Buying advice BLC NL/ML

[Madskp]

I am considering buying a Beolink Converter NL/ML and need some advice before deciding if I will do it. Thanks in advance

1. Do I need to ask if the BLC is updated to the newest software or is it still possible to update it online? I don’t see any software downloads on the B&O support page.
2. I seem to remember that I read in a thread that the ML power box can be substituted with a 1611 Beolink Converter if no audiomaster is present on the ML side of the BLC. Is that correct?
3. What is the function of the AUX input on the BLC? Is it only for playing to the local powerlink connectors or can it be distributed to the ML and/or NL side of the BLC?
4. Does the AUX input have audiosense for automatic playback when a source is playing?

[Stan]

1. AFAIK, you can no longer download the software so I would ask about the version.  Unfortunately, my experience is that this is usually answered “I don’t know”.  I’ve been in the market on and off for a BLC for a while, and I have not bought anything because of this.
2. Don’t know
3. Aux can be distributed to both ML and NL sides as well as local powerlinks.
4. Yes.

[Madskp]

Ok so software is an important issue. What is the latest software version for the BLC?

[Rolf2]

Hi Madskp,

look here, please, that thread will help you:

Beolink ML/NL version number? 1.4, 1.3

Kind regards,

Rolf

[Madskp]

Rolf2 wrote:

Hi Madskp, look here, please, that thread will help you: Beolink ML/NL version number? 1.4, 1.3 Kind regards, Rolf

Thanks a lot, great info, might have overlooked that thread while searching for it.

Madskp wrote:

Does the AUX input have audiosense for automatic playback when a source is playing?

Stan wrote:

Yes.

The manual states that this function is for the powerlink connectors, but has the software been updated since the manual was written so it also works for audio distributed to ML and NL?

 

 

[bnousr]

All on my 3 BLC are on the same and latest software version which is:

Version : 1.4.3.19864
Date : Dec 11 2015

I would assume that all boxes for sale would be on the same version and if not, I would recon that it would download the latest and update the box. At least I’m not getting any errors when I ask the units to check for software update; just get that I have the latest version already.

[Madskp]

bnousr wrote:

All on my 3 BLC are on the same and latest software version which is: Version : 1.4.3.19864 Date : Dec 11 2015 I would assume that all boxes for sale would be on the same version and if not, I would recon that it would download the latest and update the box. At least I’m not getting any errors when I ask the units to check for software update; just get that I have the latest version already.

thanks for info. It could be great if it could be verified if a not up to date BLC actually gets updated. Looking at a cheap unit right now but the seller has never used it him self but got it in a LOT of other things, so has no idea of software version

[bnousr]

To be honest I think you can assume that it has the latest firmware and if not, then just reach out to B&O Support to get help or check with a dealer if they can help you to perform update using their service tools.

[Stan]

Madskp wrote:

Rolf2 wrote:

Hi Madskp, look here, please, that thread will help you: Beolink ML/NL version number? 1.4, 1.3 Kind regards, Rolf

Thanks a lot, great info, might have overlooked that thread while searching for it.

Madskp wrote:

Does the AUX input have audiosense for automatic playback when a source is playing?

Stan wrote:

Yes.

The manual states that this function is for the powerlink connectors, but has the software been updated since the manual was written so it also works for audio distributed to ML and NL?

I’d trust the documentation over anything I say. I owned a BLC for a few years, and I did use the AUX and PL sockets, but now that you mention it, maybe I never distributed the AUX audio.

About the software, the linked thread and an eBay listing led to believe that they are no longer user updatable. However, this could be wrong as well. After re-reading the thread, I guess no one ever says that they are not user updateable, and maybe the eBay guy is just trying to justify his higher price. Unfortunately, for me, my closest dealer is >300 miles away so working with a dealer is not an easy option.

[Rolf2]

My experience: I once bought a BLC, at that time indifferent of sw versions. It was cheap and I purchased without asking and it turned out to be on a lower sw version.

