Beolab 50 and Beosound Core

I have a Beosound core that I haven’t used yet. Considering using it with my Beolab 50 but I already have them connected to an Avant 55 with Apple TV 4K.

Will there be any improvement in sound using a core? Or what benefits will I have? Mainly I use Spotify for sound. I usually AirPlay from my phone or iPad.

It says on B&Os webpage for Beolab 50 that it fits into an empty tile. But it also is some text about BeoSound shape there so I guess that it’s not the correct text.

There is some space inside the Beolab 50 at the bottom but I’m not sure it’s optimal for a core. Is it?

And last question. Can the core be connected by the dpl port or should I use optical plus usb? DPL should give be able to give a better sound transfer even though sound source is probably always less than 96 kHz.

I just want a frictionless solution for easily play back music from a mobile device without having to fiddle with any other apps. So for that the core would be good. Otherwise I think I sell it as it is already quite well handled by the Avant, albeit with a bit of boot period of the TV set.

I use a Core with the 50s connected by optical. I listen to the built in Deezer and Tune In as I prefer the B and O app as well as the ability to start music with a BR1 without needing to use the app. I am looking forward to seeing what type of control of the Core and 50s the Beoremote Halo might provide.

I believe the Halo is very much designed for use with a Core + Speakers setup.

Not sure how Spotify will be catered for (not a user myself), but I suspect fuller benefits from the Halo will accrue to those who use Deezer and TuneIn.

 

 

Razlaw:

I use a Core with the 50s connected by optical. I listen to the built in Deezer and Tune In as I prefer the B and O app as well as the ability to start music with a BR1 without needing to use the app. I am looking forward to seeing what type of control of the Core and 50s the Beoremote Halo might provide.

 

How do you listen to your (Spotify) music at the moment i.e. with you previous setup?  

I'm guessing from your post that you're thinking of sharing the 50s between TV watching (Avant) and music listening (Core or something else)? 

I've got 50's on their way to me too, so I'm in a similar position I think - in that the 50s will be connected to my BV12-65/BS4 for watching stuff, and also to an audio only source for listening to music (using the SPDIF and RCA inputs).   Havent quite sorted out in my mind the volume control issues for my music sources connected directly to the 50s, but thats my only outstanding question.

Which brings me back to my first question - how do you listen to music in your current (or previous) setup?

My view with the 50s was that I'd never own a pair and just feed it a signal from the Core, but instead use a dedicated high quality 3rd party streamer. But thats a whole different question, and something you may not be that interested in (unless I'm wrong)

 

 

Michael:

I have a Beosound core that I haven’t used yet. Considering using it with my Beolab 50 but I already have them connected to an Avant 55 with Apple TV 4K.

 

 

Will there be any improvement in sound using a core? Or what benefits will I have? Mainly I use Spotify for sound. I usually AirPlay from my phone or iPad.

 

 

It says on B&Os webpage for Beolab 50 that it fits into an empty tile. But it also is some text about BeoSound shape there so I guess that it’s not the correct text.

 

 

There is some space inside the Beolab 50 at the bottom but I’m not sure it’s optimal for a core. Is it?

 

 

And last question. Can the core be connected by the dpl port or should I use optical plus usb? DPL should give be able to give a better sound transfer even though sound source is probably always less than 96 kHz.

 

 

I just want a frictionless solution for easily play back music from a mobile device without having to fiddle with any other apps. So for that the core would be good. Otherwise I think I sell it as it is already quite well handled by the Avant, albeit with a bit of boot period of the TV set.

 

Sandyb:

How do you listen to your (Spotify) music at the moment i.e. with you previous setup?

I'm guessing from your post that you're thinking of sharing the 50s between TV watching (Avant) and music listening (Core or something else)?

I've got 50's on their way to me too, so I'm in a similar position I think - in that the 50s will be connected to my BV12-65/BS4 for watching stuff, and also to an audio only source for listening to music (using the SPDIF and RCA inputs). Havent quite sorted out in my mind the volume control issues for my music sources connected directly to the 50s, but thats my only outstanding question.

Which brings me back to my first question - how do you listen to music in your current (or previous) setup?

