How do I connect BS3200 + BL3 + BL2000 + BL2000 to an iPhone/iPad/Mac?

Dear All,

 

I apologise if this has been asked before but so far I could not find an answer to my dilemma, maybe I am not asking the right question...

 

I wish to know how easy it is to connect my  BS3200 + BL3 + BL2000 + BL2000 to an iPhone/iPad/Mac.

 

I have heard of the Airport Express and the Playmaker but I can't fathom how to connect it all up so I can easily play music from the iPhone etc.

I would be very grateful for any help.

 

Regards Toby 

Either an Airport Express or a Playmaker should do the job. Other combinations may also work.

But keeping it simple and economical ....

1. Buy the Airport for $99

2, buy a copper cable with a DIN plug at one end and a headphone jack plug at the other end. Say $10.

3. Connect DIN plug to bs3200 AUX input socket

4. Connect jack plug to Airport's output socket

5. Switch the Airport on and use your iDevice's Airport utility to find it and configure it

(( if you have a pre-existing Apple based wifi you could set up something as complex as my snap shot at the bottom ie 2nd pix -- but we can cover that in another tutorial ))

6. Use your iDevice's quick access menu from the biotin its screen to point it's AirPlay to the Airport ( see picture of this screen )

7. Switch BS3200 source to AUX and press play on the iDevice -- start with low volumes at both ends !

Potential complications: getting the right cable. A conversation with Steve at Sounds Heavenly (a Beoworld advertiser will ensure you get the right one but it make cost more and will take longer than a quick visit to your local Radio Shack.

Please ask any question ....

OS pretend "Zero" is the Airport Express ...

Perhaps the "simplest" way is get a headphone mini plug to DIN cable, plug one end into the BS, the other into the Apple product headphone jack, set the Apple device volume near max or so, the BS low, start playing and adjust volume as needed. Needs a constant physical connection which the others don't of course.

I agree Jeff, except he listed several form factors.

And now re-reading the OP I see there is a Mac in the equation .....

So Toby, if you wish to include the Mac in the solution and are happy to use your iPad and iPhone as remotes for track, album, and artist search and select then you should look at the following:-

BS3200 == master link cable == Beoport

Beoport -- USB cable -- Mac

Mac ......... Headphone audio cable ...... Beoport

Where are the second pair of BeoLabs located ? ie do you already have an Master Link setup for a link room ?

The Mac can easily be included - just like the iPhone/iPad - using AirPlay.

Go for the AirPort Express solution - the one, that elephant already described above.

(And welcome to Beoworld - by the way).

MM

What Millemissen is suggesting is that you activate the multiple speakers option on iTunes on the Mac. Then use iDevices running Apple's App called Remote to control iTunes.

The iTune system broadcasts via the Mac's wireless to the Airport which then inputs into the BS3200.

Dear All,

 

Thank you for your awesome advice. 

 

Just what I was looking for.

 

Merry Christmas to you all.

 

Regards Toby 

Dear All,

 

It's done!! Airport Express installed hooked up to the BS3200 and bliss is restored!!! Fantastic. Love it.

 

Can you explain one thing though? Is the music not amplified twice now? Once by the iPhone/iPad/MacBook and once by the BS3200? Does this not distort the sound? 

 

I haven't dared to turn up the volume yet but at normal listening volume it sounds fine.

 

And the other question would be, what happens if I elected to buy Apple TV does that talk to the Airport Express and send the music to the BS3200?

 

Regards Toby 

Hi Toby, it is always pleasing to get feedback about our suggestions. Thank you.

We are probably as happy as you are to have another happy beoworlder - I hope you continue to post or at least hang around with us.

Now some answers:

Toby:

Can you explain one thing though? Is the music not amplified twice now? Once by the iPhone/iPad/MacBook and once by the BS3200? Does this not distort the sound?

There is not an amplifier as such in the Airport Express. However you can influence the volume at the source - whether that's the iTunes player or the iPhone/iPad. I always set those volume sliders to whatever their local speakers need ... and then switch on the AirPlay -- if you nudge the sliders you will find that the B&O speaker volume is increased -- so wind back the B&O volume, make the slider settings you need, and then increase the B&O volume. I typically run my systems at around 40 to 50 on the B&O scale.

Toby:

And the other question would be, what happens if I elected to buy Apple TV does that talk to the Airport Express and send the music to the BS3200?

The Apple TV's output is optical and so you need an optical input on the other (B&O) end. So for your setup a direct connection won't work.

However ....

when you are using the Apple TV for music from your shared iTunes library (under the "Computers" tab), or "iTunes Radio", or "Music" all you need to do is press a long (GO) and you will get an ATV pop-up where you can select "Speakers" and you should find your Airport Express' name.

This also works for things like "Vevo", "YouTube" and video sources although the pop-up looks different:

Of course if you have a B&O TV then you would only need to introduce a master cable between the TV and the BS3200 !

Good luck and enjoy !