Now, this said unit was two updates behind. Customer service pointed at the online update and that it should work. And it did not update, neither automatically nor manually. Asking customer service, they told me, that in this case, only a dealer would be capable of updating the unit with his service tool. I asked my dealer who was not aware of this problem and if it would work. I gave it a try and he did it for a decent price.

First, it seemed to work well. At some point, it started to fail punctually, no longer reliably transmitting the data and music. In the end, I let it be checked by my dealer again and he had to exchange the complete inside electronics.

All of my other (3) BLC have the latest sw. If I try to update manually, I receive something like „it is on the latest sw version“. So from my experience and according to customer service (I guess 2 years ago), it seems that you can still update a unit online, if it is not on the latest sw. But it seems to me that it is likely not possible, if the actual version is too far behind the latest update. I also cannot exclude the possibility that my unit had been faulty right from the start and that this has been the reason that it did not update.

Personally, I would still go for a BLC to merge my ML and NL products. I have that „new“ BLC now stored, planning to connect my BC 9500 / BG 9500 to my network one day ?.

But info about sw version – my point of view – is important to minimize the risk of buying units with hidden faults or not behaving correctly. So, if the seller is not sure about the sw version and he wants to sell, than it should be possible to plug the unit into the mains, connect via LAN to the network and check the sw version. Takes about 2 minutes.

Alternatively, you could ask him, if he is willing to confirm that he will take the unit back, if the sw version is behind and can not be updated.

Kind regards,

Rolf

[Rolf2]

I was checking my BLCs and discovered, that the unit with the new electronics is not in store but in use with my BeoSystem 4500. Looking into the log, here is, what I found:

Mar 30 23:03:49 (none) BLC[1145]: [info]:Client disconnected. Message: Socket error. Error: Broken pipe, ErrorCode: 32 [Notifier.cpp:233]
Mar 30 23:03:49 (none) BLC[1145]: [info]:Dismissing HTTP Response due to errorState [Http.cpp:349]
Mar 30 23:03:56 (none) BLC[1145]: [info]:Looking for a new software…
Mar 30 23:03:56 (none) BLC[1145]: [info]:Checking for software updates…
Mar 30 23:03:57 (none) BLC[1145]: [info]:Update info isAvailable: 0
Mar 30 23:03:57 (none) BLC[1145]: [info]:Update url:
Mar 30 23:03:57 (none) BLC[1145]: [info]:Beoportal sw ver:
Mar 30 23:03:57 (none) BLC[1145]: [info]:No new updates available.
Mar 30 23:03:57 (none) BLC[1145]: [info]:No software updates available

So, this is not very clear. No new updates available, and then, no updates available?

My BLC screen in the update section looks like this:

Software status

Current version1.4.3.19864[release notes]
Available version
Update statusNo updates available

Automatic update

Enabled (Recommended)
Disabled

Hmmm ? ?

At least, a dealer should still be able to update with his service tool.

[bnousr]

For the seller to confirm which version of the software installed is really easy; it’s just matter of power up the unit and wait until the led on the bottom side doesn’t flash anymore and then just point a browser to the assigned IP adress if it boots up using DHCP (and if he can’t located the IP then they can use tools such as Advanced IP Scanner to locate it). This is what it looks like:

Also, to avoud any issues with fixed IP they could also perform a factory reset by holding down the button on until the led has flashed 5 times (action #5), release the button, and within 3 seconds confirm the action with another push on the button. This will then perform a factory reset. This is what to look for:

And for info about the various actions you can perform, here is a snipe from the manual:

[Madskp]

Thanks for all the input, its really great and usefull info.
unfortnuatly the seller that I have been in touch with thinks its way to difficult to find the version info which I fully understand if he has no knowledge of IP adresses and network.

