Beolab 5 & BS 9000 & Oppo 95 in 5.1 (4.0) Setup

Beolab 5 & BS9000 & Oppo 95 in 5.1 (4.0) Setup

Hi everyone. This is my first post and I am a newbie in Hifi world, though I am lucky to own a pair of wonderful speakers (Beolab 5) and probably also a good CD player (BS9000) – they were picked up by my wife after our wedding without us knowing too much about Hihi but simply blown away by the sound quality.

I later bought an Oppo 95 player for its video quality and playback functionality. I preferred it over Oppo 93 because I thought I could make better use of my Beolab 5 with 95’s higher sound performance.  I have been living in a one-bed apartment so want to keep everything simple and minimize the work as all cables have been set up by electricians from B&O retailer and are firmly wrapped. So I simply connected the 95’s dedicate stereo pre-out to Beosound 9000 through a RCA-to-Powerlink cable.

We will be soon moving to a bigger place so I am thinking of setting up a Surround system for better movie experience. I really want to involve my current equipment and thought about a couple of connection options but then  got lost during the process. So I came here to seek help from you experts.

I’ve read the comment from Soundproof about the Phantom centre and LFE of Beolab 5, so I think I will just skip the centre channel and Subwoofer for now. So basically I am trying to fit in the 2 rear speakers.

1.      Oppo 5.1 Front-> RCA to Powerlink ->BS9000->Beolab 5

         Oppo 5.1 Rear -> RCA to RCA->Beolab3

Since I don’t really have other sources at this moment – for airplay I simply stream to a Beolit 12. So I thought I can simply use my Oppo as preamp – just change the front output in Oppo from the dedicated stereo to the front channels of 5.1, and connect 2 Beolab 3 to the rear channels.

This way I’ll waste the dedicate DAC for stereo in 95, but I can adjust the volume of Beolab 5 through BS9000.

2.      Oppo 5.1 Preout -> RCA to RCA -> Beolab5 & Beolab3;

          Oppo Dedicated Stereo ->RCA to Powerlink -> BS9000->Beolab5

This way I can make better use of the Oppo sound processing without adding any processor, and I don’t have to turn on the BS9000 every time I watch a movie. But what confuses me is that  the Beo4 now has to be used to control Beolab 5 so I think I won’t be able to use it to control BS9000. Can I?

3.      Oppo 5.1 pre-out -> RCA->AVR->RCA-> (Beolab 5 & Beolab 3);

         Oppo Dedicated Stereo ->RCA to Powerlink -> BS9000->Beolab5

This is the same to Setting (2) but will give me the flexibility of using passive speakers as surround plus adding more sources.

 

Really scratching my head with my limited knowledge about Hi-Fi, all comments are welcome and appreciated!

Welcome to Beoworld and congratulations to a great setup.

Maybe I missunderstand something, but your three setup options seem to use Powerlink sockets as inputs...?

carypig:

....

1.      Oppo 5.1 Front-> RCA to Powerlink ->BS9000->Beolab 5

         Oppo 5.1 Rear -> RCA to RCA->Beolab3

.....

2.      Oppo 5.1 Preout -> RCA to RCA -> Beolab5 & Beolab3;

          Oppo Dedicated Stereo ->RCA to Powerlink -> BS9000->Beolab5

......

3.      Oppo 5.1 pre-out -> RCA->AVR->RCA-> (Beolab 5 & Beolab 3);

         Oppo Dedicated Stereo ->RCA to Powerlink -> BS9000->Beolab5

 

Powerlink is a preamp output to connect with a power amp or active speakers.

Or maybe you want to use the AUX socket?

If so, it should work, although I don`t know much about the Oppo 95..(?). Looks like it has analogue preamp outputs, that can directly be connected to Beolab 3 Line in. For Powerlink you would need 5V DC voltage to power up the BLs.

Your setup is a bit tricky, because if Oppos outputs are volume controled and BS9000 is volume controled this can result in mismatching levels.

And maybe you should include the option to control volume of your BL5s directly. Just set them to L.OPT 1.

You could also add a Lintronic box to control all your devices with Beo4.

Or add a Playmaker to the AUX socket of BS9000 using an AUX switch made by oneremote.dk.

Maybe this helps.

Stefan

 

Hi Stefan,

Thanks a lot for the reply.

