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
Hi Beoworlders,
I want to use some Beolab 4000 speakers in a restaurant. I need to install 3 pairs, and hope that I can just link them to an ipod dock directly.
Whenever I try to use the Beolab 4000s directly I get a humming sound.
Any advice???
Thanks in advance...
x:________________________
Ground loop perhaps. Is it possible to get all of the speakers and the iPod dock on the same electrical circuit? Second possibility: Light dimmers on the same circuit as any of the other pieces involved.
We kid because we love.
I had an Ipod connected to my BL 8000, the plug for the Ipod was very hard to connect, not properly inserted it gave "hum"
Collecting Vintage B&O is not a hobby, its a lifestyle.
Note I'm yet to install the wiring and speakers...
To test before I install and wire up, I used an ipod to powerlink cable in to one speaker. I then used a powerlink cable to link each speaker. I set the switches on both to Line and the speakers hummed.
So before I install wiring and mount the speakers I need to ascertain how to wire them so they don't hum....
Which BL4000 version are they?
the ones I've tested are Mark 2, but I'll be installing a mix :/
When I tried my Ipod direct to BL 8000s, i had a cable that connected to the Ipod, then from the ipod with one cable to each speaker to the line input, as far as I know you cannot use powerlink cables with the speakers set to line. With the powerlink cables there is a trigger current triggering the speakers, the Ipod does not have that function.
If you want to drive 3 sets of speakers, I suggest a simple speaker distributor with one left right line in, and 3 left right lines out, from there to line in on the speakers. and speakers set to line. I have only tried with one set of speakers, but what the Ipod gave out the speakers played, and with good volume too. Howe it will be with 3 sets I really dont know. Maybe, Ipod to an amplifier, distributor, and then speakers, would work better.
Jonathan:Whenever I try to use the Beolab 4000s directly I get a humming sound
PowerLink cables (like "Line" cables using RCA/Phono plugs) are unbalanced cables.On longer distances these cables, especially the "thin" versions will pick hum.Double shielded cables (like the recent 5mm B&O PowerLink-cables) are more resistant to hum. Double grounding causing ground loops can also produce hum ...BeoLab MK1 and MK2 use different power-supplys, a mixture of both types on the same output can alsolead to hum ...
A solution could be an old BeoLink converter as "Audio-Master" and 3 BeoLink Active for three zoneswired via ML Cable. MasterLink is a symetrical = balanced cable (same technology beeing used in radio stations, theatres, recording studios and PA) and hence quite resistant to hum.
Only the remaing lenght from BL-Active to the BLb 4000 will then be an unbalanced cable.