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ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022
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This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022

 

Opinion and reviews of Beosound Core

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Tavast
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Tavast Posted: Wed, Jun 12 2019 1:22 PM

Hello all,

I am pondering a thought on purhcasing Beosound Core.

- Have you got any experiences on Core?

- Encountered any problems in usage?

- Thoughts on lifecycle of this product? I bought Essence MK1 as new and unfortunately I was a too early bird for this product to find out (after numerous problems with the system itself) a couple of years later B&O decided not to support it anymore. Huge letdown for customers from the highly respected manufacturer, I would say.

Cheers, folks! Cool 

Audiophiling with:

Beosound Core, Beolab 9s, Beolab 12-2s, Beolab 19, Beosound 1+2, Beoplay M3+M5+M5 David Lynch Ed. and Beosound 3000.

BeoMatthew
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I enjoy mine. I have it running sound for my television connected to a pair of BeoLab 3s & a subwoofer. I'm controlling it with a Control4 system when used for video and either AirPlay 2 or the B&O App for music. The sound is excellent and I haven't had any network issues that were common in a few of the earlier networked products. 

As far as the lifecycle, it's as current as the sources it plays and what firmware it can take, but that would seem to be pretty good as the whole BeoLink Multiroom portfolio is AirPlay 2 compatible which happened to most products well after release. That seems to bode well for active support. 

seethroughyou
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I had significant problems when I tried it in October 2017 and it was all down to the poor software of B&O app at the time. Those issues may in part be resolved. I returned mine for a refund and been using Roon which has been perfect and 100% reliable. I’d encourage you to borrow one from a dealer and try it for a couple of weeks before you buy one or buy on condition that the dealer will refund you if you are not happy. It is all about what you want and whether it meets your needs.

.

 

 

Present: BL90, Core, BL6000, CD7000, Beogram 7000, Essence Remote.

Past: BL1, BL2, BL8000, BS9000, BL5, BC2, BS5, BV5, BV4-50, Beosystem 3, BL3, DVD1, Beoremote 4, Moment.

.

KomkommermetSla
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Hello,

maybe to late but here is my experience with the Beosound Core/ app. I’ve bought the BC three weeks ago. Installed the app en became a Deezer member. The BS is connected with my Beolab11. My Beolab3’s also connected to the Beolab11. Also connected to the BS is my (old) T&A K1 av by cd-out with coax cable, transformer and then by 3,5 mm jack to the Line-in on the BS. The reason for connecting the T&A all in one is the very high quality cd-sacd player. It all works😊

The results sofar with the usage of the BC is very nice. No network/ wifi drop-outs, very beautiful sound and high quality. The app is also stable, no problems. Nice settings for finetuning the system. There is no problem with the system goes on standby and activated when there is a signal.

So, I hope that you also enjoy the BS!

With regards, from the Netherlands.

Tavast
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Tavast replied on Wed, Jun 24 2020 8:02 AM

Hey there, 

 

I have been enjoying my Core-motored system for some time now and love it! ♥ Now, I finally get my range of speakers to work fully, after a long battle with Essence MK1 that almost ruined my joy of audiophile life 🙃 Things rock now! Have a sublime summer! 

Audiophiling with:

Beosound Core, Beolab 9s, Beolab 12-2s, Beolab 19, Beosound 1+2, Beoplay M3+M5+M5 David Lynch Ed. and Beosound 3000.

mbolo01
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mbolo01 replied on Wed, Jun 24 2020 9:07 AM

I agree with all the good things already written about the Core.

It is central to my B&O setup, I use it on a daily basis and it does the job on all fronts: high sound quality and flawless for all sources I use such as Deezer HiFi, TuneIn, Airplay 2, occasionally Chromecast and non-B&O TV. It is most of the time the master of my Beolink multiroom and sound is always distributed in sync without any cuts.

