Hi guys, just a couple of small questions on the Beosystem 4 which I intend to buy. The Beosystem would be coupled to 2 Beolab 5 speakers and a Beolab 7 center speaker. Over time I would then add 2 rear speakers. Input would be a blu ray player and hdmi out to a projector.My questions:1/ Is it possible to obtain a decent 3.2 sound with these speakers? Over time a decent 5.0 sound without needing an additional subwoofer for the .1 channel? With that I mean full activation of the subwoofers just as in a regular 5.1 surround system? I now use the BL5 in stereo mode (feed by coax from TV out) but I hardly can hear the subwoofers in movies…2/ Is it possible to link an apple TV and airplay music from the iphone without needing to activate the projector?3/ When I would upgrade the projector over time to a 4K projector, I would use the Beosystem only for audio and send 4k video directly to the projector. In that case, would it be possible to program the Beosystem such that I could use it without needing on screen display? I would basically only shift between stereo and cinema modus, via remote control. Or it there a need to have on screen display for booting, rebooting, settings, etc.As always I am very grateful for your expert advice!
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Beosystem 4
29 replies
I'll be honest - unless you're looking for BeoLink capabilities (you'd need a Core or an Essence MKII for this anyways), I'd probably skip the BeoSystem 4. I owned one and just got too tired of trying to work around its limitations.
When it was a contemporary product it did some really terrific things, but as one that's now fairly out of date in every meaningful way I can't see even taking one for free.
There are plenty of good AVRs with pre-amp outputs that you can attach B&O active speakers to.
For music-only sources, there is the option to set PICTURE OFF to TIMEOUT, ALWAYS, OR NEVER. However, you can't do this with the Apple TV source. A good solution would be to add an inexpensive speaker such an a BeoPlay M5 in another room. Then, you can add its sources for the BeoSystem 4 to access as one of the 2 available linked products under PRODUCT INTEGRATION. Then, you could could set the PICTURE OFF as ALWAYS.
FYI, BeoSystem 4 does have Deezer and TuneIn built into it.
I actually think the BeoSystem 4 is still a great product -- especially since you aren't using 4K yet. When you switch to 4K, you can just be sure to get a UHD player that has 2 HDMI outputs. My Sony UHD player does this and B&O made a PUC to control it.
Just saw the post from beojef, while writing my own.
Here goes my posting, since both posts might add something of interest for you.
There are lots of options using the BSys4 - many that you won’t find in most AV receivers of today (unless you go for something like the audio processors from Storm Audio or Trinnov). Alone the use of the Beoremote is worth it to concider the BSys4.
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@ BeoMatthe
Sorry, but I do not see the limitations - please be more specific…I want to know, if what you call limitations, might be something special that you need.
In which cases do you see the absolute need for a Core/Essence?
@pauiander
1: Sure you can have decent 3.2 sound (meaning: 3.0 in that case. That will only be a marter of knowing, using the bas management possibilities in the system. You will have to deal with the Technical Sound Guide and configure the setup for your needs.
Also adding additional speakers is very easy.
With the BSys4 you can create multiple Speaker Groups, that you can switch between or/and you can asign these to a specific source (e.g when you play movies from the bluray player).
2: If you want the projector to startup (be controlled) through the BSys4, you will need the right PUC codes for that…..otherweise you will have to turn this on manually respectively with it’s own remote. This means that - when you airplay to the AP - you will only hear sound.
Since you can assign a specific Speaker Group (e.g. one for multichannel aka surround sound), you will hear the sound this way (that is probably, what you want to, if you mainly use it for movies). However, you can easily change to a 2 channel Speaker Group, when you want to listen to music.
Tip! If you want to simplify the daily use, you could have one ATV4 for movies etc combined with a multichannel Speaker Group and another (could be an ATV3) only for music assigned with a 2 channel Speaker Group (your BL5’s as L/R).
3: This will only be a matter of getting the right HDMI splitter. Speaker Groups are easily choosen with the Beo4 remote. No need for an ‘on screen display’ there. You’d inly need the display for programming/configuration.
MM
Location: Flensborg————Danmark
Thank you all very much for your answer. Much appreciated! This is what I was hoping for. The Beosystem will allow me to create a decent 3.0 or 5.0 sound with the BL5 taking the .1 channel. I presume that this is also the case for people using a Beovision TV. If you are using BL5 or BL 50 as front speakers with a Beovision or Beosystem 3/4 there is no need any more for a dedicated sub (BL2) I presume. Has any of you tried this or does an additional sub make no sense anymore with these speakers?
