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
bayerische: 90% of young people today, say under 30 have no clue of what B&O is. Not true among my friends as I have educated them. Some might know the name, but nothing else. Most think they are cheaper than they actually are. I have BL 5000 and BL 8000 at my restaurant, it's a very busy place and gets visited thousands of times a week. In the two years I've had the speakers visible, maybe 2-3 people have commented. (Excluding Freerk) :) :) :)
90% of young people today, say under 30 have no clue of what B&O is. Not true among my friends as I have educated them.
Some might know the name, but nothing else. Most think they are cheaper than they actually are. I have BL 5000 and BL 8000 at my restaurant, it's a very busy place and gets visited thousands of times a week. In the two years I've had the speakers visible, maybe 2-3 people have commented. (Excluding Freerk) :) :) :)
It is true! Did I mention that your speakers look great in the restaurant?
Vähintään yhdeksänkymmentä prosenttia suomalainen!
beocool: bayerische: 90% of young people today, say under 30 have no clue of what B&O is. Not true among my friends as I have educated them. Some might know the name, but nothing else. Most think they are cheaper than they actually are. I have BL 5000 and BL 8000 at my restaurant, it's a very busy place and gets visited thousands of times a week. In the two years I've had the speakers visible, maybe 2-3 people have commented. (Excluding Freerk) :) :) :) It is true! Did I mention that your speakers look great in the restaurant?
Nope!
Too long to list....
I am using airplay for a while with an ATV. If for example I surf the web and start something with sound on the ipad, like an embedded video, it will interrupt the airplay streaming.
This I believe would not happen with the playmaker. The Idevice purely acts as a remote, not as a streamer.
am I correct?
No, you're wrong... If you use the Airplay protocol, the PlayMaker should act exactly as your AE did : the iPad sends the same audio stream.
But... You're also right! If you find a good DLNA app to use the Playmaker in DLNA (whereas you use the iPad to stream, or "just as a remote" between a NAS and the Playmaker), the music will not be cut by your browsing!
Both behaviors are possible as the Playmaker is not only Airplay, it's Airplay AND DLNA.
diisign.com
mbee: Have you verified that it's not wifi N, and not 5GHz?
Have you verified that it's not wifi N, and not 5GHz?
No, did not check it.
My iPad is connected via 5GHz to the Cisco 2,4/5 GHz Simultanous Dual Band Router.
What matters to me is - during streaming of movies from my NAS to the Pad via 5GHz I can send the sound via Airplay to the Playmaker, obviously connected via the 2.4GHz Band.
I would greatly appreciate some help here. I really want to know the best way to go in setting up my system but I'm utterly confused and it looks like nothing completely integrates anymore. Downlstairs I have a pair of beloved Penta III's that was originally hooked up to a Beosound 3000 that I changed over to a BS5 Encore late last year. It's all been connected and looks nice and daft with only one side's led's illuminated (I can live with that) but what I'm not living with is the lack of integration with a Beo6 remote and the usefulness of being able to change to another album from the comfort of a chair. So I look at this new admittedly very ugly new device and wondered if it could help in any way. If I get the Playmaker how would I integrate it with my setup, does it work with a Beo6 (album covers/track listings) and would it potentially render the Encore useless?
Really not enjoying the B&O experience anymore I have to say.
BL90, BL5 x 2, BL9, BL8000 x 2, Penta III x 2, Penta II, BL2, BL4, BL2500, RL6000 x 3, MS150, MS150.2, A9, A1, A2, P2, Beolit 12/17, S70, CX50, CX100, Beovox 2500, BS9000 x 2, BS3000, BS4, BC2, BS1, Moment, Essence MkII x 2, BS5 Encore, BG8002, BC8002, BM8002, BG5500, BV7-40 MkIII, BV11-55, BV Avant 85", BC5, H8, E8, Form 2, A8...Serene
Ok, I give up. I have read all of the posts. The thought is how ugly this looks - I agree
My question - why should I get this over an AE at $99US - which seems to do everything
I can even get an Apple TV for same price and stream HD video.......
what is the advantage other than it all being B&O - and with line-out, it is not like it is synch'ed to my Labs
Anyone?
thanks
-michael
mfirst: Ok, I give up. I have read all of the posts. The thought is how ugly this looks - I agree My question - why should I get this over an AE at $99US - which seems to do everything I can even get an Apple TV for same price and stream HD video....... what is the advantage other than it all being B&O - and with line-out, it is not like it is synch'ed to my Labs Anyone? thanks -michael
A couple of things make it a better buy:
1. Line-In - allows a local source to play through the PMer. It's line sensing, so you could output at speaker level from a television and it would play without needing to interact with the PMer.
2. RJ45-PL Output - native connectivity to PL allowing them to be run in series if needed, add additional speakers if needed, and you get the correct turn-on action.
3. High Quality DAC - A lot of folks who were using a DAC in conjunction with the AirPort Express when pairing it with better speakers. These products often cost as much as the PMer alone.
4. DLNA Compatible - a good portion of all handsets are Android (with a few Windows Phones out there). DLNA allows streaming from a NAS server instead of just what's on the device. Nice to have the choice even if you're happy with the AirPlay functionality.
