PhilLondon wrote:

The navigation should be on the remote.

Which is exactly what the iPad offers, using AirPlay, with my Airport Express connected to BeoSound 4/BL3s.

I'm using the iPod app on the iPad, with it on my office desk and can use it to control the music playing through the BS4, the volume, move between tracks, create a playlist and, if necessary, pick up the iPad and walk around with it or take it to another room. It's like your own Sonos. Of course, you could do the same thing with an iPhone, iPod Touch etc.

Which is why I asked why are B&O showing a Beosound Encore connected to BL3s and the Airport Express, being controlled via an iPhone? You could ditch the Encore and connect the Express directly to the BL3s and achieve exactly the same thing! The Encore in that example is superfluous :(

I want to buy the Encore, but I fear it's going to be a very expensive visual toy. I was told by my dealer it could be £2900.

It might be far cheaper to buy another BS4 or BS3200, both with a CD player (I still have CDs ;) and simply control them via the iPad/iPod/iPhone, as a remote!

As I read this forum correctly.

The Beosound should run iTunes, it must be controlled bij iPhone/iPad/etc, it must handle Apple Lossless, it must have Airport installed, it must breath and smell like Apple. 

But it should be B&o, it should have a B&o identity, it should sound as B&o, it should look like B&o.

B&o =/= Apple

Apple =/= B&o

its a free world, if you dont like B&o or Apple fine............

if you prefer Apple, fine................. if you will not buy it, fine......................

if you prefer B&o, fine................. if you will not buy it, fine......................

Carolpa wrote:

As I read this forum correctly.

The Beosound should run iTunes, it must be controlled bij iPhone/iPad/etc, it must handle Apple Lossless, it must have Airport installed, it must breath and smell like Apple. 

But it should be B&o, it should have a B&o identity, it should sound as B&o, it should look like B&o.

 

B&o =/= Apple

Apple =/= B&o

 

its a free world, if you dont like B&o or Apple fine............

if you prefer Apple, fine................. if you will not buy it, fine......................

if you prefer B&o, fine................. if you will not buy it, fine......................

 

Whereas I read -

The Beosound should read all formats from iTunes and it should be controllable via a remote device on which your music collection is easily and clearly navigable complete with cover art.

A reasonable request I think, the remote doesn't have to be an Apple anything, a B&O unit which functions as well would be preferable.

The two points listed above were identified on this forum even before the release of the BS5/BM5 and are, I believe, still valid.

I am in a similar position, I would love to buy the Encore, I like the overall design but the irony is that the 3 keys and 3 wheels are for me extremely complicated to use!I think a navigation wheel like that found on my Serenata or even BeoCom 4 would have been far easier to use, with just a separate wheel for volume control. Or why not keeping the same wheel as the one on BeoCenter 2? That would have made stepping through albums/playlists much easier.

Having a BeoPort, with an Iphone acting as a 2-way remote, you get much better feedback & interaction than with the Encore (or BS5, of course), as long as you use the Mac version of BeoPort (and with a high-end DAC). Besides, the Beo6 will never be as fast as an Iphone, I think it doesn't even display cover art in 500 x 500 Ko.

The lack of ALAC playback is a major minus for me (I hear people say it is licenced by Apple and that reverse-engineering that codec is illegal....but so is the CD copying that we all do on our hard drives!), but that's not all:

what about gapless playback? NRADIO "live" metadata (still no track/artist names?)? Direct USB connection for Ipod/Iphone (like in BS8)? Playback of multiple albums/compilations? In other words, does it still have the same limitations as BM5?

B&O has made great improvements in the BS5 concept, but there's still a lot to do, for me at least. I'll keep waiting!

Could not agree more. My current setup with macmini with beoport, DAC and linkplayer works much more efficent. I still have my old 9000 hocked up in the system, but only use it for the AUX from the TV. I guess I could sell that too and run audio in to the macmini.

With this setup I can use the beo 4 for simple navigation and my ipad or iphone for navigation in content.

B&O must try to turn this around and make more of a HUB for all my devices. I want a BS5 that has several digital ins a kickass DAC and possibilty for surround setup.

Carolpa wrote:

B&o =/= Apple

Eh? The Encore is supposed to be a do-it-all central device that uses music from various non-B&O sources. If you want a B&O-only device, then the Beosound 5 + Master is your combination. Plus it's very very expensive.

It's B&O that are using AirPlay to promote the Encore. They are using the Airport Express as a device and the iPhone as a remote. It's in their advert. My argument is....you could leave out the Encore and simply connect the BL3s to the Airport Express and achive exactly the same functionality as the B&O Encore advert :)

moxxey wrote:

It might be far cheaper to buy another BS4 or BS3200, both with a CD player (I still have CDs ;) and simply control them via the iPad/iPod/iPhone, as a remote!

Or spend the money on upgraded speakers !

I think B&O has signed its' own death card with this very foolish product. The fact that Tue pretends that the BS5 is his 'favourite product' on the B&O site simply makes him look like any other sales person.

Will a new generation buy into this product? You got to be kidding. How stupid can this company be at times? Even basic home cinemas (Pioneer etc) are now coming with AirPlay built in. Ignoring iTunes/Airplay is like building a sports car and making it incompatible with rubber tyres!!!

Im sure they'll they'll be bring out 4:3 ratio TVs next!!!

Sounds like the same old things......

If a B&O product cant do what Apple can do.......it gets blasted.

If a B&O product can do the same as an Apple product......its too expensive .....and it gets blasted.

If a B&O product cand do the same as an Apple product and is comparable cost......it is an Apple and not B&O.....and it gets blasted.

TBH, I wish the Apple worshipers in here would just f...f....flick-off to the Apple forums. Us B&O worshipers know B&O will never be as good as Apple or cost 10 times less. So what? We understand this and enjoy our hobbie. Why continually keep on about the same thing? At the end of the day you just want an Apple product with a B&O badge on it - and that wont be B&O.

Ciao!

10

S

They are making very strange choices compared to what is happening in the marked, excluding their users from a all over good experience. They need to take a close look at what experiences they can control and not. I think also they would be well served with taking a step away from hardware and use more time on software. Except of course speakers. The music and TV business is in rapid change and will be for at least 10 more years.

A connectionbox with digital in/out, DAC, surround etc. paired with a option for simple onscreen control on TV, iPad, Android device or whatever coming. They can even have a BS5 like device controlling it, but just as a option. Giving the user the possibility to set up their excellent b&o speakers and have the supreme b&o experience through every device.

So much more cost efficent to make software updates and using open APIs to control whatever comes along.