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
Following the forum for a while now especially because of the difficulties to build up a multiroom experience with B&O products. Used a Moment, BeoLab 18 and 2 M3. These were working pretty fine. I decided to sell the moment as it has no future capabilities in favor of Balance and Emerge keeping the Lab 18 with an Essence.
My main question is how does a company like B&O imagine their future?! How does someone sell products declared as „high end“ for don’t know 6-25k and relaying on Airplay 2 or the data thief google Chromecast. There is no ability to stream services on Hi-Res although the hardware is supposed to be more than capable of dealing with such rates!! Even the option with an iPad/DAC is not possible or let’s say satisfying as there is no possibility to join the new products to an Essence or even the Core as they stopped actively develop Beoli Multiroom.
For those sound qualities streamed Sonos are more than enough, offering a way better integration. What a shame for a company which more or less was a pioneer in multiroom! Nope they keep spending tons of money advertising the „connected“ speakers (Via airplay and chromecast) as if the reinventing the Wheel……
I guess it’s „safer“ to invest in a multiroom system of other companies, because longline support of B&O services can’t be taken as granted anymore…
any suggestions for that?
Hi and welcome on the forum.
My best advice/suggestion would be to be patient…..a couple of days.
As you may have seen from some of the threads here, there are some changes just around the corner.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
as in literally
New: Beovision Harmony, Beolab 50's, Beolab 28's, Beolab 18's, Beolab 17's, Beosound Stage & LG, Beosound 2, Beoplay M3, Beoplay A1, Beoplay Portal, Beoplay H4 gen 2, Beoplay E8 3.0
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Old: Beosound 9000 mk3, Beolab 3's, Beovision Eclipse, Beolab 1's, Beolab 2, Beovision 10-46, Overture 2300, beolab 8000's, Beolab 4000's, Beovision avant 32" etc. etc.
Curious to see. Seems like they already lied to their costumers. Here the answer of the B&O:
“ It is important to mention that both BeoSound Balance and BeoSound Emerge are not compatible with Beolink Multiroom, this is basically a hardware-related compatibility matter which unfortunately cannot be changed with a software update.„
although they officially declares a future update on multiroom when introducing Emerge! „With a simple software update“
crazy what difficulties B&O are facing in communication….. it’s a pity. As if they compare them selves with e.g Apple where costumers are waiting for the next „big thing“. No wonder that players like Sonos dominate the market, even in the upper class, people choose Sonos, for a good reason 🤨
Danlymp:Curious to see. Seems like they already lied to their costumers. Here the answer of the B&O: “ It is important to mention that both BeoSound Balance and BeoSound Emerge are not compatible with Beolink Multiroom, this is basically a hardware-related compatibility matter which unfortunately cannot be changed with a software update.„ although they officially declares a future update on multiroom when introducing Emerge! „With a simple software update“ crazy what difficulties B&O are facing in communication….. it’s a pity. As if they compare them selves with e.g Apple where costumers are waiting for the next „big thing“. No wonder that players like Sonos dominate the market, even in the upper class, people choose Sonos, for a good reason 🤨
Danlymp:“ It is important to mention that both BeoSound Balance and BeoSound Emerge are not compatible with Beolink Multiroom, this is basically a hardware-related compatibility matter which unfortunately cannot be changed with a software update.„
That's very odd to hear. My understanding was that the Balance and the Emerge were both built on the new "Mozart" hardware platform, which is also used in the Level and the Beolab 28. And we have seen a demo of Multiroom working on the Level which means it should work on all the Mozart products.
I do agree that B&O is struggling significantly in this area. I really wanted a BeoSound Stage for my bedroom but was waiting for Deezer support since that's what is used in every other room in my home. I eventually gave up waiting, and now just use a pair of Beolab 8000s attached to an Essence II for the bedroom.
I fell in love with the Level the moment I saw it, and bought it the day that I read that they were working on the Beolink Multiroom integration. I know that's close, and I can hardly wait!
But B&O is going to have trouble getting any more of my money if the new products won't work with the long list of B&O gear I already own.
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! 🤦♂️
Same here. Got the Emerge as it was promised a Mulriroom update! Had 2 8000 with an MKII Essence for the bedroom, trusted in a way that multiroom would be possible on the new platform (as apple did with airplay/airplay2) and bought a Balance. What seems totally crazy for me is that B&O is offering hardware with high capabilities but no hardware to stream it to. All the streaming capabilities are downrating! On a system which e.g 28‘s costs in „stereo“ 12.000€! Except if they’re planning something. If so they should at least announce something. Else it seems like I, don’t know, Roon is going to be necessary. But in this case there would be no sense to acquire more B&O only products. Just maybe some „fancy“ speakers for the design and the rest Sonos!
