Beosound Core + Beolink Converter NL/ML + Spotify Connect issue (MasterLink dist

5 replies
HE
Harald Ernens
Bronze
6 posts
Posted June 12, 2026 at 12:02 GMT
#1645662
Beosound Core + Beolink Converter NL/ML + Spotify Connect issue (MasterLink distribution) Hello everyone, I have a hybrid Bang & Olufsen setup combining older MasterLink products with newer Network Link products, and I am trying to understand whether I am facing a configuration issue or a technical limitation. My current setup:
  • Beosound Core (older version, not the new 2024 version)
  • Beolink Converter NL/ML Firmware version: 1.4.6.1
  • Beovision Horizon (Network Link)
  • Beovision 10-40 (MasterLink)
  • Beosound 3500 (MasterLink)
The Beolink Converter is configured as:
  • ML role: A Master
  • Primary product: Beosound Core
  • Secondary product: Beovision Horizon
Current observations: 1. B&O Radio via Core works perfectly I mapped B&O Radio from the Core to RADIO on MasterLink. Result:
  • Radio plays perfectly on Beosound 3500
  • Radio also works on BV10
  • Stable playback, no interruptions
2. Bluetooth streaming works If I stream music from my phone to the Core using Bluetooth:
  • The music is distributed correctly over the ML system
  • Playback works on Beosound 3500 and other ML products
So NL to ML audio distribution is working. 3. Spotify Connect does NOT work When I start Spotify using Spotify Connect directly to the Core:
  • Spotify starts correctly on the Core
  • The Horizon can play the Spotify stream
But:
  • The ML products immediately stop receiving audio
  • If I select N.MUSIC (mapped to Core → Music) Spotify stops immediately
  • No sound is distributed to MasterLink products
I also tested this while B&O Radio was already playing over ML. Scenario:
  • Core playing B&O Radio
  • ML system playing radio normally
  • Start Spotify Connect to Core
Result:
  • B&O Radio stops immediately
  • Spotify does NOT continue on MasterLink
  • ML audio disappears completely
Important: Bluetooth streaming DOES work. Spotify Connect DOES NOT work. This seems Spotify-specific. My question: Is this a known limitation of the older Beosound Core + Beolink Converter NL/ML combination? Or is there a specific BLC configuration that allows Spotify Connect to be distributed over MasterLink? At this point it seems that:
  • B&O Radio = works
  • Bluetooth = works
  • Spotify Connect = immediately breaks NL → ML audio distribution
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Location: Nederland

H.J. Ernens
PV
Peter Vaessen
Bronze
7 posts
Posted July 29, 2026 at 20:37 GMT ? Edited July 29, 2026 at 20:39 GMT
#1673836
Good evening, As owner of a Essence MKII, which is pretty much the same product, and far as my knowlegde goes the built in Spotify does not accept distribution. It will only play on the Core/Essence itself. If you have a Google Chromecast Audio available, you can link it to a line-in somewhere and link ik to the N.MUSIC or A.MEM source. That source is available in the complete system. Tidal and Deezer are a better music streaming solutions as they allow distribution and are more integrated in the Core/Essence/Beo App Kind regards, Peter
TM
Tuan Mark
Bronze
2 posts
Posted August 21, 2026 at 08:44 GMT
#1674002
ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I would also suspect a limitation specific to the Spotify Connect source rather than the MasterLink distribution itself. Since B&O Radio and Bluetooth both pass correctly through the Core/BLC, the basic NL → ML configuration seems to be working.

One thing I’d check is whether Spotify Connect is actually exposed by the Core as an audio source that the BLC can map to an ML source. If the Core handles Connect as a separate Network Link source, it may start playback locally on the Horizon but not generate the ML source command/audio stream expected by the Converter.

Have you tried checking the BLC configuration/logs while starting Spotify Connect, especially which source command the Core sends at that moment? That might confirm whether this is a configuration issue or simply a limitation of the older Core firmware.

BA
Beatrice assiana
Bronze
1 post
Posted October 26, 2026 at 11:31 GMT
Beosound Core + Beolink Converter NL/ML + Spotify Connect issue (MasterLink distribution) Hello everyone, I have a hybrid Bang & Olufsen setup combining older MasterLink products with newer Network Link products, and I am trying to understand whether I am facing a configuration issue or a technical limitation. My current setup: Beosound Core (older version, not the new 2024 version) Beolink Converter NL/ML Firmware version: 1.4.6.1 Beovision Horizon (Network Link) Beovision 10-40 (MasterLink) Beosound 3500 (MasterLink) The Beolink Converter is configured as: ML role: A Master Primary product: Beosound Core Secondary product: Beovision Horizon Current observations: 1. B&O Radio via Core works perfectly I mapped B&O Radio from the Core to RADIO on MasterLink. Result: Radio plays perfectly on Beosound 3500 Radio also works on BV10 Stable playback, no interruptions 2. Bluetooth streaming works If I stream music from my phone to the Core using Bluetooth: The music is distributed correctly over the ML system Playback works on Beosound 3500 and other ML products So NL to ML audio distribution is working. 3. Spotify Connect does NOT work When I start Spotify using Spotify Connect directly to the Core: Spotify starts correctly on the Core The Horizon can play the Spotify stream But: The ML products immediately stop receiving audio If I select N.MUSIC (mapped to Core → Music) Spotify stops immediately No sound is distributed to MasterLink products I also tested this while B&O Radio was already playing over ML. Scenario: Core playing B&O Radio ML system playing radio normally Start Spotify Connect to Core Result: B&O Radio stops immediately Spotify does NOT continue on MasterLink ML audio disappears completely Important: Bluetooth streaming DOES work. Spotify Connect DOES NOT work. This seems Spotify-specific. My question: Is this a known limitation of the older Beosound Core + Beolink Converter NL/ML combination? Or is there a specific BLC configuration that allows Spotify Connect to be distributed over MasterLink? At this point it seems that: B&O Radio = works Bluetooth = works Spotify Connect = immediately breaks NL → ML audio distribution Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Has anyone else faced similar issues with the Beosound Core and Beolink Converter? What configurations have worked for you?
Rolf2
Rolf2
Bronze
495 posts
Posted October 26, 2026 at 21:37 GMT
What about the BLC ´s software version? It should be on 1.4.3.19864 as the latest - and final - version. Is it really 1.4.6.1? Cannot say anything about Spotify, running Deezer and Tidal. To my knowledge, the reason why B&O had Deezer built in and not Spotify was, that Spotify would not allow for multiroom distribution. BS Core and BLC configurations: I run an Essence MK II and a core MK II (as BS Shape) with Deezer and Tidal, and it works flawless in my ML / NL network with four BLC (two are connected to two BLC 1611 😄). I hope you find the solution soon! Kind regards, Rolf

Location: Germany

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