Installing Beolink multiroom

Hi, this is my first post in this forum, and I guess my questions are very basic.

I am renovating our apartment and would like to install a B&O multi room solution. I already have a Beosound Essence and a pair of Beolab 3 speakers.

I also recently purchased a Beolab 15/16 set with the amplifier for the upcoming renovation (to be installed in the living room ceiling). I am now contemplating to get additional BeoVox speakers (2-2) for some of the other rooms.

My questions are:

- What kind of amplifier do I need to power the BeoVox speakers and still integrate them into a multi room solution?

- How do I connect the speakers in he different rooms? I am totally confused with the Masterlink/Network Link terminology and do not understand the requirements at all.

- How do I then source the speakers so that they can play the same music without delay or echo but also music from a different source? The Essence does not seem to be able to play two or more sources at the same time, but I may be mistaken.

- I would also like to connect the TV to the speakers, but it is a Sony TV. How can I do this?

if you can point me to a page where the system gets explained that would be nice. I am afraid I cannot afford to just go to the specialist and give them a blank cheque, and therefore would like to understand the options and also how many additional devices I need to connect the stuff and convert the signals from the different link systems.

Kind regards,

Alex

Hi and welcome,

a good place to start is here:

http://www.beointegration.com/index.php?site=faq#

the netlink (NL) is the new system using cat 7 cables and the ML system runs over masterlink cable and is for older products. To get ml and NL to talk to each other you need a NL converter.

For the Beovox speakers a good start would be beolink passives amps.

There are lots of treads on your topics suggest you search through the forum as a lot of your questions will be covered, also look at the faq's, the wikis and the  beoTech pages.

enjoy your new system

Hello and welcome. I wish I could answer your questions but I am also trying to fully understand the net link system. Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me will be able to answer your questions.

Razlaw:

Hello and welcome. I wish I could answer your questions but I am also trying to fully understand the net link system. Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me will be able to answer your questions.

I am not sure if a computer system analogy will help, however here goes ...

The MASTER Link approach is a bit like an old mainframe approach: a master computer with the smarts and remote terminals (speakers) that accessed a central source.

The NETWORK Link approach is analogous to the Internet ... NO central brain ... a confederation of distributed sources sharing information / content / music.

I can imagine an NL system at its most extreme where EVERY room has its own Essence with its own speakers and its own remote control wheel. All connected by NL cables to a central switch (but not a brain/ master). Each room could play its own source (via the Internet, a mobile source, or a common NAS source however with individual tracks) OR they could ALL be playing a SINGLE source or ANY COMBINATION of sources and rooms linked together.

That's the way it goes (as far as there are no restrictions, which we know there are).

But the important thing is: how do we control this 'anarchy'?

This is where the app, the 'wheelies', the Jukebox, the Beoremotes/interface on the screen.... come into the game.

MM

Hi, is it correct that a regular LAN (or even WLAN) network is sufficient to connect the devices in the Netlink system?

And is it also correct that in order to play different sources in different rooms, I need an Essence or similar device in every room?

I am still a bit confused about how to connect the Essence to the Beolink passive amp without using the Master Link system. Is it possible to feed the amp with a signal from an RJ45?

sarinale:

Hi, is it correct that a regular LAN (or even WLAN) network is sufficient to connect the devices in the Netlink system?

Yes

And is it also correct that in order to play different sources in different rooms, I need an Essence or similar device in every room?

Yes

B&O link rooms have always required an interface device - whether the speakers were active or passive. The device provide an interface to the network (wired or wireless) as well as local controls (join, volume), and sometimes local source connectivity eg PC mode on the latest BeoLink Active devices.

Some speakers have had that device built in. An old example would be the BeoLab 3500 and 2000; a modern example would be the A9.

I am still a bit confused about how to connect the Essence to the Beolink passive amp without using the Master Link system. Is it possible to feed the amp with a signal from an RJ45?

I believe so but best if you consult with Steve at Sounds Heavenly (look for his ads on the BeoWorld website)

Thanks a lot for your help!

I just bought a house and will be considering Beolink Multiroom... So my questions could help you, sarinale.

The only thing is that I'm not sure what to do if I want integrated speakers in my bathroom, as there is a mix of NL and ML devices... Here is the conversation I've started with BeoCare, you can see that they are not 100% helpful as they don't exactly tell what is the cable magic I have to do... I'm sure Steve at Soundsheavenly knows what to do !

Subject
Sound in bathroom
Discussion Thread
Response (Ina Bang Andersen)	05/11/2015 11.07 AM
Dear Mr mbee, Thank you for contacting Bang & Olufsen Customer Service. I have conferred with our experts in the technical support team, and they see no issues with your suggested setup with a BeoSound Essence and a BeoLink Passive.  I would, however, suggest that you contact your Bang & Olufsen retailer for assistance with the setup, as the Power Link connection will need a slight modification in order to be able to switch the BeoLink Passive on and off. http://www.bang-olufsen.com/storelocator Kind regards, Bang & Olufsen a/s  Ina Bang Andersen (Ms) Customer Service (Denmark)
Customer By Email (mbee)	02/11/2015 03.31 PM
Hi, You're currently doing the transition from masterlink to beolink multiroom... I have to put multiroom sound in my bathroom and I'm not sure if the solution already exists : -as music source, it seems that the best "link" device currently is the Beosound -as speakers for bathroom use, you suggest Beovox 2. -to power them, I need an amplifier : that could be either an ml/mcl box or a beolink passive... So is it a good way to connect BS Essence to beolink passive (via powerlink cable) to Beovox 2 ? It seems that beolink passive is a relic from the ML age... Will everything work (including amp powering on/off when switching the sound on/off)? Or is there a more straightforward solution available/coming to connect a bathroom with the brand new Ethernet beolink protocol? Best regards, mbee

For connecting the BeoLink Passive (used as an amp) to the BS Essence,

you will need a DIN to RJ45 PowerLink cable - fully mounted/8 wires.

Itemnumber:

6271225 for the 5 meter version.

6271226 for the 10 meter version

Your dealer should be able to order these.

Steve at SoundsHeavenly should as well - if you need special lenghts, do contact Steve.

MM

Beolink Passive has power up signal on pin 1 in the DIN socket. Newer products uses pin 4 for this. You need to move the yellow wire that goes to pin4 and solder it to pin 1 instead. If not the BL Passive won´t power up.

Cutting the yellow and grey wires and connect yellow wire from RJ45 side with grey wire from DIN side will do the same thing.

Good luck!

 

Hi, thanks for the help, I hope I will be able to figure this out. As my planning is progressing, I have another question: Can I connect Beolab 15/16 via the amplifier 1 and at the same time 2 BeoVox 2-2 with the Beolink Passive to just one Beosound Essence? I would like to power four speakers in two adjacent rooms and would like to save the expense for another Essence as we will never play different music from two sources in these two connected rooms.

Kind regards,

Alex

Hi, thanks for the help, I hope I will be able to figure this out. As my planning is progressing, I have another question: Can I connect Beolab 15/16 via the amplifier 1 and at the same time 2 BeoVox 2-2 with the Beolink Passive to just one Beosound Essence? I would like to power four speakers in two adjacent rooms and would like to save the expense for another Essence as we will never play different music from two sources in these two connected rooms.

Kind regards,

Alex

One option would be something like a almondo powerlink switch. Sure someone else may have another option!