Bang & Olufsen Beolab 28 - 6 easy steps to TRANSFORM the sound quality for better music and movies!

[@soundsheavenly]

Steve from SoundsHeavenly.com explains six easy steps to transform the sound of Bang & Olufsen's ground breaking new Beolab 28 stereo smart speakers! The full range of cables mentioned in the video can be seen on Steve's website here: soundsheavenly.com If these videos have helped you to enjoy your Bang and Olufsen products, please consider buying Steve a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/soundsheavenly - many thanks!

[@dinodardano1243]

Steve, Thanks for the video. I have had my Beo 28's for about a year now and have enjoyed them immensely. Have you ever heard them with the addition of the Beo 19 sub?

[@soundsheavenly]

Glad you are enjoying the speakers. Beolab 19 is a backward step in this situation, as it can’t work with the room compensation of the Beolab 28 and so the bass will become overbearing and out of control. When correctly adjusted, Beolab 28 shouldn’t ever be lacking in bass

[@petermadvigsterbye6819]

I listen exactly the way you describe but had not thought that loudness should be turned off. It gives a much more accurate sound image - thanks for the tip.

[@soundsheavenly]

Loudness is great to give extra depth and clarity to the sound at very low volume levels, but it is best turned off when listening at medium to high volumes. For Beolab 28, I prefer to only use it below 65dB, above this I normally turn the loudness off. Your preferred settings may vary, please let me know what you think.

[@sindrekristensen7543]

Loudness off on high volume, wil that mean more bass? Love your channel:)

[@masontmike]

About time, we need more content on these world class speakers.

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks, moe information coming soon!

[@theonlyredspecial]

Getting mine soon with a new b&o tv. Thanks for the advice Steve.

[@soundsheavenly]

Enjoy! Please ask if you need any help with cables to connect them!

[@chenthereal862]

Dear Steve, thanks for the great sharing, however with the cover panel installed, there would be an issue of I can’t link the lab28 with any cables

[@soundsheavenly]

There should still be room to connect cables, although the cover panel does need to be removed to access the connections

[@hap6782]

I strive to one day be a part of the lucky owners of such beautiful speakers, thanks for all of your work.

[@soundsheavenly]

Thank you! I also hope to be the lucky owner of these great speakers one day!

[@geraldmcmullon2465]

Ethernet cabled is for improving the steaming, internet radio and DNLA and the link between left and right speaker but will not help when connecting to a television or computer. New software (after March 2023 sometime) may solve the wi-fi issues in multi-room with other Mozart speakers (drop out and distortion). B&O in a document support supplied suggest the wi-fi delay to the first speaker is about 36ms but to the second speaker is 300ms so all sources have a 330ms latency. For use with a television or video from a computer WiSA has less than 30ms (-15 to 45ms in the standard) latency to all speakers. I don't know the cost of WiSA (chips and software licence) but it should be added (built in) to all Mozart speakers or as an option (so Balance, Level, Emerge, A9 could be used to watch a film with no lag).

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks, that is interesting but not completely correct. The RJ45 Powerlink input on Beolab 28 gives a 30mS latency, which allows for a virtually delay-free wired link to a B&O TV, or to a non-B&O AV system when used with the correct cables. Each speaker should be cabled directly to the audio source to get the 30mS latency, rather than using stereo pairing over Ethernet or wi-fi. Airplay 2 can be used to give synchronised audio playback from any Mozart-based speakers when used with a 2nd gen Apple TV 4K via the HDMI ARC socket of a TV.

[@Nemanja-s8c]

Steve, thanks for all the tips, great video! Is connecting the speakers directly to the router or switch via lan still the preferred way of stereo pairing as opposed to WIFI (I will not be using powerlink)? Will pairing the speakers via Ethernet still keep WISA enabled for the purpose of controlling the speakers via a WISA hub? Thanks

[@soundsheavenly]

Glad you liked the videos! Yes, wired Ethernet cables are always the most reliable way of pairing the speakers to your router, this won't prevent WiSA wireless connection to a B&O TV if required in the future.

[@Nemanja-s8c]

@@soundsheavenly Thank you, Steve! My intention is make a 4.0 surround setup using a Platin Audio Surround hub X (WISA hub capable of decoding Atmos and DTS:X), with two Beolab 28’s as front speakers and two Beolab 8’s as surround speakers. In this scenario I would connect only the 28’s via Ethernet (the way you described in your video) so that I can use them for stereo music listening when they are not used in the surround setup. Otherwise, when watching movies, all four speakers would be connected to the hub via WISA. Do you think this could work? Many thanks again.

[@soundsheavenly]

@@Nemanja-s8c Sorry I don't get involved with WiSA at all as I just make wires, so I can't comment on this. If you need any help with a wired connection, please ask!

