Airport Express and active speakers (ie from Bang Olufsen)

Question

Level 1

50 points

Airport Express and active speakers (ie from Bang Olufsen)

Hi!

Is it possible to connect the Aiport Express to active speakers, like the one from Bang-Olufsen for example ??

Tony

Posted on Sep 6, 2005 2:40 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Sep 6, 2005 5:13 PM in response to Tony MM

Hi Tony,

It sure is!

However (I think) B&O may use some proprietary connection. The port on the airport is a standard 3.5mm jack (or can use mini optical connector for digital out), so you might require some adapting cable from B&O.

Don't quote me on that though!

Reply

Answer 2

Tony MM Author

Level 1

50 points

Sep 6, 2005 5:39 PM in response to Benjamin Kay

Indeed, B&O has a proprietary connection type, I think it is called PowerLink (??). But some of their speakers have also a 3.5 mm jack connector.

But why I am asking is because I have never read that the Airport Express could be connected to active speakers - only to a regular HiFi system.

Reply

Answer 3

Sep 7, 2005 4:32 PM in response to Tony MM

I know they have BEOlink (used in my house), but I always thought that was for connecting different B&O units together.

Anyway, the important thing is it will definitely work with active speakers. The AE unit has no way of knowing what it is connected to anyway (apart from optical/analog). The inbuilt amplifier found in all powered/active speakers is what is important, as the AE has pre-amp outputs.

Ben

Reply

Answer 4

Tony MM Author

Level 1

50 points

Sep 7, 2005 5:10 PM in response to Benjamin Kay

Yes the B&O elements can be connected with MasterLink (TC, HiFi System, Link-SPekers, etc...).

But some of their speakers (BeoLab 6000 and 8000 at least) habe a (B&O Proprietary-) connector for their connection to a B&O Hi-Fi or TV-system, as well as a phono line-in connector (mini 3,5mm jack).

So far I have my Ipod connected to an AUX-Port of my B&O HiFi-system. So could I do the same with the Airport express. This the way Apple is mentionning all the time.

But as I happen to have one set of speaker whihc are not really used any more (attached to ym TV, which I don't look at very much nowdays...), I was wondering if i could connect the Airport Express directly to these active-speakers. It will still remain the question, how the speakers will be turn on/off and how I can regulate the volume...

Tony

Reply

Answer 5

Sep 8, 2005 4:52 AM in response to Tony MM

If your ipod connects to the aux input, then the AE will work too on your hi-fi system.

Connecting directly to the active speakers will also work. You will need to turn on the speakers manually (unless they auto-turn on when they receive a signal, but i doubt that). Volume can be regulated by the volume scroll bar in iTunes, or of course by turning the speakers up and down with the B&O Remote or manually.

Reply

Answer 6

Sep 8, 2005 6:45 AM in response to Tony MM

what are "active speakers"?

thanks.

Reply

Answer 7

Sep 8, 2005 6:51 AM in response to green jean

Active Speakers are speakers with a built-in amplifier. Normal speakers rely on the signal being amplified in the hi-fi unit itself, whereas the amplification is done internally in active speakers.

Therefore, active (or sometimes called powered) speakers must be plugged into mains power, or run off batteries.

Ben

Reply

Answer 8

Tony MM Author

Level 1

50 points

Sep 8, 2005 10:17 AM in response to Benjamin Kay

AUX works of course, yes. And with the active speakers alone, I will. I have just recieved my Airport Express and I will try it in the next days. I will post.

Tony

Reply

Answer 9

beat

Level 1

14 points

Oct 1, 2005 4:34 AM in response to Tony MM

hi tony,

as i think about buying active speakers for iTunes/AE...
...did it work?

greetings from vienna, austria
beat

Reply