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Beosound Essence MkII - almost a full NL product? So happy!
Prior to purchasing the Beosound Essence MkII, I considered long and hard for a Beosound Moment, posting question after question on these forums to the annoyance of some members *wink wink*.
Due to music listening habits and aesthetics, I settled on the Essence MkII (for the sake of this post, I'll merely refer to the Essence MkII as "Essence" from this point on). I knew the Essence was "less than" the Moment in many respects, including the fact that it didn't have pattern play / moodwheel, but also in that it was dubbed not to be a "full NL product."
Now, this behavior I am about to report may be normal and obvious to the experts on this forum, but to me it was new and refreshing and almost brings the Essence into it's own as a 99% full NL product. What I mean by "full NL" is akin to the following: A Moment can be standalone and can use whatever speakers are mapped to it. A la a master linked Beosound 9000 that uses the TV’s speakers to play music. A Moment does this through NL seamlessly for all of the sources you have set up.
First, here's my setup: Beosound Essence connected to BL20 in one room ("Listening Room" is the name I've given the Essence in the BeoMusic App). BV11 connected to BL9 in another room. I've mapped three of the sources of the Essence to the BV11 (one of which is TuneIn Radio to the RADIO button of a Beo4 remote for the BV11).
Here's where (again, this may only be novel to me) the fun begins: If I press RADIO on the Beo4, it uses the Essence as the source to play TuneIn content through the BL9 speakers without activating the BL20 connected directly to the Essence. (I've set the “TuneIn (Listening Room)” source on the BV11 Source Menu to activate only the BL9 for stereo sound only.).
Now, for those who are curious, some behavior questions and answers:
If I use the Beomusic App to, say change the station, what would happen? Simple: the station changes and the BL20 connected to the Essence remain off.
What happens if I click the left / right buttons on the Beo4? The previous / next station play and the BL20 connected to the Essence remain off.
What happens if I want to change the source I'm listening to from TuneIn to my Music Server? Well, here’s where it gets interesting:
If I used the Beomusic App to change the source which is currently only playing through the BV11 connected BL9, then the Essence gets activated and the BL20 start to play as well as the BL9s, but I can easily turn the BL20 off by clicking the X in the Multiroom view horizontally on the iPhone.
If I change the source using the Beo4, by pressing, say CD to change the source from Tune In to “Music” (or Music stream, see other post)… the Essence connected BL20 remain off, and Music from my Server begins playing through the BV11 connected BL9 only. And I can continue using the BeoMusic App to select songs, etc, without activating the Essence connected BL20 speakers.
The Bottom line is that as long as the BV11 is sending the initial source commands to the Essence, the speakers connected to the Essence remain off.
This flexibility in use case was not what I was expecting with the Essence, in fact, this behavior may have always been the case, but my understanding was that somehow the Essence is a "crippled" less than full NL product. To me, this is no longer the case and I'm surprised and extremely happy with my decision to go with an Essence.
Hi Sal,
glad that you are even happier with your Essence now.
It behaves exactly as it is supposed to.
And thanks for taking the time to write the post :-)
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Happy that you are happy.
Would be nice if B&O would make it possible to, from the Beomusic app, to let you play DLNA content to the BV11, as you describe in your second usecase. Can´t be that complicated.
Livingroom: BL3, BL11, BV11-46 Kitchen: Beosound 1 GVA, Beocom 2 Bathroom: M3 Homeoffice: M3, Beocom 2 Library: Beosound Emerge, Beocom 6000 Bedroom: M5, Essence remote Travel: Beoplay E8 2.0, Beoplay EQ, Beoplay Earset
Quick question:
I have a BV11 in my living room and want to play music in both room the living room (through the BV11) and upstairs in my office.
What would be the best solution in your opinion?
For information I have an ethernet cable running from the ground to upstairs if it can hlp for let's say connect classic speakers (such as BL4) to a Transmitter... Do I need an Essence to use the BV11 as part of the Beolink Multiroom system?
Beside this, do you guys know if I can use a B&O headset with my TV such as H7 or H8 if I connect a bluetooth receiver (avantree) to my BV11?
Thank you for your help
FREDPERT
BeoVision 11-46 full black - BeoRemote One
By the way what is the difference between MK1 and MK2 Essence?
fredpert: By the way what is the difference between MK1 and MK2 Essence?
The Mk2 Essence is capable of Multiroom (Join, sound distribution), whereas the Mk1 Essence is a purely standalone product I believe.
