Mikipidia wrote:

last time I asked it was a 20/80 split between beolink and ap2/CC, I bet that has gone even more the way of AP2/CC.

For me it sounds like a self fulfilling prophecy. 

Looking at the usability of the B&O app, listening to Radio / TuneIn the offered functionalities within the B&O app are good. When you want to listen too Deezer, the Musik functionalities are limited and I am forced to use the Deezer app at least sometimes (and over time I found myself using more often the Deezer app then the Bang&Olufsen app). When you want to access your own local music collection the usability of DNLA is worse within the B&O app, so I anyway had to find alternative Apps. Other music streaming providers (e.g. TIDAL, Amazon Music) are not supported at all.

Due to the B&O app lacking many functionalities and usability, customers are forced to use streaming protocols outside the Bang&Olufsen eco-system. So it is really not a surprise, that less and less customers are using Beolink NL when there is no content to access and distribute within the Bang&Olufsen eco-system. 

So the wished (?) log-in effect of Bang&Olufsen customers within Beolink NL is not working / is not really supported by B&O. Even so that in my situation the Beolink NL works much more stable than AP2 / CC does and the touch to join functionality is nice to use. And I really like it, when you do not need always a second device like a iPad, just touching the loudspeaker is sufficient. But without content to stream Beolink NL is useless.

This leads to the logical consequent that Bang&Olufsen has to invest heavily into the B&O app to increase the access to audio content strongly to support Beolink NL or just give up on it. It looks like Bang&Olufsen decided to give up, because I believe that the financial situation of B&O is not supporting heavy investments any more.

Short term this decision will be a financial release, long term it makes competition much harder, because Bang & Olufsen looses another unique selling point and the last Bang&Olufsen customers will recognise that he is not anymore logged-in and will learn how easy it is to integrate / use equipment from competitors.

Maybe i am missing the real issue here, but my 2005 Beolinked home setup is fully airplay operational and controlled with BEO4 throught any room of the house. This consists of course the integration of a 3rd gen Apple TV to act as a mediator though.

DrDimitris wrote:

my 2005 Beolinked home setup is fully airplay operational and controlled with BEO4 throught any room of the house.

Hi, could you please elaborate on your setup please? Thank you.

Of course. Maybe easier to lnk you to my recent thread for it:

Thank you DrDimitris.

@Alsfeld

Well summarized, the challenge is the audio content. No access to audio content no need for Beolink Multiroom.

Hi guys, 

Partialy off topic.. might feed into that though.

Have a stage.. wonderful product...couple of M3s and a Beosound 1. Sound integration..be it AP be it CC and be it BeoLink... I am very satisfied. 

But from a holistic multimedia point of view I am not happy.. reason.. 

Stage wired per HDMI ARC to Samsung Smart. I knew there is no multiroom on HDMI sources (still surprising because Sonos does it..) .. okey so I connected Samsung optical via converter to the line in of the tage. Distribution works on that but the stage doesnt have linein delay function.... guess what.. echo in my appt since the stage is ahead of every joined speaker...

Reached out to BO per feature request for linein delay on stage but they could only confirm they forwarded to Backoffe.. hmm... no timelines/outlook.

This is a bit the struggle I have... fair enough to opt for standards while refraining from proprietary stuff but currently bit of hotpotch w/o clear holistic strategy allowing users to get those capabilities that BO essentially always offered in the analog/semi-digital world. 

My 2 cent about it;

I really think we should separate the beolink/networklink from the so so app!!

The NL protocol is awesome, take in principle, what ever source you are playing and send it to where ever you want. smooth, easy and make all the older stuff compatible with new. why on earth skip out on this?

Skipping having sources in the B&o app, fine by me. I only used the TuneIn part anyway. But I love the "alarm" function that uses TuneIn!

From what I understand B&o sees the NL to be a source, the same as AP2/CC. That to bad as I really see it as a great way to make their own products work a ton better then the competition!! Especially with AP2/CC as these cant transport legancy audio FROM a speaker (connected to whatever, gramophone, DJ bench...computer..) and makes even using AP2/CC easier as you now just can join by a tap, NOT PICKING UP THE DAMN PHONE and hassel... this is just dum to skip out on.

And as I´m a pro installer, I really loved this protocol. Say a restaurant, mount 4-10 Beoplay M3/edge/stage with ethernet and power, connect one speaker to a computer or mediaplayer, ipad whatever. Program a control system to use volume control an initial beolink connection between speakers. DONE! This is a foolproof as it gets. No remotes getting lost, everything is hard wired, B&o sound!

This means no more B&o sound at hotels, restaurants and so forth as we now then would need to use a b&o speaker as regular active speaker. But a worse one as there is then need for audio distribution at a costly addon.

Such a shame multiroom has gone. 9m testing out a Beosound Balance and whilst it sounds amazing I’d prefer it to be more than just a speaker and mic for my phone/tablet.

Was the NL not the main reason for buning B&O sound equipment. What is today the difference between the Balance and any google speaker - the color?

Not sure it is a good choice to abandon NL.