Mark wrote:

An Airplay speaker that has an unstable connection to networks and Bluetooth headphones that have an unstable Bluetooth connection. A company that is less than frank about the issues.

Having owned B&O kit since a BC7700 in 1981 I am finding it more difficult to see me moving on past my current BV10, BL6000 and BC3200.  Somehow B&O are not giving the same air of innovation, quality and reliability any more.

Your comments echo my sentiments exactly.  What's worse, a few days ago I'm told that these and other B&O Play products are not repairable.  That is, if and when they break down they will be replaced if in warranty status, or MAY be eligible for a prorated replacement if out of warranty status.  Items on beoplay.com are considered entry-level and obviously disposable.  Still have my Beogram 8K.  THAT was innovative and high quality.

Duspin wrote:

Still have my Beogram 8K.  THAT was innovative and high quality

It is a different world now. It is a good thing B&O changed also. Device's are obsolete before you know it nowadays. Look at BeoPlay A8, or Beoplay A3 for example. There's no need to repair these devices after a few years, nobody wants and/or needs them anymore.

But I agree, they should function without any issues when new. And most certainly not have connectivity issues/dropouts and like. That ruins the experience completely.

Duspin wrote:

Yes, and it's not good.  B&O's official position is that it will neither support nor recommend that H8s will work with all Bluetooth devices, be they MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, or other mobile devices.  Commentary from my local B&O shop on this is mostly smug and truculent. So, I have good connectivity and range with my iPhone but not with my MacBook (where I would like it most).  

Michael wrote:

Duspin wrote:

Yes, and it's not good.  B&O's official position is that it will neither support nor recommend that H8s will work with all Bluetooth devices, be they MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, or other mobile devices.  Commentary from my local B&O shop on this is mostly smug and truculent. So, I have good connectivity and range with my iPhone but not with my MacBook (where I would like it most).  

Did they say that? It doesn't sound good. My H8 has been skipping a lot these days and I have been talking with B&O about it and they seemed very interested in trying to solve the issue then. I guess they might have found the issue and realized it is to expensive to fix, but I hope not.

Michael, BeoCare's response to me was:  "I received feedback from Denmark, In principle a Bluetooth 4.0 enabled product with A2DP Bluetooth profile should be able to send music to the BeoPlay H8. Practical tests have shown a very differentiated market picture. Most newer computers with updated software and adequate hardware should be able to connect to BeoPlay H8, but we are not able to recommend or support this setup."  Mind you, the H8 and devices tend to pair well, however, sustained connectivity is the problem.  

Clarification of that rather perplexing statement (I believe the writer is an accomplished ESL person) was:  "Unfortunately we can't guarantee the same bluetooth performance with all Apple laptops."  I get that this person was delivering a message.  But, that doesn't seem to provide an explanation as to why globally there is hit-and-miss connectivity with all types of devices.  E.g., I have a problem with my MacBook but not my iPhone.  Some have no problems with their laptops but can't get clear, consistent connectivity with their mobile products--Apple or not.

You're lucky your local B&O is willing to work with you.  The shop in my area is only interested in refunding me the purchase price. 

Duspin wrote:

Michael wrote:

Duspin wrote:

Yes, and it's not good.  B&O's official position is that it will neither support nor recommend that H8s will work with all Bluetooth devices, be they MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, or other mobile devices.  Commentary from my local B&O shop on this is mostly smug and truculent. So, I have good connectivity and range with my iPhone but not with my MacBook (where I would like it most).  

Did they say that? It doesn't sound good. My H8 has been skipping a lot these days and I have been talking with B&O about it and they seemed very interested in trying to solve the issue then. I guess they might have found the issue and realized it is to expensive to fix, but I hope not.

Michael, BeoCare's response to me was:  "I received feedback from Denmark, In principle a Bluetooth 4.0 enabled product with A2DP Bluetooth profile should be able to send music to the BeoPlay H8. Practical tests have shown a very differentiated market picture. Most newer computers with updated software and adequate hardware should be able to connect to BeoPlay H8, but we are not able to recommend or support this setup."  Mind you, the H8 and devices tend to pair well, however, sustained connectivity is the problem.  

