Beoconnect Core is falling short – exploring alternatives

[sorenfelden]

With B&O having discontinued its stereo systems, the Beoconnect Core stands as the sole dedicated sound source in their lineup. Given this, you’d think B&O would design the Core to be a versatile product that satisfies customer needs and promotes cross-selling of their speakers and remotes. Unfortunately, it has several major shortcomings:

• No wireless speaker support: The Core only allows cabled connections to speakers, leaving out WISA wireless compatibility.
• Limited to 2.0 audio: It only supports two speakers, with no surround sound option.
• No non-B&O TV control: The Core doesn’t allow you to control a connected non-B&O TV with a B&O remote, even though adding CEC control (already in Beosound Core) would have made this possible.

For these reasons, I’ve decided not to purchase the Beoconnect Core (although I would have loved to). Instead, I’m exploring other solutions within the B&O ecosystem and found two interesting Danish alternatives:

1. NEO TV by NEO Mesteren
NEO TV is a compact box designed to connect Beolab speakers with non-B&O TVs, enabling full control via a B&O remote. Key points:

Pros:

• Use B&O remotes to fully control non-B&O TVs.
• Very affordable at just GBP 231.
• Potentially a good supplement for those who insist on remote control functionality with their setup.

Cons:

• No music streaming capability like the Beoconnect Core.
• Requires a wired connection to speakers (no wireless).
• Limited to a 2.0 setup, like the Core.

The company mentions a new model under development, so it might be worth keeping an eye on for future improvements. More details here: https://shop.neomesteren.dk/en/products/neo-tv-r3?_pos=2&_fid=b6d08672b&_ss=c

2. LBS-B-O Solutions
LBS-B-O offers a range of boxes that allow you to:

• Use B&O remotes to fully control non-B&O TVs.
• Connect Beolab speakers via wired or wireless options, including surround sound setups.

Their product lineup is flexible, catering to various needs at different price points:

• Basic models: From DKK 1,495 (https://lbs-b-o.dk/produkt/beoone-bt-til-ir/)
• Advanced models (with wireless surround etc.): Up to DKK 10,995 (https://lbs-b-o.dk/produkt/beoone-bt-multi-til-ir-med-surround/)

Additionally, they create beautiful TV stands, including a unique table stand for the Beosound Stage, which B&O doesn’t currently offer.

I haven’t had a chance to try these solutions yet, so I’d love to hear from anyone with experience or perspectives. Are there other alternatives you’ve found that better integrate the B&O ecosystem with modern needs?

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