TT to multiroom?

Hi

I Wonder if there is any possibility to Connect a turntable to a multiroom setup consisting of Beoplay A9, M5 and M3?

I have seen this article: https://theultralinx.com/2017/04/bang-olufsen-multiroom-setup/

but i cant manage to tell how this is Connected.

 

Any help is highly appreciated!

BR, Erik

 

One quick way would be to connect the TT to the line in of one of the products and let the Multiroom manage the sound distribution to all products simultaneously.

You’ll need the proper cable and potentially a RIAA pre-amp between your TT and the B&O product if the TT has no RIAA.

I personally have a TT going to a pre-amp then to a Moment and I can listen records on all my products.

Hi and welcome on Beoworld.

Actually that is pretty easy.....if you just want the sound of the TT playing through your B&O device - and your B&O multiroom setup.

Just connect the output of the TT to the line in connection of one if the devices.

But do remember, that the TT has to have a RIIA amp built-in or connected to the output.

 

Where it gets tricky is, when you want to control the playback of the TT (start/stop etc).

Then you need the ‘converter, which is hidden behind the cabinet’, that the author of the linked article mentioned.

And you need a suited B&O turntable plus a compatible AudioMaster (like the BeoSystem 6500/7000 in the pictures) along with a good homenetwork, that includes wired connection to the ‘converter’.

This ‘converter’ is called NL/ML Converter - it is rather expensive. Although now not offered anymore from B&O, you can get it used.

 

So.....it’ts up to you - if you just want sound from the TT and want to be able to listen to it on every device, it is a fairly straight forward procedure.

Also have a look here:

https://youtu.be/DAMcrTDe5As

 

MM

I'd like to find a simple and not expensive way to connect an analog system to my network too, in my case a beomaster 1001/Beogram 3000.

But analog audio to airplay seems to be a difficult device to find.

Bonjour Matador43 - Do you mean integrating your legacy B&O products in a NL Multiroom setup? 

mbolo01:

Bonjour Matador43 - Do you mean integrating your legacy B&O products in a NL Multiroom setup? 

Bonjour Mbolo ! I have no NL or ML network. Just an standard Wifi which distribute audio to airplay receivers connected to B&O devices.
So what I would like is some sort of "Airplay In" to add Old B&O stuff to it (like beogram or reel to reel deck).

 

Hi

 

Thanks for the answer! I didn't have a clue that it was so easy. Didn't even try that at all, since i thought it at least needed some kind of product so send signals to the other speakers.

 

Im looking to find a Beogram 4000/4002.

There is one for sale in the area. A 4002 Vintage teak With a MMC 20 S pickup. It's supposed  to work but says its a slow startet. Priced around 350£

 

Is there any particular RIAA that is recommended for a Beogram TT?

 

 

matador43:

So what I would like is some sort of "Airplay In" to add Old B&O stuff to it (like beogram or reel to reel deck).

Only one way, which requires a spare (old) Mac: Connect your analog source to its mic/input port and run a Rogue Amoeba product like Airfoil or Loopback to send the output to System Out, which you can connect to any AirPlay speaker.  Change AirPlay destinations either in person or by Screen Sharing.

It has been pointed out that instead of doing this, one might as well digitize the source record or tape and add it to the iTunes (or whatever) music library and then use "the usual method" to play to the AirPlay speakers.  Now that particular source item is archived, ready for the next time you want to hear it!  ...Which misses the point of playing with the antique toys and thumbing thru the old physical archive... but if the goal is to actually listen to the music...

[Edit: Rogue Amoeba's "LineIn" app was free and does exactly & only audio pass-thru, but works only on older Mac OS.  That's perfect.  You might pay for AirFoil instead, just in order to control the output destination from an iDevice rather than the Mac screen.  A free method for newer Macs would be to set up GarageBand for a single real instrument, choosing whichever input including USB, then turn monitoring on (w/feedback control, if your TT is near the speakers.]

