Dac/streamer for beolab9

Hi all

i'm in a process of acquiring the beolab 9 speakers however i have a bit f challenge which will sound better between a sonos amp, bluesound node 2i or the beosound core? i normally sream high res audio from tidal amd want to ensure i get the best sound out of the lab 9's,

 

i'm in a process of acquiring the beolab 9 speakers however i have a bit f challenge which will sound better between a sonos amp, bluesound node 2i or the beosound core? i normally sream high res audio from tidal amd want to ensure i get the best sound out of the lab 9's

The Bluesound has Tidal Connect now, unless i am badly mistaken.

That would seem a strong argument in its favour.

That way you can just use your phone / tablet and the Tidal app, it will allow you to select (i.e tell) the Node to get your Tidal streams.

Outside of that the BlueOS software is generally regarded as pretty good.

Not sure what your multi room listening needs are, with Tidal? If you have other speakers / units in other rooms which are not Tidal Connect enabled, then you will probably then have to use Airplay (or CC?) from your phone / tablet to control multi room experiences.

That quirk aside, I’d need a pretty good reason not to go for the Node.

Thanks for the update. Multiroom audio is not on the cards as yet, however I needed a unit that can serve as a preamp/streamer and wanted to find out if it will sound great with the beolab 9's. Will the lab9's handle hi res audio of about 192kbps/24 bit? Compatibility is really my Focal point at this stage. 

Looking at the Node 2i, it has a onboard DAC which you can use if you connect to your speakers using the RCA outputs of the Node

The BL9 does not have RCA inputs as a connection option, so you will need an RCA to Powerlink cable, which I think can be bought with a bit of looking around. For this I'd check with Steve at Sounds Heavenly.

You will need to use the RCA outputs (and connect this way to the BL9s) to ensure Node 2i is doing the full decode and rendering of Tidal MQA.

 How good it sounds (i.e how good the 9s are), I don't know, as I don't have much listening experiences of them.

 

 

KMabokela:

Will the lab9's handle hi res audio of about 192kbps/24 bit?

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the BL9s have (only) analog inputs. Therefore, bits are not relevant here...

On the product page, you can find this characteristic : input sensitivity (Power Link) 125mV @ 91dB SPL

Not sure it helps a lot...

CB:

KMabokela:

Will the lab9's handle hi res audio of about 192kbps/24 bit?

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the BL9s have (only) analog inputs. Therefore, bits are not relevant here...

On the product page, you can find this characteristic : input sensitivity (Power Link) 125mV @ 91dB SPL

Not sure it helps a lot...

Yes, the BL9 have analog inputs only.

The driver are speced to max out at 20 kHz - an analog signal based on the CD specs (16/44) will be perfectly fine with them.

No need to pay for higher speced files (which 99% originally aren’t anyway) - no need chasing rabbits there.

MM

Correct, the lab 9's are analog. 

Thanks for the update and your inputs are highly appreciated. 

Thanks will consult Steve with regards to the cables. 

There is a huge differens streaming tidal hifi on blousound node 2i vs airport express on beolab 50. And with the blousound connected via rca analog. I think you should try it out. I think the beolab 9 is to good to not. I hade them almost 10 years.

would you care to share your 10yrs experience with the speakers please? i'm getting them in a few weeks and really looking forward to having them in my house.

Regards,

KM

KMabokela:

would you care to share your 10yrs experience with the speakers please? i'm getting them in a few weeks and really looking forward to having them in my house.

Regards,

KM

Did you get a chance to listen to them / test a pair before you bought them?

That may of course not been possible given the current circumstances, but otherwise i imagine you tried out a / the 9s before you bought them?

I really like them. The overall sound is great. I prefer a speaker with an alt tweeter. And the bass is deep and very strong. Nothing like the 50 but I like them better than the beolab 20. Because the bass in the 20 needs high volyme to come alive. I blew up the tweeter 3 times but I played them at max more then I should. One time a whole metallica concert the black album at max. And it’s a sheep fix if you do it your self. I used whit my bv 7-55 and previous bs 5.

And yes a heard them in store before. But you can’t judge a speaker in a store. They sound much better at home. I hade the beolab 1 earlier. Great sound but no bass. So I bought a bl2 to get some rumble.

Thank for sharing your experience with the gear. For many years i have been using audiophile equipment and i guess the B&O is a step in the right direction. I have been swopping and  changing equipment for a very long time and hopeful that i will enjoy the lab 9's for many more years to come.

I really can't wait to finish paying them off and setting them up in my listening room

Regards,

 

KM

Are you able to share your detailed review regarding the Beolab 1's? I have a spare B&W PV1D to drive the low frequencies.