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
I still don't get it.
I wouldn't buy a telephone that just makes a call or drops calls, without being able to select who i'm actually talking to.
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
Tonker:I still don't get it. I wouldn't buy a telephone that just makes a call or drops calls, without being able to select who i'm actually talking to. Beovision 11-46, Beolab 14, Beovision 8-32, Beovision 3-32, Avant RF 28, Beosound 8, Beolit 12, Beocom 2, Beotime, H6 and Form 2, Beo 4's and a 6.
StUrrock: think you have put into words brilliantly the apparent essence of Essence's problem!!
think you have put into words brilliantly the apparent essence of Essence's problem!!
I agree. I've spoken with dealers who've seen it....and still don't get it.
I think it will all be down to the software / app and how user friendly it is.
i do like the idea of a simple control to turn on the system at a point you left off, and then having greater control from an app. Hopefully you will be able to scan your music and choise your mood fo music. just hopeing that it includeds some sort of MOTS.
Toby
I dont think you will see any of it, if it would be something special they would have shown a screen mock up or a beta. They must have this at this point,
I also think that the essence pick up what played last function will only work with internet radio or spotify connect, for sure not via Airplay.. DLNA I am not sure.
To me it looks like a slightly beefed up playmaker with internetradio and spotity connect which i could get through ios apps and airplay.
Most people will not need much more and the ability to have the remotes on the wall could be nice
The question for me is whether it will speak to NAS drive?
rmclachlan:The question for me is whether it will speak to NAS drive?
I got it long time ago!
How good this actually will work depends on the new (BeoMusic) app, imo.
How good the internetradio stations are implemented, and how well searching on DLNA devices as well as searching on music services like Spotify works, are my criterias for being usefull.
Most people probably are going to use it to play Spotify playlists (via Connect) and two or three different radio stations - with the 'knob' that will be easy to manage.
If your wishes for listening are a bit more complicated, the control via 'BeoMusic' (and how good that is) will be essential (!).
It won't take long 'till it's there - I guess.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Is there any confirmation as to whether it will be able to play 24bit 192kHz downloaded music files?
.
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.
essence: Less than £1k. Still don't get it?
Less than £1k.
Still don't get it?
If you want to be controlled by other people's hardware get a Cambridge audio streamer/preamp - the box is equally as ugly, has a tablet app, controllable volume output preamp to your beolabs and has great reviews for just about half the price.
Ban boring signatures!
kai:I wish they would listen to there core market, instead of keep looking to the Far East and Russia, after all it's europe that made b & o.
essence:Who is the core market?
Magnetic-core memory was the predominant form of random-access computer memory for 20 years (circa 1955–75). It uses tiny magnetic toroids (rings), the cores, through which wires are threaded to write and read information. Each core represents one bit of information. The cores can be magnetized in two different ways (clockwise or counterclockwise) and the bit stored in a core is zero or one depending on that core's magnetization direction. The wires are arranged to allow an individual core to be set to either a "one" or a "zero", and for its magnetization to be changed, by sending appropriate electric current pulses through selected wires. The process of reading the core causes the core to be reset to a "zero", thus erasing it. This is called destructive readout.
--mika
Having got into Playmaker for use in my field office, this and BL3 combo has been very good in many respects. The one thing that has let the whole show down is the software to drive it. It is simply appears in most forms to be rubbish, poorly thought out and unconsolidated in my opinion.
I don’t wont to get into the tech-stuff or a PhD in DNLA. I don’t care, I’m a grown-up and want something that is simple and easy to use. I want to play something from my PC (Win8) cos its simple, it does everything that I want without continual reconfiguration of sound settings and I don’t want it to be Apple and so on.
This is how I see things:-
1. Airfoil. Best of what I looked at but still rubbish in terms of control. Can only stream from an operating program one at a time. There is a definite reduction in sound quality (dynamics) – especially top-end crackle or drop-out. This may in part be dur to playmaker not handling WMA lossless but the problem is not there with WMP11. Cant use the Beo4 with Airfoil.
2. There is a 10second latency between Beoplayer and Airfoil. Not sure if this is one of those two or the Playmaker.
3. WMP11 Play to: Excellent quality (miles above Airfoil) but clunky to load play lists rather than direct play. Does allow the Beo4 to control volume. Cant control track progression of playlist with Beo4 though.
4. I still like BeoPlayer. Its simple, easy to navigate and just does it’s job. Use WMP11 for all the editing though when needed once in a blue moon.
