Beolab 5 Powerlink or optical?

VI

Vinnie

Bronze

4 posts

Posted November 17, 2022 at 02:43 GMT

Hi all, New to the forum, happy I could join :) Currently I have a pair of Beolab 5's. Connected to a Beosound Core with Powerlink and with Optical. When I first connected the Beolab 5's to the Core with only the Powerlink cable I got distortion from the tweeters. The problem was solved when also connecting the Beolab 5's with spdif/coax cables. I just called a nearby B&O store and they told me that Powerlink should also work fine, without distortion. Maybe I don't have the right Powerlink splitter and cables. Long questions short.. what is the best way to connect my Beolab 5's to the Core? Will Powerlink, using the right cables, also work fine and with maybe even higher sound quality than over optical?

NQVHNWI

Bronze

1646 posts

Posted November 17, 2022 at 14:53 GMT

#695858

Hi, There is a specific specification of BL5 Powerlink cable. Im not 100% but I think it is heavily shielded and has a ferrite ring on each termination. When using Powerlink only, the Powerlink transmits analogue audio signal for both channels and volume control. When using Powerlink and SP/Dif, the BL5's only use the Powerlink for volume control and SP/Dif for the digital audio signal. I am not sure what your problem maybe - whether it is poor quality (for music) Powerlink cable or something else. You can test this by swapping channels on the BL5 and by swapping cables between the source and the BL5 and the cable that daisy-chains the BVL5s together. However, I believe the quality of sound using both cable sets will superior all around. A poor quality Powerlink cable (if that is the problem?) for volume control and a good Coax cable should suffice.

VI

Vinnie

Bronze

4 posts

Posted November 17, 2022 at 15:15 GMT

#695861

NQVHNWI

Bronze

1646 posts

Posted November 17, 2022 at 15:46 GMT

#695863

Hi, As per my original response, Powerlink only BL5s sound rubbish compared to feeding them with Coax. Night and Day in my opinion. I assume you are feeding your BSCore with 96kHz feed and it is not responding but responding at 48kHz? The BL5s should be good for 96kHz/24bit DSP so either you have a problem with the Core or the BL5. Again, as indicated above, play with the cables (which is fed first), L/R channel (on Powerlink) and coax1/2 input order. i.e. if 1 BL5 has a DSP problem at 96kHz but ok at 48kHz, you can test each separately. If you have this sample rate problem in both, you have a Core problem (or the signal going in the core is above 96/24). You want the Core to have a problem if you must have a problem. As I see it now...with the info presented, it sounds like the problem is the Core of the feed to the Core. Can you connect the Coax directly to your non-Core source but keep the Powerlink in the core. (This will give you Beo volume control but no source control). However, it will help diagnose where your problem is.

Millemis

Bronze

1330 posts

Posted November 17, 2022 at 17:01 GMT

#695865

I am not aware that the BS Core has an optical/digital out connection. It is just for an incoming signal. MM
Location: Flensborg————Danmark

NQVHNWI

Bronze

1646 posts

Posted November 17, 2022 at 17:15 GMT

#695866

1 x Toslink digital sound out ..which can typically be converted to Coax. Hence the OP refers to optical out?

Millemis

Bronze

1330 posts

Posted November 17, 2022 at 17:24 GMT

#695868

Oh sorry - you’re right! My mistake ? MM
Location: Flensborg————Danmark

Millemis

Bronze

1330 posts

Posted November 17, 2022 at 17:33 GMT ? Edited November 17, 2022 at 17:33 GMT

#695869

Maybe this helps… Login to view image MM
Location: Flensborg————Danmark

NQVHNWI

Bronze

1646 posts

Posted November 17, 2022 at 18:33 GMT

#695875

Login to view image MM
Had me sweating for a few moments. Thought I’d just walked into a bear trap without thinking.
VI

Vinnie

Bronze

4 posts

Posted November 18, 2022 at 12:14 GMT

#695897

Hi all, The Core is being fed by AirPlay. Using Apple Music on my iPhone. In the Core I have a setting for optical output, which is now on 48Khz. When I set it to 96KhZ, my tweeters start to show weird distortion sound. So I have no other hardware source connected to the Core, only AirPlay. The image above represents how I have connected everything. From your answer Mr10Percent, I understand that using optical (digital output) to the BL5’s, I will get better quality than using good quality PowerLink cables?

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