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I've read mixed findings/opinions on this, and wanted to ideally get a definite conclusion.
Considering auditioning a pair of Beolab 5 but really not looking to be using an additional remote to control them.
Question is quite straightforward: Can Logitech Harmony (I have the Harmony Elite but I presume if a certain type of Harmony can control hem, they all can) control the Beolab 5? I.e. turning on/off, controlling volume and other relevant day-to-day controls?
Thanks!
I would say no.
To my knowledge you need a music source with volume controlled pre- amp output.
No Ir-receiver on the speaker.
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Hiort: I would say no. To my knowledge you need a music source with volume controlled pre- amp output. No Ir-receiver on the speaker.
Are you sure?
I have read in a few instances that they in fact have IR receivers somewhere.
Hi Haubjes,
I can confirm that Beolab 5 speakers do have an IR receiver fitted, this is for the unique 455kHz B&O IR remote codes only. Standard 38kHz "universal" remotes will not operate Beolab 5 speakers.
A B&O remote control (or a compatible home automation system such as Lintronic or Control4) is needed to activate the speakers before use and to control the volume (unless they are connected to a variable volume output).
Beolab 5 speakers can be used with a fixed "line level" output, as they have their own internal volume control. This sets them apart from other Beolab speakers (except Beolab 50 and 90) which need a variable volume input.
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Logitech seem to think they can! (and all other B&O products)
Ban boring signatures!
Of course BL5s do have IR receivers (455 kHz), especially for use with non Beo amps/TVs...
For the rest this might help (?):
https://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/t/26244.aspx
Stefan
While I'm not currently using my Harmony remote for my BS9000, I have used Harmony remotes in the past to control B&O gear. I'm thinking of adding the BS9000 to my remote though, to have an all in one solution.
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
This is not quite correct. I have a pair of Beolab 5s and a Logitech Harmony ultimate setup. I have my speakers in A OPT mode 4.. The setup can in fact turn on the speakers but cannot turn them off. I use a non-B&O preamp to adjust volume.
Now, I haven’t tried to use the Logitech harmony to do things like change the A OPT or sound settings (including sound store). I have a beoremote one and Beo4 remote for that. But I can confirm that once set up, you can at least turn he speakers on.
And others in threads I have posted (about the Beolab 5 specifically) say that you can turn them off with a Logitech harmony system. I’m guessing it depends on the mode.
I can definitely confirm that the Beolab 5 are controllable with the Logitech remotes (I have tried the touch ant the ultimate touch including the hub).
they need to be set in to the correct mode (therefore you need a beo4, changing the mode is not possible with the harmony), and everything works well.
What the harmony does not support, is to learn new commands from the beo4, because it has no 455Hz receiveing Sensor.
regards
mike
Mike: I can definitely confirm that the Beolab 5 are controllable with the Logitech remotes (I have tried the touch ant the ultimate touch including the hub). they need to be set in to the correct mode (therefore you need a beo4, changing the mode is not possible with the harmony), and everything works well.
Mike, I assume they're running in "option 1" mode? Based on that the Harmony should have commands like power on / off and volume? Can understand the need for a Beo4 to initially set mode as probably BL5 would be set mode 0 "powerlink data".
I currently have a Harmony Elite controlling a LG tv and s8 connection hub & BL9. Will probably be upgrading to BL5s and would be nice to have one remote - with a beo4 as a backup.
If you're having an issue with the Harmony not correctly controlling a Beo product, contact them via email at their support center. I went back and forth with them several times when trying to control my old AV7000. They'd make a change, send me a new file to load to the remote, have me tell them what worked and what didn't, then repeat. Took three tries but they got it right, and earned quite a bit of respect from me for their support.
alee: This is not quite correct. I have a pair of Beolab 5s and a Logitech Harmony ultimate setup. I have my speakers in A OPT mode 4.. The setup can in fact turn on the speakers but cannot turn them off. I use a non-B&O preamp to adjust volume. Now, I haven’t tried to use the Logitech harmony to do things like change the A OPT or sound settings (including sound store). I have a beoremote one and Beo4 remote for that. But I can confirm that once set up, you can at least turn he speakers on.
If I read the above, and then subsequently:
Jeff: If you're having an issue with the Harmony not correctly controlling a Beo product, contact them via email at their support center. I went back and forth with them several times when trying to control my old AV7000. They'd make a change, send me a new file to load to the remote, have me tell them what worked and what didn't, then repeat. Took three tries but they got it right, and earned quite a bit of respect from me for their support.
Then this sounds like it's fixable?
