Sony TV 95L as center speaker + BL18/19

[MaximeU]

Dear Community,

Hope everyone is having a beautiful Sunday. I am reaching out once more regarding a connectivity question ahead of purchasing a new TV (i.e., Sony QD-OLED 95L). More precisely, I am wondering how to leverage the supposedly good sound quality of the TV (as centre speaker) in combination of my BL speakers.

I own a BL 18 + 19 setup that I use in combination of:

• a Beosound Core (for music streaming)
• a Transmitter 1 (for wireless usage of the speakers)
• an audio extractor that contains an HDMI plug that i usually used for video (link)

I am not too worried about connecting the TV to my BL speakers: the HDMI Arc of the TV will be connected to the audio extractor, himself connected via Toslink to the Transmitter 1, and that’s it. Now, Sony says it is possible to use the TV as center speaker (link), yet this requires an AV receiver.

I cannot wrap my head around how to make this work. I don’t see how to add a receiver in the mix here, nor how to set-up the TV as central speaker without a AV Receiver. I also doubt the BeoCore can be of any help here. Any ideas would be very welcomed!

PS: I am also open to purchase the TV equivalent from LG / Samsung if the connectivity topic is easier.

[Millemissen]

Using the Sony speakers as a center channel is a nice idea…..if you have an A/V receiver – or rather an audio processor, that can provide the center channel signal.

This is not the case with the Core, since this is a 2 channel (aka stereo) device.

You can – as you know – use the Core with the extractor and the tv.
But you must rely on the phantom center channel, that is created, when you sit right in front and centric of the speakers equaly positioned on either side of the tv.
You will never have a dedicated center channel this way!

This goes for all brands of tv’s.

MM

[MaximeU]

Thanks MM for the reply! What options do i have in terms of AV receiver so that i can keep the speakers wireless using the Transmitter 1?

[Millemissen]

First of all you will need an A/V receiver with a pre-out section – alternatively a pure multichannel preamp (these are not as common and tend to be more expensive).
Since you have speakers with their own amps (Beolabs), you need an audio processor with unamplified outputs for at least the L/R/(C)/Sub channels.

You will have to connect the Transmitter to that.
See this guide for howto.

Furthermore you will need an additional Beolab as the center channel.
Alternatively you might also be able to use the powered (center speaker) outputs of an A/V receiver for feeding the built-in Sony speaker.

Be prepared for some hassle setting this up!
Once set up you might be able to use the Sony remote for volume control and other basic controls (CEC makes that possible).

The Core will not fit in there – but most modern A/V receivers have support for various music streaming sources.
Also the extractor will not be needed.

Not ‘that much B&O’ left there……apart from the BL18/19.

Only option to integrate the functions of the Core is to get a newer B&O television (in which case you won’t need the Core any more….these functions are built-in to the BV).
If you want to keep the Sony, the only option is the Beosound Theatre.
With the Theatre however, the better choice will be to go for an LG tv.

MM

[Author]

Posts