No more B&O sound system?

25 replies
SA
Offline
Sandyb
Bronze
Posted January 18, 2021 at 22:26 GMT
#2149799

Exactly what I have done!

Nucleus as my Core (server), hidden away, and an iPad as the control point. Roon was the (way to go.

While my perfect world scenario (a B&O designed control point) is not happening, at least Roon provides a pleasurable experience when picking up an iPad. 

Its pretty nice to be able to use Roon to operate my A9 and BS2, and my BL50s / Linn combination (hell, even the Linn streamer unit has 6 physical my buttons, able to start playlists, albums, radio stations)

Pretty flexible, and of course the Roon UI is fabulous.

Audio wrote:

If you are looking for a sound system, I can highly recommend Roon Software. Additionally a Roon Nucleus if you are looking for an "out of the box" solution.
The user interface of Roon is just awesome. It connects your local media with Hi-Res Audio streaming from Tidal and / or Qobuz. Additionally, multiroom is offered via Airplay, Chromecast, Sonos, LMS or Roon.
If you are looking for an impressive touch control (not comparable to Nativ Vita Player), you should watch the YouTube video
Another advantage for me was that thanks to Roon I managed to break away from my 100% B&O eco-system. The first were my kids who thought Sonos was much cooler than B&O. No I have a mixed set-up of different brands managed by Roon.

 

LA
Offline
laseralex
Bronze
Posted January 19, 2021 at 08:15 GMT
#2149800

[quote user="Audio"]If you are looking for an impressive touch control (not comparable to Nativ Vita Player), you should watch the YouTube video

My B&O Icons:

Beosound-Stage.png Beosound-Stage.png
Beosound-Moment.png Beosound-Moment.png
Beosound-Level.png Beosound-Level.png
Beosound-Essence.png Beosound-Essence.png
Beosound-Balance.png Beosound-Balance.png
Beosound-A5.png Beosound-A5.png
Beosound-2.png Beosound-2.png
Beoremote-Halo.png Beoremote-Halo.png
Beoplay-M5.png Beoplay-M5.png
Beoplay-Earset.png Beoplay-Earset.png
Beoplay-A6.png Beoplay-A6.png
SA
Offline
Sandyb
Bronze
Posted January 19, 2021 at 10:38 GMT
#2149801
laseralex wrote:

The problem with this is it just looks like crap.

Two things brought me into B&O: Aesthetics of the devices, and the beautiful user interfaces. Roon does seem to have a beautiful UI, but my Moment is far more beautiful than any of the Roon endpoints/controllers, and my Essence remotes have a simplicity and usability that's not matched by any other device.

B&O should have acquired Roon (maybe they tried!) but that didn't happen and I'm stuck with the choice of gorgeous equipment with mediocre software or mediocre equipment with better software. For now I'm sticking with B&O, for better or for worse.

Sources: 2x Beosound Moment • 4x Beosound Essence Mk II Speakers: 3x Beolab 8000 • 1x Beolab 6000 • 1x Beolab 3 • 3x Beolab 2 • 4x BeoPlay M5 • 1x BeoPlay A6 Control: 9x Essence Remote • 1x Beoremote Halo

Indeed - and it would be one thing if B&O had said to customers “just use this streaming app of your choice to control our speakers”. (Be that Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal etc etc). But while they continue to make their own app, and a new music controller, they are not saying the above, and should be judged on the software they make.

Other brands make much better software, even BluOS is incomparably better, offering a range of connectivity and streaming services. And dont even start with the Halo, which is so staggeringly limited that its almost laughable.

If the present / future is just “use a tablet / phone”, fine, I can accept not having a physical B&O controller.

But then make the app ‘ software much better.
A(
Offline
Audio (archived2)
Bronze
Posted January 24, 2021 at 14:50 GMT
#2149802

laseralex wrote:
The problem with this is it just looks like crap.

That it a question of taste, use case and touch screen your are purchasing. But at least it seems to work, something you do not experience always with B&O software / firmware. I personally use iPads to control Room. 

I stream via Airplay from my Roon Core to my B&O loudspeakers (Beoplay A9, Beosound Core, Beosound 35). I know Airplay is not a hi-res solution, but using B&O Netlink NL the streaming quality is not higher. 

laseralex wrote:
my Essence remotes have a simplicity and usability that's not matched by any other device

My Essence remote connected to the Beosound Core works perfectly together with Roon via Airplay. I can change the volume +/-, stop, play and change tracks within Roon. As far as I know there are no more functions B&O is offering within there own eco-system. 

laseralex wrote:
I'm stuck with ... mediocre software

That is the huge problem of B&O and it seems not to get better (: 

laseralex wrote:
B&O should have acquired Roon (maybe they tried!)

Why should B&O acquire Roon? To turn good software into bad?
It would be sufficient to integrate Roon and offer Roon Ready B&O devices like so many other high quality audio manufacturers. And it should be much cheaper for B&O, too. Instead B&O decided to wast money and resources to development their own bugy and user-unfriendly software.

 

beofrederic
Offline
beofrederic
Bronze
Posted January 24, 2021 at 21:00 GMT
#2149803
Audio wrote:

Why should B&O acquire Roon? To turn good software into bad?

The World’s Oldest Joke™️: Marilyn Monroe is introduced to Albert Einstein.

MM: “Professor, we should get married. With your brains and my looks our children could rule the world.”

AE: “Yes, but what if it turned out the other way?”

My B&O Icons:

BeoCenter-9500.png BeoCenter-9500.png
Beosound-Shape.png Beosound-Shape.png
Beosound-9000.png Beosound-9000.png
Beoremote-One.png Beoremote-One.png
Beoplay-H9i.png Beoplay-H9i.png
Beoplay-A8.png Beoplay-A8.png
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