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
I always use Airplay,
But this still seems like a big decision, hmm a bit strange imo
Beovision Harmony 77" 2nd Gen, Beolab 5, Beolab 17, Beosound 1, Beoplay M3, Beoplay Portal, Beoplay Earset, Beoliving Intelligence
Duels:Also says that future products won’t be having B&O multiroom either, just through ChromeCast or AirPlay, because most people don’t use it.
I think that it "kind of" make "some" sense: for people like me, coming to the brand lately and having mixed brand audio devices or old ones (90's/2000's), it is common to use Airplay and not ever be aware of Beolink Multiroom. Because it comes "free" with iTunes and iPhones and so on, and because it has been massively advertised as an easy and universal tech (just buy an Airport Express and you're set!). So dropping it may be normal if you compare use vs cost now that Airplay 2 allows Multiroom from iOS.
But I also understood that some people use B&O Multiform speakers to broadcast Beograms or Beocords. And I wonder what would become of this feature as I believe Airplay doesn't allow broadcast from analog sources.
Hi everyone,
I've just returned from interviewing the design team who created Beosound Balance. If you want to know more about why this speaker looks, feels and functions as it does, then this video should help to answer your questions:-
https://youtu.be/Wylzvm72xM4
John at B&O Manchester also has a great review of the speaker here:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_3X40wgZpw
I will be following up with connection ideas and advice for the Balance in the next few days. To sum up this speaker - you MUST hear it - the sound is INCREDIBLE for its compact size
Kind regards, Steve.
Steve.
www.soundsheavenly.com
Founder of Sounds Heavenly Cables and Brand Ambassador for Bang & Olufsen
Sounds Heavenly are proud to sponsor BeoWorld!
Please check out my YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/soundsheavenlycables
Frankly, I don't see why the Balance is called Beosound. In my opinion it's just a Beolab with wireless capabilities (but no powerlink).
As far as I know, Beosound has defined products that served as a source for music (radio/cd/digital/whatever) but this Balance is absolutely dumb. You need something else to stream to it, just like you do with any current Beolab speaker.
Steve at Sounds Heavenly: I will be following up with connection ideas and advice for the Balance in the next few days. To sum up this speaker - you MUST hear it - the sound is INCREDIBLE for its compact size
Looking forward to this!!
Steve at Sounds Heavenly:Hi, Please don't worry, there will be more details within the next few days - I will have a video review on my YouTube channel very soon at youtube.com/soundsheavenlycables (sorry I can't say more at the moment, please bear with me and all will become clear soon!) Kind regards, Steve. Steve. www.soundsheavenly.com Sounds Heavenly are proud to sponsor BeoWorld!
I agree - their own multi-room worked so well, especially when it could distribute AP sources to other rooms.
How this will work in the future, who knows.
The physical tap to join was always a great option, without having to reach for ones phone.
And how will the sound from a BV (from a movie playing or some sports being watched etc) be expanded to a speaker (like a BS2 for ex) in the kitchen.
Anyway, I did warn this would happen numerous times, but was met with the usual "they'd never d that" scepticism.
But yes, not a brilliant development.
Fansastic:Very very disappointing! No B&O multiroom capability’s, only Apple Airplay2 and Chromecast, how is this possible? Is the company so much at drift that they are abandoning their own multiroom solution. I want to join and use products with my remote, not my phone! Apart from the strange design I feel B&O is getting a fashion / furniture company which produce loud products. Not form but Marketing over function. Even the technical product sheet contains various marketing statements to be copied by lazy journalists... pfff I need a coffee and let this disappointment sink in. For now: shame on you B&O, get your act (and management) together!
No B&O multiroom capability’s, only Apple Airplay2 and Chromecast, how is this possible?
Is the company so much at drift that they are abandoning their own multiroom solution. I want to join and use products with my remote, not my phone!
Apart from the strange design I feel B&O is getting a fashion / furniture company which produce loud products. Not form but Marketing over function. Even the technical product sheet contains various marketing statements to be copied by lazy journalists... pfff I need a coffee and let this disappointment sink in.