5. I want my whole PC system to seamlessly play to Playmaker. Nothing I’ve tried seems to do this.
6. Don’t want iTunes. Don’t ask my why…I just don’t.
So if the forthcoming BeoMusic App can get away from the concept of streaming from a phone and only sticking to iOS or android and moves to a Win PC as well, offers a Beoplayer interface which is compatible with WMP11 and then streams better quality than Airfoil and is less clunky than Play to:, then I’m in, and it will be a great piece of software that does everything I need.
Too many superfluous gimmicks in today’s digital world. We need to focus on steady simple quality and get away from “cool” gadgets and toys and make it serious relaxing WiFi/HiFi again. I hope Essence (back box) and the App can solve this.
My 10% of 20cents.
Hi MR 10Percent,
First of all:
The Essence will - just like the Playmaker - support DLNA and AirPlay.
For AirPlay you will need an AirPlay compatible device (which you don't want!) to send the music to the Playmaker/Essence....
...or something that works the same way: Airfoil - which you don't like that much (neither do I).
And you don't want iTunes either.
For DLNA you need (in addition to the player - Playmaker/Essence - which is in that case a renderer) a DLNA compatible server and a ditto control point (a 'remote' software).
Means you can stream the music, that the server holds for you - nothing else, not 'your whole pc'.
That is NOT possible - DLNA doesn't work that way.
You can - as you know - use the DLNA function in the WMP11. But that is too 'clunky' as you have noticed.
There are a lot of other DLNA compatible progs for the pc (and the mac) - but they won't help you either.
The 'BeoMusic' app will be for iOS and (maybe?) for Android, but you won't get a Win-version of it. And it would not play 'your whole pc' anyway.
I am almost afraid to say that the new app won't solve your 'problem' ;-(
A lot of people want something 'not-Applish', that can do the same thing (for audio) as AirPlay (on iOS and Mac devices) does, but there is no such thing!!!
You will have to simply connect your Pc to the 'line-in' of the Playmaker/Essence-box.
If you can live with the lower quality that Bluetooth devices provide, you can connect a Bluetooth receiver to the Playmaker/Essence and this way stream all 'your pc'.
Or you will have to get used to Apple/AirPlay (at least untill something similar for Win turns up).
If you once have experienced how easy and smooth AirPlay works (on iDevices and Mac), I guess you would have to give it a try! ;-)
Greetings Millemissen
tournedos: essence:Who is the core market? Magnetic-core memory was the predominant form of random-access computer memory for 20 years (circa 1955–75). It uses tiny magnetic toroids (rings), the cores, through which wires are threaded to write and read information. Each core represents one bit of information. The cores can be magnetized in two different ways (clockwise or counterclockwise) and the bit stored in a core is zero or one depending on that core's magnetization direction. The wires are arranged to allow an individual core to be set to either a "one" or a "zero", and for its magnetization to be changed, by sending appropriate electric current pulses through selected wires. The process of reading the core causes the core to be reset to a "zero", thus erasing it. This is called destructive readout.
Vähintään yhdeksänkymmentä prosenttia suomalainen!
I noticed a new product called Beep on engadget. Very similar idea to Beosound Essence - but it sells for 1/10th the price it has the ability to link multiple units together for synchronized audio. It only works with Pandora and their own app for now so I'm not sure how successful it will be.
https://www.thisisbeep.com/
Beep seems very interesting - at least for Android users.
But it is 'pre order' and has to date only one service on bord (Pandora, which isn't interesting for europeans).
It surely is a device, that one should have a closer look at...
...when/if it will be on sale.
It's close enough in appearance and functionality it would seem B&O could take legal action against the company.
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
BeoBoy68:Beep is a poor copy of the master BeoSound Essence ! 👎😜
I would not see that as a copy of the Essence.
First thing: they certainly started developing it long before the Essence concept was lauched.
Secondly: it is a different concept - it is the attempt to make Chromecast avaible for 'only audio' (which to date does not exists).
It is an attempt to do for the Android devices what has been possible with AirPlay/iDevices for quite a while now.
The Chromecast SDK has recently been opened to all developers - the way for integrating 'cast' in the apps is now open.
Not that I am interested, but a lot of the Android users surely would appreciate the possibility to send wireless audio to an audio device.
This will (if they finish it) get a warm welcome from all 'Apple haters'.
Jeff: It's close enough in appearance and functionality it would seem B&O could take legal action against the company.
Or vice-versa! If you look back at their tweets and press coverage, they started discussing their new device in November 2013. B&O only mentioned the Essence in January 2014. Why do you assume that B&O would take the legal action?
moxxey: Jeff: It's close enough in appearance and functionality it would seem B&O could take legal action against the company. Or vice-versa! If you look back at their tweets and press coverage, they started discussing their new device in November 2013. B&O only mentioned the Essence in January 2014. Why do you assume that B&O would take the legal action?