Caveats: Since software 1.7, on mine, Beolink multiroom is impacted by daily scheduled reboots (a feature that we cannot disable) in a way that beolink multiroom is no longer usable (Core cannot join or be joined by any other products) until the Core is manually restarted. I have a case opened with B&O since 3 months, I have provided a lot of evidences and I have identified exactly when the problem occurs thanks to the Core logs and other tools I have used. B&O are working on the issue but no good news so far, they claim I'm the only one to have reported the issue, so I'm looking for other evidences from other Core users in a beolink multiroom environment, please.

 

BS Moment, BS Core, BG 4002, BC 4500, BS1, BL18, BL19, BL8000 + RCV1, A6, M5, M3, A1, P6 (tks Botty), H5, TR1

Curly
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Curly replied on Wed, Jun 24 2020 1:38 PM

I enjoy my Core but as noted in another thread of mine, I dislike that it does not have native support for TIDAL, Qobuz and other high-rez streaming services. This means I must stream TIDAL to my Core from my iPhone over Airplay, which is limited innately to 44.1/16, which is very disappointing. B&O should include native support for high-rez music services given the price and quality of its speakers.

 

I have a Bluesound Node 2i arriving today to try in place of my Core. I will keep it and sell my Core if I can hear a difference in the 96/24 native support for high-rez music.

Besides this, I enjoy my Core overall. Occasionally it is a little buggy and requires a power cycle. But overall it works well.

Currently: BeoLab 17, BeoLab 18, BeoSound Core, Beosound Level, Beosound A1 2nd Gen, BeoPlay S8 Connection Hub, Halo, Essence Remote

Previously: BeoSound 1 non-GVA

aodgaard
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I’m curious to know more about how you have your BS Core setup along with how you select the various audio sources to play sound from?

I plan on connecting a non-B&O TV via toslink to my a BS Core, then toslink to a set of BL 20s. I do also plan on connecting an old Beogram turntable to the BS Core through a preamp gia RCA. Finally, I plan on being able to stream to the BS Core via Airplay 2 using our iOS devices.

I’m unsure about how you select which source for the BSC to use (TV, turntable or Airplay) since I do not have a B&O remote. Can this be done from the B&O app? Do you recommend I get an IR B&O remote to help facilitate this & volume control?

Your help is greatly appreciated! 

mbolo01
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mbolo01 replied on Sat, Oct 9 2021 9:02 PM

aodgaard:

I plan on connecting a non-B&O TV via toslink to my a BS Core, then toslink to a set of BL 20s. I do also plan on connecting an old Beogram turntable to the BS Core through a preamp gia RCA. Finally, I plan on being able to stream to the BS Core via Airplay 2 using our iOS devices.

I’m unsure about how you select which source for the BSC to use (TV, turntable or Airplay) since I do not have a B&O remote. Can this be done from the B&O app? Do you recommend I get an IR B&O remote to help facilitate this & volume control?

The Core has only one physical input port: Line-In/Optical, so you'll not be able to physically connect both the TV and the preamp to it unless you use a magic box in between to handle that (I've no clue if such box exist)

With the B&O App you can select internal sources (when configured) such as Deezer, TuneIn, Line-In/Optical, Spotify, Bluetooth (I have not tested the last two) or sources from another B&O linked product.

Airplay cannot be selected by the App. When an IOS device (or other Airplay source) transmits to the Core, it switches automatically to Airplay.

Note: The Core switches automatically to the last activated source and stops/pauses the previous source, e.g. if you are listening to an Airplay source and bring the device connected to the Line-In port on, then it will stop the Airplay stream to switch to the Line-In source.

While you can operate the Core with the App only, the Essence remote is a perfect companion for it at a smaller price than other more recent B&O remotes. With it you can control the volume and navigate from one source to another cyclically.

BS Moment, BS Core, BG 4002, BC 4500, BS1, BL18, BL19, BL8000 + RCV1, A6, M5, M3, A1, P6 (tks Botty), H5, TR1

aodgaard
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Thank you for the quick response & the detail on the Core’s behavior when moving between sources. 

The Essence is a good recommendation and will look to purchase one.

It also looks like I need to figure out how I will get my turntable to also work in conjunction with the other sources.

