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
Hello!
I am after some advice please regarding a B&O set up.
I was very kindly given a Beosound 3000 and a set of Beolab 4000 speakers from a friend in the USA.
I currently have this hooked up to a "step down" transformer to take it from 240v to 110v.... Is this actually needed? I know you can't bring things like appliances or such from the US to the UK, but iPads, laptops and phones bought in the US work here just fine with whatever plug you've got to hand?! As you probably know there's no sign of a transformer on the cable... Is there one inside?
Will a Core device bring this up to date? Its currently gathering dust in my lounge and it kills me that it doesn't work.
Thanks so much for any advice...
Hi and welcome!
Yes, your 240V to 110V transformer is needed. The transformer inside the Beosound, and the ones inside each of the Beolabs, will be configured for 110V only.
When you say, 'it kills me that it doesn't work', do you mean that the setup is not working even with the step-down transformer?
Further to my last: If the Beolabs are Mk2s' then I understand that they can run on 100 to 240V without modification. Post the serial number on here first and confirm their status, before connecting direct to 240V. EDIT: Deleted as not sure - best to stay safe!
The Beosound can be reconfigured internally (by re-wiring its transformer) to accept 240V direct, but this should be done by an electronics technician with access to the service manual.
Hello Guy! Thanks for your reply!
Right, so I do need the transformer, which is annoying as it's the size of a shoe box!
I say it doesn't work, it does work in the sense that it turns on and such but I have smart devices throughout my home and this is redundant as its not hooked up to anything, I was thinking a Core might be the way forward, is it that simple or am I completely missing something?
Thanks again!
Yes keep the transformer - I am now not sure about the advice I gave above regarding the Beolabs (hence post amended), so keep using them with the transformer!
Simplest thing to hook it up to (if you use Apple) is probably an Airport Express. They are now discontinued but often available of eBay - go for the latest A1392 version as this can be updated to include Airplay 2 (multiroom).
You can connect the Airport Express (or any device with 3.5mm headphone output) to the BS3000's AUX input using one of these leads: https://soundsheavenly.com/bang-olufsen/67-298-minijack-to-aux-in-ipod-to-beosound-beomaster-beocenter-using-aux-din-socket.html#/2-length-1m
(the link won't work until Steve's site re-opens tomorrow morning!)
You'll then be able to Airplay to your Beosound system.
Here's an Airport express - it'll probably sell for for £50-70: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Apple-AirPort-Express-2-Port-Wireless-Router-A1392/193300347193?epid=208448917&hash=item2d01993939:g:pegAAOSwZgheHisV
This is amazing! Unfortunately we're not an Apple household! 🙈 All android and Google homes... Any chance of a cheeky idea? Thank you so so much!
The Echo Dot has a 3.5mm audio out. You could connect that (or a similar device) to the Beosound using the same lead.
Or simply buy a suitable Bluetooth receiver and connect that - Steve's site has at least one good quality one, when it opens!
I tried a Bluetooth receiver but found it lagged behind the rest of my system when used as part of my home group of speakers, the echo got to me too much and it's now disconnected and gathering dust 😩
Good morning!
If you let us know the make/model of your current 'group of speakers', there could well be a way to connect a line output from your existing equipment to the Beosound aux input, thereby avoiding any time delay inherent in further digital to analogue conversion (such as that done by the Bluetooth receiver).
Good afternoon!
Firstly thank you SO much for your help, it's been amazing.
So, I've been away from home the last few days and I've just gotten back and managed to look properly at what B&O system I actually have.
Type number 2618
Serial 14370348
Beosound 2300
Beolab 4000
Type 6638
Serial 14327733
So it's not a 3000, my bad! Really sorry!
In my house at the moment, I have numerous Google Home devices including a Sony LF-50G, 2 First Gen Google Home Minis and a Google Home (full size).
I was able to hook the full size Google Home up to a Bluetooth receiver on my Beolabs via a 3.5mm jack to 5 pin din, the Google Home used this as its main speaker, but had an awful lot of issues with feedback and when used as part of the "home group" where all 4 devices play at the same time - thus making the music come out across the house the Bluetooth created lag and it echoed and drove me up the wall. So I stopped using it and now I've just got my home and the B&O is just a nice ornament.
Any help or advice is REALLY appreciated.
Hi again,
Your Beolabs are Mk1 versions, and should have phono socket (Line level) inputs at the back in addition to the 8-pin DINs for Powerlink. Keep using these with the step down transformer. If you want to connect these direct to your current equipment use their phono sockets and move the little switch at the back to the 'LINE' position. If you use them with the BC2300, connect with Powerlink cables and move the little switch to the L or R position respectively (Powerlink cables carry both Left and Right channels, so the speaker need to be told what to output).
The BS2300 (actually Beocenter 2300 in UK) is a good bit of kit - I have a couple of them knocking around somewhere! They are not quite as modern as the BS3000, but they do have a DIN socket Aux input that will work with the lead I suggested earlier. Make sure that you connect any inputs to the correct AUX socket and not the Powerlink speaker outputs.
I didn't know much (anything!) about Google Home so have been googling: Unfortunately there seems to be a distinct lack of Google Home (or compatible) devices with an aux output. It seems that some people have even resorted to modifying their Google Home equipment to add a 3.5mm headphone socket as an aux output.
So I am going to have to leave it to others on the forum to suggest some Google Home solutions - it way be worth starting a new thread with Google Home in the title, in order to get some responses!
When I try to report spam such as that above, I use the 'More' and then 'Report Abuse' options to the top right of the post. After entering a message to highlight the spam, I get a message to say:
This is frustrating - am I doing it wrong?
I just get taken back to what looks like another forum post..
They had to pick my bloody post didn't they! I was really hoping someone had magiced up a Google Home with a 3.5mm jack!!!
Again, thanks so much for your help Guy, I'm going to look in to this as much as I can! I think I may invest in a better Bluetooth receiver this time and see how that works.
Google software seems more stable when choosing its main speaker to use aswell! Wish me luck!
I think most Bluetooth receivers will introduce a small delay, but you may be lucky in that the delay matches the digital processing time of the Google Home, leaving the music in sync.
There are a few threads/forums that talk about using Google Chromecast Audio - maybe that's worth a look or perhaps others can advise?