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,
I have a BM5500 connected in the first link room to a MCL2A, and from there connected to a second linkroom to a MCL2 AV, which is connected via powerlink to a ML/MCL converter as passive amp. And the are two passive speakers connected (good old beovox 1000). My problem is: I hear noise from those speakers, which I only know from "old" amplifiers, when music is playing but especially when it is on pause. It is annoying me because it's the bedroom and I play music at low volume. (that is also why I did not put another MCL2 A there). It does not matter which source is selected, even local iPod connected to the CD of the MCL2AV.
I tried the following:
- replace the Ml/MCL converter with the MCL2P: still noise
- replace the beovox 1000 with beovox CX50: still noise
- replace the powerlink cable: still noise
- connect ML/MCL converter to powerlink on my Beovision LX6000, and connect CX50: still noise!
So I start to believe that the MCL2P and the ML/MCL converter are both old amplifiers and are not giving me what they should. However, my BM5500 is older, and works perfectly. There is also no noise at all in the second link-room.
Am I missing something, do I need to connect something else?
Getting crazy, cheers!
Beosound 5 Encore + Beosystem 5500 + S45.2; BV7-40 MKV + BL7.1 + BL14.4+ AppleTV4; various link rooms with MCL2 A or MCL2 A/V + RL60.2 / CX100 / CX50 & Cona / IWS2000; BG4000; Beosystem 1200 + BV1600.
Reading that I would suspect the MCL2AV, especially as it is, in effect, reducing a 'speaker level' signal to a 'line level' before reamplifying with the MCL2P or ML/MCL. I used to use an MCL2AV and Passive as a stand alone amplifier for my computer audio, and it always introduced noise into the system, especially at low volumes.
Can you swap the MCL2A with the MCL2AV and see if the noise moves? Failing that, how about changing to a 'part ML' system using a BeoLink Converter 1611 and then ML cabling to your bedroom, with ML straight into the ML/MCL amplifier?
Guy: Reading that I would suspect the MCL2AV, especially as it is, in effect, reducing a 'speaker level' signal to a 'line level' before reamplifying with the MCL2P or ML/MCL. I used to use an MCL2AV and Passive as a stand alone amplifier for my computer audio, and it always introduced noise into the system, especially at low volumes. Can you swap the MCL2A with the MCL2AV and see if the noise moves? Failing that, how about changing to a 'part ML' system using a BeoLink Converter 1611 and then ML cabling to your bedroom, with ML straight into the ML/MCL amplifier?
I saw your nice schematic that you posten in march ;). I was also thinking to make another setup just like this in my study, and I have all the things I need to pull it of. I think an investment in ML system is not worth it, if need to do this twice (and come to think about it: does not work with MCL2P)...
I am very surpsised that it seems to be the standard, including the noise - not very B&O-like! Are you sure that we connected it like it should? It bothers me, and I am now switching of my system between playing, which was not necessary before.
Would 2x2 active speakers (beolab 3000) fix all my problems in both rooms? ;)
I now have a Beoport in my study - just that and a Passive, and there is no longer any noise. It is not connected to the rest of my system. I think the noise was actually coming from the Beocom 6000 that was close by - so it could be that you have other electronic equipment that is nearby and being picked up by the MCL2AV.
You could change to a 'part' ML system. Keep the MCL2A in the first room with its MCL cabling to the BM5500. Add a Beolink converter (£20 ebay), a new ML cable to Room 2 (£20) and then the only other thing that you need is a sensor for the ML/MCL amplifier - but you can actually re-wire the MCL sensor with a DIN plug. So I think that this is quite a cost-effective option if you can run new ML cabling. I would leave first room as MCL2A because the BM5500 amp is quitter happy powering that.
Active speakers would not solve the problem unless you went to a fully ML based system - if connected to MCL2AVs, they would simply amplify the existing noise. I suspect that there is nothing wrong with your MCL2P or ML/MCL amplifiers.
And I have updated my schematic accordingly! (Sadly living in a rented house I cannot find a way to get an ML cable to the study)
You can always go with the wireless option right?
Have you changed to the beoport because of the humming noise?