So I think Ill wait for another on to come for sale

Thanks again for all the info

 

 

[Stan]

Many of the sellers in the US know absolutely nothing about most of the B&O that they have to sale (not sure if they actually sell much).  They act more like an on-line pawn shop than a pre-owned stereo dealer.  At least at a pawn shop, you could probably talk the owner into letting you do the test before buying, but, alas, most don’t have physical locations (or they have a single far away location).

[Benjnz]

Quick dumb question, if I already have a BLC NL/ML hanging off a BC6-26 (so I can play NL sources through it), if I wanted to add a Beosound3200 in another room to get CDs on NL, would I need to add another BLC NL/ML to the BS3200?

[Tignum]

Hi Benjnz, welcome!

I would say that with the BLC set to ‘Source center’ you can make N.RADIO and N.MUSIC sources visible to a joint BC6-26/BS3200 ML network, and also map the CD experience from that ML chain to NL. Check page 15 of the BLC handbook that you can find as an attachment in this thread: https://forum.beoworld.org/forums/topic/difference-between-source-sugnals/page/3/.

(A.TAPE is used to access the stored CDs on the BS3200 right? If so, then I do not expect any (N.MUSIC) conflicts. But if such ML source conflict does end up to be a show-stopper, you can always decide to indeed get one BLC more, set that one to A SLAVE and ‘map’ the desired BS3200’s CD ‘experience’ to the NL side that way. This is how bnousr (and me) in the mentioned thread have set up our (three) generations of BeoLink networks).

Let us know what you achieve! Best of luck. Regards, Johan

[XavierItzmann]

Madskp:

In my configuration, Aux-In directly into the BLC NL/ML automatically turns on the PL speakers and sound starts playing from standby.  Also, if a CD was already playing on BS3000, the CD stops spinning and the BS3000 goes into stby, or if an AAC file was playing on BS5, it goes into stby.

If my A6 was already joined into the BLC NL/ML soundstream, when sound starts playing on the PL speakers, it also plays on the A6.  But if the A6 was on stby, one must manually join it via the B&O app.

On my setup, on the B&O app, under “Change Source” I have the usual Radio, N.Radio, CD, etc.  Aux-In directly into the BLC NL/ML is chosen by selecting “LINE IN” from that menu.

As an aside, I have also enabled A.Aux into the BS3000.  It also works perfectly, but we do not use it: its use requires one to go into the B&O app > Change Source > A.AUX in order to start playing.  It is faster and easier to simply start streaming to the wireless receiver I have installed in front of the Aux-In port into the BLC NL/ML because as soon as the stream is started, the B&O system turns on from stby via line-in sense and sound starts from the PL speakers.

Let me know if any additional questions.

[Madskp]

XavierItzmann wrote:

n my configuration, Aux-In directly into the BLC NL/ML automatically turns on the PL speakers and sound starts playing from standby.  Also, if a CD was already playing on BS3000, the CD stops spinning and the BS3000 goes into stby, or if an AAC file was playing on BS5, it goes into stby. If my A6 was already joined into the BLC NL/ML soundstream, when sound starts playing on the PL speakers, it also plays on the A6.  But if the A6 was on stby, one must manually join it via the B&O app.

Thanks for that thorough explanation of how this function works. I could see the benefit of that as it would probably be used in a combination with an existing Sonos system were it would be great if it could be sued without interaction with two apps, and it sound like that should be possible.

XavierItzmann wrote:

Let me know if any additional questions.

I don’t know if you can answer this as it doesn’t seem like there is a Beovision in your setup. But I wonder if it is possible to use a NL Beovision (in my case a Beoplay V1) joined/integrated permanently with the BLC so the sound is coming out of the TV setups speakers?

Thanks in advance

[Madskp]

Hello again

Another NL/ML converter showed up today at a local seller for 160€. The seller could tell that he hd used it himself recently in a larger system setup by a local B&O dealer, so I was not that afraid of the SW. version. At home now testing it, it has the newest SW onboard.

So n ow it’s time to play with this little box 🙂

[XavierItzmann]

I paid £201 for mine a few months ago, so you did very well indeed!

[Author]

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