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 have a question about the Beosound Moment and Multiroom.
I've see lots of images and videos showing the Beosound Moment having Multiroom controls. However, most of the time, mine does not. When I first setup my Beosound Moment, I recall that I had Multiroom control for about a day (I believe it was the first public version 2 software) and then couldn't find it again. And then when I upgraded to the public version 2.2 software, I had multiroom control just after the update, but it has since disappeared.
I've seen images where multiroom control is provided through a "Link" link on the left side of the "Playlist Radio Artists Discover" screen. However, I do not have the "Link" link on that screen.
In case its relevant, I'm running the latest public version 2.2 software and have since did a complete reset/setup, I have only Deezer HiFi and TuneIn accounts setup, my Moment is setup to use the speakers attached to my hardwired 2014 Avant 75 (running the latest software), and my moment is hardwired and on a stable WiFi connection. I have 14 other beolink devices including essence Mk2 based devices, at least one core based device, a number of 2014 Avants, and no master link devices. My moment properly lists all my network link devices on the setup screen. And multiroom from the Moment works via the Bang & Olufsen application on my iPhone.
Accordingly, I'm wondering if the Beosound Moment has multiform controls on one of its screens. And if it does, where is it supposed to be and is there some reason why I can't see it on my moment?
I have only seen the "link" on my Moment when other devices were already playing streams. I haven't ever seen a way to use my Moment to add other Multiroom devices to its stream.
It's really a shame - such a wonderful device, with amazing potential. But with it now out of production, I don't expect the software to get any more development from B&O. (And whoever allowed the Jukebox to be designed around any irreplaceable part with a short lifetime should certainly lose their job!)
Sources: 2x Beosound Moment • 4x Beosound Essence Mk II Speakers: 3x Beolab 8000 • 2x Beolab 6000 • 2x Beolab 3 • 3x Beolab 2 Integrated: 1x Beosound 2 • 1x Beosound Level • 4x BeoPlay M5 • 1x BeoPlay A6 Control: 16x* Essence Remote • 1x Beoremote Halo
* Yes, really! 🤦♂️
Lyle Clarke: We never released or promised an Expand screen to send what was playing on the Moment to other products although it is such an obvious use case there has been a lot of speculation.
If this feature appeared I'm not sure if I would be thrilled to have the new functionality or crushed that I can't go buy a new Moment for every room in my house. (I admit that I'm leaning strongly towards thrilled.)
Lyle Clarke: the content services are in control of the entire brand & visual experience and the ecosystem giants provide the multiroom and voice tech.
I appreciate your willingness to reveal some of the reasoning behind B&O's decision-making. What you say here really makes sense to me, even if it makes me sad.
When music came on vinyl or CD, the content was completely decoupled from the user interface, and followed a published standard that anyone could implement, free of charge. This decoupling of the interface from the content allowed B&O to create the amazing sound systems I fell in love with: B&O has always been about design and interface, not only sound quality.
Now practically all content comes from streaming services who get to decide who does or does not connect to the service, and how the users interact with it. When I purchased my first Essence I discovered that Spotify had essentially locked B&O out of the user interface: it required that I use the Spotify app and Spotify Connect to control the sound coming from my B&O speakers. The only thing separating a Beosound Essence from the cheapest Spotify streamer was the existence of the Essence Remote to provide a physical interface. It is no wonder that the Moment uses Deezer: in both the B&O app and the Moment Deezer has allowed B&O to build their own (fantastic) interface for the Deezer streaming service; presumably Spotify wouldn't allow this because they demand use of the Spotify app to control Spotify content.
It seems that B&O is in a tough position. Spotify dominates the streaming audio market and obviously hasn't allowed B&O to create their own interface to Spotify's streaming system. I ditched my Spotify account and signed up for Deezer because the interface of B&O's iPhone app was vastly superior to the Spotify interface. But I know lots of people who wouldn't buy a device that didn't work well with Spotify. I understand now why the Moment is discontinued.
I hope B&O finds a practical way to continue to create beautiful hardware interfaces for music. I still remember the moment when, at around 8 years of age, I saw my first B&O system. I was in awe of the interface, not the music. When I was a teenager I drooled over the amazing Beosound 3000 and Beosound 900, not for their sound but for their interface. Finally, I purchased my first Beolab Essence specifically because of the Essence Remote; had the remote not existed I would have ended up with a $35 Chromecast Audio dongle instead. (Yes, the physical remote actually convinced me to spend $1,500 USD on an essence and pair of remotes instead of $35 on the CCA device. The user interface is that important to me.) I now find my house to have 4 Essences, a Moment, and even an M5 in the bathroom. All controllable by the app, but operated primarily by the 8 Essence Remotes I have strung around the house.
