Hi Mark, But, I think, that brought us to B&O, the Beauty and the elegance of the their Systems. I mean, even though the Systems are diminishing like you said, I think B&O should not follow everybody and they should still do outstanding Systems that we can still sells the idea to our friends and neighbors. I remember when I first got my Playmaker and friends will come to my house and I was using my iPad playing music, they were astonished, but the question that came in was why is the Box hiding?. If they had made a nice and attractive Box, it would've been a Big Commercial for them. So I don't think they're following their trend, they're trying to be like everybody and that's not B&O we all know and proud of. I think, we should push them to do Better and Attractive Stuff and we the the Lovers can even commercialize it for the them. Most people got to know the Brand by the enthusiastic Lovers of B&O not by their own commercial because they don't even have one.Sorry! It didn't come out the way I intended. B&O speakers are very elegant, even the BL17 in my opinion. But, because of modern digital sources it has been reduced down to just the speakers (the Moment may have some visual appeal I guess). It's just not the way it used to be with an entire beautiful system on display. I certainly love the evolution of the audio world and what I can do so easily, its just that the visual impact of a system is disappearing.
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Is Our Beloved B&O Going Down The Drain?
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Hi JowusSo glad you enjoyed your playmaker.I was Too embarrassed to show that to my friends.Playmaker, one of B&O secrets best kept secrets!Hi Mark,But, I think, that brought us to B&O, the Beauty and the elegance of the their Systems. I mean, even though the Systems are diminishing like you said, I think B&O should not follow everybody and they should still do outstanding Systems that we can still sells the idea to our friends and neighbors. I remember when I first got my Playmaker and friends will come to my house and I was using my iPad playing music, they were astonished, but the question that came in was why is the Box hiding?. If they had made a nice and attractive Box, it would've been a Big Commercial for them. So I don't think they're following their trend, they're trying to be like everybody and that's not B&O we all know and proud of. I think, we should push them to do Better and Attractive Stuff and we the the Lovers can even commercialize it for the them. Most people got to know the Brand by the enthusiastic Lovers of B&O not by their own commercial because they don't even have one.
Playmaker, one of B&O secrets best kept secrets!
It's also one of their worst products. People complained about the cheap plastic look of it not to mention it's wireless reception was terrible. It was also far more expensive then buying a airport express and a DAC combined.
My B&O dealer told me last week they cancelled it because it wasn't a good product for the company for many reasons.
Unfortunately it's replacement cost even more.
Location: Toronto, Canada
It's also one of their worst products.
I don't agree!
MM
Location: Flensborg————Danmark
It's been said many a time here, but I think Apple need to buy them.
It makes so much sense! both companies care a lot about design aesthetic and appeal to the high end market.
It's been said many a time here, but I think Apple need to buy them.
It makes so much sense! both companies care a lot about design aesthetic and appeal to the high end market.
Apple is high end CONSUMER grade. Their products are affordable.
B&O is luxury grade. Outside of the play line very few people are willing to pay the extremely high prices on niche products.
Location: Toronto, Canada
I don't agree!
MM
Sadly B&O did feel the same about the playmaker as me. That's why they canned it and even the dealers don't suggest them.
Location: Toronto, Canada
I am very satisfied with my playmaker. I had 2 BeoLab 2500 stored away - now - combined with the playmaker they got a second life and "pimped up" the soundstage of a LG-TV in the guest-room. The Playmaker is connected over the headphone-jacket and Line-In. At the same time the Playmaker can be used as a Airplay-device. But I do understand, that the device is discontinued - since the essence mk2 can do the same job.
Beroli
I am very satisfied with my playmaker. I had 2 BeoLab 2500 stored away - now - combined with the playmaker they got a second life and "pimped up" the soundstage of a LG-TV in the guest-room. The Playmaker is connected over the headphone-jacket and Line-In. At the same time the Playmaker can be used as a Airplay-device. But I do understand, that the device is discontinued - since the essence mk2 can do the same job.
Beroli
The playmaker works nice for me, too, but only wired. Technically (wireless stability...) and aesthetically it's a shame product for B&O. Looks like a 20,- Euro IKEA piece.
The Essence MK2 costs >100% more than the playmaker, especially if you want ir control which is only possible with an external ir sensor attached to the Essence.
With the new B&O play Connection Hub they missed a chance by NOT allowing it to receive ir control from their own remotes! A dumb move. The Playmaker is gone and the Connection Hub forces you to adjust volume only with the 3rd party remote. It's ok from a comfort point of view, yes, but for B&O fans that have TV and Audio systems seperated, there could exist easier solutions like the mentioned Connection Hub. Imagine it would be configurable: Option programming and even configurable source buttons. For example: User 1 would like to use it in Option 1 and it should listen to the command "DVD" of a Beo 4. User 2 would like to have Option 5 and wants it only to listen to the "TV" command... and so on. That would be nice!
If B&O should be bought than by an audio company with passion about music etc. and not by Apple which only perfects their marketing machine to maximise profit! There's no more love in their products, too.
I don't agree!
MM
Sadly B&O did feel the same about the playmaker as me. That's why they canned it and even the dealers don't suggest them.
I don't know, what 'the dealers' have told you, but it is not the thruth.
The Playmaker was discontinued for the same reason, that the A9 1th generation was - technology moves on!
The A9 was a nice speaker and design concept, that could easily be merged into the 2nd generation version (which we have now as an NL device).
There was no need for a 2nd generation Playmaker (or not enough), since the BS Essence was already coming - and now in the 2nd generation as a NL device.
Had the company been bigger, they could have kept the Playmaker in the portfolio, but - as we know - B&O has to concentrate on a relatively small amount of products. They could have merged the A8 into a NL device as well, but did not - it was also discontinued. That does not mean that the A8 was bad - they just wanted to make something new/different.
Conlusion: some like the Playmaker, others don't.
If you don't and/or did not get it working in your wifi setup, just tell us that - don't tell us, that it is the worst product, that B&O ever made.
MM
Location: Flensborg————Danmark
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