[Hereford]

do I understand correctly that you can use the Theatre without any wings? does it look weird with gaps?

[NQVHNWI]

Hereford wrote:

do I understand correctly that you can use the Theatre without any wings? does it look weird with gaps?

The BSTH is designed for a 55in screen (without wings). Wings can be purchased separately (at the stupid price of £800 a set) for 65in and 77in screens. I did consider at one point buying the 77in wing-set to go with a 65in screen and go for the Eclipse look. However, common sense was flicked back in to “high” mode.

I find the gap between screen and BSTH almost not noticeable from the fret width upward. DHA’s picture probably accentuates matters (non-LG screen, bright backlight behind the panel and eye-level at the joint).

You can fiddle endlessly to (limited) adjust the gap, how forward/backward/Tilt and twist you want the panel. The hardest adjustment is to jockey the ends of the panel to match the sides of the BSTH.

Photo below is my Panel set-up at the viewing position.

This Photo shows how the BSTH tries to hide its bulk and how relatively close the Panel goes to the wall. The SMI and out-going cables drive that distance.

 

I’ve gotta say, (I would say that wouldn’t I?), that this product comes across as a pretty decent offering from B&O. The design is out there, unusual, quirky but it works. The TV is packed with tech and sounds very good. I was even expecting the App to be useless. Yes, there a few things missing but as a software driven product, it works surprisingly well for a B&O product, a few weeks out of the box.

[Beo911]

svendsen991 wrote:

Beo911 wrote:

My Theatre was delivered on Friday and i hooked it up with my Beolab 90’s cabled via Powerlink. I also borrowed a BS Core for testing and paired it to the BL90’s and the Theatre. Now the Theatre won’t recognize the PL-Connection automatically … looks like a software bug. If i want to watch TV i have to choose wireless mode for the BL90’s via Beo-App … switching to music via Core using the BL90’s only requires interaction with the app again, in order to switch back to Powerlink input again manually. Any ideas? Could be my faulty work, too of course. Cheers Tom

What is the benefit of adding the core? The Theatre already has Mozart so it can be a music system as well. I don’t have a BS Core so I don’t know if the old ASE platform still has some tricks up its sleeve

I wanted to use the BS Core for listening to music (only) through a dedicated source/transport. When i listened to BL90’s in the B&O store using a BV Harmony compared to using a budget Bluesound Vault2 directly feeding the BL90’s via coax the same day, it sounded better without the TV in the chain.

That’s why i wanted to try the Core. TV and movies is not my priority with the BL90’s … for me it is 90% stereo music, und 10% surround music playing live concerts etc.. What would you suggest in order to exploit the best sound possible out of the BL90’s in stereo and alternatively in a 5.1 or 5.2 setup? I would think, that the BL90’s should benefit from a decent source feeding them.

My system speakerwise in the main living room is BL90 front, BS Theatre (floorstand) center, BL18 rear.

In another room it is BL5 front, BS Theatre (wall mounted) center, BL17 rear … and maybe BL19 as rear sub, have to try it out.

Screens are LG Oled G2’s in 77″ and 65″.

Have to find more time to play arround with the gear.

[Beo911]

Reading and understanding the Technical Sound Guide of BS Theatre and BL90 may help … will try to do that the next days.

[Sandyb]

Different setup, similar experience here.

I feed music to my BL50s directly – via a 3rd party streamer / DAC – and it sounds better than if I route the same streamer through my BV (albeit my BV 12-65 is not one of the newer BVs).

My unit is a Linn streamer/DAC – I just didnt want to use a Core and / or the B&O app for music, nor just rely on Airplaying music to something as capable as 50s (or 90s in your case).

 

[Sandyb]

I’d just get some BL3s for now – they’re not very expensive now, and will do a decent enough job if you dont have space for something bigger.

The update to allow something like the Balance to work as surrounds is (I’d suggest) a good year away.

Unrelated, but if you’re in the UK, I’m selling my BL3’s.

 

[DHA]

Themanthemyth wrote:

My question is if it’s worth it as a standalone all in one atmos system. From the reviews the Atmos from the Theatre hasn’t been as impressive as the Sennheiser Ambeo. It sounds like it catters more to people with Beolab speakers.

My soundbar history before the Theatre was the, then top of their range, Sony HT-ST5000. It replaced a cheaper 5.1 surround system that would not work in the new room we were building as the layout does not lend to cables and speakers sat around the seating positions so I went down the soundbar route. The Sony worked well, when it worked, and provided good surround effects in the majority of viewing. Atmos I will cover shortly. But the bar was plagued with software issues from day one (reboots when powered down, an error during atmos soundtracks that made it emit a loud piercing noise that happened at random so Sony couldn’t care much about it).

It is approaching 6 years old and the software issues are becoming more regular so I looked for a new soundbar. The Ambeo was on the list but the reviews were mixed in a few places and viewing it in store I didn’t totally like the looks. The Theatre to me looked and sounded great so that is the road I went down.