For now: shame on you B&O, get your act (and management) together!
Hi Robin,
Beosound Balance has the beam-forming tech from Beolab 90, making it a real room filling powerhouse. Despite its small size, it can produce massive, deep bass and crystal clear treble, with full control of the tonal balance via the new version of the B&O app.
There is much more to this speaker than meets the eye - I strongly recommend that you go to hear it demonstrated properly before forming an opinion as it really does sound very, very good
Sandyb: And how will the sound from a BV (from a movie playing or some sports being watched etc) be expanded to a speaker (like a BS2 for ex) in the kitchen.
This feature is already obsolete for the current BeoVision lineup with LG panels. TV sound cannot be shared in multiroom.
Ah, I did not realise that if so.
So witIh a Harmony (Eclipse too?), if you are watching TV in the lounge, you cannot adda BS2 in the kitchen to play the same audio anymore?
If this is indeed so, thats one of my principal use cases gone (from a B&O architected future).
Austere times indeed.
1990: Sandyb: And how will the sound from a BV (from a movie playing or some sports being watched etc) be expanded to a speaker (like a BS2 for ex) in the kitchen. This feature is already obsolete for the current BeoVision lineup with LG panels. TV sound cannot be shared in multiroom.
Fansastic:Very very disappointing!No B&O multiroom capability’s, only Apple Airplay2 and Chromecast, how is this possible? Is the company so much at drift that they are abandoning their own multiroom solution. I want to join and use products with my remote, not my phone!Apart from the strange design I feel B&O is getting a fashion / furniture company which produce loud products. Not form but Marketing over function. Even the technical product sheet contains various marketing statements to be copied by lazy journalists... pfff I need a coffee and let this disappointment sink in.For now: shame on you B&O, get your act (and management) together!
There will always be details behind the scenes, principally about the stipulations of working with Apple and Google, but also licensing restrictions from content vendors, that complicate the story.
But I was told this was happening around 18 months ago, so likely reflects longer term strategic thinking as opposed to any recent initiatives from Apple and Google.
And yes the Balance looks fine, good even, but nothing special.
One of the singular pleasures (for me at least) was wandering into the kitchen, and tapping my BS2 to start or join something.
Remove pleasure, remove customers.
Bonne chance.
StKong: Fansastic: Very very disappointing! No B&O multiroom capability’s, only Apple Airplay2 and Chromecast, how is this possible? Is the company so much at drift that they are abandoning their own multiroom solution. I want to join and use products with my remote, not my phone! Apart from the strange design I feel B&O is getting a fashion / furniture company which produce loud products. Not form but Marketing over function. Even the technical product sheet contains various marketing statements to be copied by lazy journalists... pfff I need a coffee and let this disappointment sink in. For now: shame on you B&O, get your act (and management) together! I agree completely. Even if this is a phenomenal speaker, it is disappointing to say the least that Beolink Multiroom is supposedly being abandoned. I alluded to this possibility around a month ago in a different post. I think it is a strategic blunder to do away with the things that sit bang and Olufsen apart. One can only hope that they know something about AirPlay 2 that we don’t. Otherwise this is just another Hartmann Kardon, B&W or Libratome product. I hope we haven’t heard the full story yet!
Fansastic: Very very disappointing! No B&O multiroom capability’s, only Apple Airplay2 and Chromecast, how is this possible? Is the company so much at drift that they are abandoning their own multiroom solution. I want to join and use products with my remote, not my phone! Apart from the strange design I feel B&O is getting a fashion / furniture company which produce loud products. Not form but Marketing over function. Even the technical product sheet contains various marketing statements to be copied by lazy journalists... pfff I need a coffee and let this disappointment sink in. For now: shame on you B&O, get your act (and management) together!
Very very disappointing!
I agree completely.
