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Hi All,
I have a somewhat weird setup with a pair of my beolab 4000’s.
I’m using them as stand alone units connected to two Amazon echo dot units via the RCA input.
my question is the feed I’m getting stereo or Mono given that the beolabs only have a single RCA input per speaker?
Excuse my ignorance, but would a pair Mono of speakers be considered as stereo in such a set up.
what is the difference between a stereo and mono signal in such as setup. Is it audibly noticeable? I can’t see me notice anything wrong with the sound.
the Amazon echo dot also offeres the option to connect/sync two units together to provide a stereo sound. How is this different from just playing the two units as separate speakers (is not syncing them as a stereo pair)
many thanks,
p.
By definition, a single RCA plug is a monophonic connection: The center pin is the signal, in relation to the ground on the surrounding shield. So a single Beolab speaker, thru its single Line-In RCA connector, is mono. If you connect one RCA to the left channel and one to the right channel of your source, the two Beolabs are now playing left vs. right, i.e. stereophonic.
The Echo Dot is receiving a stereo signal wirelessly, just mixing-down the stereo signal to play on its single, tiny, speaker. Its wired output is in stereo, which you access using a 3.5mm stereo plug -to- 2xRCA plugs cable. Just hook up the red (typically) RCA plug to your right-hand Beolab and the black (typ.) RCA to your left one.
Yes, two Echo Dots can be stereo-paired (3rd-gen & later). But I doubt that changes the stereo wired output which will be the same (left&right) from each of them. So only a single Echo Dot is needed to get stereo output from your Beolabs.
As to not being able to hear the difference, try streaming Liberty Records' "This Is Stereo" (1960) from YouTube or Amazon if available. When speakers are situated ahead and to either side of you, the difference between stereo paired versus two mono zones playing the same thing in sync, is an amazing "depth" or localization of particular instruments across a broad soundstage.
Thanks very much for the very clear and helpful answer!!Much appreciated.
ps I listened to “this is stereo” - was a great experience!!