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
Finally, the BeoSound Essence is listed.
Prices in Euro:
Ref. 2990 - BeoSound Essence - white box + 1 remote control - Euro 795.-
Ref. 1715 - 1 additional remote control - Euro 150.-
I will order it to change my (ugly) Playmaker.
Is the 'hide-away-box' prettier/less ugly?
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
On behalf of many others i'm sure, what does it do`?
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
If you mean: what does the 'BeoMusic' app do? - the answer is: that is the piece of software (on a tablet) that feeds and/or controls the Essence-box.
The 'knob' is just for the essencial simple, everyday controlling, such as start/stop, skip and volume control.
That could - theoretically - be left away - especially if B&O would choose to activate the ir-support of the box (means use your Beo4 instead).
Millemissen:That could - theoretically - be left away - especially if B&O would choose to activate the ir-support of the box (means use your Beo4 instead).
Somehow it (the 'box') must be 'feed' - through AirPlay, DLNA, Spotify (connect version) and the built-in Internet Radio stations must managed.
For that you need an interface = the BeoMusic app. But any AirPlay or DLNA app or the Spotify app could be that to some extend.
You could even turn up and down the volumen via the app - if the remote-'knob' is not at hand.
But the point of the Essence remote 'knob' is, that if 'the box' has been 'feed' (with a Spotify playlist or a list of preferred radiostations) you just need the 'knob' for everyday-control. Turn it on (to the last played playlist/radi station..., skip to next track/station..., turn the volumen up and down and finally turn off the good thing.
And that is probably all that most people need!
But you will have to have the app to initially 'feed' it - or if you often change the source during the day.
Ir-support is 'for future use' - and just mean that you would be able to do the same with the Beo4 as with the 'knob'.
Besides - for those who don't already have a Beo4, the 'knob' will be a cheaper remote than the Beo4 -and will be all you need for the essential remote-controlling of the Essence-box.
This way the 'knob' does make sense - and is a cool looking/eyecatching device as well!
Millemissen:Somehow it (the 'box') must be 'feed' - through AirPlay, DLNA, Spotify (connect version) and the built-in Internet Radio stations must managed.For that you need an interface = the BeoMusic app. But any AirPlay or DLNA app or the Spotify app could be that to some extend.You could even turn up and down the volumen via the app - if the remote-'knob' is not at hand.But the point of the Essence remote 'knob' is, that if 'the box' has been 'feed' (with a Spotify playlist or a list of preferred radiostations) you just need the 'knob' for everyday-control. Turn it on (to the last played playlist/radi station..., skip to next track/station..., turn the volumen up and down and finally turn off the good thing.And that is probably all that most people need!But you will have to have the app to initially 'feed' it - or if you often change the source during the day.Ir-support is 'for future use' - and just mean that you would be able to do the same with the Beo4 as with the 'knob'.Besides - for those who don't already have a Beo4, the 'knob' will be a cheaper remote than the Beo4 -and will be all you need for the essential remote-controlling of the Essence-box. This way the 'knob' does make sense - and is a cool looking/eyecatching device as well!MMThere is a tv - and there is a BV.
Living together is always a challenge, isn't it!
Who is in charge of the music?
Who has the device with the app?
Kids usually listen on their own - don't bother about them.
You will have to agree with your partner, what to listen to.
If you can't, just buy two Essence's
Any other suggestion for a solution?
we tend to forget there is more to design than designing.
Won't be - the 'knob' works with a bluetooth connection to the Essence box.
Waiting for a Beo4 Mini -
LOL
Millemissen:Living together is always a challenge, isn't it! Who is in charge of the music? Who has the device with the app? Kids usually listen on their own - don't bother about them. You will have to agree with your partner, what to listen to. If you can't, just buy two Essence's Any other suggestion for a solution? MM There is a tv - and there is a BV.
Getting ready to sell lots of Essence-sets - I hear
Millemissen: Ir-support is 'for future use' - and just mean that you would be able to do the same with the Beo4 as with the 'knob'.
Just guessing here, but to me this IR-support would only be useful if the Essence is setup with a fixed PL-out, and connected to the AUX of an existing BeoSound. The IR-knob will wake up the Essence, not via ir- or rf-command, since it’s wired, and will first send an A.AUX command via IR, to the BeoSound. Volume+/- also only via IR to the BeoSound.
StUrrock: This hit a button to carry on playing what was last paused is perfect if you live on your own. In a family situation it is just useless, no matter how beautiful the wheel looks!
This hit a button to carry on playing what was last paused is perfect if you live on your own.
In a family situation it is just useless, no matter how beautiful the wheel looks!
So the RADIO button on a beo4 is also useless, since it does exactly the same. What kind of magic do you want to happen with a single knob?
If the Essence-box would be connected to a A.Aux of a BeoSound (being in fixed line-out), you wouldn't need the ir-support at all - the 'box' would be controlled by the app, and the volumen from the BeoSound.
