BeoSound Core working with Chromecast Audio device

I have 2 BeoLab 8000 active speakers and 2 BeoLab 6000 active speakers.  I am planning to buy a BeoSound Core to do music streaming to these speakers.  Can BeoSound Core stream to all 4 units?  If only 2 can work at a time, can I use Chromecast Audio for 2 of these speakers and also stream/control from BeoSound Core?  What is the easiest way to stream to all 4 speakers with minimal devices?

With the appropriate modern RJ to PL cable you can wire the Core to either set of speakers. The second speaker of the set would need to be daisy chained from the first speaker with a tradition PL - PL cable.

This is how I have my 6000s set up to my Essence.

Only one set could be supported... unless you daisy chain both sets together with PL cables: but then both sets would come on at the same time; and going between listening zones/ rooms would be a cable distance challenge.

In my case I have the Essence connected to the Core via NL Ethernet cabling which is also needed to access the Internet for the streaming sources.

My Core drives BL20s but the principles are the same: two source boxes are needed to drive two zones; and each zone can operate independently or either can joint the other for party mode.

To drive the speakers wirelessly you need to look at the B&O Receiver black boxes (and maybe the Transmitter as well).

I hope this helps.

I should have added ... what is already driving both speaker sets ?

It could be that all you need is to wire the Core as an AUX line in to your existing source system.

The speaker towers are inherited so they are stand alone at the moment.

So using Chromecast Audio in one set and using BeoSound Core in the other would not be able to control both with one source?  The BeoSound Core is pretty limited in controlling multiple active speakers.

Sounds like I can only power up one set at a time.

What if I only use Chromecast Audio on all 4 speakers???? Not sure if the sound quality would be good.  This solution does not do the B&O speakers justice.

normho6:

The speaker towers are inherited so they are stand alone at the moment.

So using Chromecast Audio in one set and using BeoSound Core in the other would not be able to control both with one source? The BeoSound Core is pretty limited in controlling multiple active speakers.

Sounds like I can only power up one set at a time.

What if I only use Chromecast Audio on all 4 speakers???? Not sure if the sound quality would be good. This solution does not do the B&O speakers justice.

If both the 6000s and the 8000s are inherited then you are an, albeit sad, lucky man.

So if there is no B&O source system to connect to, you could get two ChromeCast audios and plug them into the speakers via appropriate cables. Then use a device with Spotify (or whatever) to stream to either or both ChromeCast audios.

So no need for a Core.

If you already have the Core you can leverage its builtin Chrome cast and get a ChromeCast Audio for the other speaker set.

You should be able to Spotify both devices by setting up a Google speaker group:

In the above the Sitting Room is the Core talking to the BL20s, and the Auxiliary is a ChromeCast Audio inputting into a BeoSound.

Get 4 chromecasts. Use one for each speaker.

Then make one group for 8000, and one group for 6000.

Make one group with all speakers.

Will cost you less than the Core. And it works. And I gets updates.

You can also adjust bass and treble.

And you can add voice control.

And the DAC is great.

Why on earth would you need the core?

Only positive thing is that it has a physical remote.

Thank you for the suggestions.  Will give Chromecast Audio definitely a try!

Happy listening!

Shouldn't 2 Chromecast Audio plus the appropiate cables be enough? ;)

With 2 chromecasts you need a cable between the stereopair.

Utilizing two for each par makes canceling easier

If he wants to be able to supply all 4 speakers with the same audio (whole house solution) isn’t there something like this he could do:

core -> speaker set 1

network link -> ML/NL converter -> ML system (like a Beolink Converter?  Or a cheap beosound 4?) -> speaker set 2

wouldn’t both speaker sets then be connected and drivable by the same audio?

That is a lot of cabeling and a lot of equipment.

There is basically no limitations on how many chromecasts you can have in a group.

If you get 4 chromecasts, you'll need to wire only the left/right audio channel to the appropriate speaker to create stereo (I guess this is obvious, but in case it's not). 

Personally, I'd go with 2 chromecasts and wire 2 speakers to each.  Why?  My experience with my 1 chromecast is that it's a bit fiddly.  I need to reset it once in a while.  It disappears from the network for no good reason from time to time.  Sometimes Spotify doesn't see it, but the Google Home app does.  None of these are deal breakers for a $35 device, but it gets a bit annoying at times. To me, 2 sets of wires is a small price to pay for have 2 less chromecasts to fiddle with.  

Stan 

Stan:

If you get 4 chromecasts, you'll need to wire only the left/right audio channel to the appropriate speaker to create stereo (I guess this is obvious, but in case it's not).

Completely right, otherwise you won't get stereo.

Stan:

My experience with my 1 chromecast is that it's a bit fiddly.  I need to reset it once in a while.  It disappears from the network for no good reason from time to time.  Sometimes Spotify doesn't see it, but the Google Home app does.  None of these are deal breakers for a $35 device, but it gets a bit annoying at times. 