[Edit 2: Which implies another method: Run GarageBand permanently on an old iOS device instead of a Mac!  But then you need an RIAA preamp with USB output like Parasound Zphono-USB, or again with the low-end pro audio devices for their ADC -- plus the Apple USB camera support cable for the iDevice.  Note I have not tried this, so monitoring to AirPlay would have to be tested, because AirPlay (1) vs. AirPlay 2 might be problematic to select as the iOS audio output, when inside of GarageBand.]

Hi Trackbeo,,

Thank you for that extensive answer.

About Airfoil: I've heard about that solution but i find it not really convenient. Its like starting 5 devices just to 1 function. And even a old mac mini for just that purpose is a to of space and energy. I've also heard about little arduino's (or raspberry, I never know which is which!) based solution, but nothing as convenient as an airport express…

About digitizing… In fact the very little collection of records I own already exists in digital version. The purpose is more a "demo-proof-of-concept" just for the pleasure of knowing everything is connected. And also maybe to enjoy the Beocord 1200 everywhere in the house.

To me its the same mystery that the lack of simple B&O light control. Why does this type of device not exists? Maybe patents about airplay?

matador43:

Why does this type of device not exists? Maybe patents about airplay?

I think that's it: Apple licensed AirPlay (1) *output* devices and now licenses AirPlay 2 output devices, but the source of the sound is always an Apple device.  No doubt the reason is to collect the revenues from their own music services, or if not, then at least from selling their own devices as the source.  Worse, I am expecting at some point Apple will terminate support for AirPlay (1) speakers, because their key was cracked by Jon Lech Johansen, allowing various non-licensed output devices, including a Linux library, so (for now) a Raspberry Pi can substitute for the discontinued AirPort Express.

Note my [Edit 2] above was late, so perhaps you didn't see it: An iOS device will certainly use less energy than an old Mac.  Alas, running GarageBand on it definitely doesn't meet your "cleanliness" requirement!

Personally, I have given up and run my B&O turntable only on the B&O system in the same room.  If you won't or can't use B&O's multi-room features, Sonos line-in works second-best (with some delay), and the multi-AirPlay method (which I use because of Sonos update fascism), is just a runner-up.

yes that's the maximum "cleanliness" (i like you get the idea of what i wanted and the word you find) of my actual solution: independent system, which in a certain way is maybe better since it forces me to come in the room, choose the record and listen to it comfortably seated in the room!

I'm used to Apple end-of-life drop-of-support habits. So I've secured my installation with same generation devices working together independently from any software update and with a spare devices stock. Now that my setup is running well and easy, I wouldn't have it compromised by a failure of course, but even more by some weird stupid decision from a brand I gave trust and a lot of money to along the years.

I'll still look at the iOs lead, just to see where it goes and just for the POC challenge! Thank you.

After some searches and tries, I've come with a POC which is so far the best solution i found. 
Its close to the Airfoil solution already advised but integrates better my setup.

Music is distributed via Airport Express to all the house. The source is a Mac Mini running iTunes remote controlled by devices thanks to the iTune Remote App. iTunes is important because it allow to send the iTune music to the Airplay network while keeping the system audio to the computer's output. This useful because the Mac also serves as DVD/media player for the TV and is connected to a Dolby decoder.

So what I needed was the Beogram showing up in iTunes like a web radio to avoid reassigning the speakers each time I wanted to distribute sound (which was the problem with Airfoil…).

So the solution is a little application named Nicecast, also from Rogue Amoeba, who can in few clics create and stream a local web radio playable from iTunes. Of course, a (streaming) computer close to the source Beosystem/Beogram is still needed and there is some fiddling with audio levels to get the best possible sound. But seen from the user's point of view (the guy who just select "Beogram" on iTunes Remote App on his iPhone…) it's the best solution I've found so far. And did I mention it works with the Beocord too? :-)

Hope this helps…