Lee and Brad have just delivered the speakers and confirmed that Powerlink is not a a digital connection.  We then agreed that the Playmaker is not the device I need and that I should get a refund ASAP.

I've located some S/PDIF cables and connected the Beolab 5s to my Blu-Ray player as a temporary system.  Played a bit of music and then moved on to Bass Calibration.  The first speaker worked fine first time, the second one keeps failing to calibrate properly and flashes red after giving up.  Is there a trick to doing it right?

TBH I don't think the salesman was very knowledgable about Beolab 5 or the Playmaker.  He even told me that the Beolab 5 doesn't have in-built volume control and that it must be controlled from the source component - after we established that this was incorrect, he said volume must be controlled from the Beolab 5's volume control and not the source as this would cause problems for the speakers.  I've only been reading about the speaker for a week or so and I knew that was wrong...

Beogram CD 7000 has S/PDIF.

/forum/general-discussion-and-questions/cd-7000-digital-output-to-bl5

Ultimately I think my solution will be to use the new Arcam airDAC.  I'll connect my BD player to it's coax input for CDs, my iPhone will connect via the airDAC's Apple Airplay capability for Spotify etc, Stax headphone amp by the airDAC's analogue outputs and the Beolab 5s will connect tothe Arcam's coax output.

This will give an all-digital signal path up to the Beolab 5s plus source switching, Airplay and headphone options.

The airDAC has been delayed several times but Arcam now state an October release.

Hello Nagraboy,

Welcome to the forum.  Please don't worry:-

1) Beolab 5's can be used with virtually ANY audio product, either analogue or digital, if you have the right cables,

2) You don't need to use a pure digital signal to get good quality sound, as these are such good speakers.

As long as you have a B&O remote control to switch on the speakers, then you can use any of the devices that you mentioned with your speakers by using the cables that I've listed below:-

1) Beogram CDX to Beolab 5 (via Line In): link

2) Non-B&O CD player to Beolab 5 (via Line In): link

3) Non-B&O CD player to Beolab 5 (via S/PDIF digital input): link

4) Arcam AirDAC to Beolab 5 (via Line In): link

5) Arcam AirDAC to Beolab 5 (via S/PDIF digital input): link

6) iPhone to Beolab 5 (via Line In): link

7) PlayMaker to Beolab 5 (via Powerlink): link

8) Any other B&O product with Powerlink (via Powerlink): link

@Nageaboy.

"I'm looking to have a fairly simple system using a CD player and the Spotify iPhone app as sources.  I found out about the Playmaker last week and have been thinking of getting one for a few days as it can accommodate both my chosen sources".

I would suggest that you give it a try - start listening!

If you are content with what you hear, you don't need to worry about analog og digital connections.

Greetings Millemissen

Thanks Steve, that's a very helpful list for me.

I'm sure there'd be negligible audible difference between the various connections, it's just conceptually neater to have it digital all the way through without unnecessary D/A/D stages.  So maybe the Playmaker will be fine - if not, I'm sure I could take it back.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to sort the Bass Calibration out?  One speaker still doesn't want to do it...

The speaker appears to be faulty.  I am sorry but you will need to take this up with the Seller, there is no DIY solution and nothing you are doing wrong.

You're probably right, must've been damaged in transit - that's all I can think of.  Lifestyle AV seem a good company, I'm sure they'll put it right for me ASAP.

Thanks for all the input everyone.

Cheers,

Greg.

hello