Can I control Beolab 5 without a Bang & Olufsen system?

Only partially with standard equipment. A trigger can wake the speakers from standby and a preamp can set the volume, but power, volume, and balance are not exposed in a convenient way. Lydbro Five is a dedicated controller that gives you those controls from Home Assistant, a phone, or another system.

Is there a DIY way to control Beolab 5?

Not really. Beolab 5 is controlled over Bang & Olufsen's proprietary Power Link data link, which is not publicly documented, so there is no community bridge or open API to build on. This is why a purpose-built controller is the practical route.

When will Lydbro Five be available?

Lydbro Five is in development and available for pre-order. You can check compatibility with your Beolab 5 serial number and register your interest on the store.

How to control Beolab 5

Power, volume, and balance on the legendary Bang & Olufsen Beolab 5, from Home Assistant, your phone, or any system.

The Beolab 5 is one of Bang & Olufsen's most ambitious loudspeakers, but controlling a pair outside a B&O setup has always been awkward. This guide explains how Beolab 5 control actually works, why there is no practical DIY route, and how Lydbro Five gives you full control from the system of your choice.

How Beolab 5 control normally works

Beolab 5s are active speakers with their own amplification, designed to be driven by a Bang & Olufsen system over Power Link. In that setup, the B&O source handles everything: it wakes the speakers from standby, sets the volume, and manages balance. The speakers themselves have no everyday controls of their own.

Controlling them outside a Bang & Olufsen system

Pair Beolab 5s with a modern, non-B&O source and control gets clumsy. A trigger can bring them out of standby and a preamp can ride the volume, but you lose convenient access to standby, precise volume, and channel balance for your listening position.

There is no easy DIY route here: Beolab 5 is controlled over Bang & Olufsen's proprietary Power Link data link, which is not publicly documented. There is no community integration or open API to build on, which is exactly why a purpose-built controller makes sense.

Lydbro Five: a dedicated Beolab 5 controller

Lydbro Five is the world's only dedicated controller for the Beolab 5. It connects to your speakers and exposes their controls over your network, so you can adjust power, volume, and balance from Home Assistant, a web UI on your phone, or another home automation system. It uses wired Ethernet for reliable, ultra-low-latency control, is configured from a built-in web UI, and updates over the air. Everything runs locally, with no cloud dependency.

What you can control

Power and standby
Volume, with ultra-low latency over the network
Channel balance, including a default set for your listening position
Control from a web UI on any device: phone, tablet, or computer
A native Home Assistant integration, plus MQTT and webhooks for Control4, Crestron, and other systems

Coming soon

Lydbro Five is in development. If you own a pair of Beolab 5s, you can check compatibility with your serial number and register your interest, and we will let you know the moment it ships.

About Lydbro Five

We are an independent company and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Bang & Olufsen. All product names, trademarks, and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.