Beoplay a3 help!!!

Just bought an old beoplay a3 to partner with a old iPad 3.For the love of god I cannot get it to work.

The beo setup app says it supports a3,then it says it does not.I have the iPad fully docked but no sound out of speakers and no volume control.I am at my whits end, as I am proud I have setup many complex systems of my own, but this is a nightmare.

Some websites says it only supports iPad 1,2 and others iPad 3.Other sites says it has to be setup with app to access speaker control.

Any help would be appreciated before it gets launched at the wall.

Difficult to remember the similar problem with mine at the outset. Try pressing the stand-by button above the power plug and then wait for the sound to come on.

Or, hold the standby button for several seconds to cause a reset?

Also make sure that the connector slide is very firmly pressed/engaged.

Graham

Your A3 should have been supplied with two different size rubber gaskets. You need to fit the correct one to your iPad. The deeper gasket for iPad 1 and the slimmer one for iPad 2 & 3.

Once the iPad is fitted to the A3 give the sliding connector an extra firm push to ensure the dock is connected inside the iPad

If you haven't plugged in the power supply remember that you have to switch the A3 on manually.

When you switch on the A3 and the iPad detects the dock, the battery symbol on your iPad should turn green and display the charging icon.

The first time you dock your iPad in the A3 you see a message referring to an app or software update. Ignore this as it isn't required. The A3 is a plug and play product.

I have had several reports of A3 not working and they are almost always down to incorrect usage.

Be patient and persevere

Opman

Thank you for your suggestion, I have tried that when I get green light the volume slider on screen fades and the volume control on a3 don't work,no sound.I think the setup app is the key looking at a old unboxing thread,but like I said it does not support a3 in the app.

I assure you there should be no requirement for an app or software update.. The A3 should just work.

I have had one possibly two instances of a reported fault on an A3 that turned out to be faulty dock connectors inside the iPad itself. We established this when the iPads wouldn't work on BeoSound 8 either. Do you have access to another iPad to test?

Of course it is possible that you are unlucky and have a faulty A3 but having sold hundreds, I have to say you will have been very unlucky.

Opman

When I switch it on I get the green battery as you say,I have the switch fully shut at the back,when I switch a3 on the iPad sound dies then nothing.

if I press AirPlay button it highlights dock connection.

i have read that the app gives you access to speaker control in the iPad settings and also flat and speech tones.

Also the app seemingly tells the iPad to reroute the sound to the a3.

Hi Nick/ Opman,

This is the advice I followed that you gave some time ago:

Have you downloaded the set up app to your iPad? If you simp,ly dock your iPad without the set up App the doack will not work.

We have an iPad3 and it works perfectly.

Opman

That's what I'm worried about, the beosetup app says it doesn't support a3 the app is also used for firmware upgrade etc.Why is the app advertised as supporting a3 when it clearly does not. 

I was investigating this a couple of weeks ago.

The confusing web searches led me to this understanding:

A3 was announced with iPad 1 and iPad 2 support

Two different rubber sleeves were provided to cater for the differences in thickness between the first two iPad generations

The third generation iPad had yet another thickness (see Wikipedia iPad history)

Initially B&O did not support the iPad 3

At a later point B&O added some rubber "stoppers" to make up the differences in the thickness of the 3rd generation iPad

Have a look if there is anything you can add to pad out the thickness for your iPad

That may improve the degree of contact and result in all pins contacting and data being clearly transmitted

I hope this helps somewhat

My wife's iPad had the Beoplay set-up app which has had an update.

I have just opened it and the A3 is no longer in the list. Unless B&O have somehow made all A3's plug and play this looks like a big oversight by B&O: why remove software set-ups? There must be lots of A3's still for sale even though production has ceased.

Is it possible that the plug and play only applies to an old iPad that has previously been set-up being plugged into a new A3? Can this be taken up with Struer?

Graham

I wonder what the updates were for?

What did they change/improve...?

Latest firmware was 1.0.4.0

MM

Millemissen:

I wonder what the updates were for?

What did they change/improve...?

Latest firmware was 1.0.4.0

MM

Removing the A3?

Just to complicate things further......

My wife's iPad was our original iPad used with the A3, and did use the set-up app from the Apple store. That app has been updated and no longer has the A3 in the software list.

However, we are now using a different iPad with the A3, and that iPad does not have the Beoplay set-up app, yet is working perfectly in the A3!

From recollecrion we did an iPad swap so that one could be used with iTunes on the BS8 without having to take the A3 gasket on and off.

Graham

vikinger:

Millemissen:

I wonder what the updates were for?

What did they change/improve...?

Latest firmware was 1.0.4.0

MM

Removing the A3?

As far as I know, the app was only used for updating the firmware of the A3 (the latest is 1.0.4.0).

Probably this firmware will not be updated further - that could be the reaon for leaving it out of the app.

I have never heard, that any app should be necessary for getting the dock to work with the iPad.

MM

 

I bought my A3 18 months ago or so - and I do remember it was also kind of tough for me to get the iPad2 docked in the right way. Took me more that 2-3 times to finally make it "recognized" by A3.

Now that is a dedicated iPad2 specifically for A3 so luckily I am not removing it frequently or at all.

I do remember as well Beosetup did a firmware update back then just like MM mentiond but from what I remember in update notes it was something really minor that had no effect on sound or battery life, so not really misisng much if you don't do it honestly.

And finally: I am very happy with A3, using it as a digital clock and Deezer/TuneIn Radio for my bedroom. Wonderful sound and beutiful to look at. I am sure you will be very happy with your purchase too. :)

Thanks for all your replies, unfortunately I can't get it to work.It recognises that it's docked as when I turn the a3 on there's a apple charge noise and battery icon turns green, but there is no sound and the a3 volume controls do nothing.I have pushed the switch completely shut and it's fully charged.

i am even contemplating swapping my iPad 3 for a older 2 so the a3 doesn't go to waste.

Yes, and I had the same - charging but no sound.

However if I'm not mistaken the A3's connector still didn't connect fully to iPad - so you need to try until it gets fully in (I also thought back then is was fully in when it wasn't).

Also, you can try chaging the supplied rubber case. I tried initially with the one intended for my iPad2 but then also with the other one and then it worked I think.

AnalogPlanet:

Yes, and I had the same - charging but no sound.

However if I'm not mistaken the A3's connector still didn't connect fully to iPad - so you need to try until it gets fully in (I also thought back then is was fully in when it wasn't).

Also, you can try chaging the supplied rubber case. I tried initially with the one intended for my iPad2 but then also with the other one and then it worked I think.

This problem reared its head several days ago.

A3 changes but no audio, no sleep button, no +/- volume.

Multiple firm reseating of slider switch had no effect.

So today I searched for this thread.

Thanks everyone (yet again Beoworld to the rescue).

I removed the rubber sleeve - inserted naked iPad 1, and inserted a now bruised thumb into the gap, slid the slider home, and voila volume & control.

Now I just need to find a spare 👍

Butch, I use an iPad 3rd generation with the A3 and can confirm it does (and should) work perfectly assuming you are using the correct rubber sleeve and ensure the slider button on the back is more than firmly pushed in; you generally do need to exert a lot of force and feel like you're overdoing it as it were.

You also need to ensure that the iPad 3 is running a relatively recent software version; iOS 9.3.2 being the latest and most recommended. Do not update the software as this will not rectify any current issues that may be affecting play with the A3. Instead, do a clean install by following these instructions:

1. Press and hold the iPad 3 power button and home button - a blank screen appears (keep holding) the Apple logo is displayed (keep holding) - a second blank screen appears (keep holding) an icon of a white cable and the iTunes logo appears - at which point you can let go.
2. Options to Restore or Update are displayed. Choose Restore.
3. Accept the terms and set up as a brand new device.
4. Once set up, log into the App Store on the iPad 3 and click on More in the right corner, then select purchases not on this iPad.
5. You should see the Beo App that you have previously purchased and should now download it. If not their, just search and download. 
6. Don't open the Beo App once downloaded, just ensure it has downloaded successfully before placing the iPad 3 back into the correct rubber sleeve and connected to the A3 with a more than firm push!
7. Ensure the iPad 3 is connected to mains power; open iTunes; play something (you'll have to put media content back on) and you should see and hear the iPad 3/A3 kick into action.
8. Leave it plugged in for a good few hours to get it fully charged and let it trickle charge for a while longer. This should rejuvinate all hardware and iron out any software issues with either and give you a working combination plugged in or on battery from this point on.

All the best and let us know how you get on. Cheers, Simon.