A slightly more elegant solution if your Vizio has optical out (read: costly) is to get a Beoplay S8 connection hub, get the correct Powerlink RJ45-DIN cables and connect them together. This way triggering and volume control is all done via the television remote and be most likely a better connection than the headphones port.

Vizio toslink optical > Beoplay S8 hub optical, PL out > BL 7.2 PL in

I always recommend the Beoplay S8 hub highly for connecting b&o speakers to non-b&o systems especially televisions. It's really the perfect box for the job.

Thanks Steve,

I will try the powered cable solution you mentioned.My Vizio TV doesn't have a headphone socket, but I have another TV with a headphone socket. Just in case, please let me know your solution for a TV with no such socket.

I am not sure about a receiver, though. Is it worth to spend more just for (additional??) surround sound?

Yes, I will return the cable I got from ebay (I am mad now that the seller advertised it as though it works fine to connect BO speaker to non BO TV)

Thanks again

Amare

Hi Davidr

Yes, my TV has optical out. The connection hub you mentioned look a bit costly. It is good to know that I have now more options, though.

Thanks fro the advice

Amare

Hi Amare,

The TV headphone socket is the simplest (and cheapest) option for stereo sound, as you just need the powered cable.  If the TV only has an optical socket, then the Beoplay S8 Hub that Davidr mentioned (£149 GBP from UK B&O stores) is the cheapest alternative, as this converts the optical signal to an electrical audio output and gives you control of the speaker volume via the TV remote.

Adding a receiver is an option, but this is likely to be the most expensive solution (I would estimate around £500 GBP upwards based on UK prices).  You would need to find a receiver with an optical audio input and (ideally but not essential) it should have pre-out sockets for all audio channels if possible.  The receiver has the advantage of allowing you to add more speakers for surround sound in the future if you wish.

If you need further advice, please let us know your preferred option.

Kind regards, Steve.

Hi Steve,

I just ordered the powered cable from your company. I expect to get it here in the US in 7 days. I will report back by then.

Thanks for the advice

Amare.

Steve at Sounds Heavenly wrote:

Hi Amare,

The TV headphone socket is the simplest (and cheapest) option for stereo sound, as you just need the powered cable.  If the TV only has an optical socket, then the Beoplay S8 Hub that Davidr mentioned (£149 GBP from UK B&O stores) is the cheapest alternative, as this converts the optical signal to an electrical audio output and gives you control of the speaker volume via the TV remote.

Adding a receiver is an option, but this is likely to be the most expensive solution (I would estimate around £500 GBP upwards based on UK prices).  You would need to find a receiver with an optical audio input and (ideally but not essential) it should have pre-out sockets for all audio channels if possible.  The receiver has the advantage of allowing you to add more speakers for surround sound in the future if you wish.

If you need further advice, please let us know your preferred option.

Kind regards, Steve.

Hi Amare,

Thanks for your purchase, this is in the post to you today by Airmail.   I have had reports of mail reaching USA from UK in as little as 3 days, but 7 to 14 days is more typical.

Any questions, please feel free to ask.

Kind regards, Steve.

Hi Steve

I got the cable today. My Beolab center speaker finally came to life: it works when I connect it with one of my TVs that has a headphone socket.

Steve, can you please also advise me if there is a simple/cheapest way to connect the speaker with a TV that doesn't have a headphone socket (only have RCA, HDMI, USB and Optical and Ethernet sockets)?

Thank you very much for your guidance

Amare.

Steve at Sounds Heavenly wrote:

Hi Amare,

Thanks for your purchase, this is in the post to you today by Airmail.   I have had reports of mail reaching USA from UK in as little as 3 days, but 7 to 14 days is more typical.

Any questions, please feel free to ask.

Kind regards, Steve.

Steve at Sounds Heavenly wrote:

Hi Amare,

Thanks for your purchase, this is in the post to you today by Airmail.   I have had reports of mail reaching USA from UK in as little as 3 days, but 7 to 14 days is more typical.

Any questions, please feel free to ask.

Kind regards, Steve.

Hi Amare,

Thanks for letting me know that this arrived safely.  For TVs that don't have a headphone socket, the simplest option is to buy a Beoplay S8 Connection Hub (£149 GBP from B&O stores) as this allows the optical or RCA output to be used to connect to Beolab speakers.

Kind regards, Steve.

Hi Steve,

i one a Samsung 4K TV and just purchased a Beolab 7-2 center speaker. I understand I need the S8 in order to connect it to my tv. Which cords do I exactly need (from tv to S8 & S8 to 7-2) and can you point me in the right direction where to find them on your sight.

Thanks in advance. 

Sam