Thanks Sal,
Is it really a different hardware or just a SW update?
fredpert:Thanks Sal, Is it really a different hardware or just a SW update? FREDPERT BeoVision 11-46 full black - BeoRemote One
- Flere
smile and enjoy the moment
fredpert:Quick question: I have a BV11 in my living room and want to play music in both room the living room (through the BV11) and upstairs in my office. What would be the best solution in your opinion? For information I have an ethernet cable running from the ground to upstairs if it can hlp for let's say connect classic speakers (such as BL4) to a Transmitter... Do I need an Essence to use the BV11 as part of the Beolink Multiroom system? Beside this, do you guys know if I can use a B&O headset with my TV such as H7 or H8 if I connect a bluetooth receiver (avantree) to my BV11? Thank you for your help FREDPERT BeoVision 11-46 full black - BeoRemote One
Flere: fredpert: Quick question: I have a BV11 in my living room and want to play music in both room the living room (through the BV11) and upstairs in my office. What would be the best solution in your opinion? For information I have an ethernet cable running from the ground to upstairs if it can hlp for let's say connect classic speakers (such as BL4) to a Transmitter... Do I need an Essence to use the BV11 as part of the Beolink Multiroom system? Beside this, do you guys know if I can use a B&O headset with my TV such as H7 or H8 if I connect a bluetooth receiver (avantree) to my BV11? Thank you for your help FREDPERT BeoVision 11-46 full black - BeoRemote One I have a BeoVision Avant in the living room and an Essence mk2 with BeoLab4 speakers in another room. Connected on wired Ethernet. Works like a charm in multi-room mode. So my suggestion to you is to put anEssence mk2 with two BeoLab speakers upstairs. Or the new BL35.
fredpert: Quick question: I have a BV11 in my living room and want to play music in both room the living room (through the BV11) and upstairs in my office. What would be the best solution in your opinion? For information I have an ethernet cable running from the ground to upstairs if it can hlp for let's say connect classic speakers (such as BL4) to a Transmitter... Do I need an Essence to use the BV11 as part of the Beolink Multiroom system? Beside this, do you guys know if I can use a B&O headset with my TV such as H7 or H8 if I connect a bluetooth receiver (avantree) to my BV11? Thank you for your help FREDPERT BeoVision 11-46 full black - BeoRemote One
I have a BeoVision Avant in the living room and an Essence mk2 with BeoLab4 speakers in another room. Connected on wired Ethernet.
Works like a charm in multi-room mode.
So my suggestion to you is to put anEssence mk2 with two BeoLab speakers upstairs. Or the new BL35.
An Beoplay A6 will do this as well, right?. Different look and price from BL35 though.
@ Flere, can you please be a bit more precise the way you would connect everything together then?
@ Hiort, how does the A6 sound?
FYI, I also have an A6 and I'm super happy with how it sounds.
Getting back to your questions, though, the A6 or A9, or even BL35 are simple solutions to what you'd like in multiroom, but since you already have BL4 speakers, an essence mk2 would be more of an economical option. You'd connect the BL4 speakers to the essence wired via PL cables, and have the Essence connect via WiFi or hardwired ethernet to your network. Have your BV11, also either hardwired ethernet or connect via WiFi to your network (if it isn't already).
After everything is connected and set up in your Essence room, in a few moments, go to the BeoIntegration Menu on your BV11 and you should see your new Essence (or A6, etc) and add it as a connected product. When I set my system up it took a while for the Essence to show up, and sometimes a reboot of your router / components may be necessary so that all the products can see each other appropriately (ie. DHCP leases and the like). (A special thank you to my dealer for helping me!)
You should now see the sources of the Essence in the SOURCES menu of the BV11 when you go into "edit list" mode. They'll show with the multiroom logo to the left and the source name and in parenthesis the name you've given the Essence (or A6, or A9, etc). You then add the source and set it up like you would any other source on the BV11 screen. And you have the setup / behavior I've described below in my post.
fredpert:@ Flere, can you please be a bit more precise the way you would connect everything together then? FREDPERT BeoVision 11-46 full black - BeoRemote One
Thank you Sal for all those details.
Actually I do not have BL4, I just own a BV11 so far so I am pretty free to decide the setup for listening music upstairs. What do you guys suggest then?
So if I understand correctly I do not even need a Transmitter and an Essence to make the BV11 part of a Beolink Multiform system? The BV will communicate with either an A6, A9 or BS35?