One last question if you don’t mind, can you power down your speakers by powering down the BS Core? 

Mikipidia
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If you have a volume regulated preamp you can just connect the record player directly from the preamp to the speakers. And yes, if the core switches off the speakers will too. The speakers automatically shut down with other inputs if there is no signal for a set amount of time.

New: Beovision Harmony, Beolab 50's, Beolab 28's, Beolab 18's, Beolab 17's, Beosound Stage & LG, Beosound 2, Beoplay M3, Beoplay A1, Beoplay Portal, Beoplay H4 gen 2, Beoplay E8 3.0

Mikipedia on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Mikipedia

Mikipedi4 on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mikipedi4

Mikipedia on Intagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikipedi4/

Old: Beosound 9000 mk3, Beolab 3's, Beovision Eclipse, Beolab 1's, Beolab 2, Beovision 10-46, Overture 2300, beolab 8000's, Beolab 4000's, Beovision avant 32" etc. etc.

mbolo01
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mbolo01 replied on Sat, Oct 9 2021 9:56 PM
aodgaard:

The Essence is a good recommendation and will look to purchase one.

Just be aware that the Essence remote has no display, it is only used to control the volume, to pause/stop a source, to navigate from one source to another (you need to remember the order of the local sources you defined in the Core), to change next/previous track/radio station and to put the Core in sleep mode.

It is not mandatory, but it is a very stylish companion to the Core

BS Moment, BS Core, BG 4002, BC 4500, BS1, BL18, BL19, BL8000 + RCV1, A6, M5, M3, A1, P6 (tks Botty), H5, TR1

mbolo01
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mbolo01 replied on Sat, Oct 9 2021 10:09 PM
… and if you are a Siri fan, you can leverage it control the music streamed to your Core and more.

BS Moment, BS Core, BG 4002, BC 4500, BS1, BL18, BL19, BL8000 + RCV1, A6, M5, M3, A1, P6 (tks Botty), H5, TR1

aodgaard
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aodgaard replied on Sun, Oct 10 2021 12:49 PM

I do have a volume regulated preamp. Great news.

I would ensure that this scenario never happens, but is there a risk to the speaker if the record player is playing via RCA hookups & someone tries to turn on the TV with audio via toslink?

This is my first set of Beolab speakers & want to make sure I’m asking all the questions, as common sense as they may be! Thank you for your help. 

seethroughyou
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Since my earlier reply, I’d say it has matured noticeably. My three observations/concerns are:

1. Lack of inputs for customers with record player, CD player, SACD/universal player and even a tape deck/reel to reel (not a problem for as my Beolabs have a multitude of inputs but many B&O speakers don’t). I guess B&O are hedging their bet in future on connections being made wirelessly from mobile devices to the Core, hence a bit miser when it comes to inputs.

2. Still flakey when it comes to WiFi and BT connectivity. It can just disconnect for no reason.

3. Occasionally freezes and can’t be located by the BeoApp and you have to power cycle the Beosound Core.

.

.

 

 

Present: BL90, Core, BL6000, CD7000, Beogram 7000, Essence Remote.

Past: BL1, BL2, BL8000, BS9000, BL5, BC2, BS5, BV5, BV4-50, Beosystem 3, BL3, DVD1, Beoremote 4, Moment.

.

aodgaard
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aodgaard replied on Sun, Oct 10 2021 2:27 PM

I agree with your comment about not having many source inputs. 

Ive read there are two generations of the Core. If this is accurate, do you know if yours is a first Gen? Hoping a newly purchased Core would be better suited to prevent these hiccups; although this seems like it could be fixed with a firmware update so we shall see if I experience the same issues.  

Mikipidia
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Mikipidia replied on Sun, Oct 10 2021 2:44 PM
I haven’t heard many things like this a out the core in all honesty. Surely it would drive shape owners mad if this was that common.

The BL20’s inputs are hierarchical and iirc it’s pl - toslink - rca. So the higher up the chain, if somethings becomes active on that input the beolab 20 will switch to it.