This bug has been fixed for my phone recently - just got it with Samsung Note 8, my two other phones never had issues. Before it has been fixed, I found that there's no need for resetting the chromecast. It helps just to disconnect the phone from wifi and reconnect - now all chromecasts are shown again.

I don't now about spotify, but often it helps to close the app having issues and reopen it again.

 

In case of trying the chromecasts, don't miss to activate "Full Dynamic Range" in the Google Home settings. You'll need that for getting the best sound.

Happy listening,

Ulrike

I think a BS Core is able to feed the 4 speakers (with 3 Y shaped cables or splitter / doubler), but then the 4 speakers will be activated all at the same time (not separated groups)

A second hand BS Essence MK2 (with 2 PL ports) may be another alternative.

I don't know if I it possible to drive the 2 PL independently then ?

The "problems" I see with the CCA is the need to trigger the speakers (or am I wrong ?) and may be the control of the volume(s).

CB:

The "problems" I see with the CCA is the need to trigger the speakers (or am I wrong ?) and may be the control of the volume(s).

CB,

you can start speakers playing via Chromecast from any Chromecast enabled app automatically.

Volume controls you can get either from your app, chromecasting, or via Google Home, there's an equalizer as well.

 

Also interesting, just forgot, for Roon users:

Chromecast is a Roon endpoint now, shows as a renderer and can be controlled via Roon.

CB:

A second hand BS Essence MK2 (with 2 PL ports) may be another alternative.

I don't know if I it possible to drive the 2 PL independently then ?

The 2 PL ports cannot be controlled independently.  They exist so you don't need a splitter to drive 2 non-daisy chained speakers.

CB:

The "problems" I see with the CCA is the need to trigger the speakers (or am I wrong ?) and may be the control of the volume(s).

BL 8000 and BL 6000 both have "line-in" / RCA connections so no trigger is needed.  The speaker will turn on / off automatically when a signal is detected / disappears.  The CCA has volume control from the driving app.

 

leogoeswild:

Get 4 chromecasts. Use one for each speaker.

Then make one group for 8000, and one group for 6000.

Make one group with all speakers.

Will cost you less than the Core. And it works. And I gets updates.

You can also adjust bass and treble.

And you can add voice control.

And the DAC is great.

Why on earth would you need the core?

Only positive thing is that it has a physical remote.

If Chrome-casting is all, that the op will want, you may be right.

(And there may be some problems with the speakers turning off/on, because of the non-excisting trigger)

A BS Core - or a BS Essence 2nd gen - is much more than just Chromecasting!

 

Either the op may (as already suggested) daisychain the 4 speakers L/R and L/R,

or get 2 BS Core - or BS Essence - in order to control the two pairs individually and be able to join sources between them via NL-multiroom (in addition to Cast/AirPlay 2).

Another solution could be to start with one BS Core for the main pair (if there is a main pair) and try out a Chromecast Audio dongle on the other.

 

MM

Stan:

CB:

A second hand BS Essence MK2 (with 2 PL ports) may be another alternative.

I don't know if I it possible to drive the 2 PL independently then ?

The 2 PL ports cannot be controlled independently.  They exist so you don't need a splitter to drive 2 non-daisy chained speakers.

Thanks Stan for these explanation

What I had in mind with the 2 PL of the BS Essence was to use 2 splitters (1 on each port) to feed the 4 speakers directly.

Or no splitter at all and daisy chain on each pair then.

But if the 2 PL ports are not independent, a BS Core with 3 splitters works the same (the 4 speakers are always fed simultaneously)

Stan:

The CCA has volume control from the driving app.

Yes of course, but using a phone or tablet to control the volume is less handy than using a remote control.

I use an android phone as dedicated remote for my setup.

CB:

Yes of course, but using a phone or tablet to control the volume is less handy than using a remote control.

I am using voice control and a Google Home Mini.

Just telling the Mini: play louder or whatever, play Spotify/Deezer/Tidal/Qobuz/Tunein Station xyz, or artist xyz/or playlist xyz/or track xyz.

leogoeswild:

That is a lot of cabeling and a lot of equipment.

There is basically no limitations on how many chromecasts you can have in a group.

Similarly Apple’s AirPlay2 is going to be a game changer .... it syncs all rooms wirelessly .... unfortunately they don’t make something as compact as the ChromeCast Audio

leogoeswild:

I use an android phone as dedicated remote for my setup.

Similarly I have a dedicated old iPhone

Ulrike:

Just telling the Mini: play louder or whatever, play Spotify/Deezer/Tidal/Qobuz/Tunein Station xyz, or artist xyz/or playlist xyz/or track xyz.

Thank you !

I did not know you configure that range of sources.

It was “obvious” when I went looking but I’d missed them 9 months or so ago ... buried below all the eye-candy of the video services !!!