I found this suggestion on how to download two apps to provide volume control on the digital output on my Mac's.........it looks like it is worth trying.

BU plan is to keep my digital amp in the loop, as preamp and to provide room correction.

http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/pcaudio/messages/14/149481.html

Hi

Interesting setup there.

Most macs have digital out to go to the digital in on your BL18s

I had an optical 3.5mm adapter that i used to use in the headphone jack on my mac for another purpose.  The 3.5mm jack on the mac is an in and an out 

It's the source that dictates the volume not the speaker 

Are your BL18/19 connected to anything else?  or just for the mac? 

i also have optical outs on my macs - i have avoided the models without that feature.

i could not get the BL18's to run directly from the digital out due to very loud noises which diden't sound like it did the speakers any good

.......the amp is running full throttle, and not all applications have volume control.

Anyway - i will try to hook it up again when i finally get back to my home this weekend after many months on the road.

Sorry for mentioning it in this forum, but Roon is so much fun.

Hi Michael

I can report a partial success.

The software to provide volume control on the optical out works fine.

Hook-up and playing Beolab 18 works great

plan for hookup of Beolab 19 woofer: total failure; the speaker miss the optical-toslink,in/out fitted to BL18........

BU plan: there is a new wisa control unit on the market with the specs i have been waiting for (basically include pre-amp function incl video)

Has anybody tried the Klipsch RP-hub1 with BL 17-20 speakers?

if anyone need many long toslink cables......let me know

if you also use the optical out on a Mac with Beolab speakers, here is a tip, which could save hours of fustration.

For a Mac to work properly as front-end to Active Beolabs (100% throttle..all the time..), It is too impractical to rely only on in-app volume controls, especially if you use a number of different software for audio & video playback.

I have earlier suggested to use software "soundflower" to provide keyboard volume control on the optical out; however this stopped working after i installed the latest OS (el Capitan). Even after updating Soundflower to latest version 2.0b2.(or something like that)...., the problem persisted.

I have switched to "Sound siphon"; version 1 ( which is free) and the volume control works again. "sound control" from the same company may also work (USD10). Later versions of Siphon has a lot of recording features, which are not essential and is not free.

I 

Hi orca, I was thinking the same-use Klipsch rp-hub1 to hook up all the devices, but don't know whether they can get along. As prompted, beolab should be able to pair up with any Wisa enabled devices :"all you need is a single power cable and BeoLab 17 will find and connect to any nearby WiSA-compliant TV or A/V receiver, regardless of whether it is Bang & Olufsen or not.".

But seriously no one tried it yet.

Equipment status:

Beolab 2x18, 19, 7-4, 2x4000  (thailand/home)

Beolab 2x4000, Mac Mini 2012 - Norway.

Wisa Receiver x 5+cables: Denmark, waiting in B&O shop.

Klipsch RP-Hub1: (150 USD! on E-bay in USA, to be handcarried back to thailand)

Roon + netflix subscriptions (virtual)

Ipad pro with Roon remote (italy)

With a bit of luck this should come together to a 7.1 wireless system next time i am in Thailand....except that i am really busy at work in Italy right now, and my Thai flats is in the middle of being joined up and in a major renovation.

got an used Klipsch RP-hub1 now, it is a 7.2 wisa transmitter/preamp/ADC, with 4K passthrough and what makes me really excited: A VOLUME CONTROL!!!......hope to test with Beolab 18/19 before the end of the year.