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
politician:Thanks, Curly. It's not really going to bother him. I was just slightly confused as some of the early reviews of the Lab 28s stated they could be connected to a Contour, which contradicted what I thought.
Curly:Correct, sadly. Currently: BeoLab 17, BeoLab 18, BeoSound Core, BeoPlay S8 Connection Hub, Essence Remote Previously: BeoSound 1 non-GVA
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 !
How do you think the Beolab 28 will function as front left and right in a 5.1 setup.
I am using a Marantz with Odyssee room correction which sets up all the settings for all the speakers including crossover to subwoofer.
Now, the 28 has its own room correction and no separate subwoofer.
Is this likely to cause an issue for the overall setup?
my dealer told me this week that anything on the Mozart platform will be able to be used as surround speakers.
That functionality though is, from what he said, close to 18 months away.
Whether the Contour fits into that, I dont know.
Countour is not on the Mozart platform so I wouldn’t bet on it.
I guess this feature will need a Mozart enabled television / centre speaker. I guess all products will transition to Mozart in the coming years.
Sandyb: my dealer told me this week that anything on the Mozart platform will be able to be used as surround speakers. That functionality though is, from what he said, close to 18 months away. Whether the Contour fits into that, I dont know.
Current Stage/Contour is not built on the Mozart platform.
I doubt that that will take 18 months.
Maybe when a Contour 55 will come - that would be perfect timing.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
indeed, I dont take these time frame estimates literally to be honest.
I think his point was that its a good deal down the road map for Mozart development
Good that its on the roadmap, but it won't be the first thing at all to be delivered.
Network Link (or Speaker Link as it is to be called) will be first, and thats seemingly slipping towards the end of this year.
So I wouldn't expect the surround capability for quite a while.
Millemissen: Sandyb: my dealer told me this week that anything on the Mozart platform will be able to be used as surround speakers. That functionality though is, from what he said, close to 18 months away. Whether the Contour fits into that, I dont know. Current Stage/Contour is not built on the Mozart platform. I doubt that that will take 18 months. Maybe when a Contour 55 will come - that would be perfect timing. MM
Tifoso48:How do you think the Beolab 28 will function as front left and right in a 5.1 setup. I am using a Marantz with Odyssee room correction which sets up all the settings for all the speakers including crossover to subwoofer. Now, the 28 has its own room correction and no separate subwoofer. Is this likely to cause an issue for the overall setup?
vlohjr1: I was thinking more that in a normal house I don’t see that much benefit with a conventional 5.1. I was hoping that with the 28 I would get a decent virtual surround plus good listening music sound
I was thinking more that in a normal house I don’t see that much benefit with a conventional 5.1. I was hoping that with the 28 I would get a decent virtual surround plus good listening music sound
I would not want to be without my (two) 5.1 B&O setups - and I certainly don’t live in an ‘unnormal house’.
If you don’t need it, that is fine - it is however a fact that you won’t get ‘a decent virtual surround’ from the 28’s....in fact you won’t get anything but 2 channel stereo (which is absolutely fine).
If you want something ‘smallish’ for ‘virtual surround’, you need the Stage - but then again maybe that is not enough for your music listening.
A 5.1 setup in a ‘normal house’ does not need to be a huge setup - and can be the perfect combination for 2 channel and multichannel/surround listening.
Millemissen:and I certainly don’t live in an ‘unnormal house’.
Every BV deserves a multichannel setup ;-))
Millemissen:Every BV deserves a multichannel setup ;-)) MM There is a tv - and there is a BV.
Sandyb: Network Link (or Speaker Link as it is to be called) will be first, and thats seemingly slipping towards the end of this year.
Do you know more about this? Looking at the choice of words there will be no integrated streaming service (Deezer) but just a Join/multiroom experience? Moving away from selecting your music through a B&O interface. Very curious how this will play with the BLI/BLGW.
I dont really I'm afraid.
It seems to me that native streaming from B&O products has gone, B&O Radio aside.
From what I understand Tidal and Roon have been in touch with B&O asking about inclusion - though whether that goes anywhere, who knows. If that ends up anywhere, I suspect it will be Tidal Connect for example, rather than native integrated Tidal.
And as you suggest, this does suggest that B&O app as interface has been relegated. We've discussed this many times before - a decision was made well over two years ago to prioritise AP and CC as primary controls i.e whichever streaming app you use. In light of this, no surprise that native streaming has gone.
I dont expect it to return, but it does raise a question about all the value added that we gained in the past from very B&O'esque controls like the Essence remotes, simple tap to join gestures etc etc.
If experiences are always started from a mobile device 3rd party streaming app, what really can an Essence remote, BR One, Halo do to start something from scratch. I have no idea really - and this seems the disconnect which many are struggling to reconcile.
