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
Hi guys this is my first post in this forum.
I recently purchased A pair of Beolab 18 and the 19 subwoofer, I primarily use the system as a music system using Bluetooth and airplay. I’m using a Essence mk2 and a Transmitter1 to connect the speakers.
I’ve had a few problems with the setup, and I don’t have so much confidence in my local B&O dealer as they sent me the wrong cabling to connect the Essence and Transmitter causing days of frustration and in the end I had to return everything to the shop just for them to tell me I was using the wrong cat6 cable which they had ordered for me.
The problem I had at the beginning is that when the subwoofer was connected it would remove the bass from the 18s but send very little sound to the subwoofer.
I now believe I have the correct cable however I don’t know if I have the correct setup, the guys in the shop assure me I should have the 2.1 switch set to on however when I do this I have a very similar problem as before very little Bass.
When I connect only the 18s they sound awesome and I’m very happy with them however soon as I connect the 19 the base becomes very underwhelming and a bit disappointing, I’ve tried pretty much every setting on the underside of the subwoofer which seems to have a nominal effect. the only thing which makes a difference is if I switch 2.1 setting to the off position but the shop assures me this is incorrect.
The only other thing I’ve thought of trying is using two powerlink cables instead of one, again the shoppers said this isn’t necessary and am reluctant to buy a second Powerlink cable just to try it.
I greatly appreciate it if anyone out there is had a similar problem and found a solution to let me know
The other question I had for the B&O shop was can I connect my PlayStation4 optical output (toslink) directly to the optical input on the transmitter1 and be able to control the volume using the essence remote. The shop didn’t know the answer to this.
Again I’d greatly appreciate any help anyone can give me setting up this system
Thanks Rick :-)
Strange. I was at my dealer last week where they had a pair of BL 18's and Sub hooked up to the moment. The whole time I was thinking how incredibly wimpy and light on bass the setup sounded. I knew something was wrong as I have BL 3's that sound 100x better than the setup they had.
Don't have a solution just interesting that I noticed it too.
--
BeoLab 18's. Beolab 3's. A8. A9. A2. H7.
BeoNut since '75
So you can assure your self with using B&O guide:
http://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/sound/loudspeakers/beolab-transmitter-1
They have a pretty good interactive guide for the transmitter. If I follow that it will also say only one powerlink cable.
And 2,1 set to on, and B&O Equipment on.
About your Q about Playstation, this is not possible, put tell us what your setup is and I will be able to provide a setup solution.
Sadly many dealers are not aware of the possibilities of connecting 3rd party equipment.
Beovision Harmony 77" 2nd Gen, Beolab 5, Beolab 17, Beosound 1, Beoplay M3, Beoplay Portal, Beoplay Earset, Beoliving Intelligence
G'day Rick
Welcome to the forum.
I was reluctant to reply to your post because although I have 2 18s and 1 19 i don't use them with an essence. I use them with an Avant and as rears, and at first I had what I thought not much bass, so i changed the settings via the Avant. I don't know how you can do that with the essence, hence me feeling a bit reluctant. I changed the db settings.
I haven't tried plugging them in directly to a PS4 - I don't think this would work PS4 to BL18 because there is no volume regulation (i think), however if it is via the essence then i reckon it should.
I'm in Melb if you wanted to borrow a spare power link cable to test.
Cheers and good luck
Aussie Michael:I use them with an Avant and as rears, and at first I had what I thought not much bass, so i changed the settings via the Avant. I don't know how you can do that with the essence, hence me feeling a bit reluctant. I changed the db settings.
Wow thanks for your responses is really appreciated.
I'm starting to think the only way to get the system to perform properly is to go through B&O TV but unfortunately I'm not really prepared to spend this amount of money on a TV, so I'll be doing a little bit of research into quality AV receiver which I can connect all my devices PlayStation, TV etc and then daisy chain the speakers together but I guess this will make the essence and transmitter redundant.
I would consider getting a beosystem 4 but this does not support 4K passthrough.
I've also emailed B&O directly about the lack of base, and I will let you guys know what they say when they get back to me.
Thanks again
Rick
PS I managed to try a second Powerlink (cat7) cable today everything connected properly but made no difference. but thank you very much for your offer to borrow a cable ( Aussie Michael) (-:
In stereo mode you should turn the LPF filter to ON and turn the dial to left (:45). Turn the gain up as you wish, and for extra bass put the position switch to Free and lower to desired level.
Something definitely wrong there - in the store I have 18 & 19 connected to an Avant, and when listening to music switching the 19 in and out makes a huge difference, like the bass player has just turned up!
I just bought the Marantz SR5010, so far I am very happy.
RickOZ: I'll be doing a little bit of research into quality AV receiver which I can connect all my devices PlayStation
I'll be doing a little bit of research into quality AV receiver which I can connect all my devices PlayStation
look at the Marantz 5009 or better. It's what I use and with the preouts you can connect any B&O speaker. I have BL 3's and BL 18's connected and can play all my music/shows to them from any source even AirPlay.
