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Dear Beo Experts. Please help.
I'm looking for the best way to make the most out of my existing equipment. I need help from you experts out there, as I'm uncertain of all the possible solutions with B&O.
Today I have two B&O setups in the same room (combined living room and dining room), that I would guess I could easily merge into one system:
1). A set of BeoLab 5 connected via PowerLink to a Playmaker.
2). A BeoVision 4-65 with BeoSystem2 connected via PowerLink to a BeoLab 10.
i also have the following equipment (not in use at the moment) that I would like to include in my setup:
- BeoSound 9000 mk3
- BeoCenter 2 DVD
- Apple TV (2nd or 3rd generation I think)
- And a Beolab 3500 link speaker that could be nice in the kitchen, but not really neccesary.
I usually play music from my iPad or iPhone (using Spotify, iTunes or Wimp) via AirPlay.
It would be nice to be able to play the sound from the TV over the impressive BL5 from time to time, but I don't want the BeoVision to turn on every time I listen to music...
All help will be appreciated!
Hi and welcome to beoworld.
For starters, I'd suggest the following with what you have available:-
Connect the Beolab 5s as front left and front right on the Beosystem 2 (with the Beolab 10 connected as centre)
Connect the BS9000 (I'm assuming it will be in the same room) to the Beosystem 2 via Masterlink
Connect the Beolab 3500 in the kitchen via masterlink also (you'll need a junction box to connect all three items together)
Connect the playmaker to the Aux in connection on the BS9000.
Set the Beosystem 2 to option 2, the BS9000 to option 0, and the BL3500 to option 6.
Then you can press CD to listen to the BS9000 or A-MEM to listen to the playmaker, or RADIO to listen to the radio (in the main room through the BL5's and/or in the kitchen via the BL3500). The Beosystem 2 will obviously need power but the TV screen should remain off until you select a video source instead of an audio source.
Hope this helps for starters.
Martin.
BeoNut since '75
Thank you Martin.
I wasn't aware of the Junction Box. (I have a lot to learn). Can I buy this from B&O or maybe Sounds Heavenly? Are there different types of junction boxes? So that I could also ad my BC2dvd? Would be nice to be able to play a DVD from time to time...
Would there be any possibility to play any music on the BL5's when the TV is on??? (As I can now).
Hi and welcome to Beoworld,
you can easily integrate all of your products into one setup
But the first thing, you need to know is, that if you want sound from the tv involving the BL10 as the center speaker, the BL5's have to be connected to to the tv - and therefore use the surround module of the tv.
However, if you use the setup in audio-mode (kistening ro music), the screen will not turn on. The tv will be active (or rather a part of it will be active), but you will not notice it.
Adding the BL5's to the tv means that the Playmaker will not be directly used as of now - more to this in a moment....
You can add your BS9000 to the setup just by connecting it to the BSys2 via a MasterLink (ML) cable.
This means that the BS9000 will act like a source on the tv, and use the speakers of the tv.
The Playmaker - if you connect the Playmaker to the line-in of the BS9000 (please ask later how this is done, if needed), you can have full access to it like you have now.
The BC2 can be connected to the tv via scart and ML - instead of the BL9000 - the BC2 is a DVD player as well as an audiosystem.
You will find a line-in connection in the black connection box - this can be used for the Playmaker.
The critical part will be the AppleTV, since the BSys2 has no HDMI (or DVI) input!!! The BSys2 is (allow me to say so) old technology - a lot works, but not all!
If you want to install the BL3500 in the kitchen, all you will need is a MasterLink-connection/cable there. Depending on your circumstances it is definitely no problem to use it there. You will have access to all your audio sources, and you can control them with a Beo4.
This is basicly what is known as a 'fully-integrated A/V system' - and it is, what I would suggest, because it is very easy to control, and you can use your BL5 for all sources of the system this way.
There are - however - lots of other combinations. Maybe someone else will describe them.
For your inspiration please consult the 'ML Handbook':
http://www.iconic-av.co.uk/manuals/MasterLink_Handbook.pdf
MM
Update: this is basicly the same, as Martin suggests - he was faster than I
There is a tv - and there is a BV
AMone77: Would there be any possibility to play any music on the BL5's when the TV is on??? (As I can now).
No - not really!
You will have to decide * - but watching a movie with the BL5's on has something
Do you often watch tv AND play music at the same time?
* Do study the ML Handbook to see, what is possible.
elephant:A-MEM or A-AUX ? ( I am not familiar with 9k's settings - just a little surprised)
( I am not familiar with 9k's settings - just a little surprised)
The BS9000 will respond to either (at least my mk3 does - this may of course differ between software versions)
Millemissen:Update: this is basicly the same, as Martin suggests - he was faster than I
Come on MM, do try to keep up
@elephant
Yes and no!
