BeoLab 18 and BeoLab 17 for cinema and music

Hi folks,

Feels rather awkward asking a question as my first post, but I guess that's how most people jump in here. I have done my best searching this site for answers but can't quite get my head around the problem.

I've inherited 1x pair of BL18s and 1x pair of BL17s. What I hope to do is use these wirelessly for music with Deezer. However, the speakers are presently all in the sitting room where my Apple TV and Sony telly are, so if possible I'd also like to use them for surround sound too.

Do I need a separate surround amp + B&O transmitter or is there a third party solution?

Any help with what I might do would be greatly appreciated.

Hi 65535 and welcome to the forum.

I see you have edited your original post :-)

After reading the part where you describe the ‘demands’ of your wife, I was about to answer - but did not manage to finish the post in the evening.

My answer would have been:

You - for the sake of your wife - are basicly predestined to get a Beovision tv (current Eclipse or the Harmony.....or maybe a preused BV11/Avant 1st gen).

That is where you have everything you’d need: advanced multichannel preamp, multiroom capacity, controlling the ATV with the same remote as for the rest of the setup —- and also the transmitters for the 18’ and 17’s.....in order to avoid the cable clutter.

I just hesitated, because I am not sure that you’d want to skip your Sony or if you want to/are willing to invest, what that might cost.

 

Coming back to your recent post version - yes, you indeed would need a ‘seperate surround (not amp, but) pre-amp’ and you would need the extra transmitters inclding the cabling.

Many have built a setup this way - and live with it. Whether it will suit your (and your wifes) needs is hard to say.

I am sure some of these users can tell about the pros and cons.

 

The only other ‘third party solution’, that I can think of, is the Almando Multiplay Surround Decoder ll, which is not cheap.

https://almando.com/almando-multiplay-surround-decoder-78.html

Some beoworlders use it - you can find some post on the Almando solutions here, I am sure.

 

Maybe wait for others to comment - or come back later with additional questions, when you have thought about how to proceed.

An idea would be to visit a good B&O dealer for a demonstration of a Beovision once this is possible again in your area.

 

MM

Deleted!

MM

MM,

Thank you so much for chewing through the original.

I'd eaten too much Xmas pudding when I composed it and on re-reading there were too many words. I felt its density would put people off trying to help, so I edited it right down, removing my wife and thoughts on the BL17s in the process, and crossed my fingers

I am not wedded to my Sony but it is a great display in its own right: the KD-65X9005A might be coming up 10 years old now but has unusually good sound from integrated speakers:

Being larger and heavier than any equivalent TV because of the integrated audio means I would have to sell it. It would not fit in the attic and it's not something you could put in any other room without that room suddenly seeming a whole lot smaller as a result.

Looking at the Multiplay Surround Decoder II manual, Almando's example application makes it all very clear:

I'm assuming that by purchasing and connecting a B&O Core I cover the music side of things, in that the Almando arrangement then becomes a selectable destination inside the B&O app.

Again, thank you so much for alerting me to this: in all the research I'd done, it had simply not shown up!

N.B. Some might not want to read longer post - I however, am all in for longer posts (the more details, the better)........as long as they are well composed and well readable ;-)

 

You can read more about the possibilities of the Transmitter 1 here:

https://bangolufsenassistentgohe.blob.core.windows.net/manuals/APPS_AND_ACCESSORIES/BEOLAB_TRANSMITTER_1/3511267_1310_UG_BeoLab_Transmitter_1_v1_3_Web.pdf

Start at page 8 for non-B&O setup.

 

But of course you will need a preamp, that can decode the audio (multichannel) formats.

If you do a search for the Transmitter 1, I am sure that you will find one from a UK seller (I found one easily).

As for the cabling needed, please contact (our Forum sponsor) Steve @ Sounds Heavenly - link below.

He is the right guy for advice and for selling the right cables in a proper quality for such a setup.

 

I am sure your Sony will do a good job for some time to come.