I’m using it stand alone at present. It produces a lot “cleaner” sound than the Sony. Voices are much easier to hear in both TV and the limited film clips I have watched since getting it over the weekend. The Sony added lots of bass to everything when I think how the sound of both systems compare (Sony had a wireless sub as part of the setup) for example watching masterchef last night the dialogue sounded a lot less bassy on the Theatre. But the Theatre does have bass, I think it just applies it a lot more correctly rather than with everything if that makes sense?

 

On the Atmos front. I have been using Soundbar based Atmos for nigh on 6 years. It is VERY dependent on the mix provided. Sky did it well on the live football, it sounded similar to the stadium noise you would hear. Movies really really vary, some do it well but most you are probably only getting something close to a 5.1 listening experience and won’t have a full atmos type effect. But with the “right” atmos sequence the bar does very well and is quite enveloping but you still pick out the smaller sound details (way way above what the Sony it replaced could do).

[DHA]

As an aside I am wonder if the hiss/white noise I am experiencing is due to the power cable. It didn’t seat that well in the port when I set it up, took effort to put it in place but didn’t feel that secure. I might try another cable to see if that resolves the issue.

The shop is looking at the on-board diagnostics to see if they can see any issues

[NQVHNWI]

DHA wrote:

As an aside I am wonder if the hiss/white noise I am experiencing is due to the power cable. It didn’t seat that well in the port when I set it up, took effort to put it in place but didn’t feel that secure. I might try another cable to see if that resolves the issue. The shop is looking at the on-board diagnostics to see if they can see any issues

I dont think seating it will cause a hiss? If the BSTH is completely standalone and does not have a TV panel hard-mounted to it, and can you can disconnect, pick it up and place it on a power socket away from your current supply – particularly one on a different breaker if you can – that should identify if the BSTH is faulty or not?

[JK217]

New user here, and sorry if I’m asking anything out of order here. I’ve been looking at ways to improve my aging system and have been thinking about a complete overhaul. I currently have a Sony Bravia, with a Pioneer Elite AVR 5.1 system. Nothing about my system is easy, the ARC to the receiver often powers it down, when the tv powers on, and the selection of inputs, along with the slow google OS on the tv, makes it impossible for my wife to even turn on the tv when I am not there. So I want to simplify, but not necessarily lose a ton in sound quality. I’m in a converted warehouse loft space with 16ft ceilings and a pretty open living space. Just trying to provide as much flavor as possible.

My wife will be on board with this if it’s easy to turn on, and select cable or streaming, with one remote, and she really likes the appeal of no wires. We use AppleTV, and our cable box as the two main input sources. I guess, I’ll have to travel to a dealer to be able to see/hear in person, but the specs seem like it’s powerful enough to put out enough sound.

I’m hung up on adding rear surrounds. I believe I am reading it correctly, that if I want to add two wireless speakers, the only wireless standard supported is WISA, and am I correct that when I look at B&O’s product offering on their website, for a wireless rear surround option, the BeoLab 18’s are the least expensive option at $11k per speaker? None of the Beosound series of speakers will function wirelessly on the WISA standard? Will any of the Beosound series work via power link in a wired application?

Reading this thread, it seems like many of you have extra legacy speakers ready to be called into service as surrounds, but if, like me, you are building from scratch it seems a little daunting.

I owe it to myself to get to an actual dealer, to ask a lot of the same, but until then, appreciate the insights provided here.

[Sandyb]

Bl18s yes, after the cheaper BL17s were discontinued a couple of years ago. That said, they are available used, which is what I have done, and will use them wirelessly / WISA with my Theatre.

Older BL speakers can be used WISA, though a B&O transmitter / receiver needs to be added to the chain. Definitely some on this forum who have done this, rather than shell out for new WISA capable Beolabs.

 

[355f]

I completely agree with Mr 10% if you have the eclipse mk1 , when the panel packs up its scrap.

I purchased the MK2 as my now defunct dealer told me it was ‘futureproofed’ as the LG panel is seperate, within two months the G2 panel arrived and it wont fit! so the only hope one has for the MK2 is to source a S/H G1.

The Theatre solves the problem; in a way B&O will have to keep this updated as its existence is to offer a solution to all brands.

The sound is better than the eclipse by far, for these reasons alone I am pleased with it.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

JK217 wrote:

I believe I am reading it correctly, that if I want to add two wireless speakers, the only wireless standard supported is WISA, and am I correct that when I look at B&O’s product offering on their website, for a wireless rear surround option, the BeoLab 18’s are the least expensive option at $11k per speaker? Will any of the Beosound series work via power link in a wired application?

Yes any old Beosound speakers will work with the theatre through powerlink or you add the wireless transmitter (I wouldn’t use wireless unless you REALLY had to).

I wouldn’t go with BL18’s as rears unless you have a ton of cash as it’s overkill for most rooms. You can get used BL3 or BL4000’s or even a used BL17 for rears and it should work just as well (again depends on how big the room is).

I also moved from an ARC receiver to the Theatre and it’s very seamless to use and switch inputs. It’s all not as daunting as it sounds.

