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, My first post here, really enjoy this forum. Hope one of the experts can help me.
I've acquired a Playmaker to replace an Apple Airport Express previously connected to a BeoSound2300 via Aux in. Speakers are Penta Mk3. This setup has worked fine for me, in particular being able to control it with the Beo4. Volume, balance and bass/treble etc can be set via the Beo4. A very nice feature is the fact you can see the volume level on the Penta display.
I was hoping that the Playmaker could replace the BeoSound2300, which I really do not use much anymore, all my CD are ripped and reside on a MacBook Pro. Playing has been with AirPlay. The new setup connects the Penta speakers directly to the Playmaker (via new RJ45 Powerlink cables). The system works (sort of), the sound is good, but there is a problem. The display on the Pentas now show: A.TP2 __ __ - and while it is still possible to control the volume with the Beo4, there does not seem to be any way to control balance, treble etc. But more annoying is the fact, the display flashes LOAD TAPE every time the volume is changed, after 2 flashes it goes away and finally shows the volume, e.g. A.TP2 __ 48, but the whole process is kind of awkward. On top of it, the Playmaker makes the Pentas go to standby when no music is streamed (as expected), but the display on the Pentas stays on! I've never seen anything like this before. At first I thought it was my aging Beo4, but I've borrowed a brand new one from my dealer and it has no effect. A.AUX or A.MEM has to be activated on the Beo4 of course. According to the dealer this is just what I have to live with, but it seems to me a simple firmware update to the Playmaker could fix this, but perhaps this is too much to expect from B&O at this point in time. I'm sure they would rather have me scrap the Pentas and get a set of new BS9 .
My question, have any of the experts here found a way around this issue or any suggestions to how it could be fixed? I'm just running an impossibly combination of devices?
Many thanks, -Peter
Hi here and welcome to BeoWorld,
there is no way to get the display working properly with the Penta's connected direct to the Playmaker.
This nice feuture was ditched years/decades ago.
Only 'workaround' is to connect the Playmaker to the Besystem exactly as you had the APE connected.
Your dealer will know which cable to use, and how to connect it. Or please ask again, if you are interested.
The BS won't harm you - and will still be there if you should gome across a CD and want to hear it the easy-way.
And please keep your Penta's - they are great loudspeakers.
N.B. the sound settings of the PM can be made via Beo4 - depending on the version of the Beo4.
Greetings Millemissen
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Thanks very much for your post Millemissen, you confirm what I suspected regarding the display.
I've seen mentioned on a Danish forum, that you can connect the PL out of the Playmaker to Aux-in on the BeoSound2300. I guess this way I would still have the old control and display, but would there be any sound loss/degradation form using the old BS2300? Also, this seems to require a special cable PL -> 7 pin DIN male. I will check with my dealer if they have such a cable, but if not - would you know where I can buy such a contraption? Unfortunately I'm not able to build one myself. Again many thanks.
Cheers, -Peter
Thanks Stan - I'll check him out if my dealer can not come up with something.
Hi Peter,
You can see the cable and how to connect it here:
http://www.hifi4all.dk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23818&PN=0&TPN=43
in the post from:
03 April 2013 kl. 09:15 Actually the cables in the photo are mine. You can buy the RJ45/PowerLink to Phono-male at your B&O-dealer (itemno. 6271216) The rest is just a 'normal' adapter and a 'normal' Phono to 5-pin DIN. Or get it - as Stan writes - from the BeoWorld sponsor Steve (just klick the link right below). He will be glad to advice you if you send him a mail - I am sure. And don't worry, the sound will be perfect with your BS 📻 P.S. And you can see my setup with the Playmaker here: http://www.hifi4all.dk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=46053&PN=1&TPN=235 In the post from: 03 oktober 2012 18.32 Greetings Millemissen
03 April 2013 kl. 09:15
Actually the cables in the photo are mine.
You can buy the RJ45/PowerLink to Phono-male at your B&O-dealer (itemno. 6271216)
The rest is just a 'normal' adapter and a 'normal' Phono to 5-pin DIN.
Or get it - as Stan writes - from the BeoWorld sponsor Steve (just klick the link right below).
He will be glad to advice you if you send him a mail - I am sure.
And don't worry, the sound will be perfect with your BS 📻
P.S.
And you can see my setup with the Playmaker here:
http://www.hifi4all.dk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=46053&PN=1&TPN=235
In the post from:
03 oktober 2012 18.32
Thanks very much Millemissen, I think this should solve me cable problem. I may go with the custom cable, just to avoid the RCA/converters, but should not be a big deal either way. Thanks also for the links (Jeg kan sagtens læse dem - jeg var født i Danmark - bor i US nu, - I will continue in English so others who may be interested can follow here), very informative posts on the Danish forum. One question, you write that the Playmaker has to be set to 'Option 0' - fixed level output. I understand this is needed so the Playmaker does not respond to the Beo4 signal (which should go to my BS2300 instead). But, how do I get the Playmaker set in this mode? I can not find a way with the BeoSetup app.
Thanks again for all your help.
Thanks very much BeoHut - solves my problem
nice being able to help you.
Please let us hear what you think of the handling and the sound, once you have got it set up!
Yes, I can help! I can build a modified RJ45 to Aux cable to link the PlayMaker into the Aux socket of your 2300 (I would not recommend using an RJ45 to Powerlink cable, as the Datalink and Speaker On pins can interfere with the sound quality when used in the Aux socket).
This will allow you to connect the Pentas to the 2300 with fully-wired mk.2 Powerlink cables (http://www.soundsheavenly.co.uk/bando-pl2.htm) to get the displays working correctly. You can activate the PlayMaker by selecting "A.AUX" on your Beo4 remote.
For best results, please set the PlayMaker volume to maximum when connecting it to the 2300.
By the way, thanks for your kind words and recommendation Stan!
If you need any further help or advice, please feel free to ask.
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
Thanks Steve , I sent you an order last week, and you told me it shipped , though I have not received it yet. Thanks for your good service.
Thanks for your order and for your kind words, if you need any help please send me an email and I will come straight back to you.
I have a question about the playmakers functionality:
when it is set to fixed line out and connected to an AUX-In-Port of a Beosound: Is it possible to skip tracks played via airplay with the Beo 4, 5 or 6?Does it work on DLNA, too?Thanks. :)
1: No.
2: No.
Greet MM
thank you for the precise answer. Can I change tracks playing via Airplay with a Beo remote when the playmaker is in standalone mode? When it's connected this way:Beosound-> Powerlink to Playmaker -> Powerlink to BeolabWhat happens when I'm changing volume or skip tracks or change the audio-source (A.Aux, CD, N.Music...) with a Beo remote? Do the Beosound and Playmaker act simultaneously?
The Beo4 will control the BeoSound device only (volume, balance, etc.), this is why the Playmaker has to be set to 'Option 0' (which means it will not respond to the IR signals of the Beo4). You can use an iDevice to control the streaming of the music (including skip of tracks).