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
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Present: BL90, Core, BL6000, CD7000, Beogram 7000, Essence Remote.
Past: BL1, BL2, BL8000, BS9000, BL5, BC2, BS5, BV5, BV4-50, Beosystem 3, BL3, DVD1, Beoremote 4, Moment.
seethroughyou:1. I am considering getting a Core and wondered what fellow Beoworlders make of it several years down the line? Is it an enjoyable, mature and reliable product? 2. Does anyone know if Airplay2 handles 24bit, 96-192khz files if I were to stream them to the Core? It’s not critical but helpful to know when deciding to go with a more pricey classical music streaming plan that offers genuine high resolution material or not. Thank you.
I use the Core exclusively for AirPlay 2 with no complaints. I have also used it with an Apple TV 4K connected to TV for video and Core playing the audio in another room and the sync was perfect. I also have it in wireless mode (I have good all house wifi coverage with Google Mesh).
AirPlay 2 is 16bit/48khz. I believe you can stream Hi Res from the B&O App if you like (I haven't tried it). In my case I switched from AirPort Express to Bluesound Node 2i to the Core primarily because of the audio quality. Connected to my Beolab 11 and Beolab 6000 speakers the audio sounded clearer with a little more defined bass. Not sure if it was because of the DAC in the Core or because you can set it to the right speaker type in the B&O App and the sound is then optimized for the speaker. Anyway, I really like it.
B&O in my life 😊:
seethroughyou:1. I am considering getting a Core and wondered what fellow Beoworlders make of it several years down the line? Is it an enjoyable, mature and reliable product? Thank you.
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
@Carolpa or @Jaffrey2230, what is your source for "AirPlay 2 is 16bit/48khz."? I have not seen any straightforward answer from Apple about the protocol, nor from B&O about the device. An Apple TV only supports 48kHz, sure. But others? (Edit: Sorry, perhaps you meant that a Core *VIA* Airplay2 is 16-bit/48kHz? If so, the question is how you figured that out?)
There are 3 separate issues: (1) Does the sending device send that particular sampling & bit-depth data stream? It seems to depend on both the device and the application running. (2) Does AirPlay2 the protocol support it? (3) Does the receiving device even support inputting the stream at that rate, and if so, does it internally down-sample it before (or in) its DAC? The most clear and declarative answer I have seen -- see post #33 in the thread below -- is unsourced, alas:
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/notes-on-chromecast-airplay-and-hdmi.892495/page-2
seethroughyou:Well I’ve just read the following thread: https://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/t/31004.aspx Naturally, I’m now cautious about spending £600 only to find it doesn’t work as originally advertised a few years from now. stories like the above don’t inspire confidence...
Sandyb:Why not just get a third party streamer, with Airplay and or Roon capability too?B&O just don't seem capable or willing to offer a fuller featured digital transport these days
Sandyb:Wired or wireless? Wired - many streamers have a variety of outputs that will work into BL3'S, from what I can see. The same goes for streamer /DAC units too.
I have tried AirPort Express and Bluesound Node 2i and Beosound Core with my Beolab systems. Not only does the Core work very well with AirPlay 2 but the audio was better than the other two - interestingly both the Node 2i and the DAC in the last gen AirPort Express are supposed to be pretty good. Yes, if you need to use Roon then go another route, but for AirPlay 2, you won't be disappointed with the sound quality and performance of the Core. Just basing this off of my experience.
I dont have a list for you per se.
A shortcut to endless googling might be the Roon website - and click the link for Roon partners.
Theres a pretty big section on Roon tested Network players, listed by manufacturer.
From there you can see a broad range of what is out there, and look at product specs on the brand website.
Many Beloabs will accept analogue outputs as well as digital ones, and quite a few of the network players I've looked at have both outputs.
For me, this is a good starting point, as I'm likely to get a Roon server and Roon ready network player - pump this in to one of my B&O systems, and as they're all NL, will be able to go multi room from there. But the main reason is that using single apps, be it Spotify, Tidal or whatever (or the B&O app) is incredibly unsatisfying to me, as music listening experiences go, and I want the Roon UI / cataloguing / integration of my NAS music.
Theres no point waiting for B&O to produce an audio master or new audio platform (whatever that means) - there's a gold standard already out there in Roon, and B&O wont get anywhere near that.
seethroughyou: Sandyb: Wired or wireless? Wired - many streamers have a variety of outputs that will work into BL3'S, from what I can see. The same goes for streamer /DAC units too. Wired please.
Sandyb: Wired or wireless? Wired - many streamers have a variety of outputs that will work into BL3'S, from what I can see. The same goes for streamer /DAC units too.
Wired or wireless?
Wired - many streamers have a variety of outputs that will work into BL3'S, from what I can see.
The same goes for streamer /DAC units too.
Wired please.
You could get an AirPort Express off of eBay for around $50 now. It’s the best value steamer for AirPlay 2 by a long shot. I had one in my system for a long time and many of my friends still use it. In my experience the audio quality is excellent with the only downside being that it only supports AirPlay 2 and you can’t connect any other source like you want with the Core. It is a pity Apple stopped making it since it is a rock solid product.
[Misunderstood. Deleted.]