No advices regarding B&O headset (I am referring to my initial post asking if I can use a H7 or H8 with BV11 through Avantree bluetooth adapter)?
fredpert: Thank you Sal for all those details. Actually I do not have BL4, I just own a BV11 so far so I am pretty free to decide the setup for listening music upstairs. What do you guys suggest then? So if I understand correctly I do not even need a Transmitter and an Essence to make the BV11 part of a Beolink Multiform system? The BV will communicate with either an A6, A9 or BS35?
Apologies, I misunderstood your initial post when you gave the example of the BL4 in thinking you owned a pair.
Secondly, you're right that the BV11 is already equipped to be a multiroom product. You just need another source (Moment, Essence, A6, A9, etc) for the BV11 to "see and/or send/receive from."
My suggestion is to go for the Essence MkII (I am biased because I do own one and am happy with it). it allows you the independence to choose from any B&O speakers old and new which are pleasing to your ears. That being said, if you're going to go all in, you might as well consider the Beosound Moment. with it's own dedicate display, and the folks on these forums are very happy with the current state of the software, and it will also allow you to choose your own speakers, and has WISA among other features that the Essence doesn't.
(I can't help with the headphones advice, though)
In adition to what sal wrote above/below, I'd say, that your choice should depend on the size of the office and your preferences, when listening.
if you are looking for 'a more background type of listening', you'd be fine with the A6 - especially if you occasionally want to take the device with you to other rooms in your house.
Otherweise - the choice is yours :-)
Thanks for all these precious advices.
In this setup I would keep the ManMini connected to the BV11 in HDMI then? No issue with sound delay in Beolink Multiroom?
There is an update to the BeoSound Essence SW (v.1.4.311) that now supports this setup of integrating an Essence with a BeoVision TV, in such a way that the speakers are on the TV (not the Essence)
See here: http://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/customer-service/product-support/sound-systems/beosound-essence,-,2nd,-,generation
And here: http://bogo.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13858/kw/13858
Note, however, that AirPlay and Spotify Connect are not supported in this setup.
As far as I am aware, this nothing new - and it is not like, what you can do with the BS Moment.
I just set an Essence up the other day - it integrates fine (as linked sources) with the NL-tv.
I see no way to set it to only use the speakers of the tv and to start up (the speakers of the tv) by using the 'Wheely'.
I'd be happy if you could correct me!
P.S.
The software of that Essence is
It seems like I can correct myself!
looking at the support page for the Essence, I found the section of the updates.
Just wondering, why my Essence did not get that update automatic.
In my case I don't need that function - the Essence is connected to an input on my old ML-audiomaster.
Hwever, THIS IS GREAT NEWS - and it is something, that a lot of user have asked for!
Again - bravo B&O for constantly improving their products :-)))
It goes like this:
'1.4.311.249633314 – Released 10.02.2016
Note the following under FAQ:
"All remote operations are performed via the TV in this setup. That means that the BeoSound Essence Remote should not be paired with the BeoSound Essence. Rather it should be configured to BeoRemote One IR (BeoVision) mode for interacting with the TV."
Might be worth knowing in case you are in love with the Essence remote.
Interestingly there soon will be a new BR1 with support for bluetooth commands ;-))
So does this mean that using the BeoMusic App to activate an Essence (which has no speakers connected to it) that is integrated with the TV is all that is necessary to wake up the television and use the TV's speakers?
Specifically, how does one "tell" the Essence that it should solely use the TV's speakers? (that it doesn't have any directly connected speakers)?
yes, correct. When you "link" the BeoVision to the Essence (from the TV's "product integration" - "link to other products" menu), the TV will ask you:
- Is the BeoSound Essence in the same room as the television: yes/no- Do you want to use the TV speakers aare the only speakers for the BeoSound Essence?
Answering "yes" to both should do the trick.
And what would 'Connect to the secondary BeoLink product' mean/cause?
A Bang & Olufsen TV can be "statically" linked to up to two other products (thus the term: primary and secondary). When products are statically linked, then the sources of those two other products appear as sources of the TV (i.e. in the sources list, with the small "link" icon on the left).
As an example, you can "link" the TV, via a BeoLink Converter, to an older BeoSound system with CD and FM radio. And at the same time (as a secondary product) to a BeoSound Essence.
