Speaker and connectivity advice needed

Hello,

Thanjs for taking time to look at my questions. I'm new to sound systems and B&O so please forgive me if I'm not clear here.

I'm considering buying 2 Beolab 3 speakers and connecting them to a MacBook, iPod and smartphone through either a Beosound 5 or a Beosound Core:

 - Would I need anything else for my system? 

- Is there a difference between the Beosound 5 and the Beosound Core? And what are the pros and cons of each system?

- Are the Beolab 3s a decent speaker for listening to music? The primary purpose is to listen to music in a medium sized living room but we may also connect up to the TV, if it is easy to do. We'll connect to Spotify a lot.

- Can you connect the Core and 5 to non B&O speakers?

- Would a Beolab 2 significantly improve the overall sound? If it all works out then I might look to add one next year.

I've carried out a bit of research and the 3s seem a solid choice of speaker in our budget and the Core seems to do the job of the Beosound 5 but is a bit more flexible and future proofed.

Thanks for looking at this, I'll appreciate any advice.

Best wishes,

Waddington

 

 

 

Do you have music locally on your MacBook or do you stream?

A Beolab 2 will improve significantly.

If would get Aux-cables from Steve.

Then you can connect to the tv, and use a Chromecast for spotify.

I have both a Beosound 5 and a Core. The 5 is a much more impressive looking device as opposed to the Core that is designed more to be hidden. I am very happy with both. The 5 is a pleasure to use, the controls and display are beautiful. But the Core is the modern one. Choosing between one or the other I would definitely pick the Core. The ability to control it from the phone is wonderful as opposed the 5 which can not be controlled from a phone.

If the tactile experiencing of turning something on, such as exists with the 5, is desired, an Essence remote can be connected to the Core.

Depending on your room and your habits and expectation re the sound of the speakers, almost anyone would advice adding a BL2.

However in a smallish room you can easily go with just the BL3’s.

Try them without the BL2 first - if you try them with a BL2 first, you will want to keep the BL2 :-)

 

Do you mean ‘a physical connection’ to the mentioned items? Or should they rather be able to control things?

It will be much easier to have a physical connection (tv) to the Core than to a BS5 - it has a toslink input port. 

With the BS5 you won’t get Spotify....not really.

My advice - if you go for a BS Core: get yourself a tablet exclusively for controlling that....let the phone be phone.

 

Yes, you can connect both products to non B&O-speaker, though not as easy.

If you mean passive speakers, you will need an amp - preferably from B&O.

 

MM

 

Thanks for responding. Would I need the cables and the Chromecast to connect the TV to the Core?

Sorry if this is basic. I'm really new to this and am putting the system together as a gift.

 

W

Thanks, really helpful! The 5 looks beautiful but I'm going to go with the Core as it seems a little more practical.

 

W

Great advice - thanks!

I'm going to go with the Core and have a couple of extra questions, if that's OK.

Will I need a lead to connect the TV to the Core or can this be done wirelessly?

Iknow that I'll need cables to connect the Core to the BL 3s, any tips here and will I need an amp for this?

I guess the big benefit of the Core is potential future wireless connectivity, and having a multi-room set up. We might go for this next.

Thanks for your help here!

W

 

 

 

 

No amp needed to connect the Core to Beolab 3s.

You will need a Toslink cable from the tv to the BS Core.

(Sound) settings of rhe tv will depend on which one.

If you are not familiar with the Core (and/or media players in general), my advice would be to look for as much information that you can find - especially if you want to set it up for someone else.

P.S. No need for a ChromeCast Audio dongle - this functionallity is built-in to the Core.

MM