BeoSound 2 - Difference between model versions...

Any news yet?

Mikipidia:

Any news yet?

Perfect timing Mikipidia! Lots of news, but not lots of sound lol! Perhaps you would be kind enough to assist me where Google can't!

Let me explain. So I am currently living in rented accommodation. This is not my own home so I have not installed any internet with British Telecom or alike as I might not be here very long.

My iPhone (X model) uses the BT mobile 4g network and BT offer wifi hotspots around the UK. From this property I am able to use one of these hotspots with a reasonably reliable connection. However, only from my MacBook Air (2020 model) it seems. The MacBook Air finds the hotspot and connects no problem, but my iPhone X won't even find the hotspot in its list in the same position as the MacBook, bizarre. I don't know why the iPhone can't see it. Maybe it has an older antenna and not as powerful?

Thus, I am unable to connect the iPhone to a wifi network so the B&O app won't let me setup the BeoSound 2! Unless you suggest otherwise, I don't think I can set up the BeoSound 2 from the MacBook either? All I have done so far then is turn the BeoSound 2 on and not made any other adjustments.

I do notice that in the iPhone and MacBook Air wifi lists the BeoSound 2 virtual network is shown, so when I connect to that from either device, the sound is redirected to the BeoSound 2, hooray! But is this how it is supposed to connect though in the absence of a physical network? I am grateful it works at all but assumed it would have just used bluetooth instead!

Anyway, all good fun and only been at this for 20 minutes or so without having read any manuals further or looked online for help, so this is where I am at 20 minutes in!

Hopefully you guys can shed some knowledge and if I have to get BT installed then I will get the ball rolling later. I suppose I could always move it to my property when I move back in, I just didn't want to be tied to a 24 month contract at this stage.

Cheers!
Simon.

Tiny piece of your puzzle: The "BeoSound 2 virtual network" is its default configuration, where it acts as its own Wi-Fi hotspot, and is used by the iPhone's new-device configuration & setup process to find new devices and talk to them.  That process then continues with the iPhone downloading the "real" Wi-Fi name and password to the new device and rebooting it.  If you don't have your own Wi-Fi access point in the house (because you will be relying on the BT equipment's combo to supply Wi-Fi someday, when you subscribe)), there is no reason -- except for desiring connectivity between *all* your devices and not just what you're currently holding in your hand and the BeoSound 2 -- you couldn't just leave it that way for weeks or months.  Actually, I take that back, there is one reason: It's an open Wi-Fi hotspot and anybody can drive-by blast music (like the old Bluetooth speakers) or even mis-configure your new device onto *their* home network credentials!

An aside on beauty: When I saw the LG W-series on a display wall at a Best Buy store, the first thing I thought was, "Boy that sound bar is a wall wart."  And it sounds OK, but overall looks & sound are not "wow" like the screen.  Nowadays they supply an extender plug for the ribbon cable, but even at launch, the ribbon was long enough to pull it *thru* a sheetrock 2x4 wall and mount the sound bar on the *backside* of the same wall, in another room, plug it in there, hide it, and set the volume to zero!  Then one would install the *real* cinema sound system in the other room behind the wall, and run speaker cables back to the viewing room.  Since LG's remote is RF, it would work thru the wall too!  (Various methods, alas not so transparent, to drive the cinema sound system thru the wall.  I didn't look super-carefully into how the TV might drive the sound center instead, because I couldn't afford the screen in the first place!;-)

@The Beonic Man

Can’t you use the Internet Sharing function of the Macbook Air for internet access of the iPhone and the BS2, when the Macbook is on the public hotspot?

MM

Alas, Mac Internet Sharing only shares thru a *different* port.  So you can't share a Wi-Fi hostpot to a second computer, over Wi-Fi.  My wife and I sometimes use it when traveling to share my Wi-Fi to Bluetooth and then her Mac does networking via BT.  But I don't think the Beosound has the stack to allow Bluetooth IP networking? [Edit: A truly baroque solution: Connect an Ethernet dongle to the MacBook, then use Internet Sharing and hardwire it to the BeoSound 2!  But at that point it would be easier to buy a cheap Wi-Fi access point and give*that* wired access to the Internet via the MacBook, and connect the rest of the house devices to that Wi-Fi.]

@trackbeo

Thanks for correcting me.

I guess the trick with the Wi-Fi access point ....will be the best advice for The Beonic Man.

MM

Setup without a local network is hard as it kinda needs one. If you have a router somewhere atleast you can make it a local network and set it up that way. It doesn’t have to go out so to say.

And after that you could use bluetooth as airplay and chromecast need a local network too.

So best solution, see if you have a router of anykind somewhere and set that up, doesn’t matter if it’s not connected to the internet

Thanks guys, some great responses. Here's an update.

So trackbeo is correct about the port and address situation on the Mac. Internet sharing was something I tried enthusiastically hoping that would be the fix but alas not.

