Beosound 8 & Airport Express problems

12 replies
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splud (archived)
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Posted February 1, 2011 at 20:03 GMT
#1925764

I bought the Beosound 8 to replace my Bose, the Beosound works great with my IPhone and IPad, sounds very crisp, but when i attach the Airport Express the sound disorts the base, I've tried it via lan (Cat 5) and wireless. Also there is a hum or very high pitched electric noise from the Beosound (drops a tone when you turn it off) but only when nothing is plugged in the apple connector?

Tonight i will try streaming itunes directly to my IPhone via Airfoil speaker app, see if it makes a difference.
Has anyone else had problems with the Airport Express, I have 2 and both are the same. Oh and all works fine with the old Bose setup, doesnt distort the base at all?? 
Thanks all TC.

Update: I have been looking at some websites, and some reccommend using a DAC to convert the Airport Express digital audio source to analog?? anyone care to shed some light. It seems a shame thae the Beosound 8 doesnt have a digital input :-(

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TripEnglish (archived)
Bronze
Posted February 1, 2011 at 22:38 GMT
#1925765

The dock connector is taking the digital signal directly from a different set of pins and using the internal DAC. The aux input is analog in so the Airport Express is being input differently. You'll get the best result from direct docking. 

If you want to get the best quality from your collection though, you might look into a BeoSound 5. 

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splud (archived)
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Posted February 2, 2011 at 01:06 GMT
#1925766

Thanks for the info. The reason i got the Beosound 8 is we are renovating our house so all the B&O gear is packed up and will be for the next 3 months, which is why I got the Beo8 for the interim, and using the Airport Express to stream music from my PC, I got too much stuff to put it all on my IPhone etc.

T(
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TheMajor (archived)
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Posted February 2, 2011 at 01:57 GMT
#1925767
Surely you can only enjoy one song at a time?
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splud (archived)
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Posted February 2, 2011 at 02:09 GMT
#1925768

Yeh, i know i'll keep replaying one song.....

Anyway, back to the problem at hand, has anyone tried the BeoSound 8 with the Airport Express?? Do you notice any distortion in the bass?



Cheers TC

M(
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mickhoog (archived)
Bronze
Posted February 2, 2011 at 03:17 GMT
#1925769

TC,

Have you done the recent update to itunes which allows airplay from your computer?  Ie can you stream from your computer to your docked iphone?  I haven't tried one with an airport express, but i find when i use airport express with even my beolab 4's that it has a hum, but they still sound pretty good.

 

Just trying to offer an alternative.

 

Cheers

MH

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akoro (archived)
Bronze
Posted February 4, 2011 at 16:59 GMT
#1925770
"Anyway, back to the problem at hand, has anyone tried the BeoSound 8 with the Airport Express?? Do you notice any distortion in the bass?"

I have tried and had good result. Seems odd though that your other dock works ok with the same signal.

Have you tried connecting iphone into the 3.5mm plug where you have airport express now? Just to narrow down the fault... If you have too loud signal going into BS8 it will distort - I have tried that with PowerLink to RCA cable.
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splud (archived)
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Posted February 4, 2011 at 22:16 GMT
#1925771

Yep, I have tried the IPhone in the  Aux socket and it plays fine, but i like your suggestion about the volume of the output i will try lowering it on the IPhone and try that. As to the Airport Express I think the output is possible too strong for the Beosound 8, I know that B&O are looking into this as they have had other units with the same problem. Hmmm maybe I will also try lowering the volume in ITunes and try the Express again. I'll let you know?
Cheers TC

B(
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benoit (archived)
Bronze
Posted February 5, 2011 at 07:00 GMT
#1925772

Hi,

I had exactly the same problem and I found that I have an excellent sound when putting the volume level from iTunes to the 2/3.

Then the sound streamed through Airplay is perfect with no distorsion, even at very high level.

 

 

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symmes (archived)
Bronze
Posted February 5, 2011 at 08:14 GMT
#1925773

MH, 

I think Airport Express to Lab 4 is a great idea.  Are your speakers Lab 4 PC or regular?  When your Airport Express is inactive, do the speakers go to sleep?  

Thanks

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