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
In a resent thread about Spotify/Spotify Connect - which I can't find at the moment - I mentioned a new device called Gramofon. A small device with support for Spotify Connect.
Spotify in the Connect version has until now been implemented in a lot of smaller (or bigger/A9) loudspeakers.
But there seemed to be no way to get hold on a device/a small box for an already existing audiosystem.
Searching the net the Gramofon seemed to be such a device.
A device, that lot of B&O owners would want for getting Spotify Connect with their older Beosound or with the Beosound 5 - or even through their BV's.
At that time I had only read about it - but got so much interested in it, that I purchased one. At a price of 49€ it was worth the test.
It is a kickstarter project, but by now free for sale from the homepage. I ordered one - could not resist!
After 10 days it arrived.
So this is what you get:
There is a tv - and there is a BV
There is a sound cable, the power supply and a small black (or white) brick.
The included lan cable is optional - maybe you won’t need it.
The setup is - theoretically - straight forward.
Pretty much the same procedure as by other streaming devices.
When connected to the power outlet the Gramofon boots and builds its own wireless network.
You can login into that with a smartphone/tablet. This way you get access to the user interface of the device.
Either use an internet browser or the Gramofon app (android or iOS).
If you go for the wireless connection, you will have to let the device search for your preferred network and enter your password.
There are a couple of other settings to make (or not) - such as naming the device….
Best look at the guides at: https://www.gramofon.com
I was not able to get the Gramofon connected to my network at home.
It simply could not find my router ;-(
Probably because I use an older Linksys router.
I have had this router/this setup for several years now, and it is pretty reliable - no problems to mention.
The wifi (and the AirPlay) is quite stable.
And at our place there is no serious security problems, since we live in an area with no near neighbours.
Besides, as we all know: never change a running system!
So I ended up using the lan cable for a wired connection - got it configured and running.
After connecting the minijack to RCA cable to my BeoMaster, I could (in the Spotify app) choose my Gramofon as ‘receiver’ of the stream and I could switch from that, to the iPad or to the Spotify client on my Mac, just as I pleased.
My main use of the device would certainly be the Spotify Connect feature.
The device however has different other functions - read about them at the Fon site.
Fon is the company that made the public Fon-router - a router to share your internet connection with other Fon users.
As long as you don’t register your device by Fon, you will not use this function.
Personally I would not register, but some of you might find this function attractive.
In some areas (not in DK) the Gramofon/Wah-Wah app is available - this way it is possible to stream the music stored locally to the Gramofon as well. You will however need a facebook account for using that.
Since I am not a Facebook user, I wouldn’t want to use it anyway.
Most people buy the Gramofon because of the Spotify Connect function - and the device would be worth the price, if that was all.
But - in addition to this - it has support for the soon coming ALLPLAY technology.
Read about ALLPLAY here: https://www.qualcomm.com/products/allplay
ALLPLAY is a new - a cross-brand, cross-platform - technology for streaming from iOS and from Android devices.
Soon we will see the ALLPLAY enabled version of TuneIn and more wellknown services. The SDK is free and the first streaming devices to support ALLPLAY streaming (apart from the Gramofon) are on the way - one of these being the SoundStage speakers from Monster.
This way it will be possible to use devices from different companies in the same setup.
Could be something for B&O to consider implementing in future (Play) products.
Of cource I would rather see the BV’s (the A8, the BeoLit12 and BS Moment too) updated with the Spotify Connect version - would make things really easy.
But for owners of older products the Gramofon might be worth a try.
‘My Gramofon’ is now at my son’s place. He is using Spotify from an Android phone to a bluetooh receiver on his stereo, and wanted something to increase the quality of the sound.
I don’t really need the Gramofon.
As some of you might remember, I use an Squeezebox Touch (the Touch - Playmaker line-in - AudioMaster-A.Tape - MasterLink), and a Squeezebox Classic on my standalone V1-32.
This way I have control over my own NAS-based music collection, Spotify (and WiMP/Tidal) and TuneIN netradio in one single iPad user interface (iPeng or Squeezepad).
And I can play all to both receivers (and this way in all lunchrooms). Actually this has been possible for quite a while now, so I have gotten used to it! B&O really has to come up with something better/easier, before I let this solution go!
But - maybe I’ll order another Gramofon for myself.
After all you never know, if/when you’ll need it 😃
P.S. forgot to make a screenshot from the iPad/Spotify app, which shows you 'my Gramofon' as it was still here - but the documentation on the website of gramofon.com is pretty god. Have a look yourself.
MM
we tend to forget there is more to design than designing.
My son is very satisfied with it - now after 10 days.
N.B. He told me, that you can pause/play the Spotify track through pushing/touching the ring at the upper side - I did not know that.
Millemissen: My son is very satisfied with it - now after 10 days. N.B. He told me, that you can pause/play the Spotify track through pushing/touching the ring at the upper side - I did not know that. MM
Great review Mille
I saw the 49€ deal yesterday, and was captivated by the idea ... but the thought of taking a gamble and waiting weeks dissuaded me for at least the moment (no pun intended).
So instead I read a bit more into Spotify Connect having read all your posts on that particular thread - and I then upgraded myself to Spotify Premium, installed the App, reset many passwords (FB, Last.FM), and finally conquered the App's interface to get music control going on both the iPhone and iPad.
Perhaps as you said in the other thread you end up with an expensive solution - but in my case all the pieces were in place - it just needed a couple of drops of software here and there.
When my son came for his visit I showed it to him and he gave it a spin thumbing out Metallica – For Whom the Bell Tolls in what was his room/is the spare room, on a BV8-32 using the iPad to control.
On the other hand I did my listening this way: iPhone Spotify controller > Spotify on MacMini > BMLink N-Radio > BeoPort > BV8 BL3s + > (link room) BL6Ks.
So as I have an ML environment I am not sure the Gramofon would be a solution, any more than multiple Airport Expresses would be, but it was an interesting Sunday afternoon experiment.
BeoNut since '75
@DGRouge
No!
@elephant
Many ways to get Spotify on your (B&O) system.
Still - there are many, who don't use Apple gear. For those this could be a great idea/solution.
The interesting part is that these people now can get descent (Spotify) sound with their setup e.g. on a BS5 - and don't have to rely solely on a bluetooth receiver. Using Spotify Connect is much easier, than using the 'crippled' interface on the BS5 itself.
Or just think of those who happen to have an (old) BeoSound 8 - using the Gramofon for the AUX-in, makes it a 'new' device.
Besides - I am sure we soon will see some possibilities with the ALLPLAY platform too.
Hi Millemissen,
Today with the Airport Express on MacOS, I can configure the main output as Airport Express so that any sound coming from any software is going to the hi-fi system. And not only iTunes.You can do that by clicking the Speakers button at the top-right side of the screen & maintaining the "Alt" button.
Question : Is it possible to do same with the Gramofon ?
Thanks to let me know.
The Gramofon is a Spotify Connect device (mainly).
You can use the Spotify desktop client to push music to it.
The Gramofon is not AirPlay compatible.
Thanks MM for the insight, interesting story. Cool device I'd say. :)
:( Sadly Spotify is not (yet) available in Croatia.
A little update!
As you have read in my former posts, I don't have the device at home.
My son has it - and has had it for quite a while now.
Spotify (Premium) is his main music source.
I guess he has stopped thinking about the device - he just uses it!
If I would want it back someday, he probably would not let me in to his apartment
P.S. He used to have a bluetooth receiver before that.
"You think we can slap some oak on this thing?"
As far as I remember the volumen controlling is done within the app(s). This would mean, that it does not 'remember' anything - you have to 'remember'.
Depending on how the sound is being processed in the Gramofon, it might not be the best way of dealing with volumen control. A listening test should show how good it is on higher qualty speakers like the BeoLabs.
On the other hand --- the Gramofon, that my son has, is connected to his stereo-setup. I'll have to ask him, how he controls the volumen - via app or via the remote control (or both)?
Note: it seems hat the Gramofon now has got the promised support for more apps - see Gramofon FQAs/Help Center.
Also Multistreaming/grouping features have been introduced with the latest firmware update.
Might even get me one again - for testing at home
For that purpose maybe a 'simple' bluetooth adapter would be sufficient
As for the use with your BeoSound - looking forward to read about your experiences. It's a reaonably inexpensive device.
So... I finally got around to hooking up the Gramofon with a pair of Beolab 4000´s..
And I am very disappointed.
The sound level is to high on the lowest setting. This means that I cannot use them in the evening or at night, not even if I have guests over.
The sound output is simply to high to have them playing as background music.
I have sent a request to Gramofon about the issue, and I will update when I get a reply.
For now the Gramofon found its place in the bathroom together with the A2. My girlfriend has been wanting to listen to radio while doing her make-up, so the gramophone is connected to allay radio for now. Quite nice actually. Would love to see the function built in to the speaker.