Beoconnect Core functionality

[sorenfelden]

I’ve been exploring the capabilities of the Beoconnect Core, but there are some important details I’d like to clarify. Here’s what I understand so far:

What the Beoconnect Core can do:

1. Connect B&O speakers to non-B&O TVs: It enables both older and newer B&O speakers to connect to non-B&O TVs. This requires cabling between the Beoconnect and the speakers, even for WISA-enabled speakers like the Beolab 18. Adding a B&O Transmitter 1 allows wireless transmission from the Beoconnect to the speakers but removes the ability to tailor the sound profiles of the connected B&O-speakers in the B&O app.
2. Stereo output only (no surround sound): The Beoconnect Core only outputs a stereo signal, so surround sound setups are not supported.
3. Stream music independently of the TV: You can stream music wirelessly from your phone or tablet to the Beoconnect, which then routes it to the speakers via cables or wirelessly as described in 1 above. This creates a standalone “music system” that works even with the TV off.
4. Control a non-B&O TV with a Beoremote One: The Beoconnect allows you to control your non-B&O TV with a Beoremote One instead of the TV’s native remote.
5. Distribute sound via Beolink Multiroom: It supports sound distribution to other rooms using the cabling or wireless setup mentioned above in 1.

A user, DL79, in relation to a previous post in this forum mentioned the following about speaker setups with the Beoconnect Core:

• “You can connect it to both Beolab 18s and a Beolab 19, but it requires the use of a Powerlink splitter, and you have to set the crossover filtering in the Beolab 19 yourself. There is no crossover filter applied to the output from the Beoconnect Core, so nothing can be applied to the Beolab 18s. This arrangement is somewhat sub-optimal, but with a little experimentation, it should work well.”
• “Why not have the ability to connect both speakers and a sub and have the Beoconnect Core manage the crossover (like the Transmitter 1 can via WISA).”

Questions:

1. Speaker settings (re. 1): If using a Transmitter 1, and thereby losing app control of the sounds profiles of the speakers, are the speakers “stuck” in factory settings, and does this prevent any calibration (e.g., bass levels)? Is this a significant disadvantage in practice?
2. Center speaker setup (re. 2): Does the TV’s native speaker function as the default center speaker in this setup, or is it muted? Alternatively, can a B&O speaker be used as the center channel, and how easy is this to configure?
3. Crossover filtering (re. DL79’s comment): What does “you have to set the crossover filtering in the Beolab 19 yourself” mean in practice? Is this a complex process, given that DL79 describes it as sub-optimal? Does the Transmitter 1 handle crossover filtering for speakers and subs if used?
4. Music streaming (re. 3): The Beoconnect specifications mention several built-in streaming services. If users already have these services on their phone or tablet, what’s the added benefit of having them integrated into the Beoconnect? Does this create any unique functionality, or is it redundant since you would still need to control the services via your phone or tablet anyway as the Beoconnect has no user interface of its own? Why would users want this feature “duplicated”?
5. Beoremote compatibility (re. 4): When using the Beoremote One to control a non-B&O TV, does the TV’s user interface become B&O-like, as if you were operating a B&O TV? If not, is a translation guide necessary, since the Beoremote buttons won’t align with the native remote functions?

Any insights or clarifications you can provide on these points would be greatly appreciated. B&O’s website offers very limited (or zero) details on these features, and I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

Many thanks in advance for your help!

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