Beolab 18/Beocore (How to optimally stream files)

Hi Fellows,

 

I  have recently bought a pair of Beolab 18s connected to a  Beocore connectivity hub. 

Thus far, I stream my music collection using the Audirvana software that manages my NAS music collection from my MacBook or iPad. 

When I stream my files to the Beocore device, I do so via Airplay that I know downsamples my music that is either 24/96 KHz  or 24/192kHZ to 16/44 Khz. Although this is still lossless, I would like to achieve optimal streaming to my Beolab 18s. And even though Beolab’s WISA technology can stream  bitrates up to 96/24, the wireless Power Link downsamples to 48/24. Instead Beocore’s optical output can sustain 24/96 transfers which would be great. 

And so, my questions are as follows:

1. How can I optically stream from the Beocore (there is an optical output jack) to the Beolabs? Should I purchase a optical splitter and then connect each to the Beolab 18 speakers? Is this possible? 

2. Can I achieve higher bitrate transfers still using Wifi by bypassing Airplay. How can I do this?

3. If I cannot optically stream from the Beocore, what is the procedure then. Should I think of buying a new audio streamer? (i.e. Yamaha WXC 50/Cambridge as they support optical out as well as integrated streaming services such as Qobuz. Seem odds as the B&O dealer told me that I just needed the Beocore to do everything).

Any help to guide me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Pardon me for my limited understand of wifi/optical technology as I am a newbie to all of this.

I am assuming you are referring to the Beosound Core. In this case, the limitation is going to be your speaker. I don’t think there is anyway you will hear a difference between AirPlay 2 and higher bit rate with BL 18s. My 2 cents worth. I love the Core BTW. The DAC is at par with a Chord Hugo 2 and Topping D70 (the ones I compared it to) and easily superior to the AIrPort Express 2 (which is surprisingly also really good), BlueSound Node 2i and Sonos Connect. The Core is really good value compared to anything in it’s class from an audio perspective. 

Many thanks Jaffrey.

You are then ruling out the possibility of discerning higher quality audio streams using the B18s as the bottleneck is both the Core and B18s? Well, in any case, I am very satisfied with the 18s and thinking of adding the BL19 to the setup.

I guess I'll continue streaming my library as is given the limitation. 

Definitely add a BL 19, it makes a big difference to the sound. However, you will likely need to place it in a corner behind your BL18s, and close to one of the speakers to get the best outcome. My neighbor in the flat in front of me has exactly your set up with BL 18, BL 19 and Core and we had spent some time setting it up a few months ago. The BL 19 looks beautiful and compliments the BL 18 very well. However, the BL 2 is another option since I have found it is more forgiving in placement and truly puts our monster bass that belies it’s size. 

Also, to answer your question directly, I am quite sure you won’t hear any difference with higher bit rate as long as you are listening to lossless codecs. Many of my friends who are complete nerds when it comes to this sort of thing (including one who works for a well known audio company) has told me they too can’t tell the difference as long as the source is the same quality. 

By the way, I did a little more investigation into the specs of the Beocore and how the Audirvana software works when streaming to network audio devices.

The Beosound Core has a DLNA DMR (Digital Media Renderer) aka UPnP/DLNA renderer, so it is a UPnP/DLNA network audio file player aka streamer in addition to supporting AirPlay audio streaming. Its specs also mention support of hi-res audio files up to 24bit/192kHz. Audirvana supports having its audio output streamed over the network to UPnP/DLNA renderers, not just AirPlay devices. Therefore, I can only imagine that I am already streaming at the quality of my source hi-res files (i.e. either  24bit/96kHz or  24bit/192kHz) to the Beocore with further downsampling to accommodate for the maximum 96KHz limit of the B18s.

If what I have deduced from all this is that I was beguiled by my oversight/ignorance regarding my entire setup.

Thanks Jaffrey once again. 

 

B18:

Well, in any case, I am very satisfied with the 18s and thinking of adding the BL19 to the setup.

I guess I'll continue streaming my library as is given the limitation. 

My advice....keep on being satisfied with the 18’s.

Have you ever concidered that only a very, very few of these socalled highres files (higher than 16/44.1-cd specs) have an origin that is higher than that.

Many are old analog sourced files anyway.

Even if recordings today are captured with a higher bitrate, this is just important because you need the extra bits for the editing and mastering process.

What lies beyond the 44.1 isn’t audible at all and maybe not even captured due to the specs of the microphones used.

Rest asured that speakers matters....and that the 18’s are doing a good job.

In general the skills of the recording engineers making the recording are much more important that the delievery format.

Go for a lossless format - and you’ll be fine. 

MM 

I have a pair of BL90 and a Core and have also used a Moment. I agonised over this issue and did a lot testing using Roon into BL90 playing 24/192 versus CD quality on a number of genuine high resolution classical albums and listened for hours. I was surprised to hear no difference. Shocking isn’t it - audiophile community would lead you to believe that there are “veiling lifting, night and day differences”. I found none.

Furthermore, I played classical albums from CD using SPDIF to the BL90 versus the same CD quality files on my Moment to the BL90. The Moment’s onboard DAC converts to analogue and sends this down a Powerlink cable to the BL90 where an ADC converts it to digital, upsamples, applies filters and DSP before changing back to analogue for the amps and speaker drivers. Could I hear a difference between the two when switching? Nope. The DACs and ADCs are so good now that you aren’t likely to hear anything even if you do make unnecessary conversions in the chain.

Perhaps my hearing is bad and my ears are too broken and there is a difference. Most of my listening is classical where more attention is paid and less ‘messing about’ is done. Recent classical music are often recorded and available in 24/96-192.

The audio science doesn’t support the need for 24/96-192 at the listening chair. The ‘higher’ formats are helpful during mastering in the studio when the multiple channels are manipulated. You’d have to be listening to the music so loud, that your ears would bleed not to mention have an super-insulated room to hear all the 24 bits. My room in the middle of night still has 30dB of ambient noise. You still wouldn’t hear the extra bits as a lot of recording equipment is in practice only able to operate to around about 20-21bits.

You have one the most exquisite looking speakers in the world. It sounds better than many audiophile speakers costing multiples. Relax and enjoy. Congratulations on the BL18 and as others have mentioned the addition of BL19 would be the final masterstroke.

https://youtu.be/cIQ9IXSUzuM

I second the other opinions, the Beosound Core is surprisingly good! I tested a couple of devices to feed the digital input of my Beolab 5, was close to go with a Naim NDX. But could not justify the price finally... ended up with the Core and enjoy Multiroom as a plus on top.

I only can speak for myself, but I am much more relaxed these days in terms to find the holy grail in the "perfect sound", just enjoying music and not checking out the latest Voodoo cables anymore.