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Hi Folks,
Edit: I'm having some real problems with a persistent whine coming from the speakers when connected to the TV - any suggestions or possible solutions greatly appreciated, please find a video below! Testing methods already tried are further down in the thread.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz7MMtWiB-E
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New to the world of Bang and Olufsen as of a couple of hours back, having picked up a set of gently used Beolab 6000's. I'm really quite excited as I spent a few weeks researching and it came down to either these, or a pair of B&W 601 S2 along with stands, a receiver ect. Having not long got my foot on the ladder and set up in my first apartment I didn't want anything to shake the walls and this was by far the cleaner package - I love the engineering/design that's gone into them!
I'm looking to connect them to a Sony kdl55 w805c as between Spotify, Netflix/iPlayer and consoles it's the main hub in the apartment for audio, and I plan to use it to control the respective sources, and ultimately as the main volume control.
I know I can connect via the 3.5mm headphone out - > RCA as the most straightforward method, but is this the best vs. going directly from the line-out? Alternatively, would a separate DAC (a fiio for example) run from the optical out provide a better alternative? What are the options?
Most of my music listening is over Spotify so accept it's not up with FLAC quality, however would like to get the best out of what's there. The forum was invaluable so far in knowing what to look out for when going to view, and whilst I have searched I was looking for a little more depth.
Any help or pointers in the right direction are greatly appreciated
This - danish - thread might help you.
http://www.hifi4all.dk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=71963
There are plenty of drawings for different uses of Beolabs without any other B&O gear.
You might have to use Google Tranlate for texts, though.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
The BeoPlay Connection Hub (intended for the use with a S8 speaker set) might also be a possibility.
It can be used with all Beolabs!
http://www.beoplay.com/products/beoplays8
I believe your W8 is the same as my W6, with only one analogue audio output - 3.5 mm stereo jack doubling as a headphone connector? When I bought mine, I instantly connected it to an AUX input on my Beosystem and I hear nothing wrong with the sound quality.
So you should be able to configure the audio output of the telly to "Audio out/Variable", internal speakers OFF and connect the Beolabs directly with a 3.5 mm stereo plug - 2 x RCA cable. Beolabs to "line" mode. This will also allow you to control the volume directly with the TV remote, an extenal DAC would probably need some other means of volume control (not sure but I would expect the optical out of the Sony to be fixed level).
This is easy to try with a simple cheap cable, but for the final installation you will obviously need a long cable that can be split starting from the RCA end, or something custom made.
--mika
Hi Gryff,
I agree with tournedos that the sound quality from the audio output of a good branded TV like yours should be perfectly fine, you then just need this cable to connect both speakers to the TV, with volume control from the TV remote:-
http://soundsheavenly.com/line-in-connection/77--trs-2rca-.html
As millemissen mentioned, the S8 Connection Hub is a superb device for use with any Beolab speakers to facilitate connection to non-B&O TVs, especially where the TV only has an optical output.
Kind regards, Steve.
Steve.
www.soundsheavenly.com
Founder of Sounds Heavenly Cables and Brand Ambassador for Bang & Olufsen
Sounds Heavenly are proud to sponsor BeoWorld!
Please check out my YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/soundsheavenlycables
If connecting using the line inputs there is a risk that the speakers will turn on and off all the time (when volume is low or parts with no sound).
I would advice getting this adapter: http://www.av-connection.dk/?PGr=6497
Then connect using the Powerlink input.
My B&O products: Beosound 9000, Beosound 2300, Beosound Century, Beolab 8000, Beolab 6000, Beolab 4000 x2, Beolab 3500, Beolab 2000, Beolab 10, Beolink Active x2, Beotime, Beo5 x2, Beo4, A9 keyring x2, LC2 dimmer x6 and growing....
Hi Rivenflush,
USB voltage rails on many TVs can be electrically "noisy" with the result that loud pops and bangs can sometimes be heard through the speakers when the TV switches on or off - this is why I don't suggest using this type of approach. Does the device that you found fully isolate the speakers from any electrical noise caused within the TV?
It is safer to provide a separate smoothed trigger voltage to activate the speakers in the unlikely event that they are switching on and off during normal use, here is an example of a device that can safely provide an isolated trigger voltage without electrical noise or interference:-
http://soundsheavenly.com/line-in-connection/102--trigger-trs-.html
Hi folks,
Many thanks for the input, a lot of great info there! I think 3.5mm to RCA is the way to go. Currently using a 3.5mm - RCA splitter, and then two separate cables, but will look to getting a proper one as I think it's generating a hiss in the speakers once plugged in as it stands currently.
Even as it stands I'm really blown away by how they sound, I know the 6000's often take a lot of stick on here for lacking bass and perhaps a little body, but in the setup here they're coming across as balanced without too much potential to wind up the neighbours.
The Beoplay hub looks quite interesting, but would I be right in thinking it's working just as a DAC, and doesn't offer any further advantages/audio out? The long term aim is to end up with a 3.1 system, which I'm guessing is over and above what the hub is designed to do.
Thanks for the welcome and the answers, much appreciated folks :)
Hi Gryph,
No problem, a good 3.5mm to twin RCA cable on a branded TV should normally give a nice sound without background noise. The Hub is really just a stereo DAC (plus it gives extra inputs for other devices and a volume control), so this becomes useful if your TV only has an optical output fitted.