That means that in the TV you will see sources from both products, such as CD, RADIO, AUX (from the BLC/BeoSound) and Deezer, TuneIn, Bluetooth, Line-in, etc (from the BeoSound Essence). Then from the TV (and it's remote) you can initiate those sources, like they are sources of the TV itself.
This is great information, essentially (pardon the pun), the Essence is now a full NL product! Huge applause to B&O!!!
So... using an Essence Remote configured to BROne IR mode can also activate the Essence... Wake up the BV and use the TV speakers by pressing the open circle button?
@petrosbeli
My 'problem' was not to understand the use of the primary linking, but to understand, what the secondary means.
Do you (with the new sw) choose between those two?
Or can both be used?
Or.....?
The documentation of these things is for endusers practically non-excistent ;-(
@Millemissen, "primary" and "secondary" as functionally the same. Just think them as "linked product #1" and "linked product #2". You can link to just one, or to two products. And yes, you can have both as the same time.
Have you seen this documentation (page 2 & 3)?http://www.bang-olufsen.com/UserFiles/File/RightNow/EN_BeoLink%20Multiroom%20ver%202_0_web.pdf
That ones shows how the Essence can "borrow" the sources of the TV (so that they appear to be part of the Essence sources)
Yes and I already new that.
That is what I have been doing since I got the Essence in my setup - (and it works perfectly).
N.B. My Essence is directly connected to my old AudioMaster - fixed line out of PL to the A.Tape-input.
'Link to secondary' would mean, link to a second NL-tv.....if you have one in the setup, right?
Maybe I just have to try it out to see, what happens - what you/I can choose in that secondary field ;-))
Would be nice, if there was a guide for the BS Essence 2 just like this one for the BS Moment:
http://www.bang-olufsen-rivierenland.nl/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/30472829.pdf
It is still stupid that my Beovision Avant 55 works fine together with my Synology NAS, while the Essence still does not work together with my Synology NAS.
double post
Double post.
Hi Flere, what is the content source you are trying to play? Format, etc? Can you private message me with some further details please... Thanks
Sal: So does this mean that using the BeoMusic App to activate an Essence (which has no speakers connected to it) that is integrated with the TV is all that is necessary to wake up the television and use the TV's speakers?
I know this thread is quite old, but I am looking for a good solution for the setup I have in mind...
I just bought a used Beosound Essence MK II (has not arrived yet) and want to integrate it with our Beosystem 4 based TV setup.
RADIO, A.AUX buttons etc. can wake up the Essence, for sure, and use the speakers attached to the Beosystem 4.
But can sound input on the line-in of the Essence automatically wake up the Beosystem as well to use the speakers of the TV setup?
Background: We want to use an Amazon Echo Show 8 (it has audio out) in our B&O setup.Nice think about the Echo Show is the display as well.
We achieved this by now with a Beolink ML/NL Converter using its line-in, but sound adjustments, power-up volume etc. cannot be tweaked in a way we like it. To complicate things, we used a OneRemote Powerlink switch to make use of the background speakers (Beolab 8000), since this area is where the Amazon Echo Show needs to be... not close to the Fronts (Beolab 9s). So: Echo Show via 3,5 mm audio out to the line-in of BLC, Powerlink-out to one input of the Switch AND Beosystem 4 PL out to the other input of the Powerlink Switch. Output always to the Beolab 8000.
Would be nice to use the Essence - if wake up via line-in sensing is possible.I know, start-up time will be longer, with BLC it is immediately.
Ralf
PS: I will post here when this little project starts...
Living Room: Beosystem 4, Beolab 7-2 (Center), Beolab 9 (Fronts), Beolab 8000 (Rears), no Subwoofer. Screen: Sony KD-85XH9096Dining Room: Beosound Essence MK II with Beolab 4000 on stands, fed by Amazon Echo Show 8Home Cinema: Beosystem 4, Beolab 7-4 (Center), Beolab 1 (Fronts), Beolab 4000 (Rears). Projector: Sony VPL-HW55Home Office: Beosystem 3, Beolab 7-4, Beolab 5000, Screen: Sony KD-55XH9005 on Beovision 7-40 stand, ML to Beosound 9000 MK3 and Beosound 5/Beomaster 5 (1 TB SSD version)Bedroom: Sony KD-65XH9077, Beosound Essence MK II with Beolab 6002 and Beolab 11 (all white, wall-mounted)
In storage: Beolab 5000/Beomaster 5000 (1960s).