And in less than an hour I'm now forced to eat my words. Or at least some of them.
My Moment is, this very instant, playing music from Spotify. I had to start it from the Spotify app on my phone, but the display is accurately showing the tracks, and I can control volume and skip forward with the Essence Remote I use to control the Moment. It's not the same level of integration that Deezer offers, but I'm utterly shocked that it exists at all. I need to consider resubscribing to one of their paid plans.
Someone at B&O has authorized spending money on software development to add features to a product that is no longer available for purchase. I cannot express enough my appreciation for that.
It's such a shame that the Moment is no longer for sale. I know software has caused may problems since release, but with this latest version it is truly an outstanding product. I guess it's off to eBay to find some more. :-/
laseralex: My Moment is, this very instant, playing music from Spotify.
My Moment is, this very instant, playing music from Spotify.
Is this a new feature - or one, that you just newly discovered?
Does the Moment appear in the list of ‘Spotify devices’, when using the Spotify app?
When you can control the playback (skip tracks, stop/start) via the Essence Remote, can you also do it directly on the display of Moment/the wooden part?
(if you know) can you do the same with the beo remote, if the Moment is set to be integrated with a NL-tv?
How about multiroom? I can hardly believe that you can join in from elsewhere, like you can using Deezer.
Sorry for the many questions, but this could be interesting to other Moment users(future users, I am sure.
(Could you provide a couple of pics - these often show more than words?)
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Sorry for the many questions, but this could be interesting to other Moment users/future users, I am sure.
Maybe Lyle could comment on this, also!
laseralex:All controllable by the app, but operated primarily by the 8 Essence Remotes I have strung around the house.
BeoNut since '75
Thank you to Lyle and the others that have responded to clarify this issue for me. What prompted my original post was the attached image from the article: https://www.engadget.com/2015/08/05/bang-and-olufsen-beolink-multiroom/
At first glance, the screen on the moment in the image appeared to be an expand screen. However, upon closer inspection, it is just as Lyle and others have described. That is, the screen is a "link" (or "join"...B&O seams to use the terms interchangeably) screen where there are multiple devices in the beolink network playing different content that the moment can link too. As described by others, my "link" option is only visible when there is something to link too.
elephant: laseralex: All controllable by the app, but operated primarily by the 8 Essence Remotes I have strung around the house. OMG A world record ?
laseralex: All controllable by the app, but operated primarily by the 8 Essence Remotes I have strung around the house.
All controllable by the app, but operated primarily by the 8 Essence Remotes I have strung around the house.
OMG
A world record ?
I just keep adding them. They're the best value from B&O in years. (At least when all the software is working. :-/ )
My bedroom has one at the door so I can join a stream when I walk into the room, or stop the music when I leave. Of course there is also one by the bed so I can control music and volume while lying down. Just inside the master bath is another that I can reach from the shower to control the M5 on the counter.
My office has one on the wall at the doorway, and one on my desk, both controlling the moment.
My kitchen Essence has one remote at the entry to the kitchen. The Dining room has a table remote to control an essence, and it is the same for the living room.
That's 8 remotes, and it's almost enough. I actually have a 9th on order so I can also have one at the entry to the living room.
As opposed to an expand function for the moment, what I'm really interested in is a "target" function where I'm able to target the playback from the moment to any of one of the various beolink devices I have throughout my home. My phone is OK for solo use, but when I'm listening to music with others or entertaining, the interface of the moment is very much appreciated.
After playing around with the moment, I wonder if there is a work around. My Moment is linked to my 2014 Avant 75 and I noticed that when content from my moment is playing on my Avant 75, I can perform a multiroom expand via the Bang & Olufsen app to additionally playback the content from the moment to a second device. Further, I can even terminate playback to the Avant 75 via the Bang & Olufsen app while continuing playback on the second device. This effectively shifts playback from my Avant 75 to my second device, which is exactly what I want. Unfortunately, whenever I change tracks, the Avant 75 turns back on and playback occurs via both the Avant 75 and the second device.
Thus, if I had a software wish for the Moment, it would be, in the above scenario, to not resume playback on the Avant 75, when the connection is terminated via the Bang & Olufsen app while in a multiroom expand initiated via the Bang & Olufsen app. This would allow one to use the Bang & Olufsen app to effectively be able to target the playback from the moment to any device in my beolink network.