5. Control Volume up close - not everyone will use this, but it's a nice option if you need it.
6. Use B&O Remotes - again, not everyone will care, but a nice option if they're laying around.
If you're happy with the APE, that's great. But by the time you've thrown in for BeoLab 4000s or upwards it's a pittance to gain all of the above functionality and still use AirPlay or DLNA.
mfirst: I can even get an Apple TV for same price and stream HD video.......
If you want to connect an Airport Express/Playmaker to your TV, it might be wiser to go for the Apple TV, simply as you can use it to view video, stream movies, use it to mirror your iPad's screen and, with the forthcoming Mountain Lion, mirror your laptop's screen. It will also support Airplay, so you can use it as a device for streaming your audio and more.
The Playmaker is a better device for streaming and controlling your audio, as Trips says. The only thing it can't do is extend your wireless network, which the AE can do and is hugely beneficial for me in a old house with solid walls! If I swap out my AEs with Playmaker's I'll lose some wireless strength across my network.
thanks Trip
my NAS ( a Netgear ReadyNAS Pro 2 ) has ReadyDLNA installed on it, so it's a DLNA Server, all of our family CD's over the last 30 years have been converted to WAV files on this NAS, and more recently downloads are being stored ( mostly 320kbps MP3 files ) .
http://www.readynas.com/?p=4190
I can see how the Beo 4 remotes we have can be used to select a DLNA source by using A.MEM, but this is probably not going to work for my wife and daughters, they will want to use their iPhones and iPad's as a remote where they can choose / search for content on the NAS
it looks like B&O do not have an IOS app that can act as a remote, and that can then direct content to the Playmaker ( or several PM's in the house at the same time ) , can anybody advise me what app will be able to do that whilst we wait for something from B&O to come along in the future ?
Trip says :
Do we officially know what specs the DAC on the PM are ?
can it play hi-rez files, and if it can how high is hi-rez in B&O's eyes ?
Can anyone tell me if it connects to the speakers via power link? The drawing seems to indicate two ethernet connectors. How does it work then?
Paddy
paddy2042: Can anyone tell me if it connects to the speakers via power link? The drawing seems to indicate two ethernet connectors. How does it work then?
In the future all PowerLink connetions will use 8pin RJ45 "Ethernet" sockets and plugs instead of 8 pin DIN sockets and plugs . All recently released products like BeoLab 12 and BeoVision Play V1 32/40 are using RJ45 for PowerLink.PowerLink signal remains an analogue signal, it's just "transported" via a different socket/plug.
New versions of PowerLink cables DIN8pin <> RJ45 and RJ45 <> RJ45 are available in differentlenght and colour from B&O.
Why would have/need wifi N?
Streaming audio doesn't need the N version.
The range of the 5 ghz band is far less than 2,4 ghz.
Most (if not the lot) 5Ghz routers supports 2,4Ghz.
Stability has imho a higher priority than the latest possible possibility/features.
Michael:My playmaker arrives on Wednesday (along with my brand new lab 3s, in white). Looking forward to setting it all up.
Congratulations Michael - will look forward to hearing how you get on with it.
Have you had 3's before?
I've only heard shop demos, but have been consistently amazed by the sound quality that I've heard.
Kind Regards
John...
good luck Michael, I am testing with BL4s at the moment ... let us all know how the BL3s sound !
BeoNut since '75
Michael:Hi Ed and John I haven't had 3s before but I'll post an un boxing review ;) I will still use my much beloved BL4s Michael.
I haven't had 3s before but I'll post an un boxing review ;) I will still use my much beloved BL4s
Michael.
Normally I like the Beolab 4s and think they were reasonable value.
However with the Playmaker I am testing them in a room that has been newly decorated and so it is still a bit echoey as soft furnishings etc have not been brought in.
But I think the issue is that their bass has dropped out because of where I have placed them (see the picture) and the mantlepiece is dense MDF and so I suspect there is no resonance -- normally the BL4s on top of desk have a rich sound.
So I would be very interested in hearing your feedback, as there has been lots of discussion about whether or not the Playmaker's DAC is good quality or not . . . . .
So my BS5e was returned today (service advised there was nothing wrong with it), but this is how they set it up in my house
> BS5e to playmaker via the (old) Power Link to RCA in to the RCA of the Playmaker
> Playmaker with the 2 RJ45 to Power Link (1 for each speaker)
I played something through airplay and from the BS5e. I think it sounds better via the BS5e. That's my $0.02
After a B&O purchasing hiatus of six years (apart from buying an Earset 3i) I bought a Playmaker yesterday to connect to my living room BeoLab 3s. I sold my Beosound 4 as I hardly ever used it as a CD player nor as an SD card reader. it had been connected to an Airport Express for the best part of those six years.
So I pocketed the change and bought something which, for me, is a better and more useful product . All the advantages over an Airport Express that Trip lists ring true for me, such as being able to change volume on the Playmaker itself and the Beo 4 and even to change tracks on the Beo 4 - which was a function I hadn't expected.
I'm extremely pleased with the sound. It might be my imagination but bass seems better and overall sound a bit deeper.
The only disappointing aspect of the Playmaker is the industrial design of the device itself. I don't like the colour; I love white things but I don't like the slightly creamy off-white of the Playmaker. A high gloss iPad-style brilliant white would have looked much nicer, or there should have been a black option with a soft touch coating as on the BL3s. The whole thing feels a bit cheap - even compared to my £99 Apple TV.
But overall I'm impressed. Bang and Olufsen have finally caught up to how I enjoy my music and produced a product which fits in to how I've used my music collection for the last 5 years.
Interestingly, there's no mention made in the Playmaker manual of the Beo 4's ability to change tracks
Michael:Oh I didn't know you could use the beo4 to control the playmaker.
... BeoLit 12, Play A8 & A9 too !
jonnyb: being able to change volume on the Playmaker itself and the Beo 4 and even to change tracks on the Beo 4 - which was a function I hadn't expected.
I used my Beo4 to change volume, anad mute.
But when I tried the <<, >>, ^, and v keys I got no track change ... which keys did you use?
Had you selected the PlayMaker by using A.MEM ?
jonnyb: A high gloss iPad-style brilliant white would have looked much nicer, or there should have been a black option with a soft touch coating as on the BL3s. The whole thing feels a bit cheap - even compared to my £99 Apple TV.
A high gloss iPad-style brilliant white would have looked much nicer, or there should have been a black option with a soft touch coating as on the BL3s. The whole thing feels a bit cheap - even compared to my £99 Apple TV.
I agree, my dealer agrees and his customers agree. The Playmaker is an excellent device, no doubt, but is too much like an industrial smoke alarm you've put on your bookcase. It should have been rubberised, or - shock horror - more expensive and in brushed aluminium. If B&O can give you a brushed aluminium remote for the A8, why couldn't they have given us a larger version for the Playmaker. I'd have been happy to pay more for the Playmaker and received an improved finish and I'm sure most of us on here would feel the same.
elephant: I used my Beo4 to change volume, anad mute. But when I tried the <<, >>, ^, and v keys I got no track change ... which keys did you use? Had you selected the PlayMaker by using A.MEM ?
- selected Playmaker via Airplay on my fruit flan mk3 - selected an album containing some tracks on this iOS 6 device - playback started via Playmaker
- using a Beo 4 (display showing "ANY" audio source, joystick version as well as an older "GO" version) I can - change volume- mute / unmute- change the tracks of the selected album using "step up" / "step down" or, alternatively, << >>- stop = stop music and leaving the recently played album- play (after stop) = starts playing music of a (at least for me) randomly selected album.
PS: Savants - please tell me how the iDevice is selecting this next album - genius lists, iCloud, ... all off - perhaps some kind of Steves special fruit relativity theory is used ??
Just to revive this (almost) old thread, Bosscom have just released a close wall bracket for the Playmaker; this is what I was waiting for
Christophe : Just to revive this (almost) old thread, Bosscom have just released a close wall bracket for the Playmaker; this is what I was waiting for
Nice ! but only if one buries the cables ...
And to continue the resurrection, did I misread that Danish forum, or is it true there are coloured cloth covers for the PlayMaker ?
Anyone allready opened the Playmaker to see which DAC IC is used?
Well I am just a user of the new technology. So a simple explanation would be helpful.Do I understand correctly that if I add a Playmaker at A-Aux and there is a computer with MP3 files in the network that I can play and control the volume and skip MP3 songs using a Beo4 remote?
Yes and no!
You can play the files (everywhere on the ML network/in every LinkRoom) and control the volumen.
But you must chooce the content/skip tracks/create playlists via a control a DLNA compatible app on a iDevice or Smartphone/tablet (such as PlugPlayer, 8Player, Creation5).
N.B. a DLNA server (e.g. Twonky or WMP) must be running on the computer.
Or...
...you could AirPlay your content to the Playmaker - if you are a iOS user.
Greetings Millemissen
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Musicsound asked: what if "...I ad a Playmaker at A-AUX"
In that case the PM normally is in Option 0 - and won't receive any Beo4 controls.
So, no it will not!
MM
From the installation manual:
Option: 0 - IR receiver is switched off (no reaction on IR-commands).Option: 4 - Playmaker placed in the same room as other Bang & Olufsen products. Remote commands must be prefixed with LINK (e.g. LINK + A.MEM).Option: 5 - The product responds directly to its own codes (A.MEM or A.AUX).
Hence use of Option 0 will prevent both the PM and the device it is connected to responding to the same remote input.
It could be worth experimenting with Option 4 in order to have the best of both worlds.
Surely it would be worth experimenting....
Personally I would not use the Option 4 on the PM.
1: it is too complicated. The gain is to low (for me).
2: wouldn't help when listening from a LinkRoom.
3: my Playmaker is hidden away.
Thanks for the explanations! So it would be possible to control the songs as well if it is in option 4 or 5.
What are the disadvantages?
What about option 2,3,6,7,8... ;-)