Beolab 4 - constant static noise

5 replies
I think this is likely to need a professional repair but I might as well ask. I use a pair of Beolab 4 as my PC speakers, so connected via the 3.5mm sockets rather than Powerlink.  This morning when I switched on my PC and they came out of standby, one of the two speakers stared making a loud static interference-like noise, and it's done that ever since.  If the 3.5mm plug is connected, it makes that noise, even if I unplug the cable from my PC at the other end. To test if it was the cable rather than the speaker, I switched the two speakers around, but it was still the same speaker that made the noise, so it appears it's not the cable. I then connected the speaker via Powerlink to my B&O AV system, and the noise was the same, but only when the AV system was switched on. The audio source is still heard, but it plays far too loud (as though the volume is on 100 when it's only on 30), and the sound quality is very poor. We're having record breaking June weather here in the UK, so maybe it's the heat!?  

Location: Liverpool

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Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...
I bought another pair of Beolab 4 by the way as I looked into the cost of getting my faulty one repaired (I was advised it's almost certainly a busted amplifier), and it was cheaper to just buy another pair. I think I know what happened, and it's my own fault!  Ther's a switch on the underside of Beolab 4 to switch between 'Line' and 'PC'.  I had mine connected to a PC, so I had selected PC.  I should have checked the manual - if you have them set to 'PC' they don't go into auto standby.  They'd been switched on for months! Little wonder the amp stopped working in one of them. I didn't realise they were not going into standby as I am colourblind, so didn't realise the LED on top was not changing colour when I powered my PC on or off. So, if you have Beolab 4 connected to a PC, make sure that switch is not set to PC!  

Location: Liverpool

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Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...
We discussed this back here:  

Location: Warwickshire, UK

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Oh no it's my fault. I had forgotten about that other conversation, I know I did have them set to Line, but have at some later point forgotten that they should remain on Line and have switched them to PC. I have an appalling memory.

Location: Liverpool

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Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...

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