Are you happy with the sound quality of the beoport? I am looking for a way to get my sound from the computer, and hence I thought about the MCL2AV in combination with an airport express, so I can carry my laptop anywhere and have my sound with me. But today I also found out that the local source in one room cannot be heard in the mainroom, and so I would probably place the airport express in the main room, and then I also need a local solution, since otherwise my whole house has to listen to my computer sounds and incoming email - not so nice. Hooking it up via the jack of the laptop to the MCL 2Av gives the same noice issue....
Hard times
I was looking for a Beoport anyway - I am moving house (and country!) later in the year and hope to have a fully integrated system.
I am very happy with the Beoport - it is connected to a Passive and powering 2 x CX50s that are sat on my computer desk. There is no interference from any of the other electronics (NAS, Printer, Modem etc) that are all within one meter. Also the advantage of the Beoport system is that it switches on the amp as the computer logs in - whereas with my MCL2AV system I had to press SHIFT RADIO 7 on a BL1000 to start it up!
One problem that you (and I) would have with connecting Beoport to the rest of our systems is that our audiomasters are not N.RADIO/N.MUSIC compatible, so you could not control computer produced audio from other rooms. For this reason, airport express may be a better way to transmit your PC output. I sometimes use a Western Digital HD TV for the same purpose.
and I just saw a BeoPort (BeoLink PC2 actually) go for £11 on UK eBay - I paid about £20 for mine!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bang-Olufsen-Beolink-pc2-/171029092513?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item27d220d8a1#ht_177wt_1428
I just found out that the noise is nt influenced by the volume, and even when the mute is acrivated the noise is still there...
Cheers for the tip on beoport, I will wait for that, because I would like the integration with BM.
Guy: Reading that I would suspect the MCL2AV, especially as it is, in effect, reducing a 'speaker level' signal to a 'line level' before reamplifying with the MCL2P or ML/MCL. I used to use an MCL2AV and Passive as a stand alone amplifier for my computer audio, and it always introduced noise into the system, especially at low volumes.
Too bad you are right, as a B&O expert/dealer told me as well. It is a small crack in my confidence in B&O quality... Thank you.
No problem - but remember the MCL system is over 20 years old. It still works fine within its limitations, but I think we now expect too much from the MCL2AV!
O but in general it exceeds my expectations!
BM5500, BG5500, BG CD5500, MCP5500, VX7000, DVD1, BV LX6000, Beovox rl35, 60.2, cx50, 1000, cona, MCL2A - all communicating together is great! This is the first quality issue, but I will solve it probably with a MCL2A in the bedroom, and your suggestion for a ML system in the study.
FYI: It seems like the ML/MCL converter is making more noise than the MCL2P, and so this one will go into the study, and the MCL2P in the bedroom. i think the more complicated functions of the ML/MCL makes it a less suitable for amplification.
Thank you for thinking along.
Guy: I now have a Beoport in my study - just that and a Passive, and there is no longer any noise. It is not connected to the rest of my system. I think the noise was actually coming from the Beocom 6000 that was close by - so it could be that you have other electronic equipment that is nearby and being picked up by the MCL2AV. You could change to a 'part' ML system. Keep the MCL2A in the first room with its MCL cabling to the BM5500. Add a Beolink converter (£20 ebay), a new ML cable to Room 2 (£20) and then the only other thing that you need is a sensor for the ML/MCL amplifier - but you can actually re-wire the MCL sensor with a DIN plug. So I think that this is quite a cost-effective option if you can run new ML cabling. I would leave first room as MCL2A because the BM5500 amp is quitter happy powering that. Active speakers would not solve the problem unless you went to a fully ML based system - if connected to MCL2AVs, they would simply amplify the existing noise. I suspect that there is nothing wrong with your MCL2P or ML/MCL amplifiers.
Still two questions Guy, after I started thinking about it ;) Do I plug the beolink converter into the e.g. the open tape socket of the beomaster with audio cable? And I would not be able at the ML/MCL convter's end to pick a local source, wouldn't I, but just be able to amplify the playing source? Cheers...
Hi again,
Q1: Yes that should work (with 7 pin DIN cable to the TAPE2/AUX connection) but I just had a look at the archived forum and I think that you need to check that the BM5500 is masterlink compatible - see the last couple of posts here: http://archivedarchivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/p/5052/36467.aspx#36467
Q2: Sadly yes, no local sources available in a ML room. Unless you use a BeoLink active (and make use of the PC source input) followed by a Passive - seems a bit of a waste.
I'm away in the UK for the next couple of days but will try to follow the thread from there. Regards Guy