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
Hi there.
I have a BeoCenter 2 and would like to be able to access all my loss less music files.
What is the best way to connect the BeoCenter to my music media library that's stored on a computer in my server room? The computer is about 25 meters away (in another room). The computer is connected to the internet = I would also like to be able to listen to internet radio on the BeoCenter 2.
I do have the good old BeoLink PC2 DK. Is that still the best way? Can I use the iPhone BeoPlayer with the BeoLink PC2 DK or do I need something else / more?
What about quality of the signal, is the BeoLink PC2 altering the sound (down-sampling)? Is the mini jack on the box good enough to preserve quality? Is this the best way to connect BeoCenter2 to a digital music collection?
The Playmaker rules out the BeoCenter2, but I like the design and I want to keep the unit in my living room.
What do you say, any thoughts?
Best regards,SnæbjörnK
Hi Beztur,
You could buy an Apple 30 pin to phono lead which will happily plug into your iPhone (as long as it is not the iPhone 5). I have this lead connected to a television when i visit my Aunt and it works great. Cost is around £30.
http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MC748ZM/A/apple-composite-av-cable?fnode=45
@ SnæbjörnK
I think Playmaker is the better solution for streaming lossless tracks to BeoCenter 2 via AirPlay/iTunes or Twonky/Media Server for other files.
I will bet money that cable guru Steve has already worked out for pin layout for output-ing Playmaker RJ45 -> RCA for audio input on BeoCenter 2 socket box. Not a seamless solution but it sure will sound good.
Hi Paul.
Thanks for the reply.
Composite is analog signal, meaning the iPhone is doing the converting from analog to digital. The DAC in iPhone does not do the music justice :)
Also, I need more space than can be fitted on an iPhone ;)
Thanks symmes
Do you have an idea on how I would control the volume with the remote control? Would I be altering the volume on the Playmaker or the BeoCenter2? What about skipping to the next song? Can I have both Playmaker and BeoCenter2 listen to the remote, will there be conflicts when I'm doing something?
The good thing about the good old BeoLink PC2 DK, is that I can see what I'm playing on the BeoCenter2 display. The bad thing is the software and maybe the hardware. I have no graphic interface on a tablet or mobile phone to control the experience (can I use the iPhone BeoPlayer to control the BeoLink PC2 DK) . I would like to be able to control the setup with the remote and tablets and phones.
Thanks!
They key to Playmaker is using you computer, iDevice or Android device as a wireless controller and/or music source. If you use iTunes, you can actually stream the computer music to the Playmaker. Connect Playmaker and the music source to the same wireless network and you are set. You can find many far more elegant descriptions on how to do this in the archives here.
For me, it is probably easier to do volume control and media control from your portable device or computer.
I have now read every thread I have found regarding connecting this and that to BeoCenter2 or any B&O solution so to speak. The verdict is that there is no elegant solution. That explains why people are asking the same question again and again. There is no good answer with B&O. The closed architecture is a pity.
It is a fact that the apps that B&O has released do not work when I connect the good old BeoLink PC2 DK to a computer and the BeoCenter2.
The good thing about using the BeoLink PC2 is that the song info is displayed on the BC2, the bad thing is that the user interface is far from good.
I started out using a PC with windows 7, but I could not find any app to select the music, I was restricted to use the BC2.
Then I used a MAC and installed BM-Link. This gives me the option to use the fancy Remote app on an iPad to control iTunes. The song info is displayed on the BC2 and I can still use the BC2 or the standard B&O remote to control the music. This seems to be the ultimate solution if I want to keep my BC2.
It is quite said that I had to install a third party software solution (BM-Link and iTunes) to connect my BC2 to a tablet or smart phone when is should have been enough to connect the B&O apps to the same network as the computer that is connected to the BeoLink PC2. The playmaker has to limited functionality to serve as a replacement for the BC2 (missing radio), and the design of it is light years away from the BeoCenter2 (the main reason I bought this stuff in the beginning).
This is good enough for now, but this is not the ultimate solution.
B&O needs to step up their game if they don't want to end up like Kodak! I would like to get a unit that could be hooked up with MasterLink and a cat using NAS and to be able to control the unit wirelessly via an app. This would be more like an AirPort than the Playmaker, but without a PC or MAC running a server and other software. This solution would of course fit perfectly into the existing B&O family that many people are heavily invested into. It would give you the opertunity to use your B&O devices to navigate (pause, skip, stop, what ever) and would of course display the information
That's it for now :)
Hi,
I have a similar system with Beolink PC2 hooked to my computer through an external sound card and to the Masterlink setup which includes a BC2..
I use it with Beo4/Beo5 and it works flawless since a long time now.
Pros:
- I ripped my CDs in WMA Lossless so I have CD quality,
- It gives me access to all sources in the study where the PC2 is placed (BL 2500 + IR eye are hooked to the PC2).
Cons:
- No support of apple formats,
- The computer must be on to get net-music or net-radio.
I read once this costless workaround:
--> Set the Beoplayer software with "mix sound" checked" (setup / config / advanced),
--> Open Itunes on your computer,
--> Call net-music on the BC2, then press "stop" in order to stop the music coming from Beoplayer without turning off the PC2,
--> Use the "remote" app of your idevice to control iTunes.
Just my 2 cents.
Happy new year,
Yann.
Living Room BV Eclipse - BS Core - BL5 - BL8000 - LC2 x2 - Beo6
Lounge Beolink Passive - Cabasse Clipper - Beo4 Kitchen BL3500 - Beolink 1000
Bedroom BV9 - BL6000 (Thks Botty) - Beotime - LC2 - Beo5
Garden Lounge BC9000 - BG 6006 - BL4500 (Thks Botty) - Playmaker - Beolink 1000
Study BS1 - ML/NL Converter - BL2500 - Beo4 - Form 2 (Tks Botty) - Beoplay P2