ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Hello to the forum!
I'm a new member here but have been reading a few of the threads this week since deciding to buy a pair of Beolab 5 speakers. LifestyleAV will be delivering them tomorrow morning!
I don't have any other B&O equipment (except my Dad's super cool Beogram CDX he bought in 1986), having previously been heavily into standard high-end audio gear for many years. So I've a few questions about cables and integrating my system with the Beolab 5.
I'm looking to have a fairly simple system using a CD player and the Spotify iPhone app as sources. I found out about the Playmaker last week and have been thinking of getting one for a few days as it can accommodate both my chosen sources. After a visit to the B&O shop in Oxford today I ordered one.
I'd been adamant that I'd connect to the Beolab 5s using their S/PDIF inputs in order to keep the signal purely digital throughout the system. Due to this I had wavered on buying the Playmaker, as I had thought the Powerlink speaker outputs it has are an analogue-only connection. The salesman in the shop assured me that Powerlink is a digital connection though, so with that reassurance I placed my order...
However I still have doubts about the whole connection issue as I really don't know how this Powerlink system works - everything with B&O seems a bit arcane! So can anyone clarify the Powerlink digital/analogue issue? The salesman also was of the opinion that Playmaker wouldn't do justice to the Beolab 5 as it's not a wired connection. He said it would sound good but not great - any views? I certainly am not entering into a debate over whether wired data sound better than wireless data when both transmission methods are bit-perfect - had enough of that neurotic madness in regular hi-fi circles! Lol
The salesman in the shop assured me that Powerlink is a digital connection though, so with that reassurance I placed my order...
Are you kidding me? Given that Powerlink is not a digital connection I have real concerns.
Beocenter 2, Beosound 9000 and Beosound 5 have analogue Powerlink outputs as well as digital coaxial outputs which connect to the analogue and digital inputs of the Beolab 5. The digital connections will give you the best quality for sure, B&O supply both analogue and digital connection cables with Beolab 5 speakers.
Maybe the Salesman from B&O Oxford, if the statement above is correctly attributed to him, can explain on this forum.
Lee and Brad have just delivered the speakers and confirmed that Powerlink is not a a digital connection. We then agreed that the Playmaker is not the device I need and that I should get a refund ASAP.
I've located some S/PDIF cables and connected the Beolab 5s to my Blu-Ray player as a temporary system. Played a bit of music and then moved on to Bass Calibration. The first speaker worked fine first time, the second one keeps failing to calibrate properly and flashes red after giving up. Is there a trick to doing it right?
TBH I don't think the salesman was very knowledgable about Beolab 5 or the Playmaker. He even told me that the Beolab 5 doesn't have in-built volume control and that it must be controlled from the source component - after we established that this was incorrect, he said volume must be controlled from the Beolab 5's volume control and not the source as this would cause problems for the speakers. I've only been reading about the speaker for a week or so and I knew that was wrong...
Beogram CD 7000 has S/PDIF.
http://archivedarchivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/t/24827.aspx
Ultimately I think my solution will be to use the new Arcam airDAC. I'll connect my BD player to it's coax input for CDs, my iPhone will connect via the airDAC's Apple Airplay capability for Spotify etc, Stax headphone amp by the airDAC's analogue outputs and the Beolab 5s will connect tothe Arcam's coax output.
This will give an all-digital signal path up to the Beolab 5s plus source switching, Airplay and headphone options.
The airDAC has been delayed several times but Arcam now state an October release.
Hello Nagraboy,
Welcome to the forum. Please don't worry:-
1) Beolab 5's can be used with virtually ANY audio product, either analogue or digital, if you have the right cables,
2) You don't need to use a pure digital signal to get good quality sound, as these are such good speakers.
As long as you have a B&O remote control to switch on the speakers, then you can use any of the devices that you mentioned with your speakers by using the cables that I've listed below:-
1) Beogram CDX to Beolab 5 (via Line In): http://www.soundsheavenly.co.uk/bando-rcatolab.htm
2) Non-B&O CD player to Beolab 5 (via Line In): http://www.soundsheavenly.co.uk/bando-rcatolab.htm
3) Non-B&O CD player to Beolab 5 (via S/PDIF digital input): http://www.soundsheavenly.co.uk/bando-lab5.htm
4) Arcam AirDAC to Beolab 5 (via Line In): http://www.soundsheavenly.co.uk/bando-rcatolab.htm
5) Arcam AirDAC to Beolab 5 (via S/PDIF digital input): http://www.soundsheavenly.co.uk/bando-lab5.htm
6) iPhone to Beolab 5 (via Line In): http://www.soundsheavenly.co.uk/bando-ipodtolab.htm
7) PlayMaker to Beolab 5 (via Powerlink): http://www.soundsheavenly.co.uk/bando-rj45pl-long.htm
8) Any other B&O product with Powerlink (via Powerlink): http://www.soundsheavenly.co.uk/bando-pl2.htm
In summary, the Powerlink and Line In sockets are analogue, while the S/PDIF socket is digital. All sockets can give superb high quality sound when used with a good music source and good cables.
If you need any further help, please feel free to ask!
Kind regards, Steve.
Steve.
www.soundsheavenly.com
Founder of Sounds Heavenly Cables and Brand Ambassador for Bang & Olufsen
Sounds Heavenly are proud to sponsor BeoWorld!
Please check out my YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/soundsheavenlycables
@Nageaboy.
"I'm looking to have a fairly simple system using a CD player and the Spotify iPhone app as sources. I found out about the Playmaker last week and have been thinking of getting one for a few days as it can accommodate both my chosen sources".
I would suggest that you give it a try - start listening!
If you are content with what you hear, you don't need to worry about analog og digital connections.
Greetings Millemissen
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Thanks Steve, that's a very helpful list for me.
I'm sure there'd be negligible audible difference between the various connections, it's just conceptually neater to have it digital all the way through without unnecessary D/A/D stages. So maybe the Playmaker will be fine - if not, I'm sure I could take it back.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to sort the Bass Calibration out? One speaker still doesn't want to do it...
The speaker appears to be faulty. I am sorry but you will need to take this up with the Seller, there is no DIY solution and nothing you are doing wrong.
You're probably right, must've been damaged in transit - that's all I can think of. Lifestyle AV seem a good company, I'm sure they'll put it right for me ASAP.
Thanks for all the input everyone.
Cheers,
Greg.
hello