Connecting BL11 / BL8000 to BV5

I thjnk i’ve asked this before, but couldn’t find my own thread... I’m looking (yet again) to connect my BL11 and potentially my BL8000 to my BV5. What cable do i need?

1) I’d first like to add my BL11 to my BV5. No other speaker. What cable would i need for this and do i need to change anything in the settings?

2) BL11 needs to be on the floor or can be higher?

3) I read that it may not be possible to only connect a BL11, but i may also need to connect BL8000. aid so, what cables would i need in addition or instead of (1)? How to configure this as 2.1 or 3.1 setup?

Thanks!

I just tried to connect the BL11 over PL.

Unfortunately, the BV5 menu does not allow me to turn on only the subwoofer. Only after setting frontspeaker to some BLs, I cano activate the sub. I an leave the rears as "none".

Given I don't have fronts connected, I assume that the BV5 now ouputs "center" (1.1) and no longer "stereo" (2.0)? is this assumption correct and does it make any sense for me to run the TV this way? How would you rank 2.0, 1.1 and 3.1.

If I were to connect BL8000 to the BV5 as fronts, would I connect them directly to the TV or to the BL11? Why does the BL11 even have PL output?

Hi Steve

I recall when the BeoLab 11 sub-woofer was launched it was suggested to be paired with BeoLab 4000 or BeoLab 6000. It's not a hugely powerful sub and you may find that even when set up, it doesn't improve the sound with Lab 8000's.

I performed a number of home demonstrations when the "Tulip" was launched and even though several clients were primed to purchase, once they heard it with their existing set up, they couldn't justify the expense.

Good luck

Opman

Thanks for your reply. No chance to have the BL11 support by BV5 (without fronts)? This should help the BV.

Also, if I were to try out with fronts, how would I set cable cables required (1) BV5 with BL3/BL11. (2) BV5 with BL8000/BL11, or (3) M/NL with BL3/BL11, (4) non-B&O TV with BL3/11.

Strange that you say that there it doen’t add anything to the BL8000’s

It’s my setup for the last 10y and I can tell that there is huge difference when the sub is off.

The BL2 and 19 are something completely different. But the BL11 clearly add power to the BL8000... just ask my neighbours...

Karel.

kuyttendaele:

Strange that you say that there it doen’t add anything to the BL8000’s

It’s my setup for the last 10y and I can tell that there is huge difference when the sub is off.

The BL2 and 19 are something completely different. But the BL11 clearly add power to the BL8000... just ask my neighbours...

Karel.

I am definitely with Karel there - a BL11 makes a difference.

Whether this difference is enough for someone can of course be discussed.

f you want to play music with much low synthetic bas content (loud) or when you expect rumble like in the movies from your movies, a BL11 might not be enough.

One should also think of the size of the room for the setup.

Generally spoken, If someone does not notice a BL11 in a setup, it most likely is badly integrated there.

MM

steve1977:

If I were to connect BL8000 to the BV5 as fronts, would I connect them directly to the TV or to the BL11? Why does the BL11 even have PL output?

The BL11 has PL outputs because it also can be used with a stereo/2.0 setup from an AudioMaster/System.

In this case you connect the BL11 to the PL out there and use the PL outs on the BL11 for the additional BeoLabs.

You (can) make all settings on the BL11 using the small dip swithes there (please consult the manual).

When used with a tv (with a surround module integrated) you should connect it there as well as the BeoLabs, that will be used as fronts.

Note: on a pre-BSys4 tv/product you can not use the BL11 as a sub without engaging the external speakers in the setup.

All settings/bas management etc is done via the settings of the tv.

MM

Thanks for your messages. I already have a BL11. Bought it some years ago, but never put it in use. I like the design and hope I can now find a way to deploy it.

Thanks for sharing that I cannot use it without fronts with my BV. That's a pity.

I'll likely will buy a pair of BL3, which is a nice set of speakers. Will connect it together with the BL11 either to an ML/NL converter or to a non-B&O television. What cables would I need in either of these two options to make it work? And does it even work?

Connection to a converter will work fine.

You’ll need a PL cable with RJ45/PL connection at one end and DIN/PL at the other - or an adater with an existing DIN/PL cable.

However you will also need the ir-eye for controlling.

As for cables for a non-B&O tv please consult Steve at Sounds Heavenly, who also is a sponsor of this site.

Please describe the connections on that tv in order to know the options you might have there for a connection.

Please be aware, that you might be able to combine both - the converter also has a line-in port, which may be used for connecting the output of the tv.

MM

Millemissen:

Connection to a converter will work fine.

You’ll need a PL cable with RJ45/PL connection at one end and DIN/PL at the other - or an adater with an existing DIN/PL cable.

However you will also need the ir-eye for controlling.

