BeoPlay V1 with old unbalanced input speakers (BL8000+BL4000)

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beo123 Posted: Mon, Sep 3 2012 7:38 PM

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I recently bought the BeoPlay v1-40 because of the 5.1 suround modul.

From before I have the BeoLab 8000, BeoLab 4000 and BeoLab 2.

The BeoPlay have 3x RJ45 digital output-jack while the speakrs only got unbalanced powerlink inputs.

How should I connect my old speakers to BeoPlay V1?

My first thought was to use powerlink-RJ45 cables, one for the sub, one from beolab 4000 which is connected to the other beolab 4000 speaker and one from each Beolab 8000 speaker connected to a splitter with RJ45 cable to the tv.

R BL4000 -> PL cable -> L BL4000 -> PL-RJ45 cable -> BeoPlay RJ45 jack 1

R BL8000 -> PL-RJ45 cable -> Splitter
L BL8000-> PL-RJ45 cable -> Splitter
Splitter -> RJ45 cable -> BeoPlay RJ45 jack 2

BL2 -> powerlink-RJ45 cable -> BeoPlay RJ45 jack 3

But how will this work? In the "Cat7/Class F New Installation Concept, New infrastructure, Handbook" it says:

"6 Non balanced speakers
Pre-ICEpower loudspeakers with non balanced input must be mounted with a special
non balance converter box.
Part number 3376078
This is only necessary if BeoLab loudspeakers without ICEpower amplifiers are used.
Present versions: BeoLab6000, BeoLab8000 and older versions of BeoLab4000, as well as
older models."

http://www.abo-center.dk/Abo_center_2/reptips/diagrammer/Link/Cat7%20New%20B&onet%20handbook.pdf


Do I really have to use these converter boxes? What will happend if I dont? Will I notice it? The lenght of my cables will be 10m,5m,5m,3m

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elephant replied on Tue, Sep 4 2012 9:29 AM

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I am away from my Mac with all its B&O manuals, but I really thought that connecting the "old" powerlink speakers was a simple case of getting the right PL-RJ45 cables from the dealer !

After that I would wire the speakers just as you have outlined -- the manual may be correct -- but I would make it the dealer's problem to give you the best and correct advice.  After all you paid him for the V1 and you are going to buy the B&O cables from him based on his advice.

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jkhamler replied on Tue, Sep 4 2012 10:26 AM

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I have almost exactly this setup, but with 6000s as rears.

Fronts: Speaker port 1 RJ45 -> RJ45 into splitter box, 2 RJ45 -> powerlink cables from the splitter box into each BL8000

Sub: Speaker port 2 RJ45 plug -> powerlink cable directly into the sub

Rears: Speaker port 4 RJ45 -> powerlink cable into the left rear, powerlink -> powerlink chaining the left to the right rear. (I'm not sure if the BL4000s have this 'chaining' facility?)

But yes, the dealer should have told you this!

Good luck with the setup - I'd be interested to hear what you think of it once it's cranked up!

Jonathan

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XavierItzmann replied on Wed, Nov 7 2012 2:29 PM

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elephant:

I really thought that connecting the "old" powerlink speakers was a simple case of getting the right PL-RJ45 cables from the dealer !

Well, I thought the same as you, but the instructions seem quite clear.

Pre-ICEpower loudspeakers with non balanced input must be mounted with a special
non balance converter box.
Part number 3376078
This is only necessary if BeoLab loudspeakers without ICEpower amplifiers are used.
Present versions: BeoLab6000, BeoLab8000 and older versions of BeoLab4000, as well as
older models."

http://www.abo-center.dk/Abo_center_2/reptips/diagrammer/Link/Cat7%20New%20B&onet%20handbook.pdf

I would guess the above requirements may explain why my attempts at running unbalanced RCA sound distribution wires out to pre-ICE BeoLabs some seven years ago failed and I eventually chose to go back to a B&O-only setup using only PowerLink cables.