New: Beovision Harmony, Beolab 50's, Beolab 28's, Beolab 18's, Beolab 17's, Beosound Stage & LG, Beosound 2, Beoplay M3, Beoplay A1, Beoplay Portal, Beoplay H4 gen 2, Beoplay E8 3.0

Mikipedia on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Mikipedia

Mikipedi4 on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mikipedi4

Mikipedia on Intagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikipedi4/

Old: Beosound 9000 mk3, Beolab 3's, Beovision Eclipse, Beolab 1's, Beolab 2, Beovision 10-46, Overture 2300, beolab 8000's, Beolab 4000's, Beovision avant 32" etc. etc.

Carolpa
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Carolpa replied on Sun, Oct 10 2021 3:17 PM

Mikipidia:
I haven’t heard many things like this a out the core in all honesty. Surely it would drive shape owners mad if this was that common.
I use the Core on a daily base as part of the Shape and I'm very satisfied with it.
It works always, never any hick-ups, never any issue with the B&o and/or BLI app. 
True you only can connect one device. But for me this is no issue. I have sufficient line-in's or other connection possibilities in my Netlink.

Then the JOIN function does the rest.  

 

Note: also a BLC is linked to the Core. So the BS9000 sources and a BS5e (line-in) source are part of the Shape (Core).

 

EgonOlsen
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EgonOlsen replied on Sun, Oct 10 2021 6:12 PM
I use the core every day. No problems, never. I have connected two devices: 1) my beosound 9000 ( with my beolabs 18) via powerlink and 2) my rega turntable via line in

The JOIN is for the rest.

So i can also hear my records in another room on my A9 via core join. Also i can hear music from an cassette player over A9 via core in the beolabs.

I also use the core with my apple tv and my contour.

Summary: the core is a very useful piece of work

greetings
seethroughyou
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It now works well but as has been said a few times rather limited in functionality and inputs.

.

 

 

Present: BL90, Core, BL6000, CD7000, Beogram 7000, Essence Remote.

Past: BL1, BL2, BL8000, BS9000, BL5, BC2, BS5, BV5, BV4-50, Beosystem 3, BL3, DVD1, Beoremote 4, Moment.

.

Carolpa
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Carolpa replied on Mon, Oct 11 2021 5:00 AM

seethroughyou:
but as has been said
In my opinion and daily use, there are no "but's".

I can:

listen to radio (TuneIn).

stream Spotify, Deezer, 

stream Tidal, Qobuz using Audirvana,

listen to my UPnp/DNLA  Music server (Minimserver),

connect a device line-in or optical,

can stream using Chromecast, Airplay or Bluetooth,

have an additional line-in on the connected/linked BLC (used for a Beosound 5 Encore)

have the sources Radio, Aux & CD of my Beosound 9000 available.

 

and can JOIN all sources in my Netlink.

 

chucky
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chucky replied on Mon, Oct 11 2021 9:18 PM

It is a shame but you will hear the difference. I have bought a Node 3? and use it with Roon and Qobuz. It sounds really good however on a set of "normal" speakers like an Edge it will break above 44.1/16. Break means static horrible noice. In this setup on Airplay.

If you use it on a BS Core as optical source you will still here a noticible difference but I cannot determine if it is Deezer vs Qobuz or the BS Core. Airplay sucks and although Chromecast should be better I hate it. We are limited bla bla bla. I don't understand it and I do not wish to anyway.

If I had high end speakers so BL 50 or 90 I would never buy a BS Core to connect to it. I have 7 cores but use them more as convienience and as a beolink active kit with the Deezer / TuneIn app being able to play anything in any room. On secundairy rooms they are fine.

 

I do like the convience in the BLI and the App. It is really good and yes now also stable. It took a long time I have owned from the Essence II onwards and it was a long ride however B&O takes this product seriously and I think they will update it to Mozart as wel.

 

My 2cnts Chucky

 

 

henrik
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henrik replied on Mon, Oct 11 2021 10:01 PM

seethroughyou:
2. Still flakey when it comes to WiFi and BT connectivity. It can just disconnect for no reason.

