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
I just received my BeoLab 3's and all I can say is WOW. I am awaiting the arrival of the Lab 11 to go with it. CANNOT wait!
My question- I'll be using a Marantz NR1605 as my preamp for my theatre setup (just a 2.1 is satisfactory for me for now) as I didn't want to spend an exponential amount on a quality SSP/PreAmp so I went with the 'all in one' receiver design.
Would it sound 'better' to hook the 11 up via the subwoofer preamp output and the 3's from the main preamp outputs on the receiver? Or what the B&O store recommended (and ordered the cables for) would be just to hook the MAIN preamp output to the subwoofer and 3's to the subwoofer using the Powerlink Mark 3's.
Thoughts? So in summary: Subwoofer preAmp to 11 by itself and 3's to the main preamp outputs OR Main Preamp to 11 then to the 3's via Powerlink ('all in one' kind of format).
THANK YOU KINDLY! I hope that made sense, especially for a first post.
bogienet: I just received my BeoLab 3's and all I can say is WOW. I am awaiting the arrival of the Lab 11 to go with it. CANNOT wait! My question- I'll be using a Marantz NR1605 as my preamp for my theatre setup (just a 2.1 is satisfactory for me for now) as I didn't want to spend an exponential amount on a quality SSP/PreAmp so I went with the 'all in one' receiver design. Would it sound 'better' to hook the 11 up via the subwoofer preamp output and the 3's from the main preamp outputs on the receiver? Or what the B&O store recommended (and ordered the cables for) would be just to hook the MAIN preamp output to the subwoofer and 3's to the subwoofer using the Powerlink Mark 3's. Thoughts? So in summary: Subwoofer preAmp to 11 by itself and 3's to the main preamp outputs OR Main Preamp to 11 then to the 3's via Powerlink ('all in one' kind of format). THANK YOU KINDLY! I hope that made sense, especially for a first post.
Welcome.
Unless your Marantz receiver does some kind of surround matrixing that you plan to use for movies that will send specific LFE signals to the subwoofer only, AND you plan to do this more than listening to music, I would set the system up the way B&O intended it to be done so, which is by connecting the Lab 3 Sats to the Lab 11 directly. This ensures the best crossover utilization in the BeoLab 11.
Firstly, thank you for your prompt reply regarding the configuration, "Playdrv4me." When it works, it is fantastic.
My system is finally up HOWEVER, there's a problem!
I have my system setup as such: Marantz NR1605 Receiver PreAmp Output to B&O Playmaker AUX-IN to a BeoLab 11 which then goes to the BeoLab 3's. I know, it's a lot. But I want the Playmaker so I can use the Beo4 remote to tweet the speakers and whatnot. Essentially, I don't want my Playmaker & 4 to collect dust and have no purpose as they're brand new.
Problem: There is a faint but obnoxious hiss out of the 3's. When I omit the Playmaker from the setup, there is no hiss at all (i/e Marantz pre-out directly to Lab 11 to Lab 3 using a custom cable).
What gives? How can I keep the Playmaker integrated into the setup without having a hiss?
Thank you!
(All of the speakers, subwoofer, playmaker and reciever are pluged into a Monster PowerCenter (surge protector & line 'filter'). I tried removing the playmaker from the powercenter, directly into the wall, still a hiss).
EDIT TO ADD: When I use the Playmaker via AirPlay, there's zero hiss, hence my thinking is the receiver, but there is again no hiss when I skip the playmaker to go directly to the lab 11)
Hi Bogie,
Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting.
I also have 2 BL3's in white, with a PM, but without the BV11 - so Im definitely interested in hearing how this sounds for you once done.
Yes, I agree that you should keep your PM after all you want to stream music from your phone so why not use the PM in the setup :-)
Have you tried:
> Receiver out to BL11 In
> PL out of the BL11 into the PM via the RCA (PL cable to RCA)
> RJ45 out of the PM in to each BL3 (RJ to PL cable)
Remember to switch the BL3's to line if using the preamp ?
You may have tried this, but just wondering
I had the PM included in my setup when I had an encore and that was encore to PM via the RCA. I hope this will work for you.
cheers
Michael.
Thank you so much for your prompt reply!
Firstly, the sound is so much more enhanced by the addition of the BL11. It doesn't boom or "hit" loud bassy noises (something you would expect from the Lab 2) but adds a subtle rumble when appropriate. It definitely compensates where the 3's leave off.
In regards to your suggestion, I'm not sure I understand and if I do, it would be as follows: Receiver to the 11 THEN to the Playmaker? If I did that, the 11 wouldn't be included when streaming to the PM. It would only supply sound to the 3's (for airplay).. Maybe I misread/misunderstood?
Interesting suggestion though!
Why would there be a hiss though with my aforementioned original setup? Is it electrical being all on a shared circuit? Too many devices in the configuration? The line-output (RCA) of the receiver is obviously adequate enough to neglect hissing during the direct configuration (when the playmaker is omitted).
Thanks again to all who contribute!
I don't think there is too much equipment in the setup, some people have reported previously that the hissing was due to the cables they used. It hadn't been an issue for me so I have never gone down that track. Something about MK3 cables.
If you are doing just stereo listening, i think then the 2 Labs would be fine and can handle the bass quite well.
I love the 11 too - its look and that the base is more subtle than say the 2.
This hiss still exists but it has improved! Apparently the RCA cable going between the receiver and Playmaker had directional arrows on it and they were wired backwards. I don't know why that would matter in an analogue signal. But it did help a little:
The hiss did come down a little bit, say it's now a 3 out of 10 if it was a 7 out of 10 before. (to place it on a scale where 10 is a loud, audible hiss and zero is obviously no hiss)
And yes, I'm using Mk3 cables.
Any more suggestions?
Thanks!