One important thing to consider though, is the need for a center channel....since you have ‘only’ the front and the surround speakers.

I am not that familiar with the Sony tv - if my memory serves me well, there somewhat was a possibility to use the internal speaker as a center channel through an AV-receiver (??).

Another important thing to consider in a multichannel setup is the basmanagement - generally spoken, it soundwise probably would be best to use the BL17’s as fronts and the 18’s as surround speakers.....allthough it probably would look prettier the other way ‘round.

Good luck experimenting - and have fun with your 17’s/18’s.

Please let us know how you get on with it.

MM

 

MM

Do people actually have a positive experience with the Transmitter 1? I've heard nothing but negative things.

Severed_Hand_of_Skywalker:

Do people actually have a positive experience with the Transmitter 1? I've heard nothing but negative things.

I'm using it since more than 5y. Apart from conflicts with other 5 gHz transmitters that I removed from my setup, I must say that it is rock solid, even when not physically placed according to recommendations, e.g mine is too close to some of my speakers so it happens that the TR 1 orange light flashes, without any perceptible effects, or that speakers disconnect shortly (it happens once a year maybe ....).

 

What other sources caused problems?

WiFi hotspots

I was hoping you wouldn't say something ridiculous common like that. 

I live in a condo with 300 units all using 5ghz. I don't know anyones house that doesn't get at least 10 other wifi channels overlapping onto theirs.

But like you said. If you don't have wifi and live isolated... this is fantastic product.

P.S. LOL.

mbolo01:

I'm using it since more than 5y. Apart from conflicts with other 5 gHz transmitters that I removed from my setup, I must say that it is rock solid, even when not physically placed according to recommendations, e.g mine is too close to some of my speakers so it happens that the TR 1 orange light flashes, without any perceptible effects, or that speakers disconnect shortly (it happens once a year maybe ....).

BS Moment, BS Core, BG 4002, BC 4500, BS1, BL18, BL19, BL8000 + RCV1, A6, M5, M3, A1, P6 (tks Botty), H5, TR1

I can confirm rock solid WISA connections. Use TV instead of Transmitter, also wisa beolabs and boelabs with beoreceiver one. Only 5ghz wifi gave a bid of a problem. Turned it off and no more issues. I live in city and have 20+ other wifi networks around mine.

Be aware, this has nothing to do with the okder wifi based masterlink wireless transmitters/receivers. They were bad as hell and practical unusable..

Severed_Hand_of_Skywalker:

But like you said. If you don't have wifi and live isolated... this is fantastic product.

On top of wired and PLC, I also have WiFi in my condo, unbelievable isn’t it? My many neighbors do like WiFi too, 5 GHz included.

Moreover, a good 2.4 GHz WiFi setup with a small number of hotspots, well located and leveraging MIMO do provide a very good service, trust me.

I would certainly not conclude that the TR1 is crap because of possible interferences with WiFi 5 GHz, but I would generally question the WISA cohabitation with other wireless networks using the same band.

In my case I gave the priority to WISA and turned off the WiFi 5 GHz in the listening room while keeping WiFi 2.4 GHz on. A perfect world!

.

By way of an update here:

Sold the 18s and bought another pair of 17s. Entirely subjective of course, but the frumpy looking 17s are a superior experience with your eyes shut

I now also have a new BeoSound Core! And the old Sony TV still

BUT I'm still stuck on how best to implement cinema sound wirelessly, as per the original post. I know the BeoLab Transmitter 1 is scalable up to 7.1 surround but I'm not sure if my intended setup:

Apple TV > Airplay > Core > Transmitter > Wisa > BL17s

is going to somehow lose the surround encapsulation on route. I don't have a Transmitter to tinker with, so I can't hook it up in the B&O app in advance to see if works.

I should confess I don't know how any of this should work right now, so am merely clutching at straws. Having bought the Core as a music source I don't want to go spending similar money on something wireless I might not actually need!

Suggestions and enlightenment always welcome