As for cables for a non-B&O tv please consult Steve at Sounds Heavenly, who also is a sponsor of this site.

Please describe the connections on that tv in order to know the options you might have there for a connection.

Please be aware, that you might be able to combine both - the converter also has a line-in port, which may be used for connecting the output of the tv.

MM

I love the idea of combining both non-B&O TV and ML/NL. Isn't there a delay that would prevent TV use? Otherwise, this would be amazing! My TV has a regular line-out (I used to connect it with my A9, which worked). Assume the BL3/11 woudl require some trigger signal though? And not clear how I'd connect the BL11?

What would I need the IR eye for when connecting the BL3/11 to the ML/NL? Assume I'd connect the BL11 and then use the PL-out from the BL11 to connect the pair of BL3?

If the delay was minimal with the A9 using the line-out, it should be the same with the converter.

The ir-eye is need for controlling.....controlling the volume and for a direct selection of the sources that are available through the converter.

Yes the BL11/BL3 combo can be connected as described earlier - it’s PL so you won’t need additional triggering.

MM

Millemissen:

If the delay was minimal with the A9 using the line-out, it should be the same with the converter.

The ir-eye is need for controlling.....controlling the volume and for a direct selection of the sources that are available through the converter.

Yes the BL11/BL3 combo can be connected as described earlier - it’s PL so you won’t need additional triggering.

MM

No issue whatsoever with my A9. It works really well. And I could even control the volume via the TV (through volume from line-out) and could also adjust the volume in addition with the A9 directly.

Instead of an IR eye, I could also use the B&O app, right? Both to control sources and adjust audio? I would have thought the BLs go go to stand-by when connected to the ML/NL or if directly connected to the TV. And it would require some form of trigger to wake them up?

Millemissen:

If the delay was minimal with the A9 using the line-out, it should be the same with the converter

I hoped this was right, but it seems not possible to have a ML/NL between my non-B&O television and Beolabs. I had been thinking about doing this before, but @Stean commented that this would not work (ML/NL converts line-in to digital, which then needs to converted back to PL). See below:

https://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/t/22325.aspx

Or has this been fixed by now?

And in case, the ML/NL option does not work. Would the two options below be safe to use?

1) Connect non-B&O TV to BL11 from headphone socket (TV) to PL-in (BL11). And then use the two PL-out from the BL11 to connect with the pair of BL3. Would the BL11 "know" to act as sub only and steer the BL3s? And are there any issues with audio control?

2) If I later were to add a Beosound Core to the mix, what would change? I assume I could connect from headphone to line-in? Would I then connect the BL11 or the BL3 to the PL-out? What would happen if I play Deezer on the Moment and then turn on the TV and start a movie. What takes priority?

Pulled the trigger and it seems that all is working. My setup is now: non-B&O TV ---(line-out)--- Core -> BL11 -> BL3. All seems to be working with the only adjustment I had to do was to disable the "line-in delay".

I still have a few questions to fine-tune my setup:

1) My built-in TV speakers provided audible audio at level 12, while I now need to increase it to 30. Assume there would be some setup to change that the BL3 run at similar volume (12)? Where do I set this up?

2) The BL11 and the BL3 have quite some manual settings over switches. I haven't touched any of them. What would be the optimized setup for what I am doing?

3) What are the pros and cons of using "line in" vs "optical" to connect my non-B&O with my Core? I am currently using line-in, but could switch to optical (toslink) if there is an advantage in doing so?

4) Shall I "fix the sound level"? Seems to make sense as I would only control from one control, but curious whether any drawback?

5) There are more Core settings related to "line out level" (tick box for "use PL socket for connection to an audio system instead") and "optical out" (tick box for volume regulated output). Any suggestions how to configure both of them?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Pulling this back from page 3 (was in forum review).

steve1977:

My setup is now: non-B&O TV ---(line-out)--- Core -> BL11 -> BL3. All seems to be working with the only adjustment I had to do was to disable the "line-in delay".

I still have a few questions to fine-tune my setup:

1) My built-in TV speakers provided audible audio at level 12, while I now need to increase it to 30. Assume there would be some setup to change that the BL3 run at similar volume (12)? Where do I set this up?

2) The BL11 and the BL3 have quite some manual settings over switches. I haven't touched any of them. What would be the optimized setup for what I am doing?

3) What are the pros and cons of using "line in" vs "optical" to connect my non-B&O with my Core? I am currently using line-in, but could switch to optical (toslink) if there is an advantage in doing so?

4) Shall I "fix the sound level"? Seems to make sense as I would only control from one control, but curious whether any drawback?

5) There are more Core settings related to "line out level" (tick box for "use PL socket for connection to an audio system instead") and "optical out" (tick box for volume regulated output). Any suggestions how to configure both of them?

Any thoughts from the community on how to configure my Core / BL11/ BL3 setup above?