My view with the 50s was that I'd never own a pair and just feed it a signal from the Core, but instead use a dedicated high quality 3rd party streamer. But thats a whole different question, and something you may not be that interested in (unless I'm wrong)

Hello Sandy,

I used to only stream to my Beolab 20 using the Apple TV and Avant setup. So everything went from the TV. I’m pretty okey with that except for sometimes i think it takes too long to turn the system on. But it’s really just seconds.

The core could be unnecessary for me as the solution is fairly well functioning now. I read though that it’s better to use the Beolab 50 volume control and use core as fixed line in as the internal volume control would be better. This can’t be done with powerlink (well it kinda can but there is no Beolab 50 preset that is fixed in the tv, and it would be cumbersome). Just as cumbersome as using the fixed output from core as I would then have to use a remote for the speakers or the app especially for that.

A third party streamer seems to be a popular choice but for me I want a minimalistic install with as few devices as possible.

Sounds like the Core is unnecessary then.

If you Airplay (Spotify) music to your ATV, and everything goes through the TV, then surely your BR1 is your volume control......unless I am missing something.

My 50s are not here yet, so I have some time to get on top of the volume control choices / issues. But I will be using a third party source for music, most likely directly connected to the 50s. So music (and podcasts) will route directly and not through the BV.   I do read that there are volume control quirks setting up this way - it may require an IR eye so I can use my BR1.

I dont want to be forced to use an app to control volume for music (that is not routed through the BV).

 

Yes, more or less at least. I can always try it out a bit and see if it works. I do not have a toslink cable so I would prefer to be able to use the DPL input, but not sure that it is possible. Maybe someone here knows?

I agree and prefer to have an easy way to adjust the volume. Now I can change it with the mobile device and the BR1 but they dont follow each other.

- Mobile device: volume sent to the TV. -> TV adjust volume that is sent futher to the Beolabs. 

Dpl input doesn’t work

We are talking marginal differences here as far as sound quality (whatever that is) is concerned.

This question has been raised several times here even with contributions fro the Tonmeister Geoff Martin.

He also in a recent post described how his own BL90 are set up with his sources at home.

 

Don’t make this a big problem.....especially not if you are using Spotify Connect and are listening to comtemporary mixed/mastered music.

Rather the convenience og how you want the setup to react, should be your main concern.

Easiest way for Michael (as far as I have understood his listening preferences) would be to continue to do what he already does.

However, using the AppleTV (on the BV and the 50’s via PL)  for AirPlay would force one to change the Speakers Group to a 2 channel (the BL50s) and the Sound Mode to Music (or a Costum Mode) each time you want to listen to 2 channel/stereo from the 50’s. That is, if you don’t prefer to use the same settings(3.1/51) that you have for the ATV4, which assumingly also is used for Movie watching/listening.....but some even prefer this.

The benefit of connecting the/a Core directly to the BL50’s (preferedly with optical out/in and variable output) would be, that you always get music from the BL50’s unaltered (depending on the choises made for the Core in the app). They turn on immidiately and can be controlled by the BR1, the app/the Spotify app.

Of course you can airplay to the Core (if you want more omgoing listening settings in the house), but I’d recommend using the Connect variant of Spotify) for less use of bandwith on the (wifi) network for just listening to the BL50’s.

There are also several other ways to do these things!

My main concern here is, that you should find a way to handle the playback best - for you (and maybe also for the family members). Things must be easy to handle otherweise there is danger that you don’t get to listening because of too much thinking about how to.

As alway - try things out for yourself.

If you hear differences in different setup scenarios, choose the one one want, because you hear differences.....and not because you have heard or read that optical is better than Powerlink etc.

in my opinion B&O is also very much about convenience - and if convenience gives you a result, that pleases you, you are good to go.

Please do forget about highres, less jitter, cable mystics etc, things that might only destroy your joy of listening..........when the differences are just marginal and not noticeable for the daily listening

MM

Mikipidia:

Dpl input doesn’t work

I think I read someone did use it and it did work but wasn't possible to adjust volume. But maybe I am wrong. What does the port do on the Core for now, nothing?