No, there is absolutely no need for an additional subwoofer, since that can easily be handled by the BL5’s (BL50’s etc), because of the bas manament options in the BSys4.
The ‘subwoofers’ in those speakers are more powerfull than the BL2 and you have two of them!
Have a look here:
Location: Flensborg————Danmark
Thank you very much for confirming this MM! You are completely right. Since more than 8 years I am running the BL5 in a stereo set up and I barely have heard the subwoofers playing! To me it seems that these are barely used. Ok for music they are used and it is beautiful but for movies I mean I would like to have some more kick in the bass 🙂.Perhaps one last question relating to software support and maintenance of the Beosystem 4. The unit for sale is from 2017 and will hopefully last for a lot of years to come. Is there any need for frequent software updates and would it be possible to repair the unit within a number of years (in case of unfortunate problems)?I am asking this because my BL5 are not so young neither anymore. Somehow this purchase is linked to the use of my BL5. This all been said I never have had any problems with any of my B&O products so far 🤞
The Beosystem 4 was introduced in 2013 (basicly to drive the BV12 screen).
In 2018 it was discontinued, since B&O had changed the way they sell tv’s.
Nowadays it is part of the Sound Center that is sold and used with the BV Eclipse/BV Harmony….and contains no tv tuners etc.
It is basicly a sound processor and a source/HDMI hub, that can be part of a B&O NetworkLink setup.
It is/was the basic part of the Beoplay V1, the BV11, the BV14 and the BV Avant series.
There are several threads here of how it is used with projectors and 3rd party tv’s.
As far as I am aware noone has reported severe problems with this standalone system - however, that can not be a guarantee that it could not happen at some point. And noone can guarantee that you could get parts for it in the unfortunate case.
It is long ago that it was last time updated - there is no need for any updates!
So - as with any modern tech product - you have to count in a risk…..just like with your BL5’s.
MM
Location: Flensborg————Danmark
Even with Beolab 9 no need for a subwoofer. Sold my Beolab 2 after I got the 9s. RalfIf you are using BL5 or BL 50 as front speakers with a Beovision or Beosystem 3/4 there is no need any more for a dedicated sub (BL2) I presume. Has any of you tried this or does an additional sub make no sense anymore with these speakers?
My B&O Icons:
Living Room: Beosystem 4, Beolab 7-2 (Center), Beolab 9 (Fronts), Beolab 8000 (Rears), Screen: Sony KD-85XH9096
Home Cinema: Beosystem 4, Beolab 7-4 (Center), Beolab 9 (Fronts), Beolab 4000 (Rears). Projector: Sony VPL-HW55
Home Office: BeoVision 11-46, 4 x Beolab 3, BeoCenter 9300 (BLC 1611/ML/NL)
Bedroom: Sony KD-65XH9077, Beosound Essence MK II with Beolab 6002 and Beolab 11 (all white, wall-mounted)
Dart Room: BeoPlay V1-40 on floor stand
Guest Room: BeoVision 7-40 MK IV, Beolab 7-2, BeoSound Ouverture
Home Cinema: Beosystem 4, Beolab 7-4 (Center), Beolab 9 (Fronts), Beolab 4000 (Rears). Projector: Sony VPL-HW55
Home Office: BeoVision 11-46, 4 x Beolab 3, BeoCenter 9300 (BLC 1611/ML/NL)
Bedroom: Sony KD-65XH9077, Beosound Essence MK II with Beolab 6002 and Beolab 11 (all white, wall-mounted)
Dart Room: BeoPlay V1-40 on floor stand
Guest Room: BeoVision 7-40 MK IV, Beolab 7-2, BeoSound Ouverture
Thank you for your response. Fair enough MM, I understand that an electronic product can have issues ar some point in time which nobody can foresee. However, it seems to me that the Beosystem 4 is a decent piece of kit. So far it is reassuring that not a lot of problems have been signaled by other users on the forum (there are other exemples) and that no frequent software updates are required. I am not a big fan of these neither. All in all, I am convinced of that this product can have a good added value to my system. Thank you all for your feedback 🙂
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