And while I haven't tried it yet, I believe there may be a way to get around the above issue. I intend on decoupling my moment from my Avant 75 and setting it up for a wired connection, but without any speakers actually being connected to the moment. While I'll unfortunately have use the Bang & Olufsen app each time I use the moment to expand to whatever device(s) to which I want to target playback from the moment, my hope is that is avoids the issue I described above with my Avant 75. However, this is just a a work around and I lose the benefit of the immediate turn on of my Avant 75 by the moment while requiring the need to use the Bang & Olufsen app each time I use the moment, so this is not the ideal solution. I believe the ideal solution would require a change to the software.
EDIT: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION NO LONGER APPLIES TO THE CURRENT SOFTWARE (V2.2) WHICH DOES NOT SUPPORT SPOTIFY CONNECT.
Millemissen: Is this a new feature - or one, that you just newly discovered?
It was discovered / mentioned on 2018-03-24 by a poster named "Paco", here.
Millemissen: Does the Moment appear in the list of ‘Spotify devices’, when using the Spotify app?
Yes! On my iPhone, Spotify lists a bunch of Google Cast and Spotify Connect devices. The Moment is listed as a Spotify Connect device just like my Essences and my M5, and can be connected to just the same as any other Spotify Connect device.
Millemissen: When you can control the playback (skip tracks, stop/start) via the Essence Remote, can you also do it directly on the display of Moment/the wooden part?
The round volume/control surfaces on both the metal and the wood sides of the Jukebox work for volume and track skip forward and back. The touchscreen doesn't allow me to swipe, as it doesn't seem to show upcoming or past tracks the way the Moment does when playing Deezer content. Possibly because I don't have a paid Spotify plan. (I expect that this will change very shortly, given this new feature!)
Millemissen: (if you know) can you do the same with the beo remote, if the Moment is set to be integrated with a NL-tv?
I don't own a Beo Remote.
Yet. ;-)
Millemissen: How about multiroom? I can hardly believe that you can join in from elsewhere, like you can using Deezer.
Yes, even multiroom works! I started a song on the Spotify app listening on my phone, then used Spotify Connect within the Spotify App to move it to the Moment:
Back to the main Spotify screen and it shows at the bottom that the track is playing on the Moment:
Switching to the B&O app, I see that the Moment is playing from Spotify (showing Spotify Logo):
B&O app now-playing screen :
Spotify Logo at top, Multiroom link available at the bottom! :D
I added the bedroom with the Multiroom Link button in the app. Then I walked to the kitchen and joined the stream with the Esssence Remote. This was reflected as expected in the B&O app, but also showed in the Spotify app that the links had been made:
Here's the appearance on the Jukebox:
Millemissen: (Could you provide a couple of pics - these often show more than words?)
Nah, that sounds like way too much work. ;-)
EDIT: THE ABOVE INFORMATION NO LONGER APPLIES TO THE CURRENT SOFTWARE (V2.2) WHICH DOES NOT SUPPORT SPOTIFY CONNECT.
Great - and great thanks for taking the time for answering all of my questions....and thanks for the pics, too ;-)))
Very much appreciated and helpfull for those interested in a Moment —- and to clarify that the Moment still is a capable device.
I guess I - personally - will have to rethink my decision from earlier days not to buy one (I am a dedicated Spotify user, never really got used to Deezer).
laseralex: Millemissen: Does the Moment appear in the list of ‘Spotify devices’, when using the Spotify app? Yes! On my iPhone, Spotify lists a bunch of Google Cast and Spotify Connect devices. The Moment is listed as a Spotify Connect device just like my Essences and my M5, and can be connected to just the same as any other Spotify Connect device.
As long as the device you connect to have Spotify Connect built in, Multiroom should work.
Livingroom: BL3, BL11, BV11-46 Kitchen: Beosound 1 GVA, Beocom 2 Bathroom: M3 Homeoffice: M3, Beocom 2 Library: Beosound Emerge, Beocom 6000 Bedroom: M5, Essence remote Travel: Beoplay E8 2.0, Beoplay EQ, Beoplay Earset
Millemissen: Great - and great thanks for taking the time for answering all of my questions....and thanks for the pics, too ;-))) Very much appreciated and helpfull for those interested in a Moment —- and to clarify that the Moment still is a capable device. I guess I - personally - will have to rethink my decision from earlier days not to buy one (I am a dedicated Spotify user, never really got used to Deezer). MM
If you can live without the Mood Wheel and the ability to browse the music from the Moment jukebox, just go for it
Hiort: Millemissen: Great - and great thanks for taking the time for answering all of my questions....and thanks for the pics, too ;-))) Very much appreciated and helpfull for those interested in a Moment —- and to clarify that the Moment still is a capable device. I guess I - personally - will have to rethink my decision from earlier days not to buy one (I am a dedicated Spotify user, never really got used to Deezer). MM If you can live without the Mood Wheel and the ability to browse the music from the Moment jukebox, just go for it
But no moodwheel, and no ability to browse music. Doesn't that just make the Moment an expensive Core that is discontinued ?
