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 have a problem with the volume when plugging my beolab 8000 speakers into the airport express using an RCA to mini jack cable.
The volume is either extremely low or extremely high. The volume is normal when I plug the mini jack directly into my iphone or Mac, but when using the Airport express to stream music I get this problem.
I have read about other people having the same problem, but I havent come across a solution yet. The simplicity of just being able to come home an press play on my iphone without having to turn on any receiver or anything is brilliant and is what makes me search high and low for a solution to this problem.I am thinking that maybe an adapter between the beolabs and the airport express could do the trick or a software that would allow you to turn down the output level of the airport maybe?
I appreciate it if anybody that knows any solution would contribute here :)
Beonic:The volume is either extremely low or extremely high. The volume is normal when I plug the mini jack directly into my iphone or Mac, but when using the Airport express to stream music I get this problem.
I think this is because it is designed to be a line-out port instead of a regular headphones-port.
You can regulate the volume via your iPhone or iTunes/AirFoil, whichever you use but perhaps not with the same precision as with your headphones.
I have always run my AirPort Express with an optical cable connected to a receiver. Even if it is a bit more to power on when you get home it actually works very well.
Beolab 50, Beolab 8000 x 2, Beolab 4000 x 2, BeoSound Core, BeoSound 9000, BeoSound Century, BeoLit 15, BeoPlay A1, BeoPlay P2, BeoPlay H9 3rd Gen, BeoPlay H6, EarSet 3i, BeoVision Eclipse Gen 2 55", BeoPlay V1-40, BeoCom 6000 and so much else :)
Does it sound all right though?
I had a Belkin Bluetooth Music Transmitter plugged onto my Beolab 6000 but the sound quality dropped too much so keep using my iphone through cable.
Hi Gillie,
Yes the sound is impeccable, both using iPhone and Mac as streaming sources. No loss of quality, at least as far as my ears can sense.
Breakthrough!
Ok, so I really sat down with this today and tried a bunch of things, including restoring the Airport Express to factory settings, which was a waste of time. What I found was that using the Airfoil app that Michael mentioned I was able to bring the sound output from my mac down to a low enough level that I was able to use my Beolabs without making my neighbor come over to tear my head off.
The airfoil has a settings menu (not the volume bar on the interface) that allows you to set the app volume down from a 100% all the way down to zero. I put this Airfoil app volume to a 20%, and then the Spotify (or iTunes) volume level at aprox 20-30% of full. The Beolabs can finally be used by streaming through my Airport Express.
Unfortunately this solution only applies when you stream from Mac, and not iPhone so the ease of not having to switch on any receivers is still spoiled by the fact that you have to start your mac, launch Spotify (or iTunes) and launch airfoil.
Even though this is a solution for Mac streaming (which again can be controlled by your iPhone) it is still not what I am looking for. I am starting to believe that the only possible solution is an adapter that do not have to be switched on or off.
Still searching for further solutions if anyone has any ideas..
Cant you just set volume on Iphone? Using Belkin transmitter I was able to change volume easily.
I dont know if you spend a bit more money , but this one works all right for me.
http://store.apple.com/au/product/MC746X/A?fnode=MTY1NDAzOQ&p=1
Just plug a mini jack from your Beolab to it and you can even control it by remote provided.
Gillie,
The problem is not that I cannot change the volume on my iphone, the problem is that on the absolute lowest volume level (before mute) the sound is still incredibly high when streamed to my beolabs through the Airport Express.
The hardware in the link you suggested is just an expensive way of plugging the mini jack directly into your iPhone, as I stated in my first post: plugging the mini jack directly into the iPhone works just fine, no volume problems.
The whole idea of my posting was to get ideas and inputs on how to make the iPhone (or Mac, but that's solved) to stream music wireless to your B&O speakers by using the Apple Airport Express, and without encountering the before mentioned volume problems.
