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
Hi all
I recently upgraded from Beolab 8000 to Beolab 9's. The differences in sound, detail, bass and treble are tremendous. The Beolabs are connected to my V1.
With this speakers, the difference in quality between CD's and lower quality streaming services becomes really noticeable.
This makes we wonder about a number of things:
- what is the quality of Spotify streaming via the V1? On the regular spotify app, you can choose the streaming speeds up to 320 Kbps. No idea at which quality Spotify streaming happens on the V1
- Would it make sense to have a separate streamer/pre-amp for my music services, feeding into the BL9's. I am thinking for instance about NAim XS 172 or Linn DSM. What kind of improvement would you expect as opposed to the video/Audio engine in the V1? (eg. support for Hi-Res files). Will this lead to audible improvements?
I know my last question might trigger a whole debate on combining B&O and non-B&O equipment. Nevertheless, I am so pleased with my BL9's that I really want to get the best results with them.
Looking forward to your feedback and experiences!
As always, Geoff's point of view would be really appreciated
Jan
Hi Jan,
With a good digital-to-analog converter (such as the ones present in the two pieces of equipment you mention), I firmly believe you will notice a big difference vs. Spotify streaming on a V1. The fact that the BL9s already have in-built amplifiers makes it quite easy to test too.
At the end of the day though, it all comes down to the quality of the recording and... to your ears! Is this improved sound quality worth the investment, extra cables, etc., that will be up to you to decide.
VANTAGE
Current: Beovision Eclipse 65" v1 - Beolab 50 - Beolab 28 - 2 x BS2 (GVA) - 1 x BS1 (GVA) - Beoremote Halo - H9i
Past:
Beovision MX4000 - Beovision 3-32 - Beovision 7-55
Beosound 9000 - Beosound 5 / Beomaster 5
Beolab 6000 - Beolab 8000 - Beolab 5 - Beolab 3 - Beolab 17
I guess that last question can only be aswered by yourself - setting up those possibilities in your home - by listening to it.
If it will be worth the 'fuzz' due to the loss of convenience, I can't say.
I have a Squeezebox connected to the digital coax-in of my V1-32. It is feed with WiMP HiFi (lossless files/FLAC 16/44.1) from a LMS (Logitech Media Server on my NAS) and controlled via the SqueezePad-app on the iPad.
I use it mainly for listening to music via my headphone (the H6) - that is what I call 'heavy listening'.
I don't care much for 'highres files' - unless I know that the original source was proven 'highres'!
(What goes on with the input to the Coax-in of the V1, before it reaches the DAC inside (up/down sampling etc), I don't know.
Would ne nice to have some details there.)
The reason I do it this way is, that I can configure the 'sound settings' of this particular V1-source, as I like it!!!
To the V1 I have no external speakers connected. For 'covenient listening' I use Spotify - either from the built-in service or via AirPlay.
The built-in Spotify has to run from a Premium (320) account. Nothing less is accepted.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Great choice of speakers!
i asked the same question of my dealer from another angle at the weekend. I have the V1. I was asking if going to BV11 would improve sound quality with my Lab18's, the answer was yes, but didn't go into much detail or test (yet). Don't know if anyone else has thoughts on this. Have you thought up upgrading to BV11-40 maybe? At just over £4k now (plus stand) its something I am considering. If you do test any streamers into your 9's would be interesting to hear results.
I can't think of any differences - it's basically the same 'audio engine' working in both tv's.
Best ask your dealer for further details on the subject before upgrading.
That is, if that would be the only reason for an upgrade.
I fully agree. To my understanding the video/audio engine in the V1 and BV11 are the same Sys4. Upgrading to a BV11 would have no impact on the performance of that engine - as far as I know.
I know that the Spotify app on the V1 requires a Premium account. That is the way I also listen to Spotify 'for convenience'. However, are you sure that streaming then always occurs at 320 bps? On the ipad Spotify app, you can select the quality at which you want to stream.
Back to my original question: are there any experiences from Beoworlders who have connected their Beolab 9's to a non-B&O streamer/pre-amp? If so
As you also mentioned, it would be nice to have some further details on the DAC in the V1
Here a linn ds streamer feeding your beolabs,download hi res from linn records,and you won't look back.
Your speakers are only as good as the source at the front of the chain.I have B&o and linn but always chose linn for music listening,they were one of the pioneers of digital streaming as they stopped cd production a while back,and their theory as a company is the source is the most important,rubbish quality in,rubbish out .
i tested lab 5s and 9s for my music room with beo master 5 but ending up preferring linn klimax with akubariks.the choice is yours but a better source will definitely make your beolabs sing.
Regards
I thought the same, in that the sys4 would be powering V1 as well, the only thing they said was think of it as a sys4 'lite'. I have yet to delve deeper and understand what that means, but I know my dealers well and one of them is a close friend who I have know since way before he worked at a B&O dealership. So no reason to doubt.
Big fan of Linn DS range but never heard side by side. Would you use phono RCA or digital when connecting to Lab's?
MM - you are right. Want a larger screen and long term plan is to move V1 to another room then BV11 + Lab18's in living room.
Digital
And you could here a big (or noticeable) improvement? even though you are using the DAC in the beolabs and the linn for streaming/transport only.
I had a linn sneaky ds a while back and connected that via digital to my V1 and used airplay to my Apple TV and also tried the V1's home media for my NAS to compare. Couldn't here much, if any difference.
To be fair I haven't tried it direct to speakers, which I can now do with the the lab18's. It's work me trying you think? I only ask as I listen to more music through the lab18's than run movies/tv.
thanks
Mines connected different I use a klimax ds,klimax control pre amp then my active akubariks. The pre amp makes the difference.
Butch,
so no Beolabs, but an complete Linn setup? I understood from your previous post, that you had a combined set-up with Linn and Beolab 5 or 9's. I once listened to Akubariks at our local Linn dealer. Sounded great!
I was more thinking along the lines of a Linn Akurate DSM (streamer + pre-amp) feeding the Beolab 9's. What do you think of this?
Steve
Since you connected your Sneaky DS via the V1, you used the same V1 audio-engine as when using the Airplay or Homemedia functions.
It would be interesting if you could indeed connect your 18's directly to the Sneaky DS and see if this makes a difference.
J.
Jans - Indeed, but I don't have the sneaky ds anymore. When I did have it I had beolab 6000's, so no digital connection. I did connect direct using phono though, sneaky to 6000's and therefore using the sneaky DAC and I preferred that sound wise, but not much difference to V1. So I decided not to keep it in the set up for ease of use and neatness. I had it in another set up so was just experimenting.
i may see if my dealer will set up for me as they also sell Linn. See what they say. Aukurate DS is a good couple of steps up from sneaky though, so I would be amazed if that doesn't sound great, especially with lab9's!
I have beolabs but keep the systems seperate,I said I auditioned the lab 5s and 9s with the linn ds,they sounded better, but not as good as the akubariks.