I said it seemed they could, not that they would...reading is fundamental!
Apple sure would take legal action in a similar situation. I'm betting B&O has prior art dated before the end of 2013 too, knowing how long their usual product development cycle is...
Millemissen: Hi MR 10Percent, First of all: The Essence will - just like the Playmaker - support DLNA and AirPlay. For AirPlay you will need an AirPlay compatible device (which you don't want!) to send the music to the Playmaker/Essence.... ...or something that works the same way: Airfoil - which you don't like that much (neither do I). And you don't want iTunes either. For DLNA you need (in addition to the player - Playmaker/Essence - which is in that case a renderer) a DLNA compatible server and a ditto control point (a 'remote' software). Means you can stream the music, that the server holds for you - nothing else, not 'your whole pc'. That is NOT possible - DLNA doesn't work that way. You can - as you know - use the DLNA function in the WMP11. But that is too 'clunky' as you have noticed. There are a lot of other DLNA compatible progs for the pc (and the mac) - but they won't help you either. The 'BeoMusic' app will be for iOS and (maybe?) for Android, but you won't get a Win-version of it. And it would not play 'your whole pc' anyway. I am almost afraid to say that the new app won't solve your 'problem' ;-( A lot of people want something 'not-Applish', that can do the same thing (for audio) as AirPlay (on iOS and Mac devices) does, but there is no such thing!!! You will have to simply connect your Pc to the 'line-in' of the Playmaker/Essence-box. If you can live with the lower quality that Bluetooth devices provide, you can connect a Bluetooth receiver to the Playmaker/Essence and this way stream all 'your pc'. Or you will have to get used to Apple/AirPlay (at least untill something similar for Win turns up). If you once have experienced how easy and smooth AirPlay works (on iDevices and Mac), I guess you would have to give it a try! ;-) Greetings Millemissen
Ah! So what we have collectively established is a huge technical gap in what is available now and what B&O - should they choose to do could close-up for themselves.
I am still amiss as to why people think driving there system from a mobile device is a good thing? Maybe I'm too old and just no longer see the point.
10
Mr 10Percent: I am still amiss as to why people think driving there system from a mobile device is a good thing? Maybe I'm too old and just no longer see the point.
Next week sees another hype
@Minuscat - the cats are gathering 🐯
Mr 10Percent: I am still amiss as to why people think driving there system from a mobile device is a good thing? Maybe I'm too old and just no longer see the point. 10
I am still amiss as to why people think driving there system from a mobile device is a good thing?
Maybe I'm too old and just no longer see the point.
Sorry - I can't see what that has to do with being 'too old'.
It is a matter of how you use/want to use your media - and trying to find the best way (for you) to do it.
By the way - every remote control is a 'mobile device'. Has been for ages now.
Only difference to a 'touch screen mobile device' is, that latter is versatile and can be programmed (the app) to do 'whatever' you want.
Mr10Percent: I am still amiss as to why people think driving there system from a mobile device is a good thing? Maybe I'm too old and just no longer see the point. 10
@essence - please don't shoot at Mr10%.
If you read his post above, you will see that he is in the digital age - he uses his pc for media, and has tried out quite a few things to get things working for himself.
He just wasn't satisfied with the results.
My point is: please do experiment a bit with the possibilities that you get from a 'mobile device'/a tablet plus the right app's - to see if better results for what you want, could be achieved.
But - sorry to say so, Mr 10% - that would in the first place mean getting rid of the 'fear of modern touch inface devices'.
Millemissen: @essence - please don't shoot at Mr10%. If you read his post above, you will see that he is in the digital age - he uses his pc for media, and has tried out quite a few things to get things working for himself. He just wasn't satisfied with the results. My point is: please do experiment a bit with the possibilities that you get from a 'mobile device'/a tablet plus the right app's - to see if better results for what you want, could be achieved. But - sorry to say so, Mr 10% - that would in the first place mean getting rid of the 'fear of modern touch inface devices'. MM
I think Mr 10% might be referring to streaming media from a mobile device rather that actually using the device itself.
The issue with using other peoples generic hardware to control your audio system are -
1. In the case of phones, the battery doesn't last long enough as it is when using it as a phone, sitting browsing and reading a large music collection is far from ideal.
2. I agree with Mr 10%, I don't want to fill my phone or tablet with music to use a source for domestic playback - another battery killer and a waste of storage space on the mobile device. Much rather a NAS or similar, stored at higher quality .
3. I don't want to have to browse to and fire up an app when I want to listen to, navigate or browse my music collection, I want my control to be ready to go on pick up.
