Bang & Olufsen BEOLINK VIDEO User manual

BEOLINK
Master Link Handbook

MASTER LINK
FOREWORD
This manual describes the Bang & Olufsen BeoLink
®
system (Master Link)
with particular reference to the installation requirements. The manual is
therefore of special interest to dealers and installers.
The installation of all products, whether stereo equipment, PC’s, natural gas
equipment etc., used in systems (networks), makes it necessary to meet
certain connection requirements. These requirements serve to ensure the
best possible use of the system once connected.
This also applies to the Bang & Olufsen BeoLink system. There are not too
many of these system requirements, but it is important that you are familiar
with them, as meeting the basic requirements is often what ultimately
determines whether the system works correctly once the installation has
been completed.
The manual provides a short and precise introduction to the basic rules that
need to be observed when installing BeoLink, and describes how you
achieve compatibility between Master Link products and Master Control
Link products.
The manual is to some extent structured as a reference work, but it it
should be read in its
entirety
to give you a complete overview. Only then
will it be suitable for use as a reference work.
January 2004

MASTER LINK
CONTENTS
1
READING GUIDE
How should I read the manual?
2
OVERALL DESCRIPTION
What is the BeoLink system/Master Link system, and what can it do for
me?
4
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Description of BeoLab 3500, BeoLab 2000 and BeoLink kits
11
SETUPS
Description of the recommended Master Link setups, compatibility
setups, special setups and option programming
22
DIMENSIONING
Description of possible cable lengths
23
INSTALLATION TYPES
Description of the different ways of installing BeoLink
26
INSTALLATION TIPS
Practical advice relating to the installation
31
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Description of the different types of cable typically used
34
TROUBLESHOOTING
Possible problems if the system is not working
38
GLOSSARY
Description of speci c words, concepts and abbreviations
42
ACCESSORIES

MASTER LINK
READING GUIDE
Different symbols are used in the manual to illustrate the audio products, video
products and loudspeakers. Unless otherwise mentioned in the text, these
symbols should only be taken to refer to one of the above-mentioned
product categories, and not to the speci c product depicted in the
illustration.
As the manual places special emphasis on the basic rules for installation of
the BeoLink system, we mention the common features of the products and
insofar as possible avoid mentioning any differences in detail there may be.
The manual will therefore always be relevant to the installation of Master
Link, whether the products were launched before or after the manual came
out. The basic rules for Master Link will always be the same.
If you require product-speci c information, please refer to Bang &
Olufsen’s Product Con guration Guide.
1

MASTER LINK
2
OVERALL DESCRIPTION
What is BeoLink?
BeoLink is a Bang & Olufsen concept. It covers the following:
1. The ability to create and operate audio/video systems
2. The ability to distribute sound and pictures from a Bang & Olufsen
system in a main room to other rooms in the home and to operate the
main room system from the rooms that are connected using BeoLink.
BeoLink is not a product – it is a number of qualities that arise as a result of
the intelligent interaction between products, a synergistic effect.
BeoLink can be constructed in various ways depending on the products
being used: basically either using the Master Link system or the Datalink/
Master Control Link (MCL) system (the older system).
An introduction to Master Link
As a connection method, Master Link has certain bene ts over the MCL
system.
One such example is that while the connection in the main room previously
had to be made using a speci c type of cable (7-pin Datalink – also known
as Audio Aux Link) and the connection between the main and link room
with another type of cable (Master Control Link), the Master Link system
uses a bus-type connection which handles all links, i.e. both between the
main room’s audio/video systems and between the main and link rooms.
A further bene t is totally independent volume adjustment and tone
control in all link rooms which is provided by the distribution of audio
signals at line level and the use of a power ampli er in each individual link
room.
Unlike the previous signal distribution system, Master Link signals are
distributed as balanced signals, making it possible to distribute CD quality
sound, even over relatively long cable distances.
Finally the accessories used for distribution have been improved by the
introduction of a thinner cable and new cable termination methods,
among other things. The main bene t of these improvements is that
installation has become simpler and more elegant. This applies in particular
to small installations, e.g. of an intelligent kitchen loudspeaker, which is
now simple and effective, while larger installations still require a fair
amount of planning and knowledge of installation methods – a fact
illustrated by the very existence of this manual.

