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,
I'm the new -very happy- owner of B&0 Beolab 8000.
To start listening my new speakers, here's my configuration:
- MacBook Air,
- Airport Express (AE)
- Ampli NAD C372
My AE receive the signal and is plugged to the amp NAD with cable Jack/RCA. Then I use my Pre-amp out to each speaker with Monster RCA Cable (not B&O 8 PIN).
I was wondering, to maximize the configuration and for sure the quality, to buy a DAC (Maybe: DAC TEAC UD-501).
3 questions:
- Will a DAC enhance a lot the sound (MP3/FLAC...) quality?
- Do you know that TAEC model? and is it good? (Or do you have any other middle range)
- Because B&O is active speakers, can I do like this:
Use AE (as wifi receiver) with optical line out plugged to the DAC and use Line out L/R with RCA within each speaker? (Will I still need the amplifier?)
Thanks a lot for your answers.
Well you have almost the right set up.
Today I assume you have the airport express hooked to the Nad amp via analogue yes? If you have no need anymore to use amplification and use the BL8000 solely, then I'd get rid of the Nad amp. It's analogue only so you're right that for best quality you need a DAC somewhere.
In actuality your current gear will work but you'll be using the DAC from the Airport express if using AirPlay. It's not the worst but you probably can do better. Plus your NAD amp will be wasting power doing basically a analogue volume control.
What you want is a DAC & preamp, something like a Cambridge 'DAC Magic plus' could be a better option. Run mini-toslink from AE to this DAC which would then do the conversion. There's other makes out there as well that can do various wireless streaming themselves even AirPlay so you can even simplify more.
Not sure what else is in your system in terms of inputs so more analogue inputs might be needed in your case.
A sort of official B&O solution is the "Beoplay connection hub", if you can actually find one for purchase. Though the 'connection hub' is a quite specific use case so that might not be applicable to your use.
Hi oki46
and welcome to Beoworld
Most DAC's nowadays are usefull.
The problem however, when using the digital output, is that you will have to have some kind of volume control too - otherweise the speakers would get the full signal.
There are small USB-DACS with a volume control integrated for the pc/Mac (I use an Audioengine D1 for my desktop setup).
I suppose, that you want to airplay from your Macbook Air!
Why not make things the easy way?
Get a (used) B&O Playmaker and a (used) Beoremote, connect to your network (preferably wired) and connect your 'new' BL8000's - and you are good to go.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
There are no GOOD used Playmakers they are the products of the devil please avoid!!
RCA inputs from 3rd part products to BeoLabs are never as good as using powerlink signals from a B&O source.
Get an Essense MKII and connect via PL to your 8000s.
Then use the Essense aux in for 3rd party connections.
My new years resolution is to incinerate any B&O Playmaker I find in the interests of musical enjoyment and user sanity :)
If on a budget and/or have a source that only outputs via a digital output then the S8 connection hub is the next best bet.
StUrrock:RCA inputs from 3rd part products to BeoLabs are never as good as using powerlink signals from a B&O source.
Could you elaborate on that? Power link is still an analogue connection as is the RCA line inputs. Other than perhaps reliable triggering, electrically there's no difference in the BL8000s between these two.
Can't speak for the Playmaker as I never used one, though your description is like same disaster software as the Moment/
Thank you to all of you.
I think I will manage to get a DAC Magic Plus plugged with AE and RCA to the BEOLAB 8000.
Davidr,
i bought a Magic plus this morning, I will receive it in the next 48h.
i will plug it by the optical to the AE, and then plug by RCA the Beolab 8000.
maybe later I'll change cable for B&O pin... but not right now.
As soon I'll receive the Magic Plus, I'll test it and come back to you.
thx again
Hi DAVIDR,
I've just received my DAC MAGIC PLUS.
And the sound is clearly really more detailled and the stereo feeling more acurate...
It was a good advice, so thanks a lot.
Config:
Source: Iphone or Macbook (with Qobuz)
Airplay via Airport Express plugged by optical to MagicPlus Dac plugged to the Beolab 8000 (RCA).
I used a playmaker and it was ok once hard wired - but the sound from DacMagic (100 I have) is more detailed and forward - the most reliable way I found was to connect to an Apple TV which is hardwired to my router - in that way I can use the remote app and stream iTunes through the Apple TV rather than my phone or iPad - you also get to control it from anywhere and can still stream from your iphone if you want too. That said I like the playmaker too.
Oki46: Hi DAVIDR, I've just received my DAC MAGIC PLUS. And the sound is clearly really more detailled and the stereo feeling more acurate... It was a good advice, so thanks a lot.
Excellent, glad you have your set up working better.
The most (well almost most) significant difference between different DAC models, is the filtering, that is done during conversion from digital to analog.
Cambridge (in the DACMagic) even provides different selectable filters.
Which one is 'more correct'/true to the source is hard to say - don't forget that a lot of conversion/filtering also is done, when files are being processed and mastered.
In the end it might be more a matter of taste than a matter of being better or worse, which 'model' you prefer.
I once had a DacMagic in my setup, which I removed, because it just complicated the setup.
I am fine with the DAC inside a Playmaker respectively an Essence.
Agreed. Once you get to a certain level of conversion, the differences are more due to analogue filtering stage & psychosomatic Even 1dB can be interpreted as 'better'.
Probably it's a combo of removing the muddy preamp section of the NAD amp which is doing analogue attenuation and adding extra "stuff'" by nature of passing through analogue stage. And the DAC is probably clearer because its only analogue stage is an opamp of most likely better distortion specs than the entire preamp section of the NAD.
Anyway for sure, less boxes, the better.
Yep, It's very cool.
Sound is clearly more accurate/precised (i don't konw if it's the good word; I'm french).
But, I think with the Beolab the preamp of the DAC is filtering too much Bass freq (even if I try different filters).
So I turned off the preamp of the dac, and plugged the DAC to my "Preamp line in" of my Amp NAD.
Now sound is accurate (we hear instruments more detailled), and bass came back.
Hi davidr,
One more question about cables.
What's the difference btw Line in and the 5 pin Din of the Beolab?
The meaning of my question is:
What could be the difference btw the use of RCA/RCA (from non B&O Preamp to BEOLAB) and the use of RCA/DIN POWERLINK (http://www.danishlink.com/Beolab-6002-8002-3-4-9-11-14-4000-mk2-vers-preampli-p-126-c-13_67.html) ?
Thank you again.
Oki46:What could be the difference btw the use of RCA/RCA (from non B&O Preamp to BEOLAB) and the use of RCA/DIN POWERLINK
Don't bother, if you have a good set up using RCA/Line there is no real difference between Line and DIN sockets other than triggering or use with an actual B&O system.
Myself I started with using the RCA/Line connections on my BL8000 but ended up switching to power link DIN when adding Beolab2.
Steve can probably correct me, I don't think that cable you linked above will work in PL mode. Audio trigger is only on RCA/Line connectors if not mistaken.
If it works don't bother I'd say.
Thank you DavidR.
Was just wondering....:)
I know it’s an old thread but I have the Beolab 2 sub and Beolab 8000’s and looking to connect them via a dac so will seeing how you’re doing this and what you’re using please, also I tend to use Apple airplay to play my music also