Just one more thought - since each Beolab 50 is basically a mono speaker, does it need the power of a top of the line recent stereo ADC? Would an older, known and reliable chip be a satisfactory choice? I just wouldn’t automatically discount it as a viable solution is all.
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Beolab 50 and Turntables - Is the sound digitised
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I personally think the “audiophile” thing is a misnomer mostly (and a clever marketing term)as i would say that 5’s 50’s and 90’s would all be in that catagory, if you could call it that. I think WE are audiophiles for sure, I think it’s a correct term for people that are a bit too much in to audio😎 but as for labeling gear(speakers and such)as such is where I don’t think it really applies as there is no standard. It’s a bit like all the modern day products/electronics that have the label “pro” on it. Let’s take a mac book/ipad “pro”, there isn’t much pro about it other than it’s a bit more powerfull. So you, me, we are audiophiles. But if someone says product x is “audiophile grade” then show me numbers or a comparison to product y which isn’t labeled as such. Other than that i think it’s marketing mostly and more or less a statement of prefference, which is obviously fine but that’s subjective rather than objective😎
I have a turntable plugged into my Beolab 90s via a phono preamp and preamplifier (not a cheap one, either!). I also worried that it was pointless due to the digitisation of the signal.
I needn't have worried - it sounds stunning and blows all the other sources into the weeds!
MM - I did originally try and get a Beogram Turntable for 3 months looking on ebay, speaking to dealers and private sellers but i there were so many models in various conditions so couldnt decide on which one to get. Plus there was a concern that i would struggle (have to pay an arm and a leg) to get replacement styluses and cartridges for these vintage and/older models. I then went the opposite direction to look at Pro-ject and Rega turntables and they were perfectly good but didnt like any other designs as i wanted something with a wood finish. I then stumbled accross a LINN dealer selling a mid- range Sondek L12 (they have a low, middle & high end player) at half the usual price. So essentially the LINN ticked all the boxes.
MIKIPEDIA - I really like the design and Ultimately I really want to listen to Jazz from the 40, 50's and 60s and allot of the artists from this time are getting their music re-pressed in new Vinyl from the original master tapes by companies like Mobile Fidelity, Blue note records and Music Matters Jazz. They wont be getting a release digitally as far as im aware and they will sound superior to the original Vinly pressings. So in short ill be going for it. And as Politician pointed out, LINNS top of the range phono stage the URIKA II digitizes the signal before sending this to its amps and speakers just shows that it can work if you pick the right components. Although i say this without having listened to a digitized analogue Vinly 😎
I think that B&O should give form of "official advice" of what devices work best with their speaker - things like streamers, Turntables, Phono stages etc. I know they do this in the IDEA CATALOGUE that i've seen online but they didnt include turntables.
I have two options for the phono stage after some modest research time.
Option 1- A Schiit Audio Mani phono stage which costs £149 & has stella reviews or option 2 the PS audio Nuwave phone stage (£1k). I'm learning towards the cheaper phono phono stage while i learn what works best with the speakers.
AdamS - What phono stage and preamplifier are you using?
It just wanted a chance to experience analogue sound
Then as said several times, the 50 is NOT your choice! And its NOT about how or where you do digital conversion or what nots!
The 50 processes the signal in ways you cannot do in an analog system, and thus the sound will NEVER have the properties of analog sound!
Its a bit like asking for the CRT TV experience on an OLED screen, No matter how gorgeous the OLED technology is,- it will never happen!
So in this case you need to get a full analog setup if you truly appreciate the properties of analog sound.
Just one more thought - since each Beolab 50 is basically a mono speaker, does it need the power of a top of the line recent stereo ADC? Would an older, known and reliable chip be a satisfactory choice? I just wouldn’t automatically discount it as a viable solution is all.
You have to elaborate a bit here, how did mono sneak into that question?
Where in the signal chain are you considering putting in an ADC?
It just wanted a chance to experience analogue soundThen as said several times, the 50 is NOT your choice! And its NOT about how or where you do digital conversion or what nots!
The 50 processes the signal in ways you cannot do in an analog system, and thus the sound will NEVER have the properties of analog sound!
Its a bit like asking for the CRT TV experience on an OLED screen, No matter how gorgeous the OLED technology is,- it will never happen!
So in this case you need to get a full analog setup if you truly appreciate the properties of analog sound.
Your right BEOVOX, Worst case i can just buy some relatively affordable passive bookshelf speakers, an amp to power them and i'm golden. Obviosuly this would would mean i have another audio setup in another room but that would be a pure audio chain.
AdamS - What phono stage and preamplifier are you using?
Anatek MC1 phono preamp and Yamaha CX-10000 preamplifier.
Maybe I am assuming too much, but each BL50 is basically a single channel of a stereo pair (thus mono). They have Digital Signal Processing and features analog inputs, so it needs an analog to digital converter stage prior to the DSP. ADC chips are most likely built for stereo operation at a minimum, unless I have that wrong, so either the second channel is idle, or the inputs may be connected in parallel. Either way, that may reduce the burden on the circuit.You have to elaborate a bit here, how did mono sneak into that question? Where in the signal chain are you considering putting in an ADC?
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