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After a year of playing, my playmaker has been very unreliable - with drops every other song. My airport express had no issues whatsoever. After lots of reading and troubleshooting, i'v given up.
Now, 4 years after the release of the playmaker, is there a better alternative that airplay-enables my b&o speakers (with the same quality and simplicity as the playmaker) ?
Find a way to get an airport express working with them. They work well and only $99. Any B&O product will cost much more and probably work as badly as the playmaker
Location: Toronto, Canada
True an activation of his old Apple Airport or even buying a new one would be cheaper than an Essence. However others have claimed that the Airport's DAC is inferior. An Essence would have these additional functions:-- up to date WiFi eg 5gHz-- Bluetooth-- BeoMusic and BeoSetup Apps-- TuneIn-- Deezer Premium-- Spotify Premium-- power link cable support-- the wheely remote-- an optional IR eye for Beo4 or Beoremote support-- NL expansion/ connectivity when other NL sources/sinks ($s) are added for JOINing-- ML back level support by adding ($s) a BeoLink Converter (BLC)-- future ? Software expansion and patches from B&OFind a way to get an airport express working with them. They work well and only $99. Any B&O product will cost much more and probably work as badly as the playmaker
I am not so sure all those plus' make sense for everyone.
To be honest he could get a high end Marantz receiver with Pre-outs for any B&O speaker he has with 9.1 channel support and airplay/wifi/ethernet for LESS than the Essence.
As for the wheely remote I replicated the same functions plus much much more using this for $60. even has a nice blue glow:
https://griffintechnology.com/us/device/laptops/powermate-bluetooth
So when you look at the costs there aren't many justifications.
Location: Toronto, Canada
I understand. Get some of the Griffen devices and scatter them all over your space. I have one next to the bed and next to the computer. Interacting with it controls my iTunes on my iMac which send airplay audio to 3 separate B&O speakers I have around the house. It actually works better than the Essence just not quite as pretty.
Location: Toronto, Canada
I do sometimes broadcast from the MacMini to the Essence, but right now (as an example) I am playing Daft Punk's TRON on the ATV4's Apple Music interface and sending it via the BLC to the Essence and its speakers. Unfortunately (as you know so this is for the record) while the NacMini's interface does broadcast in parallel to multiple AirPlay end points the ATV4 is either local or one remote end point, hence my using the BV to broadcast across the ML to the NL !There's an awful lot is spaghetti behind this simple click and join ! Login to view imageI understand. Get some of the Griffen devices and scatter them all over your space. I have one next to the bed and next to the computer. Interacting with it controls my iTunes on my iMac which send airplay audio to 3 separate B&O speakers I have around the house. It actually works better than the Essence just not quite as pretty. -- BeoLab 18's. Beolab 3's. A8. A9. A2. H7.
My dealer told me the essence with the wheels remote is $1200 Canadian
I thought for that money I could get
A Marantz AV receiver with preouts and 7.1 channels of sound AirPlay, wifi, Bluetooth and Ethernet, 7 hdmi ports, tunein radio and many other apps built into it and 2 zones. Any B&O speaker will connect to it. $550
Instead of the very limited B&O wheel remote I could get an iPad mini to replace it where I can control anything music and speaker wise a million times better. $400
5 or more of the griffin Bluetooth remotes
Sometimes I really wonder what B&O is thinking with their pricing. Speakers I can justify a premium but their prerifierals are just priced illogically
Location: Toronto, Canada
I agree.And sometimes dealers are confused or greedy or generous. My UK dealer sold me 3 coasters in a box for the listed price. My AU dealer breaks down the box into singletons and sells them individually for the equable the listed price. Who is right and who is wrong ?Same with the little BLC attachment to get standalone BeoLab speakers working ... Why not in the original design ? Why a full price AUD~100 ? Why not a give away for the loyal rare customer who needs it because they bought ML speakers in the Nineties ?Sometimes I really wonder what B&O is thinking with their pricing. Speakers I can justify a premium but their prerifierals are just priced illogically
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