I am sure this topic has been covered somewhere/somehow before, but:

I am interested in connecting up my BL8000/BL2 to a non-B&O "source".

Anyone have any comments, thoughts, ideas, etc on this topic?

You can buy suitable powerlink to phono leads from B&O that allow non-B&O equipment to work with B&O loudspeakers. You can actually use the phono input sockets on Beolab 8000 directly from a preamp, but I'm not quite sure how you'd fit Beolab 2 into this.

Hi,

Yes, you are quite correct that most Beolab speakers have direct line input sockets to allow them to be connected to an amplifier with pre-out sockets.  You need to ensure that you do not try to use a Line Out or Tape Record socket, as this will not be volume-controlled, so that speakers will be at FULL VOLUME (shouting intended), causing possible damage to your speakers and your ears! 

Another issue to consider is that if your amplifier does not have pre-output sockets, you can use attenuated cables to reduce the signal levels to make them suitable for connection to the Beolab speakers.  Speak to any B&O cable specialist to obtain these.

However, Beolab 2 and the newer centre speakers (eg. Beolabs 7.1, 7.2, 7.4, etc) do not have line input options, so you would need to get a competent engineer to build a trigger box for you to provide the required Powerlink switching signals to turn on the speaker.  This is not difficult to do, but the trigger boxes are quite labour intensive (they typically take around an hour to build by hand).

Best regards,

Steve.

Steve at Sounds Heavenly:

 ..so you would need to get a competent engineer to build a trigger box for you to provide the required Powerlink switching signals to turn on the speaker.  This is not difficult to do, but the trigger boxes are quite labour intensive (they typically take around an hour to build by hand)...

Is there any dealer/engineer you can suggest?

Ralf

Hi Ralf,

Just click on my link at the bottom of the page.

Best regards,

Steve.