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This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
I’m considering buying a pair of Beolab 3’s and need some help with connection options.
My music source will be locally stored FLAC files on a NAS drive.
Currently I’m using
- Phone as controller (using app Hi-Fi Cast)
- Google Chromecast Audio
- taking the (little known) OPTICAL output from the Chromecast Audio
- into a Musical Fidelity Amp that has an optical input and high grade DAC
- then into passive speakers
Questions
- With Beolab 3’s will the Chromecast still be the best option for me?
o Alternatives if not?
- Assuming using Chromecast are we looking at Chromecast to DAC to Playmaker? (Do we really need Playmaker?)
o Or is there a way that the Beolab 3’s will take a digital input (ie optical) without the need for a DAC?
o I could use the Chromecast’s built in DAC/Jack/Phono out but it’s not high quality – I’d really like it if we could bypass the need for a DAC altogether, else I’m looking at extra expense on a decent DAC
- Would the RJ45 on the Playmaker be of use at all here?
- Also I intend using a B&W PV1D sub – how to connect that in also?
Many thanks
Hi,
Welcome to Beoworld!
Yes, Chromecast Audio is a good place to start when using the Beolab speakers, you can always upgrade to something else in the future if you need to.
You can connect a pair of Beolab 3 speakers to the headphone socket of your Chromecast Audio using this cable:-
https://soundsheavenly.com/line-in-connection/70-341-minijack-to-beolab-line-in-using-powerlink-sockets-one-cable-for-two-speakers.html#/2-length-1m
Please set both speakers to "Line" mode using the small switch next to the input sockets.
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
Thankyou!
I think that tells me that the Beolab 3's do not accept a digital input - only line in.
Which means I'm stuck with the choice of using the Chromecast built-in DAC or obtaining an external one?
Would the Playmaker add any advantage here?
Yes, that is correct, the speakers can only accept an analogue output. I suggest trying the internal DAC to see if you are happy with the sound quality first, there are lots of upgrade options (eg. Sonos, PlayMaker, Core, etc) but in many cases the Chromecast Audio may already give the sound quality you need without needing to buy extra hardware.
Thankyou - I wrongly posted this reply on another thread I was reading....
There is the issue of adding a Sub (in my case it will be B&W PV1D) to the Beolab 3's
Clearly will need something to send the line signal to both speakers and sub together - is this where Playmaker is needed...or other?
Finally - if I want to add my turntable (having gone through a phono stage) that means having something where I can switch between two inputs. Can this also be accommodated?
I have a B&O connection hub, with a set of Beolab 3 and Beolab 11 connected to the output, and a tv, chromecast audio both via optical connected on the input side.
But a Hall Audio wifi streamer would do too.
With a Beosound Core you don’t need the Chromecast anymore while it is built into the Core.
Beosound 5 Encore, Beolab 3, Beolab 11, Beosound Balance Non GVA, H9i