Severed_Hand_of_Skywalker:look at the Marantz 5009 or better. It's what I use and with the preouts you can connect any B&O speaker. I have BL 3's and BL 18's connected and can play all my music/shows to them from any source even AirPlay. -- BeoLab 18's. Beolab 3's. A8. A9. A2. H7.
Aussie Michael: How do you connect the BL3s to the pre outs?
How do you connect the BL3s to the pre outs?
As long as the output from the pre outs is variable/volume adjustable this would be a way of doing it:
http://soundsheavenly.com/powerlink-8-pin-din-connection/105-av-processor-pre-amp-sonos-to-beolab-using-the-powerlink-din-sockets.html?search_query=Beolab+3&results=39
mM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Exactly. I just use that cable and bam everything works perfectly. Volume and all.
Hi guys apologies not getting back to this post sooner but it’s been a bit of a hectic Christmas. I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year.
So I’ve had a little bit of an update from B&O they tested the system as I described, a pair of 18s and 19 subwoofer using the Essence mk2 and the Transmitter1 and experienced the same issues I’m having (wimpy base) they have told me they are passing this issue onto the R&D team and will get back to me with a solution. They offered me a workaround for now using a stereo system similar to what “L1NO” had described but suggesting the crossover frequency of a 120 Hz.
I’ve replied to them explain my plan was to in time upgrade this to a 5.1 system and if the 2.1 doesn’t function properly I don’t see how 5.1 system will work either, and I find it hard to believe that I’m the first person to have tried this setup and that they have only just tested it. I also went on to say I truly regret buying the Essence mk2 and the Transmitter1 and the only reason I did, is I assumed they would be the best way to connect to their speakers I also wanted to utilise the wireless functionality.
I started looking into Marantz AV receivers and have also contacted soundsheavenly.com to see if they have a cable solution which could send 2 channels from an AV receiver ( 2 left and 2 right rca’s to one powerlink RJ45). so I can still use the wireless transmitter for front and back left and right in the first two ports on the transmitter and use the remaining two for the subwoofer and centre speaker. if I have this right my head that would mean I can then control each aspect independently from the AV receiver, hope I’m not an idiot for thinking this could work.
I will wait to hear back from sounds heavenly and if they don’t think this would work I think I will just hardwire everything.
I hate to say but I feel like been sold a bit of a pup with the Essence and Transmitter and don’t really think they are fit for the purpose they were sold to me and certainly don’t warrant the premium price tag over the alternatives.
Anyway thanks again for your input and I will keep you up to date when I hear back
Have a great New Year
Hi Rick,
You will find that unless you own a Bang and Olufsen TV that life gets a bit more complicated making the equipment work the way it is intended to.
I have Beolab 18 ( front) 19, and 15 ( rear) - all connected by Transmitter 1 via Marantz AV Receiver and it works fantastic.
In addition I have a hard wired center speaker - with other words a full 5.1.
I tried to make it work but until I bought the AV receiver all I got was frustrations.
You have spent a lot of money on fantastic speakers, so spending another$ 800 but getting what you really wanted seems a good investment.
Good luck.
Hi Rick
Its a long time since you last posted but I am keen to hear how you resolved this situation. I have the 18s with essence and am looking to get the 19 and a transmitter 1 to add a bit more bass that i feel is missing when listening to music. I have also been researching and debating getting a marantz av receiver to build out a full surround setup with,
If you have time i'd be interested to hear how you go the 2.1 to work satisfactorily and if you bought an av receiver, which one?
Thanks
Happy to help otpbeo
So B&O acknowledged there was a problem with the performance of the bass, but it turned out to be a glitch in the setup process. Basically what you have to do is reset the transmitter (press Select and Store button simultaneously for 10 sec but with the 2.1 switch in the off position) when you’ve done this in the green light is flashing that’s when you switch on 2.1.
I will attach the email below sent below. I’ve also found recently that within the B&O setup On my iPad there is an option to increase bass at low volume this makes a big difference.
Since fixing these problems I’ve also added a old Beolab 7.1 with a wireless receiver1 and this makes a massive difference to movie dialogue when you use it just as a centre channel only.
In the end I didn’t get an AV receiver but instead bought a OPPO 105d Blu-ray player which has 7.1 pre outs which I’ve connected directly to the transmitter1 using cables from Steve at sounds heavenly (RCA to RJ 45) this works very well however if you have the B&O Essence you will need to connect this using the RJ45 from the Essence to the receiver using the RCA inputs.
If you want to use more than one other HDMI device you will need a AV receiver, I think buying a Marantz AV receiver is probably the better way to go.
Hope this helps and good luck let me know if you need any more help
EMAIL FROM B&O
RickOz - top tips thanks. Got the 18 and 19 working together following this!