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Hi,
I have a pair of Beolab 5s and I'm planning to buy a Beovision 11. I would like to be able to listen to stereo sound from the TV on the Beolab 5s as well as connecting my Mac Mini digitally to the Beolab 5s. I will use an USB to SPDIF coax adaptor to get the digital audio signal out from the Mac Mini.
My question: How would you connect all devices to accomplish the above? Can the Beolab 5s support both the Beovision 11 via PowerLink and the Mac Mini via SPDIF coax?
Can I use the Beo 4 remote for controlling the volume (on the speakers) for both the Beovision 11 and the MacMini? Which mode should the Beolab 5s be in?
Many thanks for any good advice.
Kim (Sweden)
kimzim: My question: How would you connect all devices to accomplish the above? Can the Beolab 5s support both the Beovision 11 via PowerLink and the Mac Mini via SPDIF coax?
The answer is yes, BV11 connected with Powerlink, and Mac Mini via PSDIF with a USB to SPDIF converter. The Shiit EITR is a very good USB/SPDIF bridge, and I recommend you to use Audirvana Plus on the Mac Mini to get the maximum quality. These 2 components are important to get the best musical experience.
kimzim: Can I use the Beo 4 remote for controlling the volume (on the speakers) for both the Beovision 11 and the MacMini? Which mode should the Beolab 5s be in?
Yes you can, of course, but you're going to have to do some manipulations to switch from one source to another. Basically you will have to change the L-OPT option each time you switch from one to another source. For example, in L-OPT 0, the BV11 will control the Beolab 5, so you can use them while watching TV or listen to N.MUSIC,. To listen the music from the Mac Mini, you will have to switch to L-OPT 1 first, and then use RADIO to activate and control the BL5. The BV11 will stay off in this case. And don't forget you will need to connect the synchro cable between the two beolab 5.
If you are going this way, I suggest you to get a Beolink1000 remote, as you won't have to play on the Beo4 with the List/Power together, then choose Option and then L-OPT + 1 or 0 to switch of source each time. On the BeoLink1000 it is just Link + 0 or 1 + store
Maybe another option is to connect the Mac Mini to the BV11 through SPDIF. The sound processing of the BV11 is quite excellent, I don't know if you will loose much regarding the excellent internal DAC of the BL5, but it will solve the problem to switch the Link Option each time you change the source since you will have only the BV11 to control this way. And no need for the synchro cable here.
In fact, what you want to do while getting the full integrated B&O experience can only work with some Beovisions, like the BV7-55 or the BV9 and BV12 which are using the beosytem3 with full wired powerlink connections, and you would need additional components like Masterlink cable and a source with CD capability.
I wanted to do exactly what you want to achieve, it is why I did choose a BV7-55, I had already an unused Beomaster 4500 which I connected to the BV7 with Masterlink only (with a beolink converter, no source and no speaker connected to the BM4500), just to give the CD option to avoid switching the L-OPT all the time. I have a BV11-55 in my bedroom (with the oak grill of the BV14, sublime), and honestly, I can affirm with both very well setup regarding picture that the BV7 is better than the BV11. The picture quality, the black especially, is just stunning on the BV7. But for the musical processing it is the opposite, the speakers of the BV11 are just amazing even beside the Beolab 7.6, and the beosystem4 has so many capabilities regarding ajustements that you can setup the sound exactly how you want to. But all this is quite off topic :-)
Thank you so much for your insightful answers. I have now purchased a Beovision 11-40 and will be experimenting with different connections.
Thank you for your insightful answers. I have now purchased a BV 11-40 and will try out the different options. Thanx again.