The Powerlink socket I am referring to in my post is actually the AUX IN on BS9000 - it just happens to be a Powerlink socket. Sorry I am still new and maybe using incorrect terminologies. :)

Oppo 95 has two sets of Pre-outs. One stereo (which uses a dedicated DAC)and One 7.1.

"If Oppos outputs are volume controled and BS9000 is volume controled this can result in mismatching levels"

--Do you mean mismatching levels between the frond and rear if I adjust the volume on BS9000?

"Maybe you should include the option to control volume of your BL5s directly. Just set them to L.OPT 1."

-- Yes this exactly what I am thinking about in the Option 2 in my mind. From the posts I read here, I think I can just connect 4 speakers to the pre-outs on Oppo to make a 4.0 system.

What confuses me is how I can then fit in the BS 9000. I can still connect BS9000 to BL5 through Powerlink or Digital, which one should I use? OR maybe both?

And which option should I select for Beolab 5 and BS9000?

~~ If I set BL 5 to OPT 1, then what will happen when I turn on BS9000 in the default mode (Option 1)? For example, if I press the volume or OFF button, will the remote be controlling both BS9000 and BL5?

~~ Will it work if I set BL5 to OPT 1 and set BS9000 to Option 0 (which I think is giving up the audio control on BS9000)? But still, what will happen if I press the OFF?

~~ What actually does OPT4 in BL5 do? The manual does not give clear explanation and I can't find anything on Google.

~~ OR maybe I should just switch BL5 between OPT 0 and I when using Oppo and BS9000? Then I might have to do volume matching every time I switch back to the surround mode. :(

I understand that this might be a rare situation here as most of you have something like a BeoMaster to make everything easier. But I don't really want to pay for it as I definitely won't be able to use its full function. I don't mind adding a 3rd party AVR/Pre-Pro if this can be a solution but really not a BeoMaster.

Thanks!

I think what you're trying to do will be difficult without something to act as a system integrator. Sounds to me like you are the perfect candidate for something like a Beosystem 3 to tie everything together. Trying to do it without something central to merge and control things will be a kludge and inelegant. BTW, congratulations, you may not have much experience with audio, but damn, you sure entered the fray at the top! Beolab 5s are IMO as good as it gets.

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"If Oppos outputs are volume controled and BS9000 is volume controled this can result in mismatching levels"

--Do you mean mismatching levels between the frond and rear if I adjust the volume on BS9000?

---------------

No. I meant mismatch in stereo signal chain - Oppo - BS9000 - BL5. BS9000s AUX socket is built for fixed line level input (unbalanced),

so, if you connect an output with volume control it change sound quality at different level stages. Might even result in overload your BS9000 and BL5.

---------------

"Maybe you should include the option to control volume of your BL5s directly. Just set them to L.OPT 1."

-- Yes this exactly what I am thinking about in the Option 2 in my mind. From the posts I read here, I think I can just connect 4 speakers to the pre-outs on Oppo to make a 4.0 system.

-------------

L.OPT 1 and 2 are both master options, 1 is for audio only, 2 is audio AND video.

And yes, sure, you can connect a pair of BL5 and a pair of BL3s as rears using Line in.

-------------

And which option should I select for Beolab 5 and BS9000?

-------------

I`m using the "classic" setup: BS9000 A.OPT 0 (connected to a BV7 in V.OPT2) and BL5 in L.OPT 0.

This setup is highly recommended....:)

--------------

~~ If I set BL 5 to OPT 1, then what will happen when I turn on BS9000 in the default mode (Option 1)? For example, if I press the volume or OFF button, will the remote be controlling both BS9000 and BL5?

~~ Will it work if I set BL5 to OPT 1 and set BS9000 to Option 0 (which I think is giving up the audio control on BS9000)? But still, what will happen if I press the OFF?

------------

Won`t work, I`m afraid. BS9000 will automatically be set to A.OPT 1 if Beolabs are connected (Powerlink detection).

------------

~~ What actually does OPT4 in BL5 do? The manual does not give clear explanation and I can't find anything on Google.

-----------

Option 4 is the Link option. If you select a source, you must press LINK before source ( LINK - CD, LINK - TV....)

------------

~~ OR maybe I should just switch BL5 between OPT 0 and I when using Oppo and BS9000? Then I might have to do volume matching every time I switch back to the surround mode. :(

---------------

NO!

