Some questions about the Beosound Core

I am considering to add some BLs to a non-B&O televisions. Initially, I was planning to do so with a Connection Hub, but am now thinking that a Beosound Core may be an even better solution to do so. Some questions for the experts on this forum:

1) Is the current Beosound Core already MK2 and/or any update expected?

2) Would be as straightforward to connect my non-B&O television to the Core and then to a pair of BL8000 (or BL3 or BL5 or BL18) as it is with the Connection Hub?

3) Can I connect the Essence wheelie to start & pause audio from the Core? What about volume control (does this interfere with the volume control from the TV)

4) Assuming I play airplay-2 to the BL via the Core. Can I pause this stream for this speaker (speakers in other rooms keep playing) and then rejoin again by clicking play (on wheelie)

5) Could I connect a vinyl player to the Core? Would I still need a pre-amp?

6) How can I switch between audio sources? For example: let's assume I watch television (audio on BL via Core) and I cast airplay-2 to the Core. Would this stop the audio from TV and start the airplay stream? What happens if I pause the airplay stream, does the TV stream commences again?

 

Thanks for all your help!

Hi steve1977,

I'm hoping that someone will be along soon to comment on the planned updates to the Core.

In terms of connections, you just need an optical cable from the TV to the Core, please note that this needs a 3.5mm mini-Toslink adapter at the Core, which I can include free on request: https://soundsheavenly.com/tv-input/149-2325-premium-braided-toslink-optical-cable-with-metal-plugs.html#/16-length-15m

The speakers will then connect to the Core with an RJ45 splitter ( https://soundsheavenly.com/bang-olufsen/27-313-rj45-powerlink-compatible-splitter-new-powerlink-to-two-8-pin-din-powerlink-compatible-sockets.html#/20-length-02m ) and two Powerlink cables for Beolab 3 or 6000: https://soundsheavenly.com/powerlink-8-pin-din-connection/20-266-powerlink-mk-3-compatible-8-pin-din-cable-with-4-cores-wired-low-profile-cable.html#/1-length-05m

The only issue is that the Core only has one input socket (a combined 3.5mm analogue/optical socket), so whilst you can connect a vinyl player, you would need to unplug the TV from the Core in order to do this.  You would need a pre-amp (with a 3.5mm output cable) like this one: https://soundsheavenly.com/beogram-record-players/12-2196-pre-amp-bundle-for-bo-beogram-and-all-turntables.html#/36-output-5_pin_din_aux/41-power_supply-uk

From memory, I think the Airplay sources take priority over a wired connection on the Core, hopefully someone will correct me if I am wrong!  Volume control is possible via the Essence remote, this will normally be independent of the TV speaker volume.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards, Steve.

Mmh. It reads that i may be better off by the connection hub? Is it EOL and anyone knows whether any successor in the making?

steve1977:

1) Is the current Beosound Core already MK2 and/or any update expected?

2) Would be as straightforward to connect my non-B&O television to the Core and then to a pair of BL8000 (or BL3 or BL5 or BL18) as it is with the Connection Hub?

3) Can I connect the Essence wheelie to start & pause audio from the Core? What about volume control (does this interfere with the volume control from the TV)

4) Assuming I play airplay-2 to the BL via the Core. Can I pause this stream for this speaker (speakers in other rooms keep playing) and then rejoin again by clicking play (on wheelie)

5) Could I connect a vinyl player to the Core? Would I still need a pre-amp?

6) How can I switch between audio sources? For example: let's assume I watch television (audio on BL via Core) and I cast airplay-2 to the Core. Would this stop the audio from TV and start the airplay stream? What happens if I pause the airplay stream, does the TV stream commences again?

You are pushing my limits not sure if you are pushing the Core’s ... and Steve has given some great answers, so here are mine:

0) I don’t know the status of the connection hub ... there seems to have been some forum traffic about it lately however most of time it seems to not be suitable for MST BeoWorld BV users

1) Mark II is out any new purchased should get you one

2) I would say yes, and I believe Steve’s answers confirm this

3a) I believe so - I still have my Essence so I have not reconfigured it’s remote to the Core.

3b) I believe you should treat the TV as a line in with a set volume, and adjust the volume at the Core whether with “wheelie” or the B&O App. (And I think a BeoRemote if you get the Core mk II (mine’s a mk I).

4a) AirPlay2 is a probable announcement - certainly B&O have said they will, and Apple is publishing that statement of intent.

4b) With NL and only if the other rooms have Essences or Cores of their own. No different from the ML days where you needed a BeoLink Active or Passive in each room.

5) Steve answered this - I am not sure a Connection Hub would be any better

6) I think you will have to consciously switch between sources using the B&O App; see below: