Confused about Essence, Moment and Beolab receive/ transmitter and playmaker.

I am thinking about getting a pair of Beolab 3. I use Spotify/ iPhone/ iPad/ MacBook for playing music.

What is the most simplest and cheapest way whilst not degrading sound quality of setting up something that integrates my devices.

I have asked a couple of stores. Some mention Playmaker, some mention, Beolab receiver and transmitter. and some the Essence.

I also have a Beosound 8 (old version which I connect at present with Airport Express). 

What can you recommend?

Thanks. 

 

Hi Chris

The playmaker is now discontinued so if you go that route you should be able to pick up a bargain. You just need cables to connect BeoLab 3 (8 pin din) to RJ45 (Playmaker). Playmaker supports AirPlay and DLNA if you use Android.

Personally I would go with an Essence. You only need the hideaway box which really does what the Playmaker will do but has the advantage of having Spotify, Deezer & Tune in radio built in. The connections between speakers and box are the same as for the Playmaker.

The additional advantage of getting an Essence (mark 2) is that it supports the new multi room network so if you add products in the future you get increased functionality.

For clarification, you only need BeoLab Transmitter 1 and Receivers if you want to use the BeoLab 3's in a wireless set up.

Regards

Opman

I have that set up - lab3's / essence mk2 and all idevices with spotify premium. Simple and very good sound quality. I have tunein, spotify, my NAS for stored FLAC playback and my virgin media box connected up. All work fine, the odd gremlin, but a quick reboot always fixes. I have mentioned in another thread, that I am sure with a few updates along the way the essence and beomusic app will be very good, as already good now and the mk2 is new to market. Much better than what I have read about the Moment and other more recent releases. 

 

So, essence mark 2 and Beolab 3. That is all that's required? Interesting. Can you use the Beoremote app to skip tracks etc? Is the setup wireless, if I wanted to extend the system, could this be done easily enough - i.e Beolab 3 in living rooms and a different speaker in the bedroom for instance?

Thanks.

Chris Harrison:

I am thinking about getting a pair of Beolab 3. I use Spotify/ iPhone/ iPad/ MacBook for playing music.

What is the most simplest and cheapest way whilst not degrading sound quality of setting up something that integrates my devices.

I have asked a couple of stores. Some mention Playmaker, some mention, Beolab receiver and transmitter. and some the Essence.

I also have a Beosound 8 (old version which I connect at present with Airport Express). What can you recommend?

Thanks.

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beotalk 1100, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, Jacob Jensen T1 (phone), iPhone 4S, iPad 3, Apple Macbook 13" 2012, Sky+HD.

Hi Chris I also had the original BeoSound 8 too which I recently sold. But if you're happy with that and your airport express its easy enough to stick with. Did you know you could even plug the BS8 into the usb of your MacBook

The cheapest way is the Playmaker. The playmaker has a volume control and the box can be hidden. If had no issues with mine but others have especially around dropouts etc. connection to Beolab 3 is easy with the power link to rj45 cord. I have a BL4 setup in this fashion do you want me to send you a pic?

I have also used the BL3 in the same setup as I bought the PM with the BL3 for that exact purpose: to make my music wireless

The next step up would be the essence mk2. Think of it as a PM but updated and with apps installed such as Spotify connect etc and you can buy a remote control for it which can be mounted on a wall or placed on a table.

In either of these cases you would be able to sit on your couch and play music from your iPhone or iPad or Mac and stream it. In both cases the speakers are directly connected to either the PM or the essence. The wireless part is merely that your device is not directly connected to the speakers if that makes sense

If you wanted to make the connection from the source to the speakers wireless that's when you would use the transmitter and receiver and as the Beolab 3 are an older technology it would still involve wires. In this case the Beolab 3 is plugged into a receiver and this is then 2 power leads for one speaker. I have pictures of mine if you would like to see.

But you would be safe with either option. If you lived here in Melbourne I would have lent you a spare PM for you to try out.

I hope this helps you

Beolab 3's are great speakers but a bit bass light. I have connection issues with my essence mk1 in that most of the time it just doesn't get picked up by the Beomusic app. I however have no problems with my playmaker (when it's set up properly). As has been said, volume control and mute on the front panel is useful. It can be tucked away as can the Essence.

I actually have a spare Playmaker with cables and original box that I am happy to sell for less than eBay prices (and Lifestyle AV price). That's not why I'm championing it. If you want to try it out, let me know.

Dave.

I love my Playmaker.

If you - like I do - have your iPad at hand most of the time and you are familiar with using AirPlay, the Playmaker is all, that you need.

It is definitely the cheapest option, you have.

 

However, if you want some controlling without having to use your iDevice and you like the thought of the inbuild net-radio-'tuner' and the easy access to Spotify (through Connect), go for an Essence (2nd gen).

If you have any thoughts of buying more (of the newer) B&O gear over time, you should go for the BS Essence (2nd gen), because of the support for B&O multiroom.

 

MM

Spot on by @MM. As he does, I think my iPad is melded to my body.

Dave.

Hi Chris, yes essence mk2 and lab3's and yes you can just use the beomusic app. I do have the table top remote, but to be honest I mainly just use it for volume and stop/start - I just liked it, it's not essential. As the other guys have said Playmaker would also work just fine for you if you.

Or, you could use a separate DAC plugged into your AE and then connect speakers to the DAC - not as easy though to control volume as you would do that from your phone - but £100 gets a good DAC that is upgradeable in time or the AE wil at some point be upgradable which the playmaker is not. You could also use the DAC with Apple TV if you have it connected to your TV, some also have headphone outputs. I use a Cambridge Audio DAC and the results are superb, but I haven't heard a playmaker so cant compare, the Playmaker though would doubtless be a more elegant solution and has an extra input of an external analogue device - just offering another option.