Clarification of that rather perplexing statement (I believe the writer is an accomplished ESL person) was:  "Unfortunately we can't guarantee the same bluetooth performance with all Apple laptops."  I get that this person was delivering a message.  But, that doesn't seem to provide an explanation as to why globally there is hit-and-miss connectivity with all types of devices.  E.g., I have a problem with my MacBook but not my iPhone.  Some have no problems with their laptops but can't get clear, consistent connectivity with their mobile products--Apple or not.

You're lucky your local B&O is willing to work with you.  The shop in my area is only interested in refunding me the purchase price. 

Duspin, sounds bad but are you the guy with the modified Mac? That has a newer Bluetooth card than the computer itself? That might be the issue if the AptX-codec is programmed to take use of perhaps instructions in a newer cpu or something except for just the Bluetooth card itself. 

I have the issues mainly with my iPhone but also with my Mac. The problem with the dropouts is obviously in the H8 design and I think they have too small buffer in the H8´s which makes it run out of data to quick and that the antenna gets to much bad data to cope (even if signal is good it is faulty packages coming in). I remember my old minidisc with 40 second shake buffer. :D 

Michael wrote:

Duspin wrote:

Michael wrote:

Duspin wrote:

Yes, and it's not good.  B&O's official position is that it will neither support nor recommend that H8s will work with all Bluetooth devices, be they MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, or other mobile devices.  Commentary from my local B&O shop on this is mostly smug and truculent. So, I have good connectivity and range with my iPhone but not with my MacBook (where I would like it most).  

Did they say that? It doesn't sound good. My H8 has been skipping a lot these days and I have been talking with B&O about it and they seemed very interested in trying to solve the issue then. I guess they might have found the issue and realized it is to expensive to fix, but I hope not.

Michael, BeoCare's response to me was:  "I received feedback from Denmark, In principle a Bluetooth 4.0 enabled product with A2DP Bluetooth profile should be able to send music to the BeoPlay H8. Practical tests have shown a very differentiated market picture. Most newer computers with updated software and adequate hardware should be able to connect to BeoPlay H8, but we are not able to recommend or support this setup."  Mind you, the H8 and devices tend to pair well, however, sustained connectivity is the problem.  

Clarification of that rather perplexing statement (I believe the writer is an accomplished ESL person) was:  "Unfortunately we can't guarantee the same bluetooth performance with all Apple laptops."  I get that this person was delivering a message.  But, that doesn't seem to provide an explanation as to why globally there is hit-and-miss connectivity with all types of devices.  E.g., I have a problem with my MacBook but not my iPhone.  Some have no problems with their laptops but can't get clear, consistent connectivity with their mobile products--Apple or not.

You're lucky your local B&O is willing to work with you.  The shop in my area is only interested in refunding me the purchase price. 

Duspin, sounds bad but are you the guy with the modified Mac? That has a newer Bluetooth card than the computer itself? That might be the issue if the AptX-codec is programmed to take use of perhaps instructions in a newer cpu or something except for just the Bluetooth card itself. 

I have the issues mainly with my iPhone but also with my Mac. The problem with the dropouts is obviously in the H8 design and I think they have too small buffer in the H8´s which makes it run out of data to quick and that the antenna gets to much bad data to cope (even if signal is good it is faulty packages coming in). I remember my old minidisc with 40 second shake buffer. :D 

Indeed, Michael, you're probably correct about the codec, but that was fixed with a very handy tool so that BT 4.0 would be recognized and fully functional with appropriate codecs.  Bluetooth expert tells me it wasn't necessary to have done the upgrade b/c BT is backwards compatible. 

What you deduced is, I believe, the real issue.  Too small buffer (accounting for the speed up one hears occasionally) and the antenna receiving too much bad data.  I can be stationary without moving a muscle for 10 minutes then all of a sudden the sound drops out, but only within close range.  I also have a tool (Bluetooth Explorer) that constantly monitors BT signal so I can see in real time what raw RSSI the H8s are running.  It needs to be -60 or higher but usually hovers around -70+ which isn't good at all, hence the dropouts.

I am going to Krabi, Thailand on Saturday. Will be a 20 hour journey. H6 or H8 that is the question..

tobeyone wrote:

Just had a 2 1/2 hour flight with my new H8's that I received on Tuesday. Really good. Comfortable. No dropouts from my iPhone. Very happy customer again!!