/Jacob
Millemissen:I guess I - personally - will have to rethink my decision from earlier days not to buy one (I am a dedicated Spotify user, never really got used to Deezer).
You definitely should not buy one. Or at least you should not buy a used system from eBay. Or if you're thinking about a used system from eBay, you should definitely hold off until I'm able to get a couple more for myself.
I only have one Moment right now, in my office. But with the latest software updates it has become a truly spectacular product. I expect that before the end of 2018 I will have them in my bedroom and living room as well.
laseralex:Nah, that sounds like way too much work. ;-)
I know this thread is several years old but I am taking a chance and hoping for an answer:
To me, the Besond Moment was a brilliant product and should never have been discontinued- but would surely be due for an update by now.
Unfortunately, it looks like B&O has abandoned the whole idea of a music system and such and seems to be moving towards stand-alone speakers and TVs with various remote controls.
So for that reason, I am potentially in the market for a Beosond Momemt as the latest and greatest music system B&O has to offer.
However, except for your detailed post, I cannot find any indication or evidence that the Beosound Moment actually supports Spotify Connect; no listings refer to it, no searches on forums or the like confirms and any private seller I have asks just says they only use Deezer and can neither confirm or deny.
One person suggested that the Spotify Connect was only available for a short period in a beta release but was removed again.
Do you still have your Beosound Moment and can you confirm if Spotify Connect does in fact still work the way you so perfectly documented?
Hi Ternst
The BS Moment never had any support for Spotify Connect.
Too bad. I really had my hopes up based on this thread.
So all the pictures and explanations given by Laseralex on page 1 of this very thread were for some reason simply not correct?
Re-reading this whole thread I’ll have to correct myself……...the BS Moment was never sold with an official support for Spotify Connect - and Deezer is the main built-in source (apart from the DLNA support).
It seems that only trying out can proof this - I did not have the chance, the Moment never became part of my setup (was too expensive to get just to ‘play around’ with.
Actually not many Moment user were interested in Spotify, since they and B&O fully focussed om Deezer.
Would be nice if Laseralex could chime in to tell if it is still so and how his experience has been since the time of his former postings.
BS Moment had actually support for Spotify Connect in one of the official releases, but was removed in a later version. If I remember correctly this was before the rewritten SW, the bigger upgrade. As we are all aware, no new SW has been released in a long time. Today's SW is stable and has the basic functions, but lacks some functions that it has had. There is certainly a good reason for that.
Thank you very much for the answer. Not what I was hoping for but certainly seems to be conclusive.
Moningsand: BS Moment had actually support for Spotify Connect in one of the official releases, but was removed in a later version. If I remember correctly this was before the rewritten SW, the bigger upgrade. As we are all aware, no new SW has been released in a long time. Today's SW is stable and has the basic functions, but lacks some functions that it has had. There is certainly a good reason for that.
Thanks for clarifying.
Can you ‘downgrade’ the SW to get the original release…..in order to have support for Spotify Connect?
I would say that is impossible since you can't chose SW version without special support from B&O. If your main use case is Spotify connect I would go for a BS core instead. Moment is tailored for Deezer, and without you don't really gain anything with a Moment, besides WISA and screen.
Thanks.
I use - and that as my main source - the Essence MK2 since day 1….it offers me all I need, really!
It was just the thought of having the screen (and the controls at hand) that triggered my question.
However looking at the pic on the previous page it seems that only the artist, album….title is shown there - with no album art, when playing via Spotify Connect.
In that case I am better off with my dedicated iPad Mini‘s in (almost) every room here.
What is shown when playing via Bluetooth on the Moment?
Was thinking that one could always pair a Google Home Mini and/or an Apple TV via Bluetooth and gain Spotify Connect, Airplay etc. that way. Should at least still be possible to control volume, skip tracks etc
I believe I read that up to 8 Bluetooth sources can be remembered by the Moment, so it should not really limit the use in any way to have one or two devices permanently linked via Bluetooth.
Millemissen:Would be nice if Laseralex could chime in to tell if it is still so and how his experience has been since the time of his former postings.
I never ended up using Spotify Connect, because I preferred the interaction using the Momen't touch interface as well as the B&O app, which are both designed around Deezer and TuneIn.
I just downloaded Spotify to my phone again and have confirmed that the Spotify Connect feature has been removed from the latest B&O firmware. It doesn't make any sense to remove working software from functional software, so I can only imagine that Spotify released an update that broke the B&O software and they removed it instead of fixing it.
I added some disclaimers to the beginning and end of my previous post in hopes that nobody is led astray by it in the future.