Small amp or dac for Beolab 8000 & sub?

Hello!

 

I am wondering if there is a way for me to use my Beolab 8000 speakers and a non-BO sub with a smaller amp or dac that can fit in a book case? I would like to use my old AppleTV 3 for it's airplay abilities. The amp or dac should have optic (or hdmi) in for the Apple TV connection.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

db

It isn't optimal because it wastes an amplifier that you don't need, but a NAD 3020 v.2 is mainstream available and not too expensive.  It is certainly book-shaped. "Pre Out" connector goes to the BL8000s, "SubW Out" goes to the subwoofer, and "Optical" is for your digital source.  (No HDMI connector.)  

[Edit: Oops, wait, I have not seen any spec that guarantees the pre-out is variable-level.  *Usually* that's the way it works in an integrated amp because it is presumed that the connection is made to a power amp which has fixed gain (and no knobs).  But you'd want to double-check to make sure the Pre-out is variable by the volume control knob. The NAD spec says "full range" which is ambiguous.  Otherwise you would be stuck using the AirPlay source's volume control to reduce the signal digitally.  Ugh.]

Hello db,

Welcome to Beoworld!  The NAD D3020 V2 does have a 3.5mm stereo minijack pre-out if I recall correctly, this is perfect for connecting Beolab 8000 speakers via this cable:-

https://soundsheavenly.com/line-in-connection/minijack-to-beolab-line-in-using-phono-rca-sockets-one-cable-for-two-speakers

You also have a separate subwoofer pre-out (also via a 3.5mm minijack) on the D3020 V2 in case you wish to add a sub at a later date.

Kind regards, Steve.

Yes, something like that is just what I'm after! Only downside is the price converted to USD I'd be paying something like 550USD.  I'm looking for something at maximum half of that. It's a struggle finding something.

I have a Marantz M-CR611 which has variable RCA out for powered speakers (using it with my BeoLab 6000s right this second). It has a sub out jack too (never used it though), and 2 optical in ports (and line in) which sounds perfect for your usage.

It’s a pretty good amp/receiver over all too (has a CD player, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, internet radio, and DAB + FM radio). Has room for two sets of passive speakers (only using one set at the moment - a pair of BeoVox C75s).

Hope that helps

That's a great choice, better than the NAD 3020 I think; alas, the Marantz M-CR611 costs more, not less: USD700, and tough to find discounted!

To reduce the price, he must look for DACs with a volume knob (and multiple inputs incl. TOSlink), rather than integrated amps.  There are a few not so very expensive, e.g. Pro-Ject Pre Box S2, or the Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus.  Still not cheap; maybe buy a previous version of DACmagic (used) to get the price down?

But the DACs won't have a separate output for the sub vs. the main speakers.  If you did a simple Y-splitter on the DAC's line level output, you could send full-range signals to both speakers, relying on the sub to do its own low-pass filtering, and hoping the older BeoLabs didn't do anything too awful with the bass portion of their full-range signal input.

or you can simply connect an active crossover / amplifier for your subwoofer to one Powerlinkoutput of your BL8000.

For example Reckhorn A409 subwoofer amp:
https://www.reckhorn.net/pages/amplifier/a-409-subwoofer-amplifier.php

 

trackbeo:

That's a great choice, better than the NAD 3020 I think; alas, the Marantz M-CR611 costs more, not less: USD700, and tough to find discounted!

To reduce the price, he must look for DACs with a volume knob (and multiple inputs incl. TOSlink), rather than integrated amps. There are a few not so very expensive, e.g. Pro-Ject Pre Box S2, or the Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus. Still not cheap; maybe buy a previous version of DACmagic (used) to get the price down?

But the DACs won't have a separate output for the sub vs. the main speakers. If you did a simple Y-splitter on the DAC's line level output, you could send full-range signals to both speakers, relying on the sub to do its own low-pass filtering, and hoping the older BeoLabs didn't do anything too awful with the bass portion of their full-range signal input.

It would definitely be worth looking on sites like eBay - I got my M-CR611 for ~£190 a few months back (was a manufacturer refurbished open-box customer return - with a 12 month warranty too), and that price was part of the reason why I recommended it.

Would recommend looking at AV receivers because they’re pretty much guaranteed to have all of the features needed for a cheap price but they always tend to be super bulky, took me ages to find this Marantz - has all the features I need in a compact size. Shame the even smaller (and cheaper!) M-CR511 doesn’t have RCA out though :(