I've recently acquired a pair of BeoLab 8000s and a pair of BeoLab 6000s. Is it possible to use them with a standard stereo. My amplifier uses ordinary 2-core speaker cable - is it possible to fit appropriate terminators for the speakers, or are there convertors, that I can use to hook them up and run them? My preference is to try and use the 8000s. Any advice much appreciated. Cheers.

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Yes, there are several options:-

1) If you have a separate pre-amp and power amp, then it is easy - just remove the power amplifier and connect the Beolab speakers directly to the RCA sockets marked "pre-out" on the pre-amp.  Set the speakers to "Line" using the switches underneath and use the RCA input sockets..

2) If you have an integrated amplifier without volume-controlled line level outputs (pre-outs), the easiest way is to get a pair of attenuated speaker cables (ask LifeStyleAV, IconicAV or MoreThanAV, they are all able to obtain these cables) to reduce the amplified outputs from your amplifier down to suitable levels to connect to the Beolab speakers.  Again, set the speakers to "Line" mode and use the RCA sockets to connect them.

For reference, -20dB attenuated cables are normally suitable for most power amplifiers producing between 20W and 100W into 8Ohms, for connection to Beolab speakers.

Best regards,

Steve.

PS. Please DO NOT try to connect your Beolab speakers directly to the speaker outputs of a conventional power amplifier using normal speaker cables - this will be likely to cause serious and very expensive problems to your speakers!

If you connect the 'line' of a BeoLab 6000/8000 to the 'pre-out' of an integrated amplifier.

Which component is responsible for volume control?

Hi NicoDG,

Welcome to the forum!  The (non-B&O) amplifier is responsible for the volume control, not the speakers, as they do not have any volume control function (the Beolab amplifiers are always at full volume).

Hope this helps,

Steve.

I inherited 2 Beolab 6000's, but the soundsystem itself doesn't work any more..

What about connecting them directly to the RCA out of an LCD TV? (Philips 42PF7621D/10; if it is of any importance, it has 2 x 15 Watt RMS.. whatever that means )

Would it need a special attenuated cable too? Or can I connect it directly to eachother and set them to 'line'?

 

& what is a pre-out btw?

Oni:

it has 2 x 15 Watt RMS

15 watts is low but I suspect still a problem

Oni:

can I connect it directly to eachother and set them to 'line'?

do not even experiment until someone smarter than me says it will be OK

Oni:

Would it need a special attenuated cable too?

probably

Oni:

I inherited 2 Beolab 6000's, but the soundsystem itself doesn't work any more..

What about connecting them directly to the RCA out of an LCD TV? (Philips 42PF7621D/10; if it is of any importance, it has 2 x 15 Watt RMS.. whatever that means )

The problem with the RCA out (and audio output pins in the SCARTs) in most TVs is that they are line level and the volume isn't controlled. I.e your TV+Beolab combo would be pretty darn loud from the moment you turn it on, and you'd have no way to turn it down... The 2x15W refers to the internal amps of the TV, connected to its own speakers, and is no concern here unless the TV happens to have connectors for external speakers (most don't).

Usually the only practical way to connect an external amplifier (in this case, your Beolabs are amplifiers) would be through the headphone connection of the TV. Then you can control the volume with the remote of the TV in the normal way, and as an added bonus, the TVs own crappy tin can speakers will be or can be muted.

But yes, you would still need a special attenuated cable.

& what is a pre-out btw?

The connection out of an amplifier - after the volume control but before the output amplifier, meaning it is line level but you can still change the volume.

Ok, thank you for the advise, I'll try to look for some of those cables or try to find another solution..
I know I have some amplifier stored on the attic somewhere between all the other mess, and if I remember correctly it has a button on it with "-30dB".. Would that do the trick? Or is it really the cables that need to be attenuated?
But I might have a problem there, for the connection to the speakers, it has no RCA out but screw thingies where you tighthen 2 open cables into (no idea how to call that in English sorry)..

The -30 dB switch might be enough - but there will always be the danger that somebody pokes it off and you may damage not only the peace of the neighbours but probably even your speakers. I do recommend that you get proper attenuated cables, or check if that amplifier of yours happens to have the "pre out" connectors, in which case this will be much easier.