[beojeff]

Severed_hand_of_skywalker wrote:

JK217 wrote:

I believe I am reading it correctly, that if I want to add two wireless speakers, the only wireless standard supported is WISA, and am I correct that when I look at B&O’s product offering on their website, for a wireless rear surround option, the BeoLab 18’s are the least expensive option at $11k per speaker? Will any of the Beosound series work via power link in a wired application?

Yes any old Beosound speakers will work with the theatre through powerlink or you add the wireless transmitter (I wouldn’t use wireless unless you REALLY had to). I wouldn’t go with BL18’s as rears unless you have a ton of cash as it’s overkill for most rooms. You can get used BL3 or BL4000’s or even a used BL17 for rears and it should work just as well (again depends on how big the room is). I also moved from an ARC receiver to the Theatre and it’s very seamless to use and switch inputs. It’s all not as daunting as it sounds.

You’ll see in my recent posts that the Theatre isn’t working with the Receiver 1 right now. However, B&O is working on fixing this.

[Themanthemyth]

So as a standalone it’s not anything special?

[Sandyb]

~Certainly more capable as a stand alone than a stand alone Eclipse / Harmony.

For those who added extra speakers to their previous BV’s, then you’d probably want to still add extra speakers to a Theatre. The difference with the Theatre is that you first additional extra speakers may be just rear speakers – as opposed to a first addition being front L/R with previous BV’s.

 

[Themanthemyth]

My question is if it’s worth it as a standalone all in one atmos system. From the reviews the Atmos from the Theatre hasn’t been as impressive as the Sennheiser Ambeo. It sounds like it catters more to people with Beolab speakers.

[NQVHNWI]

Sandyb wrote:

~Certainly more capable as a stand alone than a stand alone Eclipse / Harmony.

Indeed. The BSTH blows the Eclipse out of the water. In the 4-5years I had one, I had the soundbar muted and relied on phantom BL90 and the BL3.

 

As a side note, and thinking how the BSTH manages sound distribution, I think there is a good case for B&O to refresh the BL14 concept (but without the sub) i.e. a very small discrete loudspeaker set for added spatial/ATMOS ambience without dominating the viewing room more than it may already be?

Hopefully B&O are paying attention?

[NQVHNWI]

Themanthemyth wrote:

My question is if it’s worth it as a standalone all in one atmos system. From the reviews the Atmos from the Theatre hasn’t been as impressive as the Sennheiser Ambeo. It sounds like it catters more to people with Beolab speakers.

Honestly, I think it is the usual story – price. These magazines want everything super-cheap and offer a subjective justification in their own way. Sennheisers advertising revenue has to be justified.

B&O has always been a lot more expensive but always comes with added extras. Think Beovisions with PUC, motorised stand and a Surround Processor compared to well…a TV panel, internal speakers on a plastic stand with a plastic remote? There is no real comparison or off-set for the added value.

The BSTH brings a lot of the typical fully-loaded Beovision features with the ability to recycle panels often. This also includes adding or re-tasking Beolabs to the system. It keeps legacy systems alive for a lot of us. Frankly – and perhaps most can determine from my rampant comments of the forum recently, I am greatly relieved for the BSTH. I was greatly concerned as to what was going to replace the Eclipse. Harmony is not may favourite design and way way too expensive for the frill of rotating screen loudspeakers. The Stage and Contour are to me, Beovision dead-ends in so far as product integration.

With the BSTH, I can also see my financial exposure to Beovisions reduce from circa +£10k every 5 year replacement (~£2k/year, may be more if parts run-out quickly – i.e. Gen1 Eclipse) to one where replacing the screen only could significantly reduce that overhead to less than £400k/yr.

People ultimately have a choice. Go buy the Sennheiser Ambeo if you feel it is “better”? As a standalone, it may well be better for you and your needs but don’t pretend these “written” reviews are in anyway objective. Most of them – including those who have done the BSTH as well as other Soundbars are Chancers with a GoPro and a mic putting out an opinion sitting in a shop.

For me, I’ve re-discovered B&O Video and I’m happy that my long-standing investments are still relevant for some time to come.

10

[beojeff]

After yesterday’s Beosound Theatre firmware update, Home Control is now available! Home Control shows up on the Beoremote One LIST and gives us the Home Control screen on the TV. I really didn’t expect B&O to give us that feature. Nice. However, the LIGHT and CONTROL list commands still do not send commands to the BLI.

Yesterday, my dealer confirmed that there is indeed a problem adding WISA (at least via Receiver 1) speakers to the listening positions. He advised that B&O is aware of the issue and should have an update to fix it very soon. Could anyone using wireless speakers describe what happens when you add the speakers? Does the app crash after scanning for wireless speakers? For me, running a scan for wireless speakers crashes the app, but when I restart the app the wireless speakers are shown as added. However, I have no option to tell the Theatre what type of beolabs are connected to the Receiver 1. After running Room Sense, the wireless speakers are greyed out and cannot be added to the speaker group.

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