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
Bang & Olufsen seem to be presenting the Beosound Essence as a new way to enjoy music. I get the concept and like to look of the product, but how backward compatible will this be able to go? Some of my classic equipment is old beolink, and my speakers are passive. Does this mean that there are compatibility issues? How well will this interact with beoplayer? If it can interact with beolink passive, and/or beoplayer, there may be a chance of avoiding over-costly upgrades to equipment I love.
Basically the Essence is a stand-alone system, but - like with the Playmaker - you can use the PL-out of the 'hide-away box' to connect to a 'A.AUX' or to a 'A.TAPE' port of older BeoMasters.
And - like with any PL-out - you can use the BL Passive or the ML/MCL Converter as an amp for passive speakers of your choice.
The 'hide-away box' has a 'Line-in' (RCA/phono), that can be used for anything, that has a line-out connection - a CD-player, a BeoGram....
You can play music via AirPlay and DLNA from supporting devices - and it supports Spotify Connect. There will be an app (BeoMusic) that allows you to access internetradio stations, control the unit and more.
The 'knob' is merely a remote for some of the most common functions. It has a port for an infra-red eye, which (perhaps) in the future makes it possible to control some of the functions with a Beo4 (or the soon coming new remote).
But - as I wrote above - it will be launched as a stand-alone system (with BeoLabs of your own choice) - and with focus on the 'knob' remote.
What kind of 'backwards compatibility' are you looking for?
Greetings Millemissen
There is a tv - and there is a BV
The Essence looks interesting but why is there no NL connectivity? How would you connect this to a Beosystem 4 or a Beovision 11? It seems to me that there are probably new NL products in the future.
I suppose so, too.
MM
That won't work. It's a remote that sends RF-signals that only the Essence will understand. I guess in most cases, the additional remote will only be used to start the music, where you left off the last time.
linder: The Essence looks interesting but why is there no NL connectivity? How would you connect this to a Beosystem 4 or a Beovision 11? It seems to me that there are probably new NL products in the future.
Why would you need NL connectivity? The Essence cannot be controlled from your TV. It can only be controlled from a the new BeoMusic App or Airplay from your tablet. However, you can always use the Essence's powerlink with a fixed volume as a aux-out, and connect it to the AV-IN of the BS4 or BV11. Set the AV-IN to CD or RADIO, or another free source available under your LIST-commands. Same as you can do now for the PlayMaker or a different brand audio-device like Sonos.
My Beogram and Beocenter is too old for beolink, but works with the beo4 remote for volume functionality through the beovision. If the Essence allowed me to access the music on my PC through beoplayer, then there isn't a compatability problem as the beocenter and beogram work as stand alone anyway. My speaker system is passive, and non-B&O as it was the only component where I preferred the sound from a different manufacturer. I'm guessing that I would have to upgrade to active speakers for this.
If your BeoCenter has a free input (A.AUX/A.Tape) just connect the PowerLink-out to it (as already described), and use your setup as it is now.
If you want to use the PC/the BeoPlayer on the PC, just connect the output of the PC to the line-in of the Essence. I suppose it will (like the Playmaker) autosense the signal, when it comes and let it be the actual source.
P.S. Which BeoCenter do you have?
Sounds like I will have to make some changes to my current setup. At the moment I have a Beocenter 4000 as the main amplifier. Since I no longer use the cassette decks anymore, I was more or less looking for a replacement rather than an addition.