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Thanks Guy
I always forget to check the old forum!
Yes, that did help thanks. I just needed to be a bit more confident levering the covers off – they were stuck fast, probably never having been removed before. Happy to say the drivers are in great condition now I’ve checked them.
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I’ve looked at the specs for the Yamaha DSP-A5 and from what I can see, it has no built in phono stage. You would need a phono stage to connect the RX2 to the Yamaha amp.
To test the turntable, I would suggest you just get a cheap RCA to DIN adapter from eBay (I bought this one for a similar test), and connect the RX2 to the Beomaster 2000.
Note that you’ll get a lot of hum if you don’t connect a ground. The RX2 should have a ground cable with a spade connector on the end – connecting that to one of the screws on the back of the Beomaster 2000 that is in contact with the metal case should work (that’s what I did when I had the exact same setup, anyway).
Good luck.
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One thing I didn’t realise by the way was that I would be able to select any of my ML sources (CD, TV and so on) via the app, and then also have basic remote control via my phone of those sources (skip tracks, play/pause, volume). That’s really nice!
I have an old Masterlink gateway which allows me to do that kind of thing via a web interface on my PC too, so now I can control everything from everywhere! I’m looking to upgrade that to the newer Beolink Gateway, but I haven’t found one at a good enough price yet.
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Ah, I don’t want to connect my speakers direct to the BLC because I have my speakers in a surround setup, connected to my Beovision 7 (BL Penta front, BL6000 back, BL7.4 cinema centre, and BV Cona subwoofer, driven with a BL Passive).
The BV7 is in Opt2, the Beosound 4 in Opt0, so the BLC has been set as ‘Source Center’, as it cannot be set as an A or V Master in that setup.
I’m a little disappointed that I cannot select Spotify as a source with my Beo4 and control it, but it’s not the end of the world; I can control it after a fashion if I use Bluetooth.
I’ve only had the thing since this morning so I’ll be experimenting further, but I am seriously considering a move from Spotify to Deezer.
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Going back to the original reason for this thread, my Beolink Converter NL/ML arrived today. I connected it to my router via a network cable, then connected it into my ML network. It recognises my Essence, even though that is only connected via WiFi – I had assumed I would need to make a wired connection to the Essence, but that is not the case, which is useful.
It was quite easy to set up but I cannot control Spotify Connect via remote control, which is what I was hoping.
I have set the BL Converter’s ML Role as ‘Source Center’, and this allows me to select my Essence as the NL product for