Beolab 5 (BL5) Into the present Streaming world

Hi Guys,

Want your undisputed deep B&O knowledge

I'm an old Beo enthusiast and have still a couple of Beolab 3's , 8000's and 2000's paired with Sonos connects (thanks to Steve at Sounds Heavenly) . However I also have a "Music room" where I like to have a HiFi set-up, during the years I have have had HiFi separates, but now I have a pair of Devialet Phantoms, when they work they are ok, but they have a lot of software bugs, I have been keeping my eye for a used pair of Beolab 50's ( BL50's) but they seem to also suffer form software bugs, and don't want to have more of the same.

Anyway, looking to buy a pair of used BL5's and I will hook them ( already bought) up to a NAD C 658 which is a Streamer / DAC / Room Correction ( Dirac Live) / Pre-Amp https://www.crutchfield.com/S-TbKNWRqROWW/p_745C658/NAD-C-658.html

Have talked read all I can find in here in regards of hooking up the BL5's to non-BeO equipment and also got confirmed that there is no detectable difference between using the BL5's analog or digital. 

Humble Questions to U Gurus:

Remote control:

Will the Beo4 Remote be the best way to control the BL5's volume and On/Off ( I love to have auto on/off but that seem not possible with BL5's) heard to use fixed out on the NAD. However as most of the stuff is used via the Apps Tidal / Roon / and  they have Volume control built in and that is kind of handy, and If I could something like the Beo Essence big dial remote would be preferred 

BL5's versions:

is there any other significant difference between the older +2004 and the later ones with PIN Code in build or sound ? 

Thank you in advance

Hi NilsW, I’ve just purchased the NAD C658. Haven’t got it yet. But I’ve been using mine beolab 5 with the Marantz av8003 processor for a couple of years. Been using line in (rca) and controlling the volume with the preamp. You can set the startup volume at Beo5 an then use the preamp to control the volume. For use of beolab 5 in none beo equipment you need the remote control to set up the speaker and turn them on and off. If you just going to use you’re speaker in stereo mode it’s possible to control the volume with the beo4 and use fixed volume on the NAD. But there may be better to control the volume within the BluOS app. You’re choice. I too want to have auto power on/off but I don’t know how. Hope the little I know helped.

I know I’m super late to the party but in case you haven’t figured it out yet this is what worked for me.
Basically I wanted to do the same as you but I end up getting the Beosound core paired with a Cambridge magic DAC plus (to have more inputs) and the setup works like a charm. I also have the essence remote paired via Bluetooth to the Beosound core. The auto on/off is controlled by the Beosound core without problems because it is basically controlling the BL5 with a B&O equipment. I’m running a digital cable from the DAC to the BL5 and a DIN cable/adapter that I got from ‘Sounds Heavenly’ that lets you connect old equipment with new equipment thus controlling the on/off functions.

 

I hope this helps!