Hi
I am new here so pls be gentle...
I am planning to buy a pair of Beolab 5, but before doing so I hope you can help me answer the folowing questions:
1) Digital & Analog input:
- I have read on this forum that Beolab 5 can handle both a digital and a analog input and that the speakers chooses the input which is active (with prefference for the digital input). I will not connect the speakers to any B&O sources (neither Beosound nor Beovision), but a computer and a flatscreen TV.
- I plan to use a mini mac 2011 as my main source for music playback and will connect it to the BL5 via it's digital Coax input.
- I would like also to connect my Sony flatscreen TV to the speakers via it's digital out, but because the Beolab 5 can handle only one digital input then I have to connect it to the speakers via its analog input.
- - Question 1: Is it possible to do as described above?
- - Question 2: Will it be possible to control the volume via a Beo4 when using the analog input?
- - Question 3: I understand that the speakers can be in different 'modes' and that one can change 'mode' via Beo4. What are the differences between these 'modes', how do I change between the 'modes' and what 'mode' should I use if I would like to use my mini mac and TV as described above?
2) Digital to Digital:
- I could choose to connect the BL5's to my mini mac via it's digital Toslink out and convert the signal to digital Coax via a converter (http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Optical-Toslink-Coaxial-Converter/dp/B000I98ZQY)', but the good lads at 'Computer Audiophile' suggests to use a good USB to S/PDIF converter for maximum audio quality. I have been looking at both 'Musical Fidelity's V-Link' and the brand new 'April Music Stello U3'. The V-Link is a 24 bits /96 kHz asynchronous USB to S/PDIF converter and the Stello U3 is also a asynchronous USB to S/PDIF converter, but handles 24 bits /192 Khz.
- - Question 4: Is 24 bits /192 Khz overkill because the Beolab 5's max/limit of 88.2 kHz?
Cheers and best regards