4. I don't want the vagaries of some one else's hardware and software updates to affect my ability to control my music collection when I want.
5. I don't want phone calls, texts or email alerts interrupting when I'm browsing.
I'm sure there are plenty of others.
While the above may be acceptable for the likes of Sonos etc. it is most definitely not OK for a high quality brand like B&O, it smacks of "I can't be bothered and this is a cheap and easy way out".
Ultimately only B&O dedicated hardware will do, anything else is a cop out. They have an opportunity to show us that their flair for user interaction hasn't deserted them and to make the definitive dedicated AV controller, they need to step up to the plate!!
essence:You guys are a bunch of nerds.
17 Posts and calling names. Shows a set of virtual balls.
- not guilty!
Still, don't let us keep you!
I give this forum a miss for a year or more because of the rude people and as soon as I come back - hey presto!
Thanks MM and Puncher for the comments.
I'm using a Lenovo Yoga with 1tb of SSD. Drive 1 - 512GB has the OS and all other programs. I use an additional dedicated 512GB SSD with all my WMA lossless music. It mirrors my BM/BS5 when at home.
Until recently I was using a Logitech Bluetooth adapter - mainly because of the limited connects on the Yoga and because I wanted to move the PC around. The BT adapter was rubbish. Mediocre sound quality and kept dropping itself from the devices log so a re-install was required nearly every restart.
Through a strict timing issue I had, I could not get the cables I needed at the time window I had available but the workaround was to quickly go and grab a Playmaker to go with BL3's. All very good.
However, as per my earlier post, the whole thing lacks proper integration and seamlessness that one always had with B&O. In 20 years of owning integrated B&O - it has always been a snitch. TV, DVD, Audio, Multi-channel, loudspeakers, 1 remote all came together. Easy.
Now in the so-called digital age, it simply is not easier, its often not as good quality and it certainly is a lot of faffing around and tribalism (i.e no fruit for me please).
And this is the thing, why cant this stuff all integrate together properly in a seamless effective way? The last thing I want to do when I get home and relax is to play with my phone. I don't want it in my sight or ear-shot when I'm relaxing like watching a movie or listening to music etc.. The way some people are, I bet they have an App to print loo paper out when having a sh....
There has got to be an effective way and if B&O are listening - rather than faffing around choking on software for toys, this to me is a HUGE opportunity; bring it all together like few if any have before.
Simples.
Mr 10Percent:And this is the thing, why cant this stuff all integrate together properly in a seamless effective way? The last thing I want to do when I get home and relax is to play with my phone. I don't want it in my sight or ear-shot when I'm relaxing like watching a movie or listening to music etc.. The way some people are, I bet they have an App to print loo paper out when having a sh....
Amen. I've spent the most part of my time awake with hands on a keyboard for the last 25 years. Only recently, I have learned to come home some evenings, not turn on any computers, and all I do with my phone is connect it to a charger. How thoroughly liberating.
Besides, I hate touch screen controls. Give me buttons and knobs that I can feel and won't alter their function while I'm not looking at them. Have you touch screen advocates ever thought how a blind person would use his music system?
I totally agree. There's no music on my phone , some on my iPod and pad and a stack of CDs . I listen to the radio without going through the Internet unless its podcasts. But I'm finding it very confusing what to buy to replace the beosound Century I bought new in 1996. I keep thinking I've got the answer then I realise why not . I've gone from A9 to Beolab3 with AirPlay to beosound 4 or 5 . But then I've enquired about bosscomm transmitting to the next room from the V1 .....
The century has done good service for 18 years for £1100 on tangible media and a terrestrial radio.
Beo Century ,Beoplay V1, Beocenter 6, Ex-Beolit 12, Beotime , A8. Beolit 15 , Form 2i , Beolab 2000, Beoplay A3.Beosound 1
tournedos: Have you touch screen advocates ever thought how a blind person would use his music system?
Have you touch screen advocates ever thought how a blind person would use his music system?
I am not sure it would be easier for the blind person to go to the place where the cd's are located, pick just the one he/she wants to hear and then pop it into a cd player
In general I am not sure, what some of you guys really want
If you want 'status quo', just stick to cd's, dvd's, radio stations and go on using your good old remote control.
If you want more (play music from a nas, pc og a streaming service...), then please do tell me how you are going to manage the control of it - without some kind of (touch or keyboard/mouse driven) interacting with a screen.
And for gods sake let those damn phones stay in your pockets or connected to a charger - they are too small for the job.
Get a dedicated tablet for media-only, and give it a friendly nickname that won't remind you of work or 'some one elses hardware'....
....at least untill you can buy a 'BeoRemote'!