Beolab 17 best streaming option

[fireofthemind]

Hello,

I bought a pair of Beolab 17 and now I am looking for a streamer in the price range between 100 € and 1000 €. I would like to connect it to the speakers via Toslink or Wisa and use Spotify/Tidal. Thought about the Beosound Core, Bluesound Node, System Audio Stereo Hub or the Wiim Pro, but I have no idea, which one gives me the best sound quality. Maybe there are other options I don’t know about. Can someone give me a recommendation?

Thank you

[Mr10Percent]

I purchased an EOL Auralic Altair G1 for my office which are connected to a pair of BL17. This is running at approx £1500 used (the G1.1 and G2.1 are a lot more) and more than your budget indicates.

Three points in this:
First, the BL17s, nice that they are are not good enough for the Altair, so I think your budget is more appropriate at the BL17 level

Second, I found the RCA to RJ45 did not trigger the BL17 on/off. The RCA to RCA works just fine.

Third, your streamer will need to have either electronic attenuation adjustment (-3, -6 and -12dB with -6 and -12dB being useful) or an external attenuator (variable or fixed) which when I attempted this…it sounded very bad.

A BSCore May be a good match and fully integrate into a B&O system and match the qualities of the BL17s. Personally, I did not like the core playing into the 90s so never tested it on the 17s as I have already migrated to an Auralic streaming system across everything in my home.

[Curly]

I use a BS Core to drive my BL17s. I also tested a Bluesound Node 2i, which only worked well through optical Toslink; RCA connections did not allow for the speakers to shut down as they normally would. But the Node 2i worked well through Toslink. I did not hear a difference in sound between the two so I ultimately returned the Node 2i and kept the Core to maintain complete B&O functionality through the app.

I posted a lengthy thread about this on the old Beoworld forum. If you care to google it, you may find it useful.

But in short, either work and I did not hear a difference in sound between the two that swayed me either way so for simplicity, I chose to stay within the B&O ecosystem.

[fireofthemind]

Ok, thank you for the information. Just read your post on the old forum. Will probably go for the BS Core then. I’m wondering if there will be a new version/successor of the BS Core soon.

[BeoCom 1401]

Just to add here, as a 17 owner, I found the Node to be a vastly superior product to the Core. I don’t own it anymore (have a Theatre now) but I sold my Core for a Node and never missed the Core for a second. The Node has eARC HDMI that works flawlessly, supports way more streaming services, and costs far less. I also had no issues powering my 17s using the RCA outs. I know this merely one person’s anecdotal experience, but I felt compelled to share. Good luck.

[fireofthemind]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Think I will test both the Node and the Core and then make a decision.

[Curly]

BeoCom 1401 wrote:

The Node has eARC HDMI that works flawlessly, supports way more streaming services, and costs far less.

A great point. If you plan to use your BL17s with a TV, then Node, with HDMI, is a great option. And as I said in my lengthy thread on the old forum, the Bluesound OS is superb and definitely superior to B&O’s app.

Trying both is the best option, I agree! Let us know what you choose.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

I have the same setup and I used this product for years with the 17’s, turntable and sub-woofer hooked up and it all worked perfectly.

https://ca.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/wireless_streaming_amplifiers/wxc-50/index.html

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