Using the BL5's for the tv-sound would normally mean to have the speakers on the right/left side of the screen as front speakers.
Tv on with only BL10, and music on with the BL5's there would be an odd constallation.
I know, that some people would be tempted (some really do this) to let the BL5's stay at another place in the room. But then again - using them for tv sound would not be optimal, imo!
And you would have to fiddle with the AV-button to change from one system to another
riverstyx: Millemissen:Update: this is basicly the same, as Martin suggests - he was faster than I Come on MM, do try to keep up
I would have been faster.....if my wife would not have asked me, what I would do (on my iPad) right now - and if she would not have had to tell me, that she reads some novels (on her iPad) of the danish storyteller Jørn Riel - Life on Greenland (Grønland).
Millemissen: AMone77: Would there be any possibility to play any music on the BL5's when the TV is on??? (As I can now). No - not really!
You would however have the option of listening to CD/RADIO/Playmaker on the BL3500 in the kitchen whilst watching television in the main room which is obviously a more usual scenario than having TV sound and music on in the same room at the same time.
elephant: And as to bl5s and TVs ... If I had BL5s I would not want them wasted on cooking shows I too would dedicate them to music Or my theatre (if I had one)
And as to bl5s and TVs ... If I had BL5s I would not want them wasted on cooking shows
I too would dedicate them to music
Or my theatre (if I had one)
Ah, but can you honestly say that if they were in the same room as the TV you would be allowed to listen to anything else on them whilst the cooking show was on?
Thanks for great answers :)
Seems like a great idea to attach BS9000, BC2 and BL3500 to BeoSys2. But can I do this with one "3 to 1" Junction Box? Or do I need two boxes? And are there different types???
Would you recomend to attach the Playmaker to BC2 or BS9000? Or iWork it be the same?
Will the BL10 center also be playing when i play music??
AMone77: Would you recomend to attach the Playmaker to BC2 or BS9000? Or iWork it be the same?
Sorry! Not 'iWork' but 'will' 😀
AMone77:I wasn't aware of the Junction Box. (I have a lot to learn). Can I buy this from B&O or maybe Sounds Heavenly? Are there different types of junction boxes? So that I could also ad my BC2dvd? Would be nice to be able to play a DVD from time to time...
As MM mentioned, if you use your BC2DVD in the main room it would need to be instead of the BS9000 as both of these items respond to radio, cd etc. You could then use the BS9000 in a different room but it would need it's own speakers connected then.
There are several types of masterlink junction boxes - ones where you just plug a number of masterlink cables into the box, and ones where you can splice together the individual cores of several masterlink cables without plugs on that end. The former are more expensive (around 70GBP in the UK) but simpler to use and both types are available from your dealer.
elephant: And as to bl5s and TVs ... If I had BL5s I would not want them wasted on cooking shows I too would dedicate them to music
BL5's must be cooking - that is what they are made for
As I wrote - some people do so.
But I must admit, that I never saw the point in doing so
N.B. BS5 and BS3000 together is not the same as BC2 and BS9000 together.
AMone77: Seems like a great idea to attach BS9000, BC2 and BL3500 to BeoSys2. But can I do this with one "3 to 1" Junction Box? Or do I need two boxes? And are there different types??? Would you recomend to attach the Playmaker to BC2 or BS9000? Or iWork it be the same?
Either will work the same, it just comes down to whether you prefer to have the BC2 in your main room (which gives you DVD on you TV if you also connect a scart cable) or the BS9000 (plus a seperate DVD player connected directly to the Beosystem for DVD if you wish)
As I mentioned, you can't have both the BS9000 and the BC2 in the main room - so choose whichever you prefer and use the other in a different room with additional speakers if you wish.
AMone77:Will the BL10 center also be playing when i play music??
Only if you want it to - you can choose SPEAKER1 mode - just the BL10, SPEAKER2 - just the BL5's or SPEAKER3 all three of them.
Really only SPEAKER2 mode makes much sense for music, but you can switch between these modes at will.
Millemissen: As I wrote - some people do so. But I must admit, that I never saw the point in doing so
It might make sense if they wanted to listen to music for as long as possible (rather than adverts) whilst the wife is waiting for her cookery program to start
Ok - I give in
Another reality, I guess.
We - neither my wife nor I - watch channels with adverts. We don't have to!
Only one of 'our channels' has adverts - but they are always in between two programs. Just right for peeing - or making coffee....or sneakpeaking Beoworld!
Very interesting thread. Related to this. In the setting with the Playmaker connected to the BC, would he need to turn on anything when streaming to the playmaker or does the BV sense the signal? Could the playmaker also be directy connected to the BV and in this case would the BV also automactically detect the streaming without the need to turn it on?
steve1977:Very interesting thread. Related to this. In the setting with the Playmaker connected to the BC, would he need to turn on anything when streaming to the playmaker or does the BV sense the signal?