I hope something is possible - even my Linn streamer unit and remote has 6 my buttons which can trigger Qobuz (or Tidal) playlists, albums, radio stations, songs etc......so something is clearly possible in concert with music services.
Its just a question of whether B&O is willing and able to go there.
I also just so think the BLI / GW is any sort of priority for them now - they'll rely on Khimo to fill the gap, and provide skills that can tie together streaming stuff with B&O products.
1990: Sandyb: Network Link (or Speaker Link as it is to be called) will be first, and thats seemingly slipping towards the end of this year. Do you know more about this? Looking at the choice of words there will be no integrated streaming service (Deezer) but just a Join/multiroom experience? Moving away from selecting your music through a B&O interface. Very curious how this will play with the BLI/BLGW.
I hope Deezer (and potentially Tidal and/or Roon) integration will come to BL28, and other Mozart products when the software is updated later this year, as I prefer playing music on my speakers through Deezer Hifi. Of course, I’m the only one in the family who does so—my wife and kids use AP.
FWIW, I am ordering a pair of 28s in anthracite. They will be connected through a Harmony, so I’ll be able to use Deezer that way. I’d considered doing bespoke, but decided I didn’t want to wait or pay extra. They should be delivered/installed in late June/early July along with a pair of 50s I have on order. Looking forward to them!
--Beovision Harmony 77, Beovision Harmony 65 x2, Beovision Contour 48, LG GX 65/Beosound Stage/STB StandBeolab 50s, Beolab 28s, Beolab 18s x3, Beolab 19, Beoplay A9, Beosound Edge, Beosound 2 x2, Beosound 1 x2, Beosound Level x2, Beosound Core x2, Beoplay M3, Beosound 9000, Beogram TX2, Beogram 6500 White Edition, 4000c (on order), Beoremote One x8, Beoremote Halo x3, BLC NL/MLBeoplay H95 x3, Beoplay EQ x2, Beoplay E8, Beoplay E8 Sport, Beosound A1 x2
well that'll be some mighty setup!
I wouldn't expect any progress or clarity (on whether services get integrated back in) for quite a while.
I can see nothing that dealers have indicated to forum members which would suggest Deezer or anything else is going to be re-integrated.
BeoJosh: I hope Deezer (and potentially Tidal and/or Roon) integration will come to BL28, and other Mozart products when the software is updated later this year, as I prefer playing music on my speakers through Deezer Hifi. Of course, I’m the only one in the family who does so—my wife and kids use AP. FWIW, I am ordering a pair of 28s in anthracite. They will be connected through a Harmony, so I’ll be able to use Deezer that way. I’d considered doing bespoke, but decided I didn’t want to wait or pay extra. They should be delivered/installed in late June/early July along with a pair of 50s I have on order. Looking forward to them!
Hi M,
I went this afternoon for a "look see" and to check out if there was going to be conflict using the BL 28 as the front speakers in a 5.1 set up.
The 28's have their own room "adjustment" system built in and I was very concerned that would clash with the 5.1 Odyssee system provided by my Marantz AVR.
I saw and played around with the BL 28 app and saw that you can turn the room adjustment off which would mean that the Marantz would be providing the guidance.
Now the only thing I need to figure out is the issue of the subwoofer. I am currently using BL 18 and Bl 19 and the Odyssee room adaption creates the crossover for all speakers below a certain frequency to the subwoofer.
I am trying to figure out what will happen in a world where there is no separate subwoofer as the BL 28's certainly provide more than enough bass.
Just a nit picky comment...
Initially, the marketing collateral indicated BL28 had the acoustic lens technology (ALT). I was examining the speaker, trying to find where the lens was hidden! I was confused. It’s a pretty obvious physical component... but it was nowhere in sight.
They’ve revised their website and collateral now—no ALT.
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
Yes, I kept wondering where the ALT fit in based on that description, but having heard them the high range is quite impressive even without.
Millemissen:Current Stage/Contour is not built on the Mozart platform. I doubt that that will take 18 months. Maybe when a Contour 55 will come - that would be perfect timing. MM There is a tv - and there is a BV.
steve1977:I really hope B&O would release info about this feature. If mozart allows to be a surround processor (stage / contour / etc) and allow mozart speakers to be satellites, this would be quite a massive new feature. I’ll eventually buy a contour and a harmony. But i’m waiting for some news on what mozart will bring. I don’t want to make such investment and a few months later the whole audio architecture moves to the next generation. I don’t mind smaller changes (adding / removing radio, deezer, dlna), but i don’t want my audio system to be so outdated. If mozart indeed allows to build a surround speakers with mozart speakers, this would be quite a game changer and innovative. it currently only be done via wisa (requiring wisa compatible speakers) or via sonos (in an all sonos setup). mozart would basically bring b&o at the same technology level as sonos, which would be huge…
Glad to see Spotify Connect, and I do not care about lack of Deezer.
But missing Beolink Multiroom and Touch to Join 😩
BeoJosh:I hope Deezer (and potentially Tidal and/or Roon) integration will come to BL28, and other Mozart products when the software is updated later this year, as I prefer playing music on my speakers through Deezer Hifi. Of course, I’m the only one in the family who does so—my wife and kids use AP. FWIW, I am ordering a pair of 28s in anthracite. They will be connected through a Harmony, so I’ll be able to use Deezer that way. I’d considered doing bespoke, but decided I didn’t want to wait or pay extra. They should be delivered/installed in late June/early July along with a pair of 50s I have on order. Looking forward to them!
steve1977: Millemissen: Current Stage/Contour is not built on the Mozart platform. I doubt that that will take 18 months. Maybe when a Contour 55 will come - that would be perfect timing. MM There is a tv - and there is a BV. I really hope B&O would release info about this feature. If mozart allows to be a surround processor (stage / contour / etc) and allow mozart speakers to be satellites, this would be quite a massive new feature. I’ll eventually buy a contour and a harmony. But i’m waiting for some news on what mozart will bring. I don’t want to make such investment and a few months later the whole audio architecture moves to the next generation. I don’t mind smaller changes (adding / removing radio, deezer, dlna), but i don’t want my audio system to be so outdated. If mozart indeed allows to build a surround speakers with mozart speakers, this would be quite a game changer and innovative. it currently only be done via wisa (requiring wisa compatible speakers) or via sonos (in an all sonos setup). mozart would basically bring b&o at the same technology level as sonos, which would be huge…
Millemissen: Current Stage/Contour is not built on the Mozart platform. I doubt that that will take 18 months. Maybe when a Contour 55 will come - that would be perfect timing. MM There is a tv - and there is a BV.
There is a tv - and there is a BV.
I really hope B&O would release info about this feature. If mozart allows to be a surround processor (stage / contour / etc) and allow mozart speakers to be satellites, this would be quite a massive new feature.
I’ll eventually buy a contour and a harmony. But i’m waiting for some news on what mozart will bring. I don’t want to make such investment and a few months later the whole audio architecture moves to the next generation. I don’t mind smaller changes (adding / removing radio, deezer, dlna), but i don’t want my audio system to be so outdated.
If mozart indeed allows to build a surround speakers with mozart speakers, this would be quite a game changer and innovative. it currently only be done via wisa (requiring wisa compatible speakers) or via sonos (in an all sonos setup). mozart would basically bring b&o at the same technology level as sonos, which would be huge…
Hard to say how long you will have to wait - and honestly we have no precise information about what is going to happen or when.
All I say is, that I see the options/possibilities with the Mozart platform.
(Obviously I am a bit more optimistic than e.g. Sandyb).
I am not sure, that you should wait with a purchase (depending on what you currently have).
Maybe you should just enjoy a Contour as it is now - I am sure that you can sell that for a good price in a year or two or.........
Millemissen:Hard to say how long you will have to wait - and honestly we have no precise information about what is going to happen or when. All I say is, that I see the options/possibilities with the Mozart platform. (Obviously I am a bit more optimistic than e.g. Sandyb). I am not sure, that you should wait with a purchase (depending on what you currently have). Maybe you should just enjoy a Contour as it is now - I am sure that you can sell that for a good price in a year or two or......... MM There is a tv - and there is a BV.
steve1977:I could indeed probably buy & sell a contour. or even could buy a horizon, which is rather cheap second hand and not too bad either. But that’s the part where i have less need for change. I’m quite tempted to pull the trigger faster with the harmony for the living room though. But i’d really hate to see if i spend such an amount and will be limited to wisa speakers for wireless connection, while a horizon mk2 may support to connect all mozart speakers wireless. I’m thinking to keep the harmony for 10+ years, but eventually switch or upgrade speakers. If mozart indeed gets “sonos equivalent” surround capabilities, this would probably the biggest software innovation b&o innovation has ever done. And as big of a step as going from ml to nl.
Fansastic:But with a Harmony and wisa beolabs you have the best setup imaginable, even when the Mozart platform proofs to do surround speakers with other single point speakers. You can stream everything to your Harmony. Personally I would always like to use a BV as main music / surround source to drive my BL’s. The way you can tweak al kinds of settings is unparalleled and I do not think this can be done with Mozart platform (or it should be for future beovisions driven by Mozart OS). So I see a Harmony as a more clever investment then the Contour, even further into the future. Especially because the Harmony can swap panels in future.l
What speakers would you like for surround duties?
My intuition is that from some time (probably late) next year, the Harmony (and whatever other BV's are in the range at that time) will be Mozart based.
That should allow connection to Beolabs (wired or wireless) and Beosounds (i.e one point speakers).
How non Mozart BV's are treated - software update to Mozart wise - is anyones guess (mine would be no, they dont get updated to Mozart).
I'd expect the Stage (or whatever is the equivalent at the time) will be shipped / sold as Mozart enabled too (i.e as a MK2)
But in the end, if you want a BV and the ability to use single point speakers as surrounds, you've got quite a wait ahead of you.
Your gamble now is hoping a new Harmony (for example) now will get updated to Mozart, so you can get started now. But I'd rate the chance of a Mozart update as no higher than 30%.
There will be MK2 (i.e. Mozart enabled) versions of the current products they want to continue with, all else new will ship with Mozart.
Not knowing anything - so just speculating - I’d find it more likely that they keep the Harmony/Eclipse as is untill later.
First thing to do would be to upgrade the Stage/Contour to the Mozart platform - this way making it possible to add the new (Mozart-based) speakers as surround speakers......of course after the release of the NL/speaker link/multiroom function for those.
The Harmony/Eclipse is WiSA enabled for a lot of those speakers, that owners of these BV’s will prefer to use - means there already is a wireless platform for additional speakers.
With the Stage/Contour it would make a difference and it would generate sales of extra speakers (like the Balance and what may come) fitting into a somewhat smaller setup.
Let’s see what comes........very exciting times. indeed..
agreed, I dont think there will be any hurry to update Eclipse / Harmony to Mozart versions any time soon. Eventually new BVs will be I imagine.
And yes, I'd imagine the Stage changes to a Mozart Stage first.
Its been such a busy release schedule for them over the last few months, its not unreasonable to expect things to quieten down somewhat.
Millemissen: Not knowing anything - so just speculating - I’d find it more likely that they keep the Harmony/Eclipse as is untill later. First thing to do would be to upgrade the Stage/Contour to the Mozart platform - this way making it possible to add the new (Mozart-based) speakers as surround speakers......of course after the release of the NL/speaker link/multiroom function for those. The Harmony/Eclipse is WiSA enabled for a lot of those speakers, that owners of these BV’s will prefer to use - means there already is a wireless platform for additional speakers. With the Stage/Contour it would make a difference and it would generate sales of extra speakers (like the Balance and what may come) fitting into a somewhat smaller setup. Let’s see what comes........very exciting times. indeed.. MM
I went yesterday afternoon to my local B&O dealer to see and audition the new BL 28.
I was very pleasantly surprised that " in person" they look infinitely more attractive than in the photos - I really liked them.
I have also concluded that I would prefer straight up and down rather than the bass unit being mounted on the wall.
I got the opportunity to play around a bit with the app and there are clearly lots of opportunities to tweak the sound based on certain " moods" as well as enabling/disabling the room adaption system.
Streaming to these speakers either by bluetooth or apple play is a breeze and the labels opening and closing really provides additional visual appeal.
No complaint about the sound, although at times the bass was a bit over the top, quite boomy. However, I would imagine that a different setting could solve that issue.
My current set up is a BL 18 and 19, and I am not sure if the BL 28 is heads and shoulders better - something I will need to consider in greater detail before making a decision.
However, my biggest question mark is whether the bass unit in BL 28 can take on the role of the BL 19 in my 5.1 home theater set up.
If my requirement was for attractive, entertaining and freestanding speakers that I want to use to simply stream music to - we would be done and I think they would be absolutely brilliant in that role.
Unfortunately, I have a bit of a complex set up and will need to ponder this a bit further.
However, without doubt these are exceptionally nice speakers and congratulations to Bang & Olufsen!
A handful of folks saying the bass on BL28 is out of control...
Nothing some EQ can’t fix, I imagine.
Curly: A handful of folks saying the bass on BL28 is out of control... Nothing some EQ can’t fix, I imagine.
Why have them set like this in the showroom?
Do normal people still like speakers to sound like this once they've grown up?
Maybe they're going to launch a Citroën C3 mounting kit
Ban boring signatures!
This is the only thing I have read on this page How can I play music in different rooms with Beolab 28?
"Beolink will become available in the second half of 2021 through a simple software update"
https://support.bang-olufsen.com/hc/en-us/articles/360019772238-How-can-I-play-music-in-different-rooms-with-Beolab-28-
Millemissen: First thing to do would be to upgrade the Stage/Contour to the Mozart platform - this way making it possible to add the new (Mozart-based) speakers as surround speakers......of course after the release of the NL/speaker link/multiroom function for those.
My dealer told me in January this year he was expecting an upgraded Stage MK2 or even a more expensive Stage+ which would enable people to connect additional B&O speakers. Makes sense. I'd certainly jump at this opportunity. Stage would become your centre speaker I guess. Plus you could add a sub!