If so, surely someone must have gotten this to fully work with the BL5?
The reason I want to be sure is I've auditioned a set of BL5 and they were very nice. Being able to operate them smoothly however, is also a key deciding factor for me.
Can anybody fully confirm they've got a setup in the likes of a non B&O source, hooked to the BL5 with a digital cable and controlled all the kit using a Logitech Harmony (ideally using the hub and Harmony's app)?
fully confirmed. thats exactly what i do.
have beo4 as backup to set the correct mode, and the daily use is operated with the harmony.
Mike, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Do you use the logitech hub to control this all, or the remote itself (which requires aiming)?
Did you need to take specific steps in order to get this to work?
Just to check: you can make an activity like: play music, you press that on the Harmony app, and everything starts up and powers down without needing to use the Beo4 remote? Also, while playing, the harmony app/remote can control the BL5 volume?
i use the hub to control everything. i did nothing special, just place the hub in the range of the lab5s and the rest of my equipment.
and yes, it works exactly as you expect.
setting it up is straight forward:
you add activities like "music listening", then you set the involved equipment (like beolab5 and a radio), set the input that should be selected (e.g. radio for the lab5 and tuner for your radio,...), where you cange the chanel (on the radio) and where you want to control the volume (on the beolabs).
thats it. the rest works fine (at least in my system :-) )
until now, i could not find a thing that the harmony can not control (even the irobot vacuum cleaner, the fire tv stick (just with the hub, becaus its bluetooth controlled,...).
the only negativ thing that i can say about it, is, compared to the beo4 it's like an ugly piece of palstics in the hand --> like almost any other remot controls
Mike, great. Thanks for your input.
Does the hub need a clear line of sight to the BL5s? I.e. does the hub need to be in a distinctively visible place, close to the BL5s?
Thanks again so much.
Edit: I guess what I'm trying to ask is: are the BL5's infrared receiver by any means sensitive?
depends on the surrounding. in my previous apartment it was not necessary to have it aligned.
since i'm in my new house (in a much bigger living room, and the bl5 in the sunroom with a lot of glass) it is not that easy anymore. so i placed the hub in a high position, to get a direct sight connection.
While it would be nice if Harmony offered an upmarket, metal, sexier remote that maintained their excellent functionality, they do make a very good, flexible, easy to program universal remote. I am consistently impressed by their offerings, especially whenever I need to reprogram mine for a new piece of hardware, the ease of adding or changing things is impressive.
In my case, due to the Hub placement, I found out that the BL5 IR eyes are not easy to activate, so I have defined my system to send the IR commands from the Harmony hand piece.
Don't forget that you can send IR commands from the hub using the two IR extenders as well...
Putzgrilous: In my case, due to the Hub placement, I found out that the BL5 IR eyes are not easy to activate, so I have defined my system to send the IR commands from the Harmony hand piece. Don't forget that you can send IR commands from the hub using the two IR extenders as well...
Currently in my setup the Harmony is only used to control the non-Beo AV gear. All mounted in a cabinet, so is the hub, so it blasts IR inside the cabinet to everything, except the TV which is wall mounted. I use one of their IR blasters sitting below the TV and pointing out from the TV but it still operates the TV perfectly. Next up will be adding my BS9000 to the mix, eventually (meaning when I get the remote, a cable, and my laptop in the same place). Not a high priority to me.
edit: sorry, double
Thanks for the helpful replies all!
Where are the IR eyes located on the BL5?
I just tried to control a set of BL5 with the Harmony, but no luck yet.
Do they need to be set again in option 1 (using the beo4 remote) if they have been powered off?
If I add the Beolab 5 as device, my logitech remote (one programed) shows that as 'Bang & Olufsen AV receiver'. I also get buttons like input aux input cd input dvd etc, which I'm not sure is correct.
Any help?
i have now acquired a Beo4.
Can anyone tell me how did you add the Beolab 5 to the list of devices, and what buttons do you see? In my Logitech it shows up as 'Bang & Olufsen AV receiver' and appears to have all kinds of buttons that are not even relevant. Not sure that is right.
Using the Beo4 I have set them to option 1. The Beo4 controls both speakers fine.
Hope anyone can help.
hi haubjes
i think AVR is the wrong one...
i added a "beosound 3000" (or something similar) in my harmony configutation. beolab 5s reacting on the same commands like the beosounds.
then you need to press the same buttons like on the beo4 for on and off command (means "radio" for on, and "off" for off :-) )
Hi, I have exactly this same setup. Did you get it working ok? Could you share what you did perhaps?