Which Beosystem / Beocenter for multiple inputs (Phono, non-B&O Tv, streaming)

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Alex Posted: Thu, Oct 29 2020 4:42 PM

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Hi! 

I recently acquired a pair of BeoLab 8000 Mk2s, which are really wonderful. But I have a number of questions going forward with building out a B&O system, so I hope this community might bear with me and advise me on how to go ahead with. 
Until now, my sound system has consisted of a Beosound 8 (airplay-enabled via an Auris sky 30 pin WiFi adapter), but primarily a Sonos Beam and a some other Sonos speakers. Needless to say, the 8000s are vastly superior in sound quality, to the point I have sold off all the Sonos speakers within days of getting the 8000s. For the moment, the 8000s are plugged into a chromecast audio adapter, via the RCA inputs. (As an aside, I have to keep the volume at under 5% when casting to the speakers - otherwise they get way too loud. They don't do low volume at all, at least when casting from Spotify, less of a problem with YouTube...)

I would like to start building out a more comprehensive system. I would like to have three inputs - a Beogram turntable, which I do net yet have, the TV (a  2019 Samsung), and a way to stream audio from Spotify / podcasts. 

Medium-term, the Beolab 8000s may be joined by a pair of 6000s in the same room. 

I have conduits for LAN cables in the walls of the apartment, which are not being used. So I am thinking of pulling cables for a multi-room setup in the future, so maybe another 2 speakers, one per room. 

The question is which Beocenter / Beosystem to start as the center of my sound system? 

The Beocenter 9300/9500? The Beomaster 5000/5500/6000/6500? (7000s for sure out of my budget range). The Ouverture? How would a Core fit into this? Or is a Sonos connect/port/amp enough?

As I understand, the various models I mentioned require different Master Link Control systems or its successors, which I would get accordingly. 

So basically, inputs for three things: 1) Phono, 2)TV, 3) internet streaming for Spotify directly / casting from an android phone.

And then the ability to connect several powered speakers, up to 4 in main room, and then long-term, into two other rooms, with 1-2 speakers in each room, controlled separately. 

Many thanks for any suggestions and advice!

Alex

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Guy replied on Thu, Oct 29 2020 5:14 PM

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Hi and welcome to Beoworld.

If phono is important to you, choose a Beogram first.

The reason that I say that is that the later Beograms have RIAA 'built in'.  Thus ideally you need to use them with the later Beosystems, such as Beocenter 2300/2500 Ouverture etc which do NOT include RIAA in the phono input stage.  There's info about RIAA on the site in the FAQ section if you need it.

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Millemissen replied on Thu, Oct 29 2020 5:30 PM

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Sorry to say it - you have many wishes.....that only could be acchieved with a Beovision (or more complicated: with a BeoSystem 3 or 4).

That is said, because when you mention ‘up to 4 speakers in the main room’, you probably think of something surround soundish.

A way to do this - outside the B&O ecosystem - would be to have an A/V receiver with preouts for the Beolabs.

You could connect a Sonos Port there and have multiple Sonos Ports with connected Beolabs for the other rooms as a possibility.

If you however, just think of 2 channel/stereo, my best advice will be to get a Beomaster 6500/7000, which has several inputs for what you wish to connect.

Question: does your Samsung tv have analog outputs?

A BM6500 would give you the option of connecting a Masterlink chain in the house - for the Active Link boxes needed for connecting further active B&O speakers. In addition you’d need a Beolink (MCL to ML) converter. (And of course the remotes)

This way you’d be able to listen to what is connected to the BM6500 in every room.

Another way to do this - beware: nothing comes without costs - would be to have 2 BeoSound Core’s.

One with the digital output of the tv plugged in and the BL speakers.

The other in another room with the turntable and the speakers plugged in.

The Core’s offer Spotify Connect and they respectively can distribute the sound to each other.

For volume control you’d need an Essence Remote/the Bang & Olufsen app.....

For more linkrooms you can add Core’s or any of the B&O NL-capable devices.

This is the futureproof way!

Several ways to do this - several choices to make....it’s up to you and you moneybag, of cource.

MM

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Johan replied on Thu, Oct 29 2020 6:07 PM

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Hello Alex,

I use a Beomaster 6500 for a more/less similar set-up (no record player). It has many sockets and (through converter) I use it as the audio master in a MasterLink setup. I have an Airport Express connected to the TAPE 1 socket. The TV/AUX socket is occupied with the 8-pin cable towards the converter.

You can of course connect audio output of any TV to e.g. the TAPE 1 output, your Chromecast to TAPE 2.

Connecting 4 loudspeakers will be no problem by daisychaining them (the 8000s will need a splitter, the 6000s already have two PowerLink sockets fitted for that).

