HDMI Output Query

[Richard Brook]

Hi everyone. I’m a recent new customer and thanks for letting me join the group. Very pleased with my B2 so far and I am still in the process of ripping my CD collection. I have a question regarding the HDMI output, and apologies if it’s been previously covered. I’ve ticked the option in the Web UI and I’m getting audio which is great. My TV/Surround set up is an old B&O Beovision 9, which has everything routed through it via an integrated BeoSystem 3 which is the processor and connection panel etc. When I’m using the B2 the TV screen shows text which looks like debug data or coding. I was under the impression that the HDMI output from the B2  was audio only, and I wanted to know if I’ve done something wrong. Is there anyway to get rid of the text as I was expecting to see a blank screen. Unfortunately switching the TV screen off is not an option. I have purchased the optical digital cable too, so that may be a solution if I can’t solve this problem. Thanks in advance everyone. Best Regards. Richard. 

[PMB]

Hi Richard,

HDMI does output a debug monitor as well as audio - that's what you are seeing. There is a TV UI option in the Advanced menu that display a rudimentary 'Now Playing' screen on your TV.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Richard Brook]

Thanks Paul. That’s great, makes sense now. I’ll give it a go later, and will report back. Thanks again. Best Regards. Richard. 

[Richard Brook]

Hi Paul

Sorry to be a pain. One more question. Where do I find the Advanced Settings please? I can’t see them in the Web UI or the app. Thanks and Best Regards. Richard. 

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Richard,

The 'Advanced Menu' is accessed from the front panel in 'Settings' --> 'Maintenance' --> 'Advanced' --> 'TV UI'.

Regards,

Peter.

[Richard Brook]

Hi Peter

Thanks very much. It is deep in the menu list but I found it and I have switched it on. Still ripping here and I don’t have the B2 permanently connected to my TV yet, so I’ll update you with my progress when I can. You and Paul have both been very helpful. Thank you again. Best Regards. Richard. 

[Daniel Taylor]

Hi Richard,

I use the HDMI output connected to my AV receiver, and then the HDMI monitor output feeds my TV.  I don't need to have my TV on for things to work.  Unless you were routing the HDMI cable directly to your TV, I can't imagine why the TV would have to be on.  If you have the TV on to begin with, and then turn it off, that might disrupt the overall HDMI situation.  Try leaving the TV off when you turn on the other things.  I'm not really  clear on the BeoSystem connection to the system, so maybe there are things going on that are unkown to me.

[Richard Brook]

Hi Daniel 

The old B&O stuff works in very quirky ways. Although the screen and processor are effectively two separate components, they don’t work independently of each other, so effectively I am routing the HDMI output directly to the TV, and that’s where my problem lies. If I turn it off, all the connected speakers will switch off too. It’s so much easier with real separate components, but I still like the old girl, and even after thirteen years she still performs well and looks good. Unfortunately the connectivity issues are not that surprising! Hopefully now I’ve flagged the TV UI it will work as I hope for. If not, I should be able to connect an optical cable to one of the inputs too. Still ripping……..it’s going to take a while, but I will try it out tomorrow or Saturday and report back. I am very impressed with the little Brennan so far, and this forum has been a wealth of knowledge as well. 

[PMB]

Hi Richard,

Don't forget to let the B2 compress between ripping sessions otherwise you will end up a large amount of tracks waiting to be compressed. You can leave the B2 powered overnight, when it isn't being used, to do the compression.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Richard Brook]

Hi Paul

Thanks for the heads up. That’s pretty much what I’ve been doing. Ripping over the course of the day and leaving the B2 powered in the evening/overnight and I can see that it is compressing the files. So far so good! Thanks again for all of your help. 

Best Regards

Richard 

[Richard Brook]

Quick update after some playing around this morning. The ripping/compressing is going well but as I have so many CDs I think it will take a couple of weeks to get them all stored on the B2. The HDMI connection works on audio and the TV UI option has removed the debug data text from the TV screen. I was a bit disappointed to see what was showing though, as the “Now Playing” information looks very dated and I was hoping for the album artwork to be present too but it’s not. Perhaps a screen mirror of the Web UI or the Brennan app would be nice if that’s possible in future. Anyway after some reading up, it looks like the B2 can stream via Bluetooth too, and in my situation that’s the answer. It may not sit well with the audiophiles but it’s solved my problem. I have a BeoSound 3200 connected to the Beovision 9 via a MasterLink cable and when it sends audio signals the TV screen does not switch on. I couldn’t detect any serious deterioration in sound quality, although it’s probably not as good as a cabled connection, but it is the perfect solution for my set up. So when it’s ready to go, I’ll connect the B2 via Bluetooth and control it via the Web UI or Brennan app on my iPad. Best Regards. Richard. 

[PMB]

Hi Richard,

Glad to hear that you have found a suitable workaround.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Richard Brook]

Good Morning Paul

Thank You. I have a Bluetooth receiver connect to the 3200 and use it to stream music to my set up from my iPhone and iPad, so I can use the B2 in the same way. The distance between the two will be approximately 4m when it’s finally in position. I tested it out and found no discernible difference in sound quality, and there were no drop outs either, so this is definitely the answer. I have also managed to pair it with an Amazon Echo in the kitchen, which will make my wife happy too. The B2 really is a fabulous and easy to use little gadget and so far I am very pleased with it indeed. Thanks again for all of your help. Enjoy the rest of the sunny holiday weekend.

Best Regards

Richard