Even if this is a phenomenal speaker, it is disappointing to say the least that Beolink Multiroom is supposedly being abandoned. I alluded to this possibility around a month ago in a different post. I think it is a strategic blunder to do away with the things that sit bang and Olufsen apart.
One can only hope that they know something about AirPlay 2 that we don’t.
Otherwise this is just another Hartmann Kardon, B&W or Libratome product.
I hope we haven’t heard the full story yet!
StKong:Otherwise this is just another Hartmann Kardon, B&W or Libratome product.
I would say a Homepod or a Google home equiped and decorated by B&O
BS Moment, BS Core, BG 4002, BC 4500, BS1, BL18, BL19, BL8000 + RCV1, A6, M5, M3, A1, P6 (tks Botty), H5, TR1
I can join my BS1 and M5 to hear any match/movie/news/tvshow playing on my Eclipse. Maybe it's just because all my sources are HDMI connected to the SoundCenter not to the LG panel and I don't have a direct cable/antenna connected to it, but that possibility is lost in this new Beolink-less world
I want two of these Beolab Balance speakers for my tv - or even better.....four of them.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Millemissen: I want two of these Beolab Balance speakers for my tv - or even better.....four of them. MM
Yeah!!
Hopefully they'll update the software in order for them to be used with Powerlink/BV Sound Profiles
1990:Yeah!! Hopefully they'll update the software in order for them to be used with Powerlink/BV Sound Profiles
StKong: 1990: Yeah!! Hopefully they'll update the software in order for them to be used with Powerlink/BV Sound Profiles And then you can add them to a Core for NL multiroom support...
1990: Yeah!! Hopefully they'll update the software in order for them to be used with Powerlink/BV Sound Profiles
And then you can add them to a Core for NL multiroom support...
Exactly!!!
Or a BV/SoundCenter ;-)
Millemissen: StKong:And then you can add them to a Core for NL multiroom support... Exactly!!! Or a BV/SoundCenter ;-) MM
StKong:And then you can add them to a Core for NL multiroom support...
Steve already sells the Core<—>Balance cable ;-)
1990: Millemissen: StKong:And then you can add them to a Core for NL multiroom support... Exactly!!! Or a BV/SoundCenter ;-) MM Link, please??? MM Steve already sells the Core<—>Balance cable ;-)
Link, please???
1990:Steve already sells the CoreBalance cable ;-)
So, just wondering. What's the use of adding the Balance as product to the B&O app, as TuneIn, Deezer and Multiroom aren't available for the Balance?
The newest B&O app (Testflight 3.1 version) makes it possible to add the Balance to your products.
I'm informed that for now the multiroom isn't available, but it might be added in future. Multiroom is just a software thingy which they can add easily. Despite the fact whether Deezer, Apple, or other streaming service it will allow to be distributed to multiple devices.
For now, it's a no go for me.
At this moment my B&O app tells me that there are software updates for all my NL devices. With all the negativity around I'm doubting to upgrade. Can't avoid the thought that I'm risking of losing any functionality (happened before).
What a disaster. I've got half a mind to finish the open-source implementation of the BeoLink Multiroom protocol I've been working on for nearly 2 years now.
1990: mbolo01:And no more B&O designers? That has been the case for a long, long time. I think even David Lewis wasn't on the Beopayroll at the end of his career. But B&O works with high class designers anyway (Cecilie Manz, Norm Architects, Anders Hermansen...)
mbolo01:And no more B&O designers?
That has been the case for a long, long time. I think even David Lewis wasn't on the Beopayroll at the end of his career.
But B&O works with high class designers anyway (Cecilie Manz, Norm Architects, Anders Hermansen...)
