ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Hi All,
I recently got a Playmaker MK1 (software 1.00.2485). I connected it with a fixed output volume to the TAPE input of my BM5500 with a RJ45 > DIN lead. It works well, and sounds good throughout the MCL system. It is almost literately on top of the airport express wifi router that used to provide the Airplay functionality, so I have no glitches when I stream music from Spotify or iCloud Music Library from my iPad or iPhone.
To play music, I simply select A.TAPE / A.MEM on the Beo4, and both the BM and the PM switch on. I then select the PM as airplay device, and I can use the Beo4 to change volume of the BM, skip tracks on the PM, and I can also stop and restart the music.
BUT.... I have some issues with making and maintaining the Airplay connection:
I would like hide the PM (not liking the aesthetics much) and control it in link mode with my Lintronic, but if I need to kickstart it every now and then I cannot hide it.
I would like to hear any of your experiences with the Airplay of PM. Perhaps there is a sequence that I need to learn that will prevent this from happening? (B&O has usually some learning curve, if I am to believe my girlfriend). Or perhaps I need to do a software update?
I still dream of coming home and with the touch of 1 button start playback of a digital source....... I thought the PM with the Beo4 would be able to provide this experience, but without permanent connection to the PM it does not work. So I was also browsing for other solutions that B&O have for airplay (Essence, specifically), which claims that "you come home and with the touch of a single button, the last source will start to play. Like turning on the light." Is that also via Airplay? Can that ever work if the device had no connection for a few hours prior to coming home? I know that automatically disconnecting from airplay is a choice from Apple, because my old iPad with the "old" Airplay protocol can stay connected to airplay target devices forever.
Any insights in this matter is highly appreciated, because these are things that I cannot find out during a demo from a dealer.
Thanks in advance, and I apologise for the long post.
Beosound 5 Encore + Beosystem 5500 + S45.2; BV7-40 MKV + BL7.1 + BL14.4+ AppleTV4; various link rooms with MCL2 A or MCL2 A/V + RL60.2 / CX100 / CX50 & Cona / IWS2000; BG4000; Beosystem 1200 + BV1600.
I have a similar set up to you - basically a Mk1 Playmaker connected to the AUX socket of a BC9500. My PM is also at SW version 1.00.2485, which is the latest version as far as I am aware. It is also set up as fixed output level.
When I first received the PM, I did experiment with control (of it) via Beo4 but gave up as it was too frustrating - slow and unresponsive, possibly due to the connected devices being Android. Despite recently moving to Apple/IOS (iPhones/Pads) to be honest this not much better for Beo4 control.
I leave my PM switched on all the time (it is actually set in IR link mode). It's functionality is such that Airplay always has primacy, so there is no need to make sure that it is in Airplay mode by pressing A.MEM each time you use it - unless of course you are switching to dlna mode or the line input.
I just tried controlling my PM with a Beo4 in LINK mode and got the same results as you: i.e If I 'switch off' the PM with the Beo4 it pauses playback from the iDevice (I tried both TuneIn and QMusic apps). Of course in these circumstances pressing the power button on the remote is not actually switching off the PM, merely 'stopping' airplay.
I think that the PM is not really designed to be controlled by anything other than the iDevice that is Airplaying to it. In a simple set up it would be connected direct to Beolabs, and initiation of the Airplay (from an iDevice) would kick the PM's PL outputs into action and switch on the Beolabs. In this setup the volume could be controlled by the iDevice also.
So I think that you will have to live with the 'issues' listed and perhaps move to the iDevice as the primary control for everything except volume - this is what I do. I would hide the PM away as you suggest, but I do like to see the status light for confidence that it is working!
I too prefer a 'one-button' source, for both digital and analogue! I achieve this for internet radio with a 'OneRemote' internet radio (controlled by Beo4 through the BC9500). For other digital sources I have to select A.AUX (one press) and then use the iDevice to initiate playback. RADIO, CD, and even TAPE are also one button, of course!
I think the Essence may give some of the functionality that you are after - I think TuneIn is built in, for example, but it would probably still be tricky to use one button functionality if your BM5500 is in the loop.
You may get a better (or at least more technically correct) answer from some of the Airplay experts out there!
Co-incidentally, the 'one button' solution search was why I asked about Essence/Beo4 control here: http://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/t/23165.aspx?PageIndex=2 It still wouldn't work for us because pressing 'RADIO' to get the Essence to play TuneIn, would select the wrong source on our receivers!
And just as an aside (that I have just noticed through experimenting): On an iDevice, when you slide up to select an Airplay 'receiver' it lists them in alphabetical order. It makes sense therefore to rename your Airplay receivers so that the ones you use the most are at the top (and not off the screen). Hence I have just renamed my 'Playmaker' to 'B&O Playmaker' so that it brings it above 'Desktop' in the list (but below 'Apple TV').
Hi MJBeo
I had to read your post multiple times to come across, what your troubles are.
And somehow I am still not sure, that I understand what is going on.
When I got my Playmaker (I was a very early adaptor), I set it up (similar to you) as an external source on my AudioMaster by removing the old Tape recrder (input intiated and volume controlled by A.Tape or rather A.Mem/Beo4).
My intension was to hide it, since it was an external source, that did not really need any controls from a Beo4 to function.
I configured it as 'fixed line-out' and put it into Option 0....
....and hid it away - I never, ever touched it afterwards.
After configuring it on my network, it was - as any other AirPlay device - reachable in the sound/AirPlay options of my iPad etc.
It was seen as a renderer in my DLNA apps and the line-in (which I used) switched itself on (has autosense) when needed - as long as it/the Playmaker was not blocked by being still choosen in the AirPlay setting of my iOS device/s.
This means, that I never aimed at controling the Stop/Skip etc function of the Playmaker as it is possible when used as a standalone setup.
The controlling was entirely done from my iOS device. No problem there, since that was at hand anyway for choosing the albums/tracks etc - the volume of course being controlled via the BM/Beo4.
This setup has worked flawless (also the wireless connection has been stable - even with two different routers) all the time.
The Playmaker was only removed to be replaced by an Essence box set up exactly in the same way.
I still use my Playmaker in a secondary setup and it is still available in the list of AirPlay devices/DLNA renderers on my iDevices (exactly like before, only in a different locations).
Maybe some of your troubles come from wanting to remote control two 'systems' at the same time.
Setup as an external source on an amp/BeoMaster it will never act as a 'touch of 1 button' setup!
Maybe you should just set it to Option 0, tug it away (that is what you want) and control it exclusively from your iDevice.
The part of your description, where you say that it disappears as an AirPlay device on your network is a mystery to me, though.
IMO the Playmaker is one of the most underrated devices, that B&O has made.
Not sure if this helps, but you asked for any insight - and this is mine.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV