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
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Present: BL90, Core, BL6000, CD7000, Beogram 7000, Essence Remote.
Past: BL1, BL2, BL8000, BS9000, BL5, BC2, BS5, BV5, BV4-50, Beosystem 3, BL3, DVD1, Beoremote 4, Moment.
WIthout telling the fine individuals in Struer how to do their jobs, I think the Beosound 5 was the complete wrong direction. Five years ago it would have been advanced but the user experience is clunky and is not a particularly compatible with Apple in terms of understanding (basically, you have to relearn something to complete the same functions).
I actually think that the BeoPlay A9 is much more in the direction that B&O should be heading. Their older receivers had a simple user interface with dials, button and easy to read digital screens. B&O should focus on what they do best, sound, and leave the interfaces to others who are a little more experienced. The A9 is the perfect fusion as you get the B&O (or do we have to call it BeoPlay?) sound and design without all the messiness of a separate interface.
Taking this to the next level, a system of whole-room sound that would be completely wireless and play through AirPlay would be awesome. You walk in, select your song from your device, and listen.
Also, on a side note, I was told by an employee at the NYC SoHo B&O store last year that I could not play music via AirPlay into a Beosound 5. I was appalled! In my apartment right now I have the airfoil application on my iMac which is connected to a Beomaster 2400 and a set of S45s and a set of CX100s.... all equipment that is at least 20 years old.
I am very interested in what other have to add.
Wade
You can do exactly the same with the BeoSound 5 via usb-line in!
And with several A9's you can create "a system of whole-room sound" using Airfoil on your iMac!
Greetings MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
MM,
Great points! I guess what I was getting at is that I'd like to see something more innovative using Airplay/Airfoil.
As for the line-in on the Beosound 5.... for that amount of money I would hope to see something nicer than what I can create with a system made up of 20+ year old B&O equipment (not talking sound quality but rather functionality).
I think that BS5 is a possible answer. In my humble view, there will not be one single solution to create the fusion between tactile, beautiful design and digital. Given the lifecycle of digital media, BS 5 is soldiering on quite nicely... However, interfaces develop, great to see that the quest for creativity continues. Not many companies push this development and not many try with concepts bridging old and new. BS5 could be enhanced by releasing mlgw capabilities without the cost of it.
We shall hope and look forward to the next B&O sound system that takes digital and design further. Especially in a time when the not so desired alternative may be a simple looking music processor chip with embedded functions and the looks of a candy bar...
seethroughyou:How do you combine glass, aluminium and moving bits with digital music if Bs5 is not the way?
I stuck a hidden Airport Express on the AUX of my BS9000.
Job Done.
If the audio quality of the AE is not acceptable -add a Cambridge DAC or similar to the mix.
We are using a BS900 to play FM Radio and CDs.
Both is still required. Family wants to make the Radio Play when pressing RADIO on the Beo 4.CDs from time to time.
Using Sonos with ipad (great user interace) to Access Internet Music (spotify) and MP3 files (stored on NAS).
Best of both worlds
B&O should try to integrate this into one device.
We are thinking about selling the BS9000 and use a Beomaster/Beogram CD Combo again (White Beosystem 6500/7000),Take less space, but design not as iconic as BS9000.
Ralf
PS: I know, no hi-res files with the sonos ... but I don't care...
Living Room: Beosystem 4, Beolab 7-2 (Center), Beolab 9 (Fronts), Beolab 8000 (Rears), no Subwoofer. Screen: Sony KD-85XH9096Dining Room: Beosound Essence MK II with Beolab 4000 on stands, fed by Amazon Echo Show 8Home Cinema: Beosystem 4, Beolab 7-4 (Center), Beolab 1 (Fronts), Beolab 4000 (Rears). Projector: Sony VPL-HW55Home Office: Beosystem 3, Beolab 7-4, Beolab 5000, Screen: Sony KD-55XH9005 on Beovision 7-40 stand, ML to Beosound 9000 MK3 and Beosound 5/Beomaster 5 (1 TB SSD version)Bedroom: Sony KD-65XH9077, Beosound Essence MK II with Beolab 6002 and Beolab 11 (all white, wall-mounted)
In storage: Beolab 5000/Beomaster 5000 (1960s).
kallasr: B&O should try to integrate this into one device.
That is what I wrote...
People will still use their tablets / smart-phones to control the digital music.
seethroughyou:I am not convinced adding multiple ancillary devices is the way forward nor an aesthetically elegant solution in the future for B&O.
I understand your OP as the future and something better that the BS5, but my cigarette pack sized AE tucked out of the way is hardly comparable to the ball & chain that the BM5 and its umbilical is!
I am afraid that the days of not just glass and aluminum, but more importantly "magical movement" are over. Besides the effort with the wheel on the BS5, I am really struggling for any way to engage digital media using analog inputs -that wouldn't seem like **** on a bull. And that point (B&o's ability to avoid that) is EXACTLY why I think we all love B&o.
I need a device/screen that shows me what is playing (cover/artist/album..../radiostation....) hanging on the wall/on a tablestand in every room, where loudspeakers are located!
The device/screen could be made in different sizes. It would be nice to look at - just as nice as a BS5 screen is (no use for wheels, no need for interacting there (except for 'Standby').
What I want to hear and in which room I want to hear it, I will choose from a mobile device (in my case the iPad) - I am sure Bang & Olufsen could create a 'magic' interface for that. Should be incorporated in the BeoRemote app!
What is playing should - to some extend - be controlable from the Beo4 as well: source, trackskip, skipping of playlist/radiostation favoritelist, play/pause and of cource volumen and standby.
Playmaker.
Nest thermostat.
B&o puts the Playmaker into their version of the Nest thermostat body.
PROFIT!
Well, I think it must be a bit more than that!
What do you mean with "PROFIT!"?
Millemissen:What do you mean with "PROFIT!"?
I KNEW you worked for B&o!!!
Millemissen: I need a device/screen that shows me what is playing (cover/artist/album..../radiostation....) hanging on the wall/on a tablestand in every room, where loudspeakers are located! The device/screen could be made in different sizes. It would be nice to look at - just as nice as a BS5 screen is (no use for wheels, no need for interacting there (except for 'Standby'). What I want to hear and in which room I want to hear it, I will choose from a mobile device (in my case the iPad) - I am sure Bang & Olufsen could create a 'magic' interface for that. Should be incorporated in the BeoRemote app! What is playing should - to some extend - be controlable from the Beo4 as well: source, trackskip, skipping of playlist/radiostation favoritelist, play/pause and of cource volumen and standby. Greetings MM
BeoNut since '75
Hi elephanth,
as you know B&O selten 're-use' older concepts, so no thanks
The A3 was/is a nice device for what it was intended - if you just let it stay on secure ground...don't ever touch it
But it is certainly not what I had in mind!
Just thought: if we are dealing with non physical media or media in another room (could be a cd too), we don't have it in our hands. But many people like to 'see' what they are listening to - I surely like the covers/coverpics of my cd's, but I would not want to carry my iPad with my all the time....
....so a display in every room would be nice. If not, then what would B&O have to show?
The iPad is already made and it wasn't B&O that invented it.
They could make the interface/the app that manages all our media - is the BeoRemote (in progress) already this interface?
Greetings Millemissen
A "TV"where the only bit visible is the screen, with no obtrusive frame. The Screen should be a translucent plate which only becomes visible when necessary . Otherwise it shows a picture of the wall behind it . It would be totally convergent. That would be a b&o product as I understood them; a part of the house and not a showy bit of jewellery .
Beo Century ,Beoplay V1, Beocenter 6, Ex-Beolit 12, Beotime , A8. Beolit 15 , Form 2i , Beolab 2000, Beoplay A3.Beosound 1
Nice addition to my thoughts
But no 'tv' function intended from me - that is another story!
MM
From the day the BS5 was released I claimed it should have been an MCP for the modern era - an untethered system controller with two way communication capable of displaying cover art etc. I'd like B&O to have a bash at the hardware, I'm not convinced that running a B&O app on a third party tablet is particularly "B&O".
Everyone thinks flat tablet, but tablets are becoming a little, "meh" - what if it wasn't flat, could it be more tactile, what other features could it have........ the point being to start from a blank sheet.
What about reintroducing speakers with displays?
Compare to the Beolink7000 to the previous MCP's - just because we've had an MCP doesn't mean it couldn't be blown away by something different!
Ban boring signatures!
Millemissen: I need a device/screen that shows me what is playing (cover/artist/album..../radiostation....) hanging on the wall/on a tablestand in every room, where loudspeakers are located! ...
...
Goes in the right direction as an enhancement to the "physical experience" of i/o at the device... clearly BS5 could benefit from a truly 2 way interface and classy tablet display looks... The bulkiness of the system itself (cables and BM5) resolves itself over time with miniaturization.
"truly 2 way interface" -- Do you really mean that we should have a display on the wall or on a stand, and have to walk to it to interact with it physically (touch).
One might say that it isn't 'B&O'ish' to have an interface on a tablet, but I am sure that most people would appreciate to manage the media from the sofa, couch or wherever - and reinventeing a handheld device would be a nogo for B&O. Sonos once hat their own controller - I doubt that anyone is missing that.
I think of a display, that displays information of my media - not much more (and has a infrared receiver built in... - see above).
And I would not want a display in a speaker - I want to choose from the whole range of speakers for my use/my room.
Millemissen:onos once hat their own controller
I understand that it worked quite well and was always alive - there was no "app" to load, but................ it looked awful!
Of course people want to manage control from the sofa, hence the MCP reference. I disagree that reinventing a media controller is a no go, I for one, have no interest in buying an iPad, and I don't want to use/rely on a general purpose tablet/app combination as a media controller. I would much prefer a wake on contact dedicated device that excelled in it's only function, looked gorgeous, felt luxurious, and was very "tactile".
I doubt that people would pay the price, that B&O would have to charge for such a device!?
Millemissen: I doubt that people would pay the price, that B&O would have to charge for such a device!? MM
They did when they were MCP's!!!
Why do people buy Beo4's, 5's or 6's when they could buy Logitech Harmony's?
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
Chris Townsend:Maybe the gadget itself is now a redundant object, with the media itself being the crucial bought into item. For example, one of my best bits of hardware is my Apple TV which sits completely hidden on the back of my 11-46. What makes it such a good gadget is its ability to seamlessly stream great content with the mini IPad itself being the only hardware i use, and it is a familiar and fantastic interface. What lets it down is some of the picture quality and most of the sound quality.
Does nothing for me - I don't want to pay Apple for content, I don't want to buy Apple hardware - I'd prefer a B&O controller and B&O hardware. " What lets it down is some of the picture quality and most of the sound quality " - the antithesis of B&O and why they shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath!!!
I don't know about profit, but we do know that Nest tells us that you can make a very nice product from what was always boring.
I really think Playmaker is a great product, but man is it ugly! You don't have to make a thermostat (NEST) look awful, why do you have to make a smoke detector (Playmaker) look awful? Does it have to cost THAT much more, just because it's pretty?
BTW, a screen in every room showing you Album Art? Not if B&O has to make them. I wouldn't be able to afford it. How about an iPad, iPhone, iPodTouch, and BV8 and V1 with Apple TV doing that? Actually, we already have that! I will be the first one to admit that the solution is clunky right now, but the future might be in integration. Though if I were in B7Os shoes I would hesitate to hitch my star to Apple.
Puncher:Does nothing for me - I don't want to pay Apple for content, I don't want to buy Apple hardware - I'd prefer a B&O controller and B&O hardware. " What lets it down is some of the picture quality and most of the sound quality " - the antithesis of B&O and why they shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath!!! Ban boring signatures!
Considering the size and price of some of their products (I am thinking of Lab 5/9/14 and 8000). Would it be worthwhile them incorporating Airplay and/or Bluetooth and/or WiFi capabilities directly into the speakers. Their stated aim is to attract new B&O customers, why not start by giving them something they are familiar with?
Chris Townsend:Hence why I said I wanted a B&O app marketing B&O top quality downloads, way and above the Apple quality media.
So you did, my apologies!
Although I'm a little disappointed that everyone seems quite happy with the notion that using an iPad fulfils the requirement of "Incorporating beautiful design in the era of digital music"! It's all a little "me too" for my liking.
Puncher: Millemissen: I doubt that people would pay the price, that B&O would have to charge for such a device!? MM They did when they were MCP's!!!
Water under the bridge!!!