[@Nemanja-s8c]

@@soundsheavenly Thank you, Steve!

[@brighton_dude]

That was a very interesting video for me as I am planning on buying a pair of these in a couple of months. I have been a Hi Fi buff on and off since the 70s so I am aware of the room positioning points you raise and I totally agree with every one. In fact my living room is already laid out appropriately for these speakers, I have been preparing well in advance! At the moment I have a pair of Apple HomePods (the big ones) on dedicated stands where the 28s are to go. One thing I do question in your video is the suggestion that you are best to connect these to your network with cables. Apple AirPlay 2 goes up to 24bit/48kHz and personally I cannot hear benefits from higher sample rates or bit depth than that. That is my experience, maybe other people are more capable in their hearing than me. I have spent quite a bit of time listening to these at a shop in London. They are absolutely superb speakers! I recommend people try to listen to them if they can. My suggestion for music to use for demonstration is to simply take a selection of music you know and like. Don’t sit listening like some Hi Fi reviewer thinking about dynamic range or stereo image but rather just ask yourself if you are enjoying the music.

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks, I am glad the video was helpful! I should have added that cabling the speakers to the router has other benefits, including reducing latency (which makes the controls appear more responsive) and avoiding wireless drop outs which can cause the speakers to lose their stereo pairing. Uncompressed data is just an added bonus!

[@nickjanglastra6197]

Hi, wired also improvises stability of the signal over wifi. This is the case where wifi signal maybe poor or interference exists with multiple wifi devices active for example. Wired will then reduce drop outs in extreme cases or distortions (jitter I believe) in less obvious cases.

[@soundsheavenly]

Agreed.

[@brighton_dude]

@@nickjanglastra6197 - Thank you Nickjan and Steve for your comments. I am now investigating wiring things up. Fortunately I do have about 90% of two physical ethernet (CAT 6A) networks in place which I put in when I was doing major renovations on the house about five years ago. So, I am in a good position to have wired set up. As an aside when I put that cabling in I was contemplating a Meridian all house system but now I think a B & O setup would be more suitable for me. I am hoping to get my 28s in, probably July and that gives me time to sort out cabling.

[@soundsheavenly]

Good decision. Please let me know if you need any help with cables!

[@Broadmaynewood]

Hi Steve my 28’s should arrive early next week.Another great video. On another point I sold my top of the range Focal headphone and now have the H95’s as replacements.I am so pleased with them and your video on the H95’s was spot on . Take care Terry.

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks Terry! Hope you enjoy the 28s, please let me know if you need any help with connecting them!

[@Broadmaynewood]

@@soundsheavenly Hi Steve , yes will see what cables I need.. Thank you again for your excellent videos.

[@davidberry4359]

I have a very large and adequately damped room. I have experience setting up stereos and fully treated mixing rooms in recording studios. I have had a pair of 28s in my living room for about 2 weeks. I agree that they are phenomenal speakers. However, I have an issue with very excessive bass. I've had to reduce the bass on the equalizer significantly even after room correction. I feel that I'm losing the low mids because of this and the result is a perception of poor integration between the mid drivers and the subwoofer. Any suggestions?

[@soundsheavenly]

Hi, did you turn the Loudness control off please? I found that with this off and the bass set at -2, the sound was natural and clear, without too much bass. Please let me know what you think?

[@olasitu8984]

HI Steve ... thank you again. I have my 28s all set up with the LAN. Sounds great. Please I need your comments on this issue ... Powerlink disables Beolab functions in the B&O app. So no equalizer or Sound Profiles when you connect via Powerlink. So you cant adjust the sound from the App. When you connect via Powerlink and enable Powerlink in the B&O app you are no longer able to control your Sound profile or even use the equalizer. THEY ARE ALL DISABLED. You cant override Powerlink source i.e. once Powerlink is enabled you cant play any sound apps via the B&O app. Powerlink connection more or less dumbs down the app and the BL28s and just makes the BL28s external speakers to your Powerlink Source. Again not a well thought out implementation from B&O. Yes. Most B&O sources have their Bass and Treble controls but the use of Beosonic Sound profile is one of the main selling points of the BL28s and this is disabled using Powerlink.

[@soundsheavenly]

Hi, yes that is correct. I see that you have also posted your question on the Beoworld.org forum and that you said there you are using the Hall Audio streamer. This isn't a device that I am involved with, so I can't comment on this, I suggest contacting Hall Audio for their response. I can help with an alternative solution if you decide to replace the Hall streamer.

