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Playmaker, Essence, Sonos - budget

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Chris Harrison
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Chris Harrison Posted: Wed, Oct 11 2017 5:33 PM

i am wanting to connect BL3’s to Spotify and Tunein radio.

what is the best way of doing this in terms of sound quality? I was told the playmaker was a flop but they are available on eBay rather cheaply. The essence must be the better option however I am confused as to what the essence and playmaker do differently. I’m not that bothered about a separate remote as we all have iPhones etc and iPads. 

 

Thanks for for the help - confused!

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

TWG
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TWG replied on Wed, Oct 11 2017 6:52 PM

Playmaker:

- Line In

- Airplay

- DLNA

- Beo 4 / 5 / 6 remote capable (integrated)

- physical touch volume / mute control on device

- Wifi / LAN (lousy Wifi, needs to connect via LAN)



Essence MK2:

- Line In

- DLNA (DMR)

- Airplay

- Bluetooth

- Internetradio built in (TuneIn)

- Bluetooth remote, not very reliable, looses connection sometimes according to some users

- Multiroom

- Deezer / Spotify Connect / QPlay 2.0 (all services depending on country)

- Wifi / LAN

- Beo 4 / 5 / 6 remote capable (needs optional IR eye)

Chris Harrison
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TWG just bought the Essence Mark 1 - with the exception of Bluetooth is there much else different 

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

Stan
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Stan replied on Wed, Oct 11 2017 11:30 PM

I think the main difference is the mk1 cannot do multi-room (IIRC).

Stan

Stan
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Stan replied on Wed, Oct 11 2017 11:30 PM

I think the main difference is the mk1 cannot do multi-room (IIRC).

Stan

Guy
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Guy replied on Thu, Oct 12 2017 9:27 AM

TWG:

Playmaker:

- Wifi / LAN (lousy Wifi, needs to connect via LAN)

My PlayMaker had lousy wifi connectivity in my last house, but since setting it up here I have had no problems whatsoever.  I do leave it switched on all the time here, whereas I used to switch it off previously.  If there's a connectivity problem, you could easily add a powerline adaptor for the network.

I have seen Mk1 Playmakers (FLAC capable remember!) go very cheaply on eBay, and wouldn't hesitate to buy another if the price was right.

 

Millemissen
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I loved/still love my Playmaker!

But after getting the BS Essence (2nd gen), I don't use it very often - is set up with a small headphone amp/my H6.

If the Essence wasn't there in the setup, I would probably use it still.

If you just need to AirPlay (TuneIn, Spotify...) or to throw some files from your DLNA-based collection at it, it is a very good - and nowadays cheap - opportunity to go for. N.B. You can easily use the line-in for a cd-player/turntable.

Mine worked/works fine over my wifi.

In some cases there is a problem there - then use a cabled connection or an adapter of some kind.

IMO these occasionally wifi problems should not hold one back from choosing it.

P.S. If you think 'B&O multi-room', you will have to think BS Essence (2nd gen) or the BS Core.

MM

There is a tv - and there is a BV

Chris Harrison
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I just bought the Essence Mark 1. Will any remote work with it?

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

TWG
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TWG replied on Fri, Oct 13 2017 5:44 AM

You can use:

- Essence Remote (wall or table version)

- Beoremote one Bluetooth

For infrared control you'll need an external IR-eye from B&O. Than you can use

- Beolink 1000

- Beo 4

- Beo 5

- Beo 6

- Beoremote one

Enjoy your Essence!

jans
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jans replied on Fri, Oct 13 2017 10:33 AM

Are you sure that you can pair a BeoRemote One Bluetooth to an Essence?

 

I once tried to pair my BeoRemoteOne BT with an Essence MkII and it did not work. i am now using an IR eye instead. Can you explain how you managed to do this?

feedback much appreciated!

 

Jan

Chris Harrison
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I bought the Essence Remote (wall version) from Gumtree - another bargain! 

New B&O app says its supports the Mark 1 Essence but for some reason it recognises it but does not add it to my products. Anyone else had issues?

Thanks again. 

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

TWG
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TWG replied on Sat, Oct 14 2017 8:44 AM

jans:

Are you sure that you can pair a BeoRemote One Bluetooth to an Essence?

 

No, I'm not. A dealer told me while mentioning that it can be used with Beosound 1 and 2. 

 

steve1977
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steve1977 replied on Sat, Oct 14 2017 10:18 AM

Chris Harrison:
New B&O app says its supports the Mark 1 Essence but for some reason it recognises it but does not add it to my products. Anyone else had issues?

Unfortunately, the B&O app only supports the MK1 Essence for setup. You cannot stream anything from the app to the MK1.

Chris Harrison
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It is strange that the app recognises the product. The faqs say that it supports deezer and tunein but not sure how you do that as it won’t add the essence.

Beosound 8, Beotime, Beocom 4, Beo 5, Lutron Rania, MacBook 15" (Mid 2015), iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, B&O Play H3, Beolit 12, Form 2, A8 Headphones, B&O Play A1, B&O Essence

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