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This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Hi all,
I'm giving some serious thought to upgrading my current system with a B&O network link streaming device. My current system is as follows:
I'm really happy with the system, it all works great and the components are all in regular use (yes I still listen to vinyl, CD and even tapes occasion!) The system is interfaced with my home automation system so I don't want to move away from masterlink entirely, not to mention the fact that there is a significant investment there. It might seem crazy to hold onto the old audio system, but I really am not interested in ditching it.
What I'm thinking of is swapping out the trusty old Beoport for a modern streaming device, connected to the rest of my system via the ML/NL converter. At this stage I'm leaning towards an essence as the used price is now pretty tempting. My questions are:
I'm sure this topic must have been covered elsewhere on the forum, so apologies if there is already loads out there on this (I've been doing a bit of reading, but the forum being down earlier means I've probably missed a load of stuff) - grateful for any advice from people with experience of similar setups.
Many thanks, Luke
My 2 cents.
You can mimic the BeoPort behavior with an Essence + BLC. That is, press N.Music, get TuneIn / Deezer - Spotify may not work since it seems to require the Spotify app to do anything. Unfortunately, my BLC is no longer operational so I can't try this. This is a pretty expensive option if this is the only ML/NL integration required.
If you want to stay in the B&O family, I'd connect an Essence to the Aux IN of your BeoMaster (using a Sounds Heavenly PL to AUX cable) . Otherwise, you can get a Chromecast audio (possibly others) and connect it to the Aux IN. This assume you have an available Aux port and your Actives and Passives can pass the AUX command.
Just adding....
I would not use the A.Aux connection.
The Passives/Actives might not support the A.Aux command (as Stan mentioned).
And besides it is used for the connection to the 1611.
Instead ditch the 7000 Tape deck (you probably don’t use that, or?) - and use that input instead.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
What Stan said is possibly the best way but the PL->Aux Cable should be connected to the Tape 2 connection because AUX of the Beomaster is already connected to the masterlink converter (1614/1611). This way the essence can be selected from ever link room with the A.TAPE2 command. The AUX command would also need a minimum software level of 1.6 (?) for the beolink active and a certain level (i think it's 1.6) for the beolink passive.
May be even cheaper is the Playmaker connected to TAPE 1, the Beocord 7000 connected then to Tape 2. This can then be controlled in the _main_ room as A.TAPE / A.MEM but gives no full masterlink control. It offers AirPlay, DLNA/UPnP and an additional Analog Input. The output level should be set to the fixed level so that the only volume control is via the Beomaster. The additional Analog In could be used for a chromecast audio.
EDIT: Millemissen was a bit faster
Ralph-Marcus
BeoNut since '75
Thanks all! Sounds like my best option is to connect an essence to the A.Tape 2 input (which is activated N.Music on a modern Beo4). All of my passive a/actives are the most recent software versions (required to pass light and command signals to the MLGW) but as you've rightly said I have the 1611 connected to A.Aux.
Have fun....moving with the times.
Lots of new possibilities with the Essence (2nd gen).