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I understand that this might be a rare situation here as most of you have something like a BeoMaster to make everything easier. But I don't really want to pay for it as I definitely won't be able to use its full function. I don't mind adding a 3rd party AVR/Pre-Pro if this can be a solution but really not a BeoMaster.

-------------

Yes, and I agree with Jeff. BS3/4 would be a great solution....:)

Easiest workaround for your setup can be:

BS9000 - BL5 "classic setup" with Powerlink and spdif, BS9000 A.OPT1, BL5 L.OPT0.

Oppo front left/right - AUX/BS9000, Oppo rear left/right BL3 Line in (I hope, the Oppo 95 is able to redirect center-  LFE channel to front outputs...?)

Volume control in Beo setup via BS9000 (Beo4).

Volume control for video 4 channel surround via Oppo (Oppo native remote control). Take care not overloading AUX socket of your BS9000.

This setup should work, but....:(

Stefan

 

I posted in the LFE-thread, but it's probably better to have that response here:

 

 

You will definitely not need separate subwoofers, once you connect and set up your Oppo to the BL5s.

And you will be very satisfied with the phantom centre channel, once you set that up right (deselecting centre channel).

For movie playback, I would go with the 7.1 pre outs from the Oppo, to BL5 and BL3s.
Balance the audio level on the BL3s using the set-up on the Oppo.
Store a comfortable opening volume on the BL5s (see the manual). Use the Oppo set-up for multichannel to balance the channels - you'll get pink noise to separate channels, and they are all to be perceived to be at the same level from your listening position. If the volume adjust on the pre-out set-up doesn't let you get the BL5s to the right level, then adjust the start-up level for the BL5s correspondingly. It won't take you long to get them all balanced correctly.

Download one of the SPL-apps if you want to get the surround-levels as close to perfect as you can.

Then it's down to how technical you want to get in your setup, when watching movies. I used the volume control for the receiver to adjust the volume up and down on the speakers. That is, I used the Beo4 to switch on the BL5s, and then used the receiver remote to control audio, etc.
Now, you can get an interface that will translate Beo4 signals to something the Oppo will understand, but I wouldn't bother.

Next - how to get your BeoSound 9000 into the fun, without having to change option settings?

BL5s auto-detect an S/PDIF signal, and you should consider how you want to use that. If your two-channel music playback will be from the Oppo, then you might want to consider sending the S/PDIF coax-out straight to the BL5s. But the BeoSound 9000 also has S/PDIF out, and everything that goes through it, is translated to that, I believe. (Can't remember off the top of my head whether radio, AUX, etc., is also sent through the S/PDIF).

If you have Powerlink from the BeoSound 9000 to the BL5s, and S/PDIF from the Oppo to the BL5s, and you set the BL5s up as if you're running a B&O components system - then, when you hit CD on the BS9000, you'll switch on the BL5s, and you'll be able to control their volume through the BS9000. But the moment you put music on the Oppo, what comes down the S/PDIF will take precedence - so you'll be controlling the BL5s through the BS9000, but the BL5s will assume the S/PDIF is coming from the BS9000, when it's coming from the Oppo.
You'll have to use two remotes.

I just switched Option settings from B&O to non-B&O when I wanted to watch movies. Then I controlled the BL5s for startup with the Beo4, put that aside, and ran the rest of the show with the receiver remote, with all speakers getting their signal from the pre-outs.

Make sure you have a sync-cable between the BL5s, that way, you'll be certain that both speakers are responding to the same command, and you won't have to worry about whether you have pointed the Beo4 so that both speakers "see" it. 

 

Thanks Stefan & Jeff for the advices!

Yes I understand that something like BeoSystem 3 will definitely work beautifully to cater my need. Just that I am already quite happy with the performance of the current system and just want to add in some surround for a little bit fun, so am trying to limit the investment at this moment and probably go up when I am ready to get a BeoVision. :)

BS9000 will automatically be set to A.OPT 1 if Beolabs are connected 

-- Yes you are right. The OPT is automatically reset once BS900 detects speakers connected.

BS9000s AUX socket is built for fixed line level input (unbalanced)

-- I never knew that. @_@  The guy from B&O never warned me of this when he advised me to connect RCA to BS9000's AUX. But I knew the guys in Melbourne retail store were not helpful very early on when they advised me to use the headphone output in my Laptop when I said I wanted to play digital files through B&O.

Will it help if I connect to the XLR output on Oppo instead? But that is balanced...

No switch between options.

-- So that's going to increase the chance that I destroy my system by incorrect operation? :)

Thanks Soundproof for the detailed explanation.

I connected the stereo-out of Oppo to BS9000 AUX as advised by B&O retail store. I actually came across your posts about digital connection to BL5 before but I decided to keep the current connection because the DAC in Oppo is supposed to be superb.

If BS9000 is converting AUX to Digital, then I might just feed digital signal directly from Oppo to BL5 through S/PDIF - I think the DAC in BL5 should be at least as good as the one in Oppo. The digital connection seems even more compelling with Stefan's concern about overloading BS9000.

Your suggested setup will suit my needs perfectly. I just have to remember to switch the Option back to B&O system after watching movies. Otherwise my wife will be mad at me if she could not get her beloved BS9000 to work.

Just thinking if I should also add a surround processor to the system.

What I mentioned in my post is basically all the equipment I got at this moment, so multiple source is not a must.

A book that I am reading says using processor as a buffer will give the player more capacity to handle playbacks. But I am thinking this is only true if I throw signals from Oppo to the processor through HDMI and let the processor do all the decoding/preamp work. I would prefer Oppo to do these anyway, so I guess that theory does not apply to my scenario.

The only benefit that I can think of having a processor is that it will give me the possibility of using passive surround speakers and push down the costs. But I am a bit worried about the consistency of sound if I use different brands for front and rear - I guess it is impassible to audition non-B&O speakers in B&O stores. :)

If you were to look behind the screen of a proper cinema, you would see very large speakers - a huge array, in fact - delivering L/R and C for dialogue.

If you look at the side walls and rear, for the surround speakers, you will see that these are comparatively modest affairs, placed high up and directed down at the audience.

The BL4000 speakers are very good surround units for a home cinema. In my own listening room, I had BL3 speakers, and one could argue they were overkill, but it was nice to have ALT-tech at all speaker points. I had the BL3s up on the wall, at the relative correct surround speaker points for a good home theatre. You will find both BL4000s and BL3s in the second hand market.

We'll now get posts from people arguing you should have BL5s at each speaker point. A nice test: disconnect the L/R, Sub and C information from a movie, and just listen to what is sent to the surrounds. You will discover that this information is actually quite modest in SPL and detail compared to what is sent to the front and Subs. As long as the surrounds are able to convey the phase-manipulation often used for these channels, to augment the sense of space when correlated with the front channels, you're OK. And the BL4000 and BL3s will do that well.

 

Thanks Soundproof.

I will go to B&O store and check it they can let me try a couple of different speakers as surround to go with BL5, though it is highly unlikely...

I bought an Oppo 103 to use in a setup with BV7, BL5, BL3, Overture and Mac Mini. I was hoping to create a 4.0 system with a phantom center.

Ideally I would want the Oppo to down mix the audio to 4.0 and send it as lpcm through hdmi, so the BS3 in BV7 can route it to the right speakers ( both in TV and cinema mode ). I still have no luck... The manual delivered with the player almost a year ago said downmixing was only available on the analog pre outs. That now changed, But I still can't see how to make a 4.0 down mix. Is it possible at all? with the pre outs? via HDMI?

soundproof:

You will definitely not need separate subwoofers, once you connect and set up your Oppo to the BL5s.

And you will be very satisfied with the phantom centre channel, once you set that up right (deselecting centre channel).

For movie playback, I would go with the 7.1 pre outs from the Oppo, to BL5 and BL3s.
Balance the audio level on the BL3s using the set-up on the Oppo.
Store a comfortable opening volume on the BL5s (see the manual). Use the Oppo set-up for multichannel to balance the channels - you'll get pink noise to separate channels, and they are all to be perceived to be at the same level from your listening position. If the volume adjust on the pre-out set-up doesn't let you get the BL5s to the right level, then adjust the start-up level for the BL5s correspondingly. It won't take you long to get them all balanced correctly.

Download one of the SPL-apps if you want to get the surround-levels as close to perfect as you can.

Then it's down to how technical you want to get in your setup, when watching movies. I used the volume control for the receiver to adjust the volume up and down on the speakers. That is, I used the Beo4 to switch on the BL5s, and then used the receiver remote to control audio, etc.