Consideration

My current setup is in my Forum signature. It serves me well, but it's not either complete or of "high enough" quality anymore, let alone cutting edge.

Time has passed, technology moves on. And I'm bored (the B&O bug helps there!)

I am considering this upgrade:

- BV11 replaced by its 4K successor

- A new audio master (this may not be entirely necessary). It won't be Moment (reasons: design, software)

- New speakers, and all-in-one units (in smaller rooms)

I'll pull the trigger when I see the new BeoSounds (BS35 does not do it for me). A9 (MkII) does interest me, it's – in my view – an overlapping product between the Bang & Olufsen and BeoPlay product categories.

How mature is NL? And how well do all these newer products integrate in a multi-room setup with as few wires as possible?

Units I'm considering:

- The 4K "BV11"

- BeoLab 18 with BeoLab 19

or

- BeoLab 20 (no BeoLab 19)

- All-in-one units in 2 rooms (thinking of the new BeoSounds)

- Audio master: if not Moment, is the only option BeoSound Essence? Or a hidden source (music server).

BV and the audio master (if any) would be in the same room.

Is an audio master even necessary anymore, if all audio is on a (wireless) source/server, in a household filled with "iProducts" for more complex hands-on audio control?

Watching TV and playing music at the same time is of course still a must. And maybe different music in different rooms.

As someone who hates wires (which has held me back from an integrated ML system), I may finally have an NL setup that brings my "B&O Home" together.

1 main room, 2 other rooms, balcony (where a wireless solution will work during the summer months), bathroom/sauna (A1 and other BeoPlay products have been on my mind) — and a thoroughly integrated Apple ecosystem as a given.

Which products to choose? Interplay between the units in the new setup is a must. Ease of use I'm taking for granted (as always, with B&O that I've lived with).

Just throwing this out here. For any and all ideas, comments, product / operability suggestions – anything

(If my dealer reads this, let's talk this September!)

Hi KMA,

I've got an Essence MkII (connected to a pair of BL20s), a BV11-55 (connected to a pair of BL9s), and an A6, so please take my comments as my own experience. The BV11-55 4K could essentially be your home's brain, and theoretically, you won't need any other "master" or device for what you propose, unless of course you'd like to have better speakers in other rooms. Before I elaborate, I'd like to echo from what I've learned from Jeff, Geoff,  and others on these forums who are immensely more knowledge on the subject than me: if you're considering speakers, consider investing in a pair WITHOUT a separate sub. Ie. BL9 / 20, etc. I know I'll botch the explanation up, but as I understand it, having a separate subwoofer can be problematic for technical reasons (I won't even attempt to explain it in my own words, as I'll likely open mouth and insert foot).

That being said, if you have a BV11-4K + BLXX speakers in your main room, and then have a NAS, or Always on MAC/PC running some sort of DLNA software, you can access that via HOMEMEDIA on your Beovision, as well as on your mobile device (BeoMusic App, or other Media client). Now, if you have an A9, or similar all in one B&O speaker, or speakers throughout your house, they can also access that same media via BeoMusic, and they all will be available for a multiroom experience. The only wires you'll have to contend with are power cables for each of the units.

I agree with you on the Moment, so until B&O comes up with a better solution, perhaps the BV could be the only "master" you'd want.

The only concern would be if you decide to upgrade to actual Beolab speakers in another room, at that point you'd require something for those speakers to be connected to which could be a receiver for the multiroom NL experience, an Essence MkII for example.

Please keep us posted :-)

Sal:

Hi KMA,

I've got an Essence MkII (connected to a pair of BL20s), a BV11-55 (connected to a pair of BL9s), and an A6, so please take my comments as my own experience. The BV11-55 4K could essentially be your home's brain, and theoretically, you won't need any other "master" or device for what you propose, unless of course you'd like to have better speakers in other rooms. Before I elaborate, I'd like to echo from what I've learned from Jeff, Geoff, and others on these forums who are immensely more knowledge on the subject than me: if you're considering speakers, consider investing in a pair WITHOUT a separate sub. Ie. BL9 / 20, etc. I know I'll botch the explanation up, but as I understand it, having a separate subwoofer can be problematic for technical reasons (I won't even attempt to explain it in my own words, as I'll likely open mouth and insert foot).

That being said, if you have a BV11-4K + BLXX speakers in your main room, and then have a NAS, or Always on MAC/PC running some sort of DLNA software, you can access that via HOMEMEDIA on your Beovision, as well as on your mobile device (BeoMusic App, or other Media client). Now, if you have an A9, or similar all in one B&O speaker, or speakers throughout your house, they can also access that same media via BeoMusic, and they all will be available for a multiroom experience. The only wires you'll have to contend with are power cables for each of the units.

I agree with you on the Moment, so until B&O comes up with a better solution, perhaps the BV could be the only "master" you'd want.

The only concern would be if you decide to upgrade to actual Beolab speakers in another room, at that point you'd require something for those speakers to be connected to which could be a receiver for the multiroom NL experience, an Essence MkII for example.

Please keep us posted :-)

Thanks Sal!

I'd always choose BeoLab 20 (without a sub) over BeoLab 18 + 19. BUT the design (wooden grille) of the 4K BV might go so beautifully with BeoLab 18 that it makes me consider...

I even wondered what a BL20 with a BL18 type of wooden "grille" would look like

NAS will be a given. I have a Mac Mini hidden away as a Media Server (in my current setup). It works well.

As for other smaller rooms, I hope the new BeoSounds will be amazing enough. That would go well with my ideas of simplicity: just one device (think A9 or A8) in the room.

Many thanks for your input!