Beolab 6000 speakers are very good - I suppose some of us who are long-term B&O fanatics only knock them because some of B&O's other speakers are even better - In particular, many people find the Beolab 8000 to give a good step up in performance if you need a bit more bass depth than the 6000s can give.
Going up to 3.1 channels (or more) is a good time to consider using either a Beosystem processor or an AV receiver to give full management of the surround sound to all your speakers, but for 2.0 or 2.1 channels you can get a superb sound with just the TV and speakers (with the Hub as an optional add-on if required).
Great input, thanks there Steve! The 3.5mm to twin RCA arrived from yourself today, can vouch for it being a solid bit of kit, and it's done what I need perfectly. Thanks for the recommendation and fast service.
Still enjoying the 6000's but can already see upgrading to a set of Beolab 8000's in the future. Design and build quality are as important as audio and I do think they look timeless. Give it a little while, but for now these will do fantastically.
Open question again - I'm still having problems with a degree of noise coming from the speakers when idle but still connected to the W805 TV, with a high pitched tone audible a good 8-9' away constantly present (and driving me up the wall!) when using the 3.5mm out. TV and speakers are plugged into three different outlets along different parts of the same wall with the only cables connected to the TV being the power lead, and the audio cable. I suspect a ground loop, but the exact testing criteria I've tried so far are below.
TV Audio out -> 3.5mm-RCA -> Beolab 6000 = High frequency whine
Nexus 6P / iPad -> 3.5mm-RCA -> Beolab 6000 = near silent with no high pitched tone and a small amount of speaker noise only audible within a foot or so (which I believe you'll get on any system?) This has been tried with both devices plugged into the mains charging, and standalone.
TV Audio out -> Pair of Sennheiser PC360's = the sound is clear - however it switches from Audio out (Variable) to Headphone mode. I've tried making this change with the speakers but the noise persists. (Interestingly the volume range in Audio out (variable) is also much more sensitive, with comfortable listening being at between 8-10% whilst on the headphones it's between 50-60%)
TV RCA line IN -> RCA cable -> Beolab 6000's (Just to make the connection) This gives me an almost perfect 50hz tone, which leads me to suspect a ground loop that's somehow manifested differently when run through the 3.5mm audio out.
Any suggestions on what to try or how to solve are greatly appreciated!
Kind regards and all the best
Gryph
Thanks for the update, it shouldn't be a ground issue as the Beolab speakers aren't grounded (they use a 2-core mains lead without a ground wire). The results from the Line In sockets of the TV are best ignored, as these are likely to give spurious noises if the speakers are connected directly to these sockets in most situations.
Please can you try a good pair of headphones in the TV Audio Out socket to see if they also produce the high-frequency whine?
Hi Steve,
Still new to this so a little research may have pointed me wrong!
Just double checked - there's definitely no high-pitched tone going from the TV -> Sennheisers. It returns as soon as the Beolab 6000's are plugged back in, and both in Audio out (Variable) and Headphone modes.
Post now edited with a video upload - let me know if you've got any ideas!
Still having this ongoing problem - have tried various configurations, headphones, active speakers off the PC, and it's only the 6000's that are producing this whine when connected to the TV. It's something that I absolutely won't be able to live long term.
Any suggestions welcome as admittedly I'm running out of ideas.
Part of the shine looking at Bang and Olufsen was that they were active speakers not requiring a separate receiver. If the only solution to clear this up is going down that route, I'd be tempted to just throw these on ebay and go back to British with B&W for the same sort of cost and better long term upgrade path.
The headhone out on tv's are never a good match for quality audio. Especially on the sony's, they all have mayor ground issues. You could try a ground-loop seperator, also check for 4G disturbance. As the tv does not ground certain pairs in the powerlink cable they could pick up noise.
The hub of bang and olufsen that uses the optical output is the best bet.
Gryph:Still enjoying the 6000's but can already see upgrading to a set of Beolab 8000's in the future. Design and build quality are as important as audio and I do think they look timeless. Give it a little while, but for now these will do fantastically.
BeoNut since '75
I'm sorry to hear that you are having problems. TV headphone outputs often work well for direct connection of Beolab speakers, but some TVs do result in issues like this occurring. One simple and cost-effective solution that avoids any need for a receiver is to add B&O's S8 Connection Hub (around £149 GBP from B&O stores) between the TV and the speakers.
You can then use an optical cable from the TV to the Hub: http://soundsheavenly.com/input/149-premium-braided-toslink-optical-cable-with-metal-plugs.html
Please connect the nearest speaker to the Hub with an RJ45 to Powerlink cable: http://soundsheavenly.com/bang-olufsen/31-rj45-to-powerlink-compatible-all-in-one-cable-convert-new-2013-ethernet-powerlink-to-traditional-8-pin-din-powerlink.html
You can now link the two speakers with a standard Powerlink cable: http://soundsheavenly.com/powerlink-8-pin-din-connection/20-powerlink-mk-3-compatible-8-pin-din-cable-with-4-cores-wired-low-profile-cable.html
Speaker volume control is now easy to set up via the TV remote, as the Hub can learn the TV remote commands. This solution should resolve the noise issues.