MASTER LINK
3
BeoLink has the ability to distribute both audio and video signals. In the
Master Link system audio and control signals are distributed using a single
cable, while the distribution of video signals requires an aerial network
(coax).
Only BeoLink-compatible products can be fully integrated into a BeoLink
system, whereas products from earlier seasons can to a limited extent be
used as described in the section on compatibility setups, page 17.

MASTER LINK
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Below you can  nd descriptions of the Master Link products and accessories
supplied with them, together with details of how they are used.
Contents
BeoLab 3500
BeoLab 3500 is an integrated active link room loudspeaker with right and
left sound channels. BeoLab 3500 has a Master Link (ML) connection,
IR receiver and display. BeoLab 3500 also has a Master Control Link (MCL)
connection. Finally there is a built-in time display in BeoLab 3500.
BeoLab 3500 is supplied with a mains cable and  ttings for wall mounting.
4
3m
Use
BeoLab 3500 is used in link rooms where an integrated active loudspeaker
is to be used. BeoLab 3500 enables you to listen to and operate all sources
in the main room, both audio and video sources.
BeoLab 3500 has a built-in sound control circuit, allowing volume and
sound adjustment to be performed individually in relation to the main
room.
The sound adjustment facilitates individual adjustment of balance, bass,
treble and loudness.
BeoLab 3500 has the following local control options:
-
Timer on/off
-
PLAY / ST.BY
Type number
1160111 (EU)
1160211 (GB)
1160311 (USA/CDN)
1160411 (JAP)
1160511 (AUS)
1160711 (KOR)
1160811 (CHN/HK)
Miscellaneous
In addition to the accessories supplied, the installation may require a
Master Link cable and plugs, sockets and junction boxes (see also section on
installation types, page 23).
1160611 Table stand for positioning on shelf/table ( at surface).

MASTER LINK
Contents
BeoLab 2000
BeoLab 2000 is an integrated link room loudspeaker that consists of an
active loudspeaker with a Master Link (ML) connection, an IR receiver and a
local control panel.
BeoLab 2000 is supplied with a mains cable with  ttings for wall mounting.
Use
BeoLab 2000 is used in link rooms where an integrated active loudspeaker
is required. BeoLab 2000 allows you to listen to all sources from the main
room, both audio and video sources.
BeoLab 2000 has built-in volume adjustment which allows the volume to be
adjusted independently of the main room.
BeoLab 2000 has the following local control options:
-
Timer on/off
-
PLAY / ST.BY
-
Volume up/down:
-
Local selection of Radio, CD and TV
-
Step button for changing channel or track
5
Type number
1164126 (EU)
1164226 (GB)
1164326 (USA/CDN)
1164426 (JAP)
1164526 (AUS)
1164626 (KOR)
1168026 (CHN/HK)
Miscellaneous
In addition to the accessories supplied with BeoLab 2000, the installation
also requires a Master Link cable and socket, plug sockets and junction
boxes (see section on installation types, page 23).
1206626 Corner mounts (for installation in corners).
3m

MASTER LINK
Contents
BeoLink Active
BeoLink Active consists of a control box, an IR receiver, a cable to the
IR receiver and a mains cable.
Use
BeoLink Active is used in link rooms together with active loudspeakers.
Any type of Bang & Olufsen active loudspeaker can be connected. If you
connect a BeoLab 8000, you will also need a Y link, as BeoLink Active only
has one Power Link signal, and the signal cannot be looped further into
the BeoLab 8000.
BeoLink Active has a built-in sound control circuit, allowing volume and
sound adjustment to be performed individually in relation to the main
room.
The sound adjustment facilitates individual adjustment of balance, bass,
treble and loudness.
BeoLink Active enables you to listen to the sound from all products in the main
room – both video and audio sources.
BeoLab Active provides the following local control options:
-
Timer on/off
-
PLAY / ST.BY
-
Volume adjustment
6
Type number
1163666 (EU)
1163766 (KOR)
1163866 (USA/CDN)
1163966 (JPN)
1168166 (CHN/HK)
5m
1.5m
Miscellaneous
In addition to the accessories supplied, the installation also requires a
Master Link cable and plugs, sockets and junction boxes (see also section on
installation types, page 23).