Yes, my Core sometimes end up in the blinking blue mode and then both wifi and bt are nonfunctional. i have found that this is almost always caused by a wifi channel change (due to dfs radar/energry detection by the router/AP, for example). My Beoplay V1s handle the same situation seamlessly, only the Core is affected. I don't really understand why BT stops working at the same time, it's quite annoying when this happens when using the optical input and you lose the possibility to adjust volume etc.

Other than that issue, I like my Core. Some more inputs would be nice though.

Edmabu
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Edmabu replied on Sun, Oct 17 2021 10:25 AM

Hi Egon, 

 

I like to connect the bs 9000 to core by power link, the Beogram to core by line in, and 2 bl9 to core 

it will work?

Carolpa
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Carolpa replied on Sun, Oct 17 2021 11:30 AM

Edmabu:
I like to connect the bs 9000 to core by power link
This means: BS9000 Powerlink (out) to line-in of the Core. This said: the line-in of the Core is occupied and not available for a Beogram anymore.

In Egon's post it is not clear how he solved this. But let him surprise us! Or did he connected the Core to the BS9000? Or does he using a kind of line-in switch? Or..............

Edmabu
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Edmabu replied on Sun, Oct 17 2021 11:55 AM

If the DPl input of the  core works as and aux port maybe you could connect it …I don’t know , my dealer told me to do it the core and the beogram to a switch and this to the 9000 , but I would prefer it the other way . 
Thanks  

Edmabu
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Edmabu replied on Sun, Oct 17 2021 11:55 AM

If the DPl input of the  core works as and aux port maybe you could connect it …I don’t know , my dealer told me to do it the core and the beogram to a switch and this to the 9000 , but I would prefer it the other way . 
Thanks  

Edmabu
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Edmabu replied on Sun, Oct 17 2021 11:55 AM

If the DPl input of the  core works as and aux port maybe you could connect it …I don’t know , my dealer told me to do it the core and the beogram to a switch and this to the 9000 , but I would prefer it the other way . 
Thanks  

Edmabu
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Edmabu replied on Sun, Oct 17 2021 11:55 AM

If the DPl input of the  core works as and aux port maybe you could connect it …I don’t know , my dealer told me to do it the core and the beogram to a switch and this to the 9000 , but I would prefer it the other way . 
Thanks  

Carolpa
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Carolpa replied on Sun, Oct 17 2021 12:49 PM

Edmabu:
If the DPl input of the  core works as and aux port maybe you could connect it …I don’t know , my dealer told me to do it the core and the beogram to a switch and this to the 9000 , but I would prefer it the other way . 

Thanks 

DPI?

Connections of the Core: 1 x USB-C (for power via external power supply),1 x Power Link socket (RJ45) with two channels,  1 x Line-in (analogue & digital combo) with sensing,  1 x Ethernet 10/100 Mbit/s,  1 x Toslink digital sound out,  1 x USB (for Connection to the BeoSound Shape).

So only one IN possible. But the solution is obvious: Connect a Beogram to the AUX of the BS9000. Powerlink connect the BS9000 to Line-in of the Core.

Note: the remote control of the system wouldn't be simple. 

 

Edmabu
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Edmabu replied on Sun, Oct 17 2021 1:22 PM

DPL sorry, it’s the digital power link I guess , 

I thought That the only sound that you can get from the digital out of the 9000 it’s from the CD player so maybe you can not get the audio from the Beogram ?

 

Millemissen
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Edmabu:

DPL sorry, it’s the digital power link I guess , 

I thought That the only sound that you can get from the digital out of the 9000 it’s from the CD player so maybe you can not get the audio from the Beogram ?

 

Yes, that is the reason why Carolpa writes the line-in of the Core…..meaning the analog input port.

(That would work - not considering the somewhat clumsy volume/remote controlling).

DPL is - or rather was supposed to be - a digital powerlink output.

This has never been realized on the Core - the port is used for connecting an ir-eye nowadays, if that should be needed.

MM

There is a tv - and there is a BV

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