Overall Description - Bang & Olufsen BEOLINK Handbook

2
What is BeoLink?
An introduction to Master Link
MASTER LINK

OVERALL DESCRIPTION

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).
As a connection method, Master Link has certain benefits over the MCL
system.
One such example is that while the connection in the main room previously
had to be made using a specific 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 benefit 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 amplifier 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 benefit 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.