Puncher: Why do people buy Beo4's, 5's or 6's when they could buy Logitech Harmony's?
Times are changed, and most people own a tablet now. I don't think there is a market for a 2nd tablet, dedicated to control your audio. Sonos learned that lesson already..
Millemissen: But many people like to 'see' what they are listening to - I surely like the covers/coverpics of my cd's, but I would not want to carry my iPad with my all the time.... ....so a display in every room would be nice. If not, then what would B&O have to show?
But many people like to 'see' what they are listening to - I surely like the covers/coverpics of my cd's, but I would not want to carry my iPad with my all the time....
Like this then ?
Sorry elephant, nice try - but as I wrote above: "And I would not want a display in a speaker - I want to choose from the whole range of speakers for my use/my room."
On the other hand - then I would be able to re-use my BL5000 already hanging on the wall
Puncher: Chris Townsend:Maybe the gadget itself is now a redundant object, with the media itself being the crucial bought into item. For example, one of my best bits of hardware is my Apple TV which sits completely hidden on the back of my 11-46. What makes it such a good gadget is its ability to seamlessly stream great content with the mini IPad itself being the only hardware i use, and it is a familiar and fantastic interface. What lets it down is some of the picture quality and most of the sound quality. Does nothing for me - I don't want to pay Apple for content, I don't want to buy Apple hardware - I'd prefer a B&O controller and B&O hardware.
For example, one of my best bits of hardware is my Apple TV which sits completely hidden on the back of my 11-46. What makes it such a good gadget is its ability to seamlessly stream great content with the mini IPad itself being the only hardware i use, and it is a familiar and fantastic interface. What lets it down is some of the picture quality and most of the sound quality.
Does nothing for me - I don't want to pay Apple for content, I don't want to buy Apple hardware - I'd prefer a B&O controller and B&O hardware.
I did not read Chris' usage that way - but perhaps I am looking through my own eyes (ears).
Most of the music content I play through the ATV comes from my ripped CDs, some comes from my ripped music DVDs, some comes from iTune purchases (particularly music videos), and so are the studio quality recordings that I have purchased from LINN. I would happily purchase recordings from B&O ... and I wish they would promote recordings !
Where I am "guilty" of paying Apple for content is for movies and TV series; but I have probably "re-broadcast" for free (via Airplay to the ATV) more TV shows/movies from "BBC iPlayer", "ABC iView", and "SBS On Demand" apps than I have purchased from iTunes.
Puncher:" What lets it down is some of the picture quality and most of the sound quality " - the antithesis of B&O and why they shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath!!!
Maybe its my age and my failing eyes and ears but I rarely can detect a difference ... unless I am using the ATV to access YouTube (which I try to resist) or Vimeo (higher quality but sadly less content).
And don't forget the Plex Content "hack" means my ATV can now access my Plex library ... and a range of Plex add on stations/channels such as PBS in the USA, and various national archives/historical recordings of Jazz etc.
Millemissen: Sorry elephant, nice try - but as I wrote above: "And I would not want a display in a speaker - I want to choose from the whole range of speakers for my use/my room." On the other hand - then I would be able to re-use my BL5000 already hanging on the wall MM
yes, apologies, I only read that post after I have GIMPed the picture (I'd rather spend money on music than Photoshop )
Millemissen: "truly 2 way interface" -- Do you really mean that we should have a display on the wall or on a stand, and have to walk to it to interact with it physically (touch). One might say that it isn't 'B&O'ish' to have an interface on a tablet, but I am sure that most people would appreciate to manage the media from the sofa, couch or wherever - and reinventeing a handheld device would be a nogo for B&O. Sonos once hat their own controller - I doubt that anyone is missing that. I think of a display, that displays information of my media - not much more (and has a infrared receiver built in... - see above). And I would not want a display in a speaker - I want to choose from the whole range of speakers for my use/my room. Greetings Millemissen
... Display in every room - yes
... Movable and usable as control tool - yes
... Like IPAD and MLGW with Beolink App, but at a fraction of cost - yes
in such a scenario, a BS5 encore sized av system with BS 5 capability would be the bridge between design and digital. In my view not that far off
"....but at a fraction of cost - yes".
Money for nothing, and chicks for free!
Grrr! MM