[@Fransost7367]

@@soundsheavenlyhello Steve what is the alternative solution. I want to connect the beolab 28 to my Luxman pre amplifier or jbl sdr35 AVR. Thanks, Frans

[@soundsheavenly]

@Fransost7367 Hi Frans, for any technical questions please contact me at soundsheavenly.com (UK and Europe only) and I can help further. Thanks

[@tutuxich]

I gonna try your setting for beolab 28. Should we burn in beolab 28, and what is the best way to burn in? Thanks

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks, no need to burn in the speakers, they should sound great from the factory

[@samitbhatheja8913]

When I bought 28s, I was told usb in can not be used for digital source and is for service only. After recent update I see usb as source on B&O app in Beolab 28. Does that mean we can use usb for digital source now ?

[@soundsheavenly]

Hi, I haven't tried using USB as a digital input on Beolab 28, I will test this next time I am able to connect a digital source

[@jimwhite6525]

Just got an old Beovision 4-50. How do I get to power it on without a remote

[@soundsheavenly]

Hi, you will need a B&O remote, or you won't be able to use this TV unfortunately.

[@sakaspuds]

i would love to hear your opinion (or anyone that heard them all) on, appearance/size/sound quality/value for money/flexibility/connectivity/features, comparing 28/18/balance (as a pair) currently i am edging towards balance to replace my beolab 8000s being the cheapest option, basically is the extra money buying you anything extra? on paper balance apears to out perform the 18s and are in the same price range, so that has some impact, also the options of buying used v new will also have some impact, being that 18s have been out a while and its possible to pick them up cheaper this way

[@soundsheavenly]

Hi, this sounds like a good subject for a future video, please subscribe and you will see when it is published!

[@wadajr]

Thanks for the advice Steve. Do you know if connecting the speakers to a router is necessary to enable changing the device setting to uncompressed, or can you change to uncompressed while running them on wifi but just with a higher chance of drop outs?

[@soundsheavenly]

You can use the uncompressed setting with the speakers on wireless but they are likely to drop out (which will reduce the sound quality)

[@TheXtremesoundz]

Great video Steve, I’m interested that you turn loudness off for these. Do you prefer to turn loudness off for the majority of your speakers or is this more for the 28? (I use Beolab 9).

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks, I generally find the loudness is only needed for most speakers when I’m listening at lower levels (less than 65dB) although I do usually keep the loudness on for my Emerge speakers as the sound tuning seems to be better this way

[@noxity123]

@@soundsheavenly shouldn’t loudness only have an effect when playing at lower volumes? I have a hard time hearing any difference on higher volumes (70dB) on my 28s, which is like it should be.

[@soundsheavenly]

Yes, loudness primarily makes a difference at lower volume levels but in some rooms this can intrude on the overall sound at normal listening levels

[@Johnathan_Waters]

Great advice in this video, lots of things that i haven't actually heard before, and for that I thank you! I have been keeping an eye out for Beolab 28's, but they seem to be incredibly rare on the used market??

[@soundsheavenly]

Glad you liked the video! I think Beolab 28 will be rare on the pre-owned market for a few years, as buyers are holding on to them...

[@Johnathan_Waters]

@@soundsheavenly It sure seems that way!

[@rayfordham9230]

@@soundsheavenly Or they did not sell many to start with

[@soundsheavenly]

@rayfordham9230 they have been a very popular speaker, but very few people are willing to sell them so far…

[@Mikipedia]

I have similar setting but since I mostly use them for films I have them in Wide Optimal and the other settings at 0. They sound better through a beovision imho than by themselves though, so I prefer to use them that way even on their own.

[@soundsheavenly]

Thanks, that is good to know. I mainly listened to music rather than through a Beovision, I still have some more testing to do for movies!

[@olasitu8984]

HI Mikipedia ... just got my BL 28s. Sorry for the belated response on this. I noticed Powerlink connections disable the Sound Profiles in the B&O App and the Bass and Treble settings. So not possible to set to Wide or Narrow if you are using a Powerlink connection. Your thoughts?

[@Mikipedia]

@@olasitu8984 Yes it is, but I need to know what you connect them too via powerlink and then I can tell you what to do.

[@olasitu8984]

@@Mikipedia I have a new LG C2 TV so I am using the Hall Audio Streamer. I'd sent you a note on this. I think you reviewed the Hall audio unit.

[@Mikipedia]

@@olasitu8984 that makes it harder. iirc the pl connection default to position ''1'' and if you haven't changed that that'll be narrow optimal. under advanced settings you can change those numbers for profiles. With a beovision you can send commands over the pl cable, as in which number the speaker needs to go to. With the Hall audio one that's not possible but you can for sure set which is the default if you want something else than narrow optimal by changing the numbers on the sound profiles under the advanced tab.