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
I have a multilane house with 8 Essene MK II (and 5 all in one speakers A9, M5, etc...)
Two Avant NG with Essence as well.
I have never been able to get the system really stable. Constant problems.
3 times out of 5 Music "Can't be added to this playlist". Reboot sometimes helps, sometimes doesn't.
BeoTool shows a 'phantom zone' (2 zones named Living Room, 1 is live, the other is an old setup) that is impossible to delete.
Also the only way to play music on the TV's is by first starting music in a normal Essence Zone then linking them.
I am tempted to sell all the Essence MKII and replace with new Core and start totally fresh (new B&O account etc..)
Does Anyone
A) Know if the Core is actually any better / more stable / faster?
B) If not, know what the best way to start fresh is? The phantom zone was created when I tried doing a factory reset - this eneded up bricking the unit and it took B&O almost 3 months to return it to me.
C) Any other advice. I know its a fairly big set up but there have been moments (ie a full week) where it has more or less worked.
PS Most connections are wired, a few are wireless. The network/wireless set up is enterprise grade (Meraki) so I doubt it is anything to do with that.
Why not just go with Chromecast or AirPlay 2 and skip the B&O multi-room set up. If you want to go with AirPlay 2 you can just buy Apple AirPort Express and connect them to your B&O gear. The AirPort Express apparently has an excellent DAC as well. My 2 cents is that you will get way better functionality by going with AirPlay 2 or Chromecast over B&O’s set up. A9, M5 etc are already AirPlay compatible. If your playlists are managed in Apple Music you should be fine.
Anyway, the Core might be better than Essence since it is basically the implementation that is on the A9 and other newer wireless products that work pretty well.
B&O in my life 😊:
There comes a time when it makes sense to see if an expert can prove his worth. If I had an extensive and expensive system like yours I would get a technician over to look at the entire setup and see if there is a fail somewhere or a better way to integrate, access, and add future to that large a system.
Because I don't have a large system I would (take a huge breath and) delete my app, create a new account, and download a new app before doing anything else.
Beolab 28s Beolab 9s Beolab 12-3s Beolab 1s Beolab 6000s 2 pairs Beolab 4000s Beovision 7-55 Beovision 10-40 Beoplay V1 32 inch Beovision Avant 32 inch Beosound 1 (CD player) Beosound 3000 Beosound 5 Core Essence MKII Beoplay M5
My Essence and it’s integration with my other products here does what I expect of it.
I’d agree with poodleboy....with such a large (and also expensive) setup you need help from a skilled technician at your own place.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Millemissen: My Essence and it’s integration with my other products here does what I expect of it. I’d agree with poodleboy....with such a large (and also expensive) setup you need help from a skilled technician at your own place. MM
MM glad your system performs for you.
For a large B&O networked based system, by all means try and find a skilled technician, but in reality a proper IT expert would suggest , wishing to maintain his/her and the client's sanity, other alternatives......
BTW was in a major university town yesterday and saw an old B&O colleague of mine one his knees through his B&O shop window.
As I entered the shop he seemed to performing a demonstration of a pair of Devialet speakers.
I could see the bemused look of the customer's face and on hearing my pal, whilst crouched behind a speaker saying, "The left speaker normally works OK.".
I beat a hasty retreat and count my blessings that;
1. I no longer own a B&O retail store.
and
2. That I no longer own a retail store selling music systems!!
phult: I have a multilane house with 8 Essene MK II (and 5 all in one speakers A9, M5, etc...) Two Avant NG with Essence as well. I have never been able to get the system really stable. Constant problems. 3 times out of 5 Music "Can't be added to this playlist". Reboot sometimes helps, sometimes doesn't. BeoTool shows a 'phantom zone' (2 zones named Living Room, 1 is live, the other is an old setup) that is impossible to delete. Also the only way to play music on the TV's is by first starting music in a normal Essence Zone then linking them. I am tempted to sell all the Essence MKII and replace with new Core and start totally fresh (new B&O account etc..) Does Anyone A) Know if the Core is actually any better / more stable / faster? B) If not, know what the best way to start fresh is? The phantom zone was created when I tried doing a factory reset - this eneded up bricking the unit and it took B&O almost 3 months to return it to me. C) Any other advice. I know its a fairly big set up but there have been moments (ie a full week) where it has more or less worked. PS Most connections are wired, a few are wireless. The network/wireless set up is enterprise grade (Meraki) so I doubt it is anything to do with that.
Is all the network hardware, Meraki?
Is it possible to do a test with just the wired B&O components and see if the symptoms persist?
Are there Essense MK1 and MK II in the system?
All the network is Meraki. Nothing has really changed on the networking side (besides various firmware updates from Meraki that I am not sure what they do..)
Good idea to try and run all the wired zones (only 3 non wired zones) and see what happens.
Back to the core questions - does anyone know if the core is different than the Essence MKII or is is just a different form factor running the identical software?
P.S. No MK1 in the System
The only issue with Airplay II is that it won't turn the TV's on, and as the main living room system is a Avant with speakers it sort of defeats the purpose. Otherwise your idea is one I have considered (I have also considered just running Roon - which is very good and can use the Essences as either chormecast or airplay 2 endpoints)
The core hardware is faster, but the software is basically the same.
Probably no need to factory reset all the devices, but since you mention a phantom product showing in the BeoTool, I would try resetting the list of discovered beolink devices on each device, and maybe start from scratch with the product integration on the two televisions.
I'd try removing power from off all the devices, then power on one at a time starting with the televisions.
Each time you power on a new device, and before powering on the next one, wait for the device to finish booting and then:
1. For the televisions:
- Firstly remove the product integration in settings->product integration menu, then exit the menus.
- Next enter the customer service menu by pressing the home button on the BeoRemote One-BT, choose Settings, and press the Centre button. Choose Service menu, press RED button and within 3 seconds press the Centre button. Choose Customer service menu, press Centre button.
- From the customer service menu, select settings, then network link products. If my memory serves me correctly there's then an option to clear the list.
2. For the Essences, A9, M5 etc:
- In the B&O app, go to products -> settings -> products -> select the newly powered on device -> configure -> settings -> beolink.
- From this menu, go to link to other products and set both to None (and click connect button for each to save that selection)
- Then, from the same menu, click discover devices and click refresh and check there are no phantom products.
Finally, if everything is working to this point, you can re-integrate the two essences with the two televisions.
I'm not sure if this will resolve your issues, but I'd certainly be inclined to try this before opting to set up a new B&O account or replacing products.
Kind regards,
Martin.
Martin,
Thank you for your reply. I have had a few B&O techs out to the house but they are often as mystified as I am.
I am hoping that getting rid of the 'phantom' zone will solve the problem - as the greatest stability seemed to be before it appeared.
Do you know where the 'zone list' is saved? Is it saved on every single device and then tries to replicate itself around to all other devices? Is that what checking and unchecking 'beolink' does - "clear the cache"?
Best
Philip