It isn't optimal because it wastes an amplifier that you don't need, but a NAD 3020 v.2 is mainstream available and not too expensive.  It is certainly book-shaped. "Pre Out" connector goes to the BL8000s, "SubW Out" goes to the subwoofer, and "Optical" is for your digital source.  (No HDMI connector.)  

[Edit: Oops, wait, I have not seen any spec that guarantees the pre-out is variable-level.  *Usually* that's the way it works in an integrated amp because it is presumed that the connection is made to a power amp which has fixed gain (and no knobs).  But you'd want to double-check to make sure the Pre-out is variable by the volume control knob. The NAD spec says "full range" which is ambiguous.  Otherwise you would be stuck using the AirPlay source's volume control to reduce the signal digitally.  Ugh.]

Hello db,

Welcome to Beoworld!  The NAD D3020 V2 does have a 3.5mm stereo minijack pre-out if I recall correctly, this is perfect for connecting Beolab 8000 speakers via this cable:-

Yes, something like that is just what I'm after! Only downside is the price 😠 converted to USD I'd be paying something like 550USD.  I'm looking for something at maximum half of that. It's a struggle finding something.

That's a great choice, better than the NAD 3020 I think; alas, the Marantz M-CR611 costs more, not less: USD700, and tough to find discounted!

To reduce the price, he must look for DACs with a volume knob (and multiple inputs incl. TOSlink), rather than integrated amps.  There are a few not so very expensive, e.g. Pro-Ject Pre Box S2, or the Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus.  Still not cheap; maybe buy a previous version of DACmagic (used) to get the price down?

But the DACs won't have a separate output for the sub vs. the main speakers.  If you did a simple Y-splitter on the DAC's line level output, you could send full-range signals to both speakers, relying on the sub to do its own low-pass filtering, and hoping the older BeoLabs didn't do anything too awful with the bass portion of their full-range signal input.

or you can simply connect an active crossover / amplifier for your subwoofer to one Powerlinkoutput of your BL8000.

For example Reckhorn A409 subwoofer amp:

trackbeo wrote:

That's a great choice, better than the NAD 3020 I think; alas, the Marantz M-CR611 costs more, not less: USD700, and tough to find discounted!

To reduce the price, he must look for DACs with a volume knob (and multiple inputs incl. TOSlink), rather than integrated amps. There are a few not so very expensive, e.g. Pro-Ject Pre Box S2, or the Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus. Still not cheap; maybe buy a previous version of DACmagic (used) to get the price down?

But the DACs won't have a separate output for the sub vs. the main speakers. If you did a simple Y-splitter on the DAC's line level output, you could send full-range signals to both speakers, relying on the sub to do its own low-pass filtering, and hoping the older BeoLabs didn't do anything too awful with the bass portion of their full-range signal input.