Millemissen:

in my opinion B&O is also very much about convenience - and if convenience gives you a result, that pleases you, you are good to go.

Please do forget about highres, less jitter, cable mystics etc, things that might only destroy your joy of listening..........when the differences are just marginal and not noticeable for the daily listening

MM

Yes I do agree with that. Each to his own of course as well but for me simplicity is key in my home environment. 

Core is on it's way to me as I write but taking it's time.... Postnord. 

I am not entirely sure why I went down this route? Maybe just to get everything out of the Beolab 50's that I can? 

Why it arrives I can post more Core/lab50 experiences?

As a 60's born I already know it will be a struggle!

 

 

It doesn’t do anything on the core, nor can you use the dpl INPUT on the 50’s as an input. Unless something has changed in the latest sw update, but I wasn’t able to make that work with anything end of last year.

Mikipidia:

It doesn’t do anything on the core, nor can you use the dpl INPUT on the 50’s as an input. Unless something has changed in the latest sw update, but I wasn’t able to make that work with anything end of last year. New: Beovision Harmony, Beolab 50's, Beolab 18's, Beolab 17's, Beolab 3's, Beosound 9000 mk3, Beosound Stage & LG, Beosound 2, Beoplay M3, Beoplay A1, Beoplay H4 gen 2, Beoplay E8 3.0

Mikipedia on YouTube (finally )

https://www.youtube.com/c/Mikipedia

Old: Beovision Eclipse, Beolab 1's, Beolab 2, Beovision 10-46, Overture 2300, beolab 8000's, Beolab 4000's, Beovision avant 32" etc. etc.

Interesting. Guess DPL on it might be for connecting two Shape constellations or something otherwise. Hard to say. But I hope DPL will be more intuitive in the future systems.

Isn’t DPL not intended for controlling the Core with an optica ir-eye?

The DLP port was changed for having an ir eye connected there - with the MK2.

Seems that they aren’t working on DLP possibilities for time being.

But who knows, it might change again for future product - I just don’t see that happen soon.

MM

Can’t you just use the PowerLink from the Core to the BL50? It is one of the speaker options for the Core in the B&O app. I would assume the DAC on the Core would be exactly the same as the BL50. I use mine quite a lot with the Eclipse Remote for TuneIn radio or to stream from my phone using AirPlay without turning on the Projector. My set up with the Core is Apple TV 4K connected to my Projector, the Projector to Core using Optical and Core connected to BL 11 via PowerLink, which is connected to one of the BL 6000s which is then wired to the another BL 6000.

In my case, adding the Core makes a big difference compared to connecting the BL directly to the projector or using a Bluesound Node 2i (which I have also tried). 

Initially when I got the Core/Eclipse I didn’t use the remote much. But now, I see how well they work together.

Just saying since you mentioned you are looking for a seamless system and the Core might help. My 2 cents... 

Jaffrey2230:

Can’t you just use the PowerLink from the Core to the BL50? It is one of the speaker options for the Core in the B&O app. I would assume the DAC on the Core would be exactly the same as the BL50. I use mine quite a lot with the Eclipse Remote for TuneIn radio or to stream from my phone using AirPlay without turning on the Projector. My set up with the Core is Apple TV 4K connected to my Projector, the Projector to Core using Optical and Core connected to BL 11 via PowerLink, which is connected to one of the BL 6000s which is then wired to the another BL 6000.

In my case, adding the Core makes a big difference compared to connecting the BL directly to the projector or using a Bluesound Node 2i (which I have also tried). 

Initially when I got the Core/Eclipse I didn’t use the remote much. But now, I see how well they work together.

Just saying since you mentioned you are looking for a seamless system and the Core might help. My 2 cents... 

Not sure exactly how your setup works but the BL50 just have one single PL input (unfortunately) and it is occupied by my avant55 that has an apple tv 4k so I do stream that way. 

A core could be connected optical (or possibly by DPL in the future). Not sure what you mean by eclipse as you also say you have a projector. Do you have an Eclipse and a projector? Curious :) I am also considering adding a projector for bigger picture but have no idea of how to solve it today.