It won't autodetect, so he'd need to press A.MEM or A.AUX in whichever room he wanted the audio produced.
steve1977:Could the playmaker also be directy connected to the BV and in this case would the BV also automactically detect the streaming without the need to turn it on?
It could be connected this way, but still wouldn't autodetect a signal and as the inputs of the BV (or BeoSystem in this case) are video inputs it doesn't make much sense to do so unless you really have no other option as it means extra button presses to select audio only and may involve the screen coming on then off again.
Got it. I am still looking for an option to stream audio to my BLs that are connected to my BV without any push on the control involved. It works with the BC2 for CDs if my memory is right. So, I am looking for some set-up that alllows the same for streaming music over airplay.Not possible?
Thanks for all help.
For me it's important that everything is easy and simple to use. I'm so happy with the way my Playmaker turns the Beolabs on automatically when I start playing music from my iPhone. So I think I will leave it like it is for now.... But I will connect my BC2 to the BV4/BSys2 to be able to play DVD :)
BTW: Can someone please explain to me what's the difference between A.AUX and A.MEM ?
AMone77:For me it's important that everything is easy and simple to use. I'm so happy with the way my Playmaker turns the Beolabs on automatically when I start playing music from my iPhone. So I think I will leave it like it is for now....
I fully agree with you. I am just wondering whether there is really absolutely no way that you can stream via airplay to Beolabs (turning them on automatically once the Beolabs are connected to your BV? No combination with whatever adapeter, BC or anything else in the world you can imagine? I am really quite desperate to have my Labs connected to my BV for surround sound and at the same time being able to stream via airplay to my Labs without touching my Beo4. Any idea?
steve1977:I fully agree with you. I am just wondering whether there is really absolutely no way that you can stream via airplay to Beolabs (turning them on automatically once the Beolabs are connected to your BV? No combination with whatever adapeter, BC or anything else in the world you can imagine? I am really quite desperate to have my Labs connected to my BV for surround sound and at the same time being able to stream via airplay to my Labs without touching my Beo4. Any idea?
Thanks for your message. How does the BC2 succeed to "turn on" the BV in audio mode when putting in a CD? Is there no airplay-enabled B&O device that the BV can "sense"?
Also to reply to your thinking about an app - this would require quite an effort as it would require to turn on AV.DVD when the stream starts and then also turn off the TV again when the stream ends? Is that basically what the BC2 is doing implicitly when playing a CD?
AMone77: For me it's important that everything is easy and simple to use. I'm so happy with the way my Playmaker turns the Beolabs on automatically when I start playing music from my iPhone. So I think I will leave it like it is for now....
For me it's important that everything is easy and simple to use. I'm so happy with the way my Playmaker turns the Beolabs on automatically when I start playing music from my iPhone. So I think I will leave it like it is for now....
There is a solution for that - but that would involve a different setup, than the one you have now.
Connecting a Playmaker to the line-in of a BS Moment, which (via NL) uses a modern BV as the speaker, would make airplaying turn on the system.
If you connect the BL5's to the BV and configure these as the default speaker group for the (from BS Moment) shared line-in source, only these will start, when you start pushing through AirPlay to the Playmaker.
This is not a suggestion for what you should do - only an explanation of, what is possible.
I see no way to achieve, what you want, with your current setup!
Thanks for your messages. I am happy to be flexible with my setup. Well, unless it requires buying both a new Avant and a new Moment ;-)
Would a ML/NL adapter be sufficient to do the trick? Or adding a Moment? You can tell I am really desperate to have this feature as it is the one and only thing that I dislike about my current setup. It would be so nice just to stream to my speakers via airplay.
@Steve
Adding a NL/ML Converter does not do the trick.
Ir order to have the (Playmaker/)Moment solution to work, like I described it, you need a NL. Compatible BV like the BV11/V1 or the new Avant.
Btw, maybe a stupid question, but would a simple "Y-cable" not be sufficient to connect two devices (BV and Playmaker) via ML to my Labs? I still dream of a solution for the remaining solution for my otherwise perfect setup ;-)
Yup, this was my idea with the Y-cable. Well, a final try...
Raeuber:If you start BC2 when putting in a CD, BC2 sends the command to switch on your Beovision via Masterlink. Same with BS 9000 or another audio system connected to a BV via Masterlink. And same with a Beovision in linkroom if you start a source in mainroom from linkroom, although screen of BV in mainroom doesn't turn on of course.
Would it help to bring a BC2 or a BS5/BM5 into the mix? They could connect over ML with my BV and at the same time they have the capability to attach an aux device (e.g., an airport express). Would such a combo (AE->BM5->BV or AE->BC2->BV) do the trick?
If not, I'll declare defeat. Or explore earlier suggestion with the IR command, which I sense though will be almost impossible to achieve as well?