Connecting Powerlink in Series - question

7 replies
CharlieWednesday
CharlieWednesday
Gold
696 posts
Posted September 16, 2026 at 17:51 GMT
#1645826
If I connect Powerlink speakers in series to a single Powerlink connection on my Beovision 11-46 TV, will the TV still recognise each individual speaker in the series, and be able to send a separate signal to each? I want to buy a Powerlink switch so that when I am listening to audio sources, I don't need to use my Beovision 11-46 TV at all.  It takes too long to start up, and only displays simple info in the LED displays on my Beolab 3000 speakers. As well as the Beolab 3000, I have a Beolab 2 sub with a pair of Beolab 3 connected to it.  That therefore works as a surround sound setup when watching video sources, or stereo when listening to audio sources. If I wanted to use a Powerlink switch to switch inputs between my Beovision 11-46 and my Beosound 9000, could I do this with only one Powerlink switch, with all of my speakers connected in series, or would I need two Powerlink switches one for the BL3000 and another for the BL2/3?  Would my TV be able to assign the right roles to all 5 speakers if they were connected in series to a single PL output? Just hoping I can save a bit of money by buying one Powerlink switch instead of two really!  

Location: Liverpool

My B&O Icons:

BeoCenter-9500.png BeoCenter-9500.png
Beoplay-EX.png Beoplay-EX.png
Beosound-9000.png Beosound-9000.png
Beosound-5.png Beosound-5.png
Beosound-4.png Beosound-4.png
Beoremote-One.png Beoremote-One.png
Beoremote-Beo4.png Beoremote-Beo4.png
Beosound.png Beosound.png
Beovision-11.png Beovision-11.png
Beosound-Moment.png Beosound-Moment.png
Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...
carolpa
carolpa
Bronze
2534 posts
Posted September 17, 2026 at 07:38 GMT ? Edited September 17, 2026 at 14:12 GMT
#1674183
Millemis
Millemis
Bronze
1357 posts
Posted September 17, 2026 at 08:46 GMT
I agree completely with carolpa. Using the power of the audioengine in the BV11 for creating different Speaker Groups is the best way to go. And please configure the sub as a sub in the Sound Settings on a separate PL connection - this will give you the best results watching content with multichannel sound. The bigger question here is….how to get the sound from the BS9000 into the tv? The far best way to do it, is to use a NL/ML Converter - here you also in addition get full control of the BS9000. Another solution however, might be what Steve describes here: https://soundsheavenly.com/products/9-pin-av-cable-for-beovision-11-12-new-generation-avant-v1-and-beosystem-4-powerlink-input#/5-length-5m You can get the cables from him. By the way….if you configure some QuickStart timers, your tv will start much quicker. For how to - and much more - please read the manuals here: https://support.bang-olufsen.com/hc/en-us/articles/360041518852-Beovision-11-Beo4   MM

Location: Flensborg————Danmark

CharlieWednesday
CharlieWednesday
Gold
696 posts
Posted September 17, 2026 at 17:48 GMT ? Edited September 17, 2026 at 17:49 GMT
#1674188
Thanks both; sorry I should have explained why I was considering the Powerlink switch option in more detail. I already have my Beosound 9000 connected to my Beovision 11 via a Beolink Converter NL/ML, and it works.  My speakers are connected to the TV and are all assigned roles, working in surround when watching TV, and in stereo when listening to audio. The problem is though - its starts so slowly!  When I want to listen to an audio source such as CD, I have to wait a full minute for the TV to start up before I hear any music. Setting quick start timers for the TV doesn't work for me either - there seems to be some strange compatibility issue when using Mk2 Powerlink with the TV.  If I set the TV to quick start, then my Beolab 3000 speakers always stay switched on - they don't go into standby when the TV is on standby.  They only go into standby if I don't use quick start timers. That's why I considered a Powerlink switch.  That way I could connect the TV and the BS9000 separately to my speakers, and when I listen to an audio source, the TV would not need to start up, so I won't have to wait! There is also another couple of potential advantages to this:
  • Beolab 3000 displays:  Connected to my TV the displays on my Beolab 3000 only display 'TV' and the volume, regardless of what source is active.  If I connect my BS9000 to the speakers via a Powerlink switch, I'll see actual audio sources, track numbers, radio preset numbers on those displays.
  • Beolink Converter Issues:  The BLC is a clever thing to be sure, but it can sometimes behave a bit unpredictably.  With a Powerlink switch, I don't think I'd have any need to use the BLC
As

Location: Liverpool

My B&O Icons:

BeoCenter-9500.png BeoCenter-9500.png
Beoplay-EX.png Beoplay-EX.png
Beosound-9000.png Beosound-9000.png
Beosound-5.png Beosound-5.png
Beosound-4.png Beosound-4.png
Beoremote-One.png Beoremote-One.png
Beoremote-Beo4.png Beoremote-Beo4.png
Beosound.png Beosound.png
Beovision-11.png Beovision-11.png
Beosound-Moment.png Beosound-Moment.png
Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...
carolpa
carolpa
Bronze
2534 posts
Posted September 17, 2026 at 19:01 GMT ? Edited September 17, 2026 at 19:02 GMT
Millemis
Millemis
Bronze
1357 posts
Posted September 17, 2026 at 19:27 GMT
@CharlieWednesday It is always nice to know as lot as possible about a setup, when trying to advice….otherweise you can easily go blind. As Carolpa I am looking forward to hear about the ‘new’ setup. MM

Location: Flensborg————Danmark

CharlieWednesday
CharlieWednesday
Gold
696 posts
Posted September 18, 2026 at 13:04 GMT
#1674193
I am now thinking it's too complicated, just for the benefit of a faster startup of my audio sources. By the way, the BL3000s are set to Audio - another curiosity my BV11 to these older speakers is that the displays don't work if set to Video, but do work (if only partially) if set to Audio. Thanks for all of the info.  If I ever do buy a Powerlink Switch out of curiosity, I let you know how it all works.

Location: Liverpool

My B&O Icons:

BeoCenter-9500.png BeoCenter-9500.png
Beoplay-EX.png Beoplay-EX.png
Beosound-9000.png Beosound-9000.png
Beosound-5.png Beosound-5.png
Beosound-4.png Beosound-4.png
Beoremote-One.png Beoremote-One.png
Beoremote-Beo4.png Beoremote-Beo4.png
Beosound.png Beosound.png
Beovision-11.png Beovision-11.png
Beosound-Moment.png Beosound-Moment.png
Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...
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