When your LAN cabling is (or can be) CAT7 S/FTP you could add some MasterLink speakers (BeoLab 3500 or -2000) in the other rooms.

Nicest is then to use a BeoVision TV that has MasterLink as well! And when you have one with a Surround Sound module fitted, you can enjoy the 4 speakers in a 5.0 setup!

The Ouverture (and alike) are probably not your best options with only one AUX socket.

Hope this helps, good luck and let us know what you will choose :-)

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Alex replied on Thu, Oct 29 2020 9:19 PM

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Dear Guy,
Thanks! I figured I would see which Beocenter/Beomaster first, and depending on whether it had an RIAA, pick a corresponding Beogram. Looks like the most likely candidate is the Beomaster 6500, so hopefully I find a good deal for a Beogram 6500, or something starting between the Beogram 5000 and the 6500.

Many thanks for your input!

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Alex replied on Thu, Oct 29 2020 10:01 PM

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Hi Millemissen,Johan,

Thanks! You're right, I think I was kind of getting carried away there... 

The biggest issue for me is managing enough inputs, and I think the BM6500 fits best (the BM7000s I've seem to be quite a bite more expensive). I will then brush up on how to do the Masterlink chain and then the Beolink converter, when I am ready to move onto the other room, where I think both the Beolab 3500 or 2000  would be perfect.

The TV only has optical or HDMI arc for sound - I do have an optical digital audio to RCA converter somewhere, so that seems like the most promising way to do it, although I would loose the option of controlling sound from the TV remote, I think. Worst case, I will get a better soundbar just for the TV.

One further question for now, what is the kind of cable I would need to run for a multi-room setup? The LAN conduits weren't done very well, flexible tubes in the wall which connect at some points. My first attempt at pulling a CAT 7 cable, which is fairly stiff and thick, got stuck somewhere and I couldn't finish the run. Most likely two segments of the conduit came apart in the wall, and the cable got stuck at that point. The cable wouldnt go any further and would not come back out, ended up cutting the cable and switching to a powerline-based mesh router...  Are there alternatives to CAT7? anything more supple / thinner?

Thanks! Its great to get such excellent and quick input, very helpful! I almost went for a Beocenter 9300 a couple days ago, but decided better to ask the expert community, glad I did so :)

Best, Alex

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Johan replied on Fri, Oct 30 2020 7:37 AM

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Hi Alex,

Yes an optical to analogue converter between the TV toslink and the B&O 8 pin din will do the trick. Otherwise an HDMI audio extractor maybe. I also think that audio volume control will be best with the B&O remote.

I also searched for some thinner CAT7 cable but there is not much of an option. The thicker solid wired ones are to be used for in wall cabling. The thinner, more supple stranded ones cannot be used in regular wall sockets or patchrails (will damage when punched). So I guess it means you need some determination and maybe open a wall :-).

One thing I need to say is that most of the equipment we speak about here can be >20 years old. For example: BeoLab8000s suffer from damping foam that deteriorates and affects PCBs, capacitors in amps will have lost their specs over time. Often you will need to give these old beauties a bit of TLC to keep enjoying them. Hope this helps!

Johan

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Millemissen replied on Fri, Oct 30 2020 10:47 AM

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Another thing to focus upon, is the fact that these converter often creates a sound delay.

Best try that out once you have the BM6500....before you finish the cabling!

Otherweise - yes, a seperate soundbar might be the better choice.....how about the BS Stage ;-)

MM

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Alex replied on Fri, Oct 30 2020 1:23 PM

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Hi John,

Thanks! Just for clarification,

Johan:

One thing I need to say is that most of the equipment we speak about here can be >20 years old. For example: BeoLab8000s suffer from damping foam that deteriorates and affects PCBs, capacitors in amps will have lost their specs over time. Often you will need to give these old beauties a bit of TLC to keep enjoying them. Hope this helps!

Should I be pro-actively doing some maintenance? E.g. replace the foam? Anything else? Would be really impressed if they could sound even better than they already do! 

The BL8000s I got have serials starting with 17, which I understand puts their manufacturing date at about 2004/5.

Thanks!

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Johan replied on Fri, Oct 30 2020 1:49 PM

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Hi,

The 'foam rot' of the BeoLab8000 is about the damping foam used inside the cabinet. I don't think it will affect sound quality when it is replaced by new (and non 'rotting') foam. My 8000s (13xxx) had the black foam that turns into goo and can eat the traces on the PCBs. When you google 'BeoLab 8000 foam rot' you will find a lot of information posted here on the forum. I do believe that you are safe, i read that 15 and higher should be fine.

For the BeoMasters I can just say that my 6500 and 4500 were both completely overhauled by forummember BeoBuddy (Utrecht, NL) and work flawlessly now. They had troubles when they went: mute relais, IR reception.

Regards,

Johan