Hi

You cannot send Spotify connect and Airplay to ML side. This was never possible with the NL/ML converter. Only the source you have list up. 

Music = Deezer + local DLNA server (the music that play last, will start) if its deezer or music from your dlna server (change music in the app, and it play on the ML side. 

B&O will not update this anymore, they decide to stop support new function to the ML side when NL/ML converter was obsolete from the market last year.

Remember Masterlink was first introduce with Master Control Link (MCL) in 1985 until 

I guess this is not that much about B&O wanting to update the sw of the converter.

The redistribution of Spotify (Connect) and AirPlay is cripled due to restriction from Spotify and Apple - (there are also some ‘technical’ problems/limitations with redistribution there).

MM

Thanks for both of your replies. I figured out last night that i can 'join' spotify from my BV11 in another room after spotify connect playback has started, and the same applies to Airplay. Interestingly after joining Spotify, the device name in spotify gets updated to show both beo devices; Essence + BV11. I noticed that the NL 'Spotify' source only becomes visible to the BV11 when the spotify connect session is created, and JOIN is listed as the button for it in the source list. I suspect the technical limitation is with spotify connect as the session has to be established from their app first before playback can start, whereas with Deezer devices can login directly. Bluetooth works from my phone to the essence and has media control but seems a shame as the sound quality will be significantly reduced. I'll give Deezer a go after this month's Spotify is up. In the mean time though I found an Android app which I'll try out that bridges DNLA receivers to spotify connect 

Joining Spotify Connect from an Essence 2nd gen to my BV’s is what (and others) do have done since quite a while now.

This works well - you can even pause/play and skip tracks from the BV’s.

I am not so sure that using the named app will let you play to the converter/the ML part of your setup.

But it will be interesting to hear about your little experiment.

If you are not sure whether you want to continue with Spotify, Deezer would solve that problem.

A workaround - if you really want to use Spotify as your streaming service - is to connect a Spotify compatible device to the line-in of the Essence.

Something like this: 

Edit:

The redistribution - of course - only works on the NL side of the setup.

The mentioned AudioCast receiver could also be connected to the line-input of the NL/ML Converter and then be used in NL as well as in ML.

MM

Thanks for the advice as always MM. My test succeeded using the android app I found, however there is a big delay of a few seconds which is probably due to transcoding on a phone, and the next & prev control on the beo4 didn't work. The Masterlink speakers were indeed able to listen in to the bridged Spotify on the mapped 'Music' NL source too. 

I also have Logitech Media Server (Squeezebox LMS) running at home and was able to achieve the same using two LMS plugins; 'Spotty' and 'Upnp/DNLA Bridge'. The latter creates an emulated LMS player for each DNLA receiver found on the network and the Spotty plugin creates a Spotify Connect device for each LMS player... this worked and created a spotify connect device for the Essence's DNLA receiver and played with no noticeable delay, however it only lasted a few songs before freezing!.. So it can technically be done, but is not practical. 

Can I ask you how I can get Airplay to be distributed? I have seen screen shots of 'Apple' being listed under the 'Your content' menu in the Essence's web admin, but it's not there for me. The link on the B&O web page link for more info on this is broken unfortunately .

Rob.

Millemissen wrote:

Edit:

The redistribution - of course - only works on the NL side of the setup.

The mentioned AudioCast receiver could also be connected to the line-input of the NL/ML Converter and then be used in NL as well as in ML.

MM

Nice to know that that app works.

However - as you noted - it’s not the way to go due to too much convertion and the delay.

I have had a Squeezebox Touch connected to the line-in of my Essence ‘forever’ - in fact the Squeezebox/es was/were my first real multiroom setup....

....connected to the old audiomaster and the tv’s back in the days.

It also runs Spotify (the old plugin still works fine there). I seldom use it anymore, but as far as I remember it worked fine, also over a longer time.

The drawback - of course - is, that you will have to use one of the apps, that exists for the Squeezebox....and that there is no way to control play/pause etc with a beoremote.

But, it could be used - and could also be used with the line-in of the converter.

(Personally I would rather use the AudioCast device there instead - because this is reachable in the native Spotify app as a receiver).

As for the Airplay distribution - they seem to have moved that setting....see screenshot.

Using Airplay distribution allows for pause/play etc commands, which is fine.

MM

It’s funny - in the app, when using AP BeoLink distribution, it states that ‘this source does not allow for multiroom’.

None the less it works fine - I can include all devices, if I want to.

Listening right now on my V1.

I haven’t seen this note before 🤔

MM

Many thanks, I will try AirPlay on the ipad this evening. I've not been able to use the DNLA player in the b&o app before getting the Essence and actually quite like it, I didn't think I would. I'm using Serviio as the server which is working well it also includes a Random Music option which neither LMS or Plex provide over DNLA. And of course the beo4 provides track control :) Maybe I should go back to buying CDs and Mp3s!

Hopefully one day I will have a white v1 TV for the kitchen - I already have a passive amp ready for it to drive ceiling speakers :)