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Beolab 3 to Chromecast Audio

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Chris Harrison
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Chris Harrison Posted: Fri, Jun 30 2017 8:29 AM

Is it possible to connect a Chromecast Audio to Beolab 3 for Wireless sound?

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

Steve at Sounds Heavenly
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Hi Chris,

Yes, this is simple to do  First, please unplug the standard 3.5mm minijack cable from the Chromecast Audio.  You can then connect a pair of Beolab 3 speakers to the headphone socket of the Chromecast Audio using this cable:-

https://soundsheavenly.com/line-in-connection/70-341-minijack-to-beolab-line-in-using-powerlink-sockets-one-cable-for-two-speakers.html#/2-length-1m

Please set both speakers to "Line" mode using the small switch next to the input sockets.

You can now stream music wirelessly from your smart phone or tablet to the speakers via the Chromecast Audio.

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

Chris Harrison
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Steve, is that the best way of connecting in terms of sound quality? Would I be better of spending a little more and getting the Beosound Essence?

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

Duels
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Duels replied on Sat, Sep 2 2017 3:52 PM
Chris Harrison:

Steve, is that the best way of connecting in terms of sound quality? Would I be better of spending a little more and getting the Beosound Essence?

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Mini, iPhone 6, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones.

If you do go that route the new core may be even better than the essence.
lonfred
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lonfred replied on Sat, Sep 2 2017 4:24 PM
I connected my BL20s optical to one Chromecast audio and I was not Happy with the sound quality and that the volume control was so sensitive. I changed to a Moment and I am now really happy. The Beosound core solution looks also really nice. But it cost almost nothing to try the ChromeCast solution so maybe worth to try.
Steve at Sounds Heavenly
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Hi lonfred 

 

That sounds like like a good solution! Chromecast usually gives good results, but there can be gains to be had by going for a B&O system.

 

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

Aussie Michael
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Chris Harrison:

Steve, is that the best way of connecting in terms of sound quality? Would I be better of spending a little more and getting the Beosound Essence?

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Mini, iPhone 6, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones.

That's what I did.

It is now easy to see them in the BeoApp so i can use them with the multi room.

I also installed a Beo IR controller to the Essence Mk2

The ChromeCast is not that expensive so why not give it a try and the cable from Steve?

I was thinking the other day that if i still had my BeoSound 8 with the 30 pin connector that i could use at ChromeCast audio with it. NOthing like this was around then besides an apple airport express.
Duels
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Duels replied on Sat, Sep 2 2017 11:04 PM
Aussie Michael:

I was thinking the other day that if i still had my BeoSound 8 with the 30 pin connector that i could use at ChromeCast audio with it. NOthing like this was around then besides an apple airport express.

I think Leo did that and also removed the connector somehow. I might give it a try.
Aussie Michael
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Hi Duels

Yes I remember that too. He is indeed a cluey bloke. :-)
elephant
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lonfred:

I connected my BL20s optical to one Chromecast audio and I was not Happy with the sound quality and that the volume control was so sensitive. I changed to a Moment and I am now really happy. The Beosound core solution looks also really nice. But it cost almost nothing to try the ChromeCast solution so maybe worth to try.

I agree the direct optical from ChromeCast (in my case to BL20s) is highly sensitive volume control.

BeoNut since '75

Chris Harrison
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How about Beolab 3 to Sonos - will that give better quality. 

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

Steve at Sounds Heavenly
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Hi Chris,

Yes, Sonos Connect works very well with Beolab speakers, this is probably the most popular choice at the moment.  Quality is good and there aren't any issues with volume control that I'm aware of.  You can connect a pair of Beolab 3 speakers to a Sonos Connect with this cable:-

https://soundsheavenly.com/powerlink-8-pin-din-connection/105-126-av-processor-pre-amp-sonos-to-beolab-using-the-powerlink-din-sockets.html#/2-length-1m

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

WP61
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WP61 replied on Thu, Dec 23 2021 10:31 AM

Thanks everyone, lots to take on here.

However there is the issue of adding a Sub (in my case it will be B&W PV1D) to the Beolab 3's

Clearly will need something to send the line signal to both speakers and sub together - is this where Playmaker is needed...or other?

Finally - if I want to add my turntable (having gone through a phono stage) that means having something where I can switch between two inputs. Can this also be accommodated?

 

Steve at Sounds Heavenly
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Hi,

Please forget about Chromecast Audio if you want to add a turntable, as this streamer doesn't have a line input - switchers should not be used directly on the input to Beolab speakers or you will have major noise issues when you flick the switch from one input to another.

Instead, you need to look at a streamer like Sonos Port or B&O Playmaker that has a line input for the turntable.  Please let me know which one you choose and I can help with cables.

Either way, you can add the subwoofer, but the connections will vary depending on which streamer you choose.

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

TWG
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TWG replied on Thu, Dec 23 2021 1:27 PM

Regarding sound quality of Chromecast audio: You'll need to enable "Full dynamic range" to get acceptable audio quality out of that little UFOs.

See here:
https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6290498?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid

 

Of course a B&O sound system is the more comfortable way :-)

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