Hi and welcome to Beoworld,

sorry to say it - this is what comes from using a good speaker with a tv, that has a bad audio solution.

The 7.1 is a stereo speaker/2.0.

On a BeoVision with external front speakers it is normally used as the center channel - combining the 2 channels to one, which is feed with a center signal from the BV.

But the 7.1 is also excellent, when used as the only speaker with a BV (in stereo mode).

Complaints about loosing dialog there are seldom heard by the owners.

The output from a headphone jack however, will never be the best.

Using a digital/optical output from the or another tv will cause new problems.

Since the 7.1 has only analog-in (the PL) you will need a converter from digital to analog in between....

....which normally may introduce a slight sound delay - and you will not be able to control the volume of the digital output.

Modern tv’s (exept for the BV’s and maybe Loewe) are focussed on picture quality (and SmartTV functions).

The audio is left for an external solutions - nowadays mostly for a soundbar connected via HDMI/ARC.

Another solution is to use a ‘surround receiver’ and the appropriate number of speakers for the sound part.....the 7.1 could be a part of that!

MM

A solution, that you could consider, is the BeoPlay Connection Hub (obsolete, but should be available anyway).

This hub lets you connect the speakers/your BL7.1 using the digital output of a non-B&O tv.

In some cases - with certain tv’s - the volume can be controlled by the remote of the tv.

Whether or not you will be satisfied with the sound of the 7.1 in this case only a test can tell.

MM

Thanks for that guys.

Millemissen, thanks for taking the time to explain all that so well. Not good news for me but it's nice to know. - I am resisting buying a new soundbar because I love the build quality, and the sound sometimes, of this beauty! 

OldJack, It's very interesting to hear from someone with a similar setup. Mine does sound excellent, it's just hard to hear the dialogue when the background audio kicks in and I find myself clicking the volume up and down as not to disturb the neighbours. But it seems like you don't have this issue? 

I imagine my room does not help, TV and speaker are in an alcove next to chimney *** and I have hard floors, but the sound problem seems bigger than this to me.

Thanks for your input 

Caed wrote:

 

OldJack, It's very interesting to hear from someone with a similar setup. Mine does sound excellent, it's just hard to hear the dialogue when the background audio kicks in and I find myself clicking the volume up and down as not to disturb the neighbours. But it seems like you don't have this issue? 

 

No,I really do not have any issues.Try to play with different sound settings in your tv.Also,as Leo sugested,on the back of BL7.1 there is switch wall/free

position,or something like that.BL7.1 is beautiful speaker,much better than many soundbars.

Caed wrote:

Mine does sound excellent, it's just hard to hear the dialogue when the background audio kicks in and I find myself clicking the volume up and down as not to disturb the neighbours.

If you're watching Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, this is absolutely normal and not a setup issue at all 😁

Thanks everyone.

I have been playing about with the base switch and putting some soundproofing foam behind my TV (and anywhere I can get it without it being on show) and it has made a massive difference!

Now it sounds how I want it to and presents a new problem... How to connect it to a modern TV without a 3.5mm headphone port? :/

I'm very reluctant to replace it with a lesser speaker but I can't find a way to connect it via optical to a new TV and be able to control the volume?  

Nice one, I’ve sent you a PM