Beosound Core + Beolink Converter NL/ML + Spotify Connect issue (MasterLink distribution)
Hello everyone,
I have a hybrid Bang & Olufsen setup combining older MasterLink products with newer Network Link products, and I am trying to understand whether I am facing a configuration issue or a technical limitation.
My current setup:
Beosound Core (older version, not the new 2024 version)
Beolink Converter NL/ML
Firmware version: 1.4.6.1
Beovision Horizon (Network Link)
Beovision 10-40 (MasterLink)
Beosound 3500 (MasterLink)
The Beolink Converter is configured as:
ML role: A Master
Primary product: Beosound Core
Secondary product: Beovision Horizon
Current observations:
1. B&O Radio via Core works perfectly
I mapped B&O Radio from the Core to RADIO on MasterLink.
Result:
Radio plays perfectly on Beosound 3500
Radio also works on BV10
Stable playback, no interruptions
2. Bluetooth streaming works
If I stream music from my phone to the Core using Bluetooth:
The music is distributed correctly over the ML system
Playback works on Beosound 3500 and other ML products
So NL to ML audio distribution is working.
3. Spotify Connect does NOT work
When I start Spotify using Spotify Connect directly to the Core:
Spotify starts correctly on the Core
The Horizon can play the Spotify stream
But:
The ML products immediately stop receiving audio
If I select N.MUSIC (mapped to Core → Music) Spotify stops immediately
No sound is distributed to MasterLink products
I also tested this while B&O Radio was already playing over ML.
Scenario:
Core playing B&O Radio
ML system playing radio normally
Start Spotify Connect to Core
Result:
B&O Radio stops immediately
Spotify does NOT continue on MasterLink
ML audio disappears completely
Important:
Bluetooth streaming DOES work.
Spotify Connect DOES NOT work.
This seems Spotify-specific.
My question:
Is this a known limitation of the older Beosound Core + Beolink Converter NL/ML combination?
Or is there a specific BLC configuration that allows Spotify Connect to be distributed over MasterLink?
At this point it seems that:
B&O Radio = works
Bluetooth = works
Spotify Connect = immediately breaks NL → ML audio distribution
Any sports games ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
I would also suspect a limitation specific to the Spotify Connect source rather than the MasterLink distribution itself. Since B&O Radio and Bluetooth both pass correctly through the Core/BLC, the basic NL → ML configuration seems to be working.
One thing I’d check is whether Spotify Connect is actually exposed by the Core as an audio source that the BLC can map to an ML source. If the Core handles Connect as a separate Network Link source, it may start playback locally on the Horizon but not generate the ML source command/audio stream expected by the Converter.
Have you tried checking the BLC configuration/logs while starting Spotify Connect, especially which source command the Core sends at that moment? That might confirm whether this is a configuration issue or simply a limitation of the older Core firmware.
.