It’s really for me a mystery in which strategic way B&O wants to go. They have the position of pretty high end/ luxury products. The usability which was brilliant since the very beginning is not existent anymore by removing Beolink. The „smart home“ problem which gets more and more complicated as there is no unified Plattform for so many smart devices gets even worse in terms of audio and B&O as they decided to do steps back. Kind of bowers&wilkins…. It’s ok to serve a market dominated by Sonos. But Musk and Bezos fly to space, I don’t think that it is not possible to connect the new platform to the existing Multiroom. Either by „digitalising“ the old Plattform over the app to fit into the new platform, or the other way around. At least if they think so they should start cooperation with eg Roon in order to provide a working system. No matter which „smart Plattform“ you look at, sonos has achieved to integrate -works with Sonos-. Throwing money to an BLI the dealers in Germany never heard about! -after an internal communication they called me that it does really exist but they would not recommend-!!!! B&O wants to control lights and shades…. Instead of concentrating on what they best can, audio products. Just find partners like even Gira/Jung eNet for example in Germany and integrate your technology….. the Halo… what a joke! Nobody really understands where to use it for ….. There is an Essence. Practical small device! Or trusting that one day B&O will bring THAT huge update which will give sense to their strategy ….
Danlymp: It’s really for me a mystery in which strategic way B&O wants to go. They have the position of pretty high end/ luxury products. The usability which was brilliant since the very beginning is not existent anymore by removing Beolink. The „smart home“ problem which gets more and more complicated as there is no unified Plattform for so many smart devices gets even worse in terms of audio and B&O as they decided to do steps back. Kind of bowers&wilkins…. It’s ok to serve a market dominated by Sonos. But Musk and Bezos fly to space, I don’t think that it is not possible to connect the new platform to the existing Multiroom. Either by „digitalising“ the old Plattform over the app to fit into the new platform, or the other way around. At least if they think so they should start cooperation with eg Roon in order to provide a working system. No matter which „smart Plattform“ you look at, sonos has achieved to integrate -works with Sonos-. Throwing money to an BLI the dealers in Germany never heard about! -after an internal communication they called me that it does really exist but they would not recommend-!!!! B&O wants to control lights and shades…. Instead of concentrating on what they best can, audio products. Just find partners like even Gira/Jung eNet for example in Germany and integrate your technology….. the Halo… what a joke! Nobody really understands where to use it for ….. There is an Essence. Practical small device! Or trusting that one day B&O will bring THAT huge update which will give sense to their strategy ….
Let me politely disagree with you.
The integration of the new products into Beolink (with Deezer integrated and Touch-to-Join) is very close. You can see that for youself on the BOTF YouTube-channel. Expect it before Christmas.
The BLI has received more new drivers in the past year than in any other year. They integrated ABB Free@Home (Busch & Jaeger). eNet is very closely related to KNX, so i enough dealers/customers would ask for it I think that can be integrated as well. If you (again) take a look at the BOTF channel for the Halo-integration with the BLI: you cannot find a more elegant ánd practical remote/wallstation to control your smart home. More reduced than a screen on the wall, the functionality of the wheel...
But one point you make is very important: there are still some very badly educated dealers around. And a badly briefed customer service. B&O should get some mystery shoppers...
True story! But it’s a Problem of Information. There is no official-B&O- Dealers or even the costumers service giving any advice for it. The BLI could have potential but it’s not pushed by B&O officially. It’s more or less. Let’s say, they don’t offer a complete product. A modular product where every component can be integrated in an existing environment. Nobody in this price segment is going to change his e.g electricity installation just in a favor of B&O. Nor does want someone want to relay on future updates if the communication is so bad! You choose finished products yes, Sonos. I tried to stream Deezer over airplay to Lab18s and even if I’m not an expert the quality is way beyond B&O App direct streaming. In the threads you can read khimo and BLI more in as a community kind of raspberry construction than a „ripe“ product for costumers not into YouTube DIY videos…. Would be nice if the BLI would work as a core/Bridge for all B&O audio products in connection with an open B&O app and streaming choices. Let’s wait till the end of the year…..
*way behind B&O direct streaming 😇