It's weird, but on my iPhone, when I go to the wifi settings not only does the BeoSound 2 virtual network show up, which I can connect to (this is the only solution so far) but also under the heading of Other Networks below, BeoSound 2 Airplay also shows up, but only temporarily then disappears again! On the few times I have tried to catch it and connect it is unsuccessful.

Finally, I thought that the BeoSound 2 is Bluetooth capable? I am sure I checked that before purchase and everywhere said it is. Well Bluetooth doesn't need a wifi so why isn't it showing up on the MacBook or the iPhone under Bluetooth settings?

It is bluetooth capable, but maybe it’s throwing a fit over not being set up as you can turn bluetooth both on and off and soundsetting and the like?! All my stuff has bluetooth turned off as anyone close enough can play stuff on it then and we’ve had that happen at 2am and while on the phone with people, and the people doing it can’t hear it properly so they think “maybe max volume will make it sound better” lol

So you're saying bluetooth functionality won't operate until I have set it up using the B&O app which I can't do without a wifi connection? Kind of defeats the point of offering bluetooth in the first place!

I don’t know for sure, but that’s all i can think of. You don’t actually need an internet connection to set it up, but you do need a network connection to set it up.

Maybe you can ask the neighbours for a few minutes to “borrow” their network? Iam just trying to help with how to make it work asap. Your usecase is really uncommon as a bs2 is mostly a network attached speaker that can also do bluetooth, not a bluetooth speaker first like a1/beolit and the lot.

If you have any router at all that would solve it i think, doesn’t even matter if it’s crappy or not. Or go to a friend/neighbour and set it up that way.

Another long shot can be to reset it and maybe that could help? Again not sure, but in it’s current state it wouldn’t harm anything or loose any data.

Some really good ideas there, thank you!

Yup, seems like the easiest solution really is just to get a broadband connection set up here. I'll do that tomorrow I think. I take your point about the purpose of the speaker; it is network oriented and when I am back in my own space it'll get used properly and link with all my other stuff. I think this situation is interesting though as it does highlight areas for future improvement, bluetooth for example.

By the way, I really like the P6 too. Amazing output and clarity for what it is. Perhaps a little bass heavy with the default setting for my liking but easily changed with the app. When I am able to I want to give the M5 a good listen to. While its design isn't totally to my liking I do prefer it over the M3 and it would consider it for a bedroom perhaps. Maybe B&O will bring a few more products out that might tickle my fancy?

Thanks again!

I have an M5 and it is very good for a bedroom or smaller space. The bass is very deep. I actually think it looks pretty nice. The sound is really good for the price, The M5 is perfect to have all over your home. The cloth and metal looks and feels nice. 

Thanks Jaffrey. Yes it is growing on me I must admit. I think it's the gap at the bottom of the speaker that gives it something interesting and different, that's what I notice anyway! I'll keep my eyes open for any tempting deals that may come up.

Just installed something and with this the bluetooth was turned off by default too. Just fyi.

So set it up once, turn the bluetooth on and you’re good to go to use it as a bluetooth speaker

But I still need wifi to set it up once, correct?

When people say wifi, i alway wonder if they mean internet or a network or both. A network is not internet persee even if you use wifi.

So yes you need a network/wifi, but not internet persee. So go to a mate or neighbour for 5 minutes and it’ll work or find an old router and just plug it into the power socket and that should do it too.

Understood!

Following yesterday's discussion I decided to get BT internet installed at the property so a router is on its way, sometime in the next 2 weeks. A bit slow because of Covid-19 but no rush, all is good. I'll be up and running properly then so can get it set up properly and give it a good sound test and run through.

I wanted to give some feedback on my initial thoughts but without gaining access to the app it doesn't feel right to do so at this stage.

However... (lol!)

Playing music at the default B&O setting is as good as I was hoping for but not mind blowing as I first experienced 2 years ago in a dealership. That's perfectly fine and certainly no regrets about my purchase. Absolutely none whatsoever. I know how much speaker placement makes a difference and also fine tuning it etc. All that is to come. I am extremely happy with the sound and it does outshine the P6 of course, I'd be worried if it didn't!

It's hard to know what to say about the experience in the dealership a couple of years ago but I was literally blown away by the sound I heard from their BeoSound 2 then so I know its coming!!

Bottom line, truly wonderful device and when I think about the price, which many say is high (YouTube video comments), on close inspection - touch, feel and operation etc - the craftsmanship is just superb. Even that is an understatement. Most people that read my posts know its all about design for me and this thing rocks. It IS a sculptural piece in its own right, a special piece to look at on or off. OK, you get the point, I love it!

I was very tempted to go bronze but I just wasn't sure so in the end I played it safe with the classic look. I would have been interested to see the bronze look in my home though I must admit. I think anything other than 'classic B&O' is always a risk and depends so much on your individual taste and home decor of course. Sometimes too much of a risk for me.

Happy days...