Gillie
Beonic:Gillie, The problem is not that I cannot change the volume on my iphone, the problem is that on the absolute lowest volume level (before mute) the sound is still incredibly high when streamed to my beolabs through the Airport Express. The hardware in the link you suggested is just an expensive way of plugging the mini jack directly into your iPhone, as I stated in my first post: plugging the mini jack directly into the iPhone works just fine, no volume problems. The whole idea of my posting was to get ideas and inputs on how to make the iPhone (or Mac, but that's solved) to stream music wireless to your B&O speakers by using the Apple Airport Express, and without encountering the before mentioned volume problems.
That sounds like a very good solution Michael. Any idea of what kind of adapter I should ask about and who/ where I should ask? Any place online?
Ahhh! Of course, almost embarrased that I hadn't thought of this! This will solve both the iPhone and Mac, AE volume problem.
http://www.amazon.com/Koss-155954-VC20-Volume-Control/dp/B00001P4XH/ref=pd_cp_e_3
I am almost convinced that this ordinary headphone gear should work!! I am buying it now and will have it in a few days, will post back when I have checked that it works!!! Thanks for all the help! :)
Hi all,
we have discussed that phenomena during our trip to Struer with Geoff Martin and he told us that he is actually using one of those regulators himself in his installation.
Unfortunately I have not seen your question earlier otherwise I would have been able to send you a quick note on that before you figured it out on you own.
Cheers,
Lars
BS9000, BC6, BC2, BL3, BL11, BL3500, BL2000, BeoTime, Beo EarSet2 3i, Beo, BEO DropStop, BEO Bottle Opener, BeoCom5 including Table Stand, ATV
Christmas Prize Draw 1st Winner 2010 - THANKS A LOT!!!
Struer Trip 2012 - THANKS A LOT!!!
So I guess it will work then:) Problem solved!
Beonic: So I guess it will work then:) Problem solved!
That was exactly what I was thinking about :). Was at a seminar at the time I wrote so I had no time to google for anything but I am happy you found the koss volume controller :).
7 dollars to fix a problem like that, not bad at all ;)
I couldn't wait for amazon to ship me this adapter, I went over to the local electronics and nips store (clas ohlson) and what do you know, they had a tiny Y mini jack splitter with volume knobs. Cost me less than 5 USD!! And I was initially prepared to spend several hundreds:p I can confirm that this solution works perfectly, and I am enjoying wireless sound at a perfect volume level from my B&O's as we speak!
Thanks for all the help!
Lars: we have discussed that phenomena during our trip to Struer with Geoff Martin and he told us that he is actually using one of those regulators himself in his installation.
You took the words right out of my mouth. I do, however, have a bunch of caveats:
This is a quick-n-dirty solution with advantages and disadvantages.
I'm using it between my AirPort Express and my BeoLab 3's in the bedroom - where they're used only at night after the kids are asleep (or at least nearly asleep). The passive volume control lets me preset the maximum voltage sent to the BL3's so that, even at Max Volume on iTunes/iThings, it's REALLY quiet. Also, those BL3's are sitting on a bookshelf, pretty close together on the opposite side of the room. This is a background music system - not a critical listening system.
Two advantages of a link like this in the chain are that:
- along with lowering the music level, it also lowers the noise floor of the AirPort Express on the way into the BL3's
- it lets me run the AirPort Express at full volume digitally, and therefore I'm using its DAC to its greatest potential, without going deaf in the process.
Of course, there are some disadvantages:
- you are limiting the maximum output potential of your system - so, this isn't the ideal solution if you alternate between quiet music and parties...
- it's possible that the shielding on such an adapter (depending, of course, on which brand/model you buy) might be less-than-optimal, which means that you'll potentially get RF noise bleeding into your system.
- depending on what brand/model you buy, you may experience some left / right balance problems. It's difficult to make a stereo potentiometer that is perfectly matched, so your L/R balance will likely shift randomly back and forth as you adjust the level of the passive pot.
So, as I said, this is a quick-and-dirty solution that works well for a passive listening system, but not so well for a critical / active listening situation. I certainly wouldn't use this solution in the living room, but it works fine for music-to-fall-asleep-to.
Cheers
-geoff
BTW: That same kind of volume regulator works great when you have sensitive headphones (or sensitive ears) and you want to plug them into your armrest on an airplane.