If you by the term "B&O designers", mean that the Main designers have been employed at the B&O headquarter and on the payroll, then there has never been any B&O designers They have used a lot of different designers over the years. Jacob Jensen was working as a freelancer for B&O for so many years that many people think he was actually on the payroll -but he had his own company, selling his designs to B&O. David Lewis actually started working for B&O in the 60's - around the same time as JJ - with Jensen designing the audio range and Lewis designing the video range (TV's, video recorders etc.). Lewis "took over" the audio design for B&O when Jensen made an "early retirement" in the late 80's and handed over his design company to his son - but even in those days they sometimes used other designers - like Lindinger/Löwy designing the Pentas and Beovox/lab 3000/4500/5000 series.Since Lewis passed away they have used a lot of different designers.
I also find its size odd.
Steffen:If you by the term "B&O designers", mean that the Main designers have been employed at the B&O headquarter and on the payroll, then there has never been any B&O designers
mbolo01:I’m maybe the only one to care, but DLNA has been dropped too ....
Ha - just find an app on your phone, that allows you to airplay or cast what that app finds on a DLNA server ;-(
By the way......built-in Deezer went down the drain as well.
Millemissen:By the way......built-in Deezer went down the drain as well.
..... and TuneIn.
In summary: without Deezer, Spotify, TuneIn, DLNA and Beolink support it is no longer a Beosound as you stated, but without PowerLink or Wisa, it is not a Beolab either IMO, unless the mystery of the ationale for two Ethernet ports will bring something new in the future, but for now it is a Beocrap in terms of service, I'm not commenting on the sound capabilities nor the design here as I have not heard nor seen it.
Beobuddy: For now, it's a no go for me. At this moment my B&O app tells me that there are software updates for all my NL devices. With all the negativity around I'm doubting to upgrade. Can't avoid the thought that I'm risking of losing any functionality (happened before).
On the other hand, WOW!
https://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/speakers/beosound-balance?variant=beosound-balance-blackoak
Watch the enclosed video!
I still like both of them, the power is insane, it kicks the bs2 in the teeth for power although I understand the styling may not be for everyone. In my estimation it has a higher WAF and it's easy enough to use, my other half never uses the B&O app although she has it and always uses either BT or AP2.
I also have a video here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LYFLUgkSbY
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.
Seems that the Balance gets very good reviews. Just read the Norwegian LydogBilde review (https://www.lydogbilde.no/test/bang-olufsen-beosound-balance). They are just overwhelmed!
BV Eclipse 65, BV5, BS Core, BL5, BL8000, BS9000, Beolit 12, A1, A2, P2, H8, H9i, H7, E8
I'm puzzled - might be because I'm not well informed - what do you use four presets button for, when you don't have neither Deezer nor TuneIn built-in? What do you exactly start with them, since you won't be starting any music anymore (all has to be streamed to Balance)...
Mikipidia: I still like both of them, the power is insane, it kicks the bs2 in the teeth for power although I understand the styling may not be for everyone. In my estimation it has a higher WAF and it's easy enough to use, my other half never uses the B&O app although she has it and always uses either BT or AP2. I also have a video here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LYFLUgkSbY
Great video Michael!
My balancing is not as good as yours
AnalogPlanet: I'm puzzled - might be because I'm not well informed - what do you use four presets button for, when you don't have neither Deezer nor TuneIn built-in? What do you exactly start with them, since you won't be starting any music anymore (all has to be streamed to Balance)...
Deezer/Spotify/TuneIN playback is what you are supposed to do with the Google Assistent.
The presets are for easy access to specific commands (for the GA) or series of commands/routines , that you use often.
1990:This feature is already obsolete for the current BeoVision lineup with LG panels. TV sound cannot be shared in multiroom.
BV Harmony 65 / Eclipse 55 / BL 50 / 19 / 18 / BS 2 all brass
BV Horizon 48 / V1 40 / BL 17 / Beoplay S3 all black
V1 / BL 3 / BS Essence MKII / Beoplay A3 all white
BS Moment / BS 3000 / BS 3200 / BL 400 all silver
Headphones / bluetooth speakers / BLC NL-ML / BLGateway
I know…B&O virus has grown on me !
Millemissen:I want two of these Beolab Balance speakers for my tv - or even better.....four of them. MM There is a tv - and there is a BV.