you have the cables to connect the Beograms and Beocords to the Beomaster? If so, you should be able to get a reasonable idea of it’s functionality by using headphones into the Beomaster.
If you upgrade your membership level on this site, it will give you access to all the user manuals if you don’t already have them.
Realistically you should expect to need to service the Beograms and Beocords, re-tip the stylus in the MMC cartridge and replace the foam surrounds in the midrange drivers of the Pentas (4 in each!). The speaker amplifiers and Beomaster, whilst not immune to problems, are reasonably bullet proof.
If the Pentas are active as you say, then you will need some B&O powerlink cables to connect the Beomaster to the Pentas.
I have spare Beolink 1000 remote controls if you’d like one to help you accurately ascertain what functionality you’ve got. Whereabouts are you?
Cheers
Nigel
I’m guessing you’re from the States?
I’ve looked at the price on eBay of Beolink 1000s over there... I think I’ll set up a business buying them over here and selling them over there!
Shipping would be circa $20
The speaker plugs are standard 2-pin DIN.Nothing strange about that. Actually this is the only industry standard plug for home stereo speakers in the world.It's everything else that is non-standard.
For plugs look at Ebay or ask at Beoparts.
Martin
If they are Beolab Pentas do they not need different plugs to feed the displays?
Looking at the manual it looks like there are no Powerlink sockets.
Stoobie
Beomaster 5500 has no Powerlink.
To use an Americanism... “My bad”...
Thanks, Nigel! I do have the cables to connect everything, just not the remote. I also have one speaker cable that looks like an RCA cable. I fired everything up and it appears as if one of the speakers is working as well as the turntable and amp. (I haven't tried the cassette decks yet.)
Thanks for your offer to try a Beolink--I am indeed in the States, so unfortunately that won't work! I'll try to find a remote locally for now.
Good tip on the headphones! I'll give that a try.
Best wishes, Rick
Thanks, Martin--I've never seen these before. Every system I've had has used either bare wire or banana plug connectors. Will look for the plugs on-line.
Best, Rick
Hi Rick
Depending on which version Beolab Pentas you have they will have different connectors. The Beomaster 5500 has the 4pin Din sockets, as do all models of the Pentas so those would be the best to use. I believe they will work using standard 2pin Din plugs but if you want the speaker displays to work I believe you need to use the 4pin Din plugs..
Thanks, Stoobie--this is quite helpful! Sorry for one more naive question--provided I use the proper connectors, the Beomaster 5500 will work with passive speakers, correct?
Thanks again to everyone for their help! Rick
The user manual shows BeoVox RedLine speakers connected and they are passive so I'd say yes.
Yes - I use my 5500 with CX100s as it serves as the sound system for my computer. Any normal speakers will work. The 5500 has a power output of about 55W a channel.
Peter