That is - if it acts just like the Playmaker does (which I assume).
Adding ir-support would only mean, that you could control it with the Beo4 directly - just like you can control the Playmaker in the (default) standalone-setup.
Whether the ir-supprt will come or not, is not known - but since they have included a port for an ir-receiver, you might think that it sooner or later does.
If in this case the 'knob' will continue to work, is a good question.
I guess it won't be long 'till we have the answers.
DoubleU:So the RADIO button on a beo4 is also useless, since it does exactly the same.
Please leave us - at least - the 'red dot button' on the Beo4
Millemissen: I guess it won't be long 'till we have the answers.
Official launch is supposed to be 1 April.
1. April - LOL
The dealer I spoke to today did not know anything.
On the ther hand - the Essence is now part of the updatet BeoSetup app!
Why would you think that the Essence would be better (apart from the N.Radio and Spotify Connect support) than the Playmaker?
Hi,
I managed to pop into a dealer and managed to read throughthe "Beosound Essence Ge t Strated Pack" which they had left on the desk while he went to make a coffee.
The section that caught my eye was "Custustomers who own a beosound/ beomaster"
Beosound essence is the easy way to extend the functionality of old audio systems - the hideaway box can be connected to the AUX port of the existing system and the Beosound Essence remote can be used in IR mode for directly controlling an existing Beosound / Beomaster System"
had to quickly take a picture on my phone of this one bit before they spotted me as they said I was not allowed to take it away it was staff only and they should not be showing me it until launch So you didn't get the above information from me
badgersurf:Hi, I managed to pop into a dealer and managed to read throughthe "Beosound Essence Ge t Strated Pack" which they had left on the desk while he went to make a coffee. The section that caught my eye was "Custustomers who own a beosound/ beomaster" Beosound essence is the easy way to extend the functionality of old audio systems - the hideaway box can be connected to the AUX port of the existing system and the Beosound Essence remote can be used in IR mode for directly controlling an existing Beosound / Beomaster System" had to quickly take a picture on my phone of this one bit before they spotted me as they said I was not allowed to take it away it was staff only and they should not be showing me it until launch So you didn't get the above information from me
badgersurf: Hi, I managed to pop into a dealer and managed to read throughthe "Beosound Essence Ge t Strated Pack" which they had left on the desk while he went to make a coffee. The section that caught my eye was "Custustomers who own a beosound/ beomaster" Beosound essence is the easy way to extend the functionality of old audio systems - the hideaway box can be connected to the AUX port of the existing system and the Beosound Essence remote can be used in IR mode for directly controlling an existing Beosound / Beomaster System" had to quickly take a picture on my phone of this one bit before they spotted me as they said I was not allowed to take it away it was staff only and they should not be showing me it until launch So you didn't get the above information from me
Interesting that they mention "Beosound Essence remote can be used in IR mode" and "controlling an existing Beosound/Beomaster System".
Does that mean that the Essence remotes will be able to control my Beocenter 2 when I play e.g. CD:s? That way the Essence would make sense to me. I would get the Spotify Connect functionality. I would get a cool remote for the majority of the interaction with my music system. I could replace my Playmaker with something (hopefully) more robust.
/C
Livingroom: BL3, BL11, BV11-46 Kitchen: Beosound 1 GVA, Beocom 2 Bathroom: M3 Homeoffice: M3, Beocom 2 Library: Beosound Emerge, Beocom 6000 Bedroom: M5, Essence remote Travel: Beoplay E8 2.0, Beoplay EQ, Beoplay Earset
The 'knob' is nothing more than a remote, a controller with very limited functions.
if it should control a BS2 (or any other BeoMaster) it should/would have a ir-sender in addition to rhe bluetooth-sender (I can hardly believe that). And it would only control 'skip', 'turn off/on' and the volumen anyway.
The essential part of the Essence is the 'hide-away box' - period!
If you look at the 'hide-away box', you will see a port for a ir-receiver - so I should think that it is the other way round: the 'box' can (in addition to the app (BeoMusic) be controlled buy a Beo4.
At least I think so, untill you can convince me otherweise
That the Essence-box can be connected to a 'AUX' is nothing new - I have written that many times on the forum. That is exactly what I (and others) do with the Playmaker - which by the way is hidden away.
Millemissen: That the Essence-box can be connected to a 'AUX' is nothing new - I have written that many times on the forum. That is exactly what I (and others) do with the Playmaker - which by the way is hidden away. MM
Well, while I for one don't hate the looks of the Playmaker as some do, I have mine in a cabinet, set to not respond to IR if it gets any accidentally, and with a fixed volume output, run into the Aux In on my BS9000, so I'm right with you on how I use it.
It seems that the people they aimed the Essence at are ones who are very playlist oriented. I'm not, I often listen to a playlist, but usually I select individual albums and play thru them. I guess in that way my old fashioned roots from the dark ages of hifi when albums were it are showing...
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
Mark: badgersurf: Hi, I managed to pop into a dealer and managed to read throughthe "Beosound Essence Ge t Strated Pack" which they had left on the desk while he went to make a coffee. The section that caught my eye was "Custustomers who own a beosound/ beomaster" Beosound essence is the easy way to extend the functionality of old audio systems - the hideaway box can be connected to the AUX port of the existing system and the Beosound Essence remote can be used in IR mode for directly controlling an existing Beosound / Beomaster System" had to quickly take a picture on my phone of this one bit before they spotted me as they said I was not allowed to take it away it was staff only and they should not be showing me it until launch So you didn't get the above information from me Now that is interesting
Now that is interesting
But it would have to have the capability of turning off the Beomaster as well to make any sense.
Graham
Jeff: Well, while I for one don't hate the looks of the Playmaker as some do, I have mine in a cabinet, set to not respond to IR if it gets any accidentally, and with a fixed volume output, run into the Aux In on my BS9000, so I'm right with you on how I use it. It seems that the people they aimed the Essence at are ones who are very playlist oriented. I'm not, I often listen to a playlist, but usually I select individual albums and play thru them. I guess in that way my old fashioned roots from the dark ages of hifi when albums were it are showing...
Everything is 'playlist oriented' nowadays - the trend is to consume playlists from everyone else, from the (so called) friends on the 'social network', what Spotify or your internet provider recommends you, 'the topten-playlist' , a 'running-playlist or one for studying......
Listening to music has become passive, just like listening to a mainstream radio station.
The Essence is the ideal sound system for that kind of listening.
But that won't fool me - I would use it (if I should upgrade from my Playmaker to it) exactly the way, that it pleases me.
Like you, I prefer to listen to an album from the start 'till the end.
---- In some way an album is a playlist, that an artist made at a certain point of his carreer/life. ----
Any streaming device can be used for album listening - it just depends on how you use the device.
I can't imagine listening to muaic without my Playmaker anymore - though I still use my cd-player relatively often.
I don't consider myself as oldfashioned - pretty much music is produced as an 'album' even today.
P.S. I can't say that I am in love with the looks of the Playmaker, but I definitely don't hate it either - not at all.
It is just a piece of hardware, that does it's job - (apart from the music) the important thing is my iPad and the Beo4 controlling my BeoMaster.
If the Essence 'knob' makes people buy more 'boxes', it was a good decition to make it that way - I don't need it.
Millemissen: Why would you think that the Essence would be better (apart from the N.Radio and Spotify Connect support) than the Playmaker?
You can also add the BeoMusic app. Three different sources, no 3rd-party DLNA app, no conversions for Airplay, so no unnecessary battery drain from your device, and not the least, not depending from AirPlay with the occasional wifi dropouts Just play straight from the source, all built-in in one app. I would say these are huge upgrades in comparison with the PM.
Millemissen: If you look at the 'hide-away box', you will see a port for a ir-receiver - so I should think that it is the other way round: the 'box' can (in addition to the app (BeoMusic) be controlled buy a Beo4.
Maybe you’re right, but to me very unlikely. In most cases it would be a random guess to change the music you're listening to. This is not simplicity at all and not very B&O-ish. And nowhere it is confirmed the IR-port is for a receiver as you assume..
vikinger: But it would have to have the capability of turning off the Beomaster as well to make any sense.
Still guessing here, but it would all make sense if the port 'for future use' will be used to send commands, but only to toggle an A.AUX command to a BeoMaster/Beovision, and at the same time wake up the Essence where you left off last time. Why not benefit from the fact that B&O’s IR-commands don’t have to be aimed to an ir-eye, so you can place the remote anywhere in the room. So in combination with a Beomaster, the Essence will still do as advertised:
"Great sound instantly. Just touch".
@Millemissen :
I think that if badger surf is correct, B&O implemented the IR in the opposite way you are thinking :
1. Turn your Essence in IR mode2. That makes your Essence "fixed volume", because it is connected to the Aux of a Beosound/center3. The "IR port" of the hideaway box is not for a receiver, but its an emitter, so that the hideaway box can send the source/play-stop/next/previous/vol+/Vol- commands from the Bluetooth remote to your Beosound/center.
It's simple, it should work and it's a whole new way to control old systems...
diisign.com
I was thinking about the control of Beomasters evidently much older than those in mind in this thread!
I control my 40 year old Beomaster 2000 with one of those energy saving extension leads that has an IR sensor. The beomaster has a Roku type web radio unit connected to its tape input. When the remote is used to turn off the Roku unit the IR signal simultaneously switches off the power to the Beomaster. An IR switched power controller is needed to make the best use of beomasters that were not originally intended for remote control.
Using vintage equipment with the convenience of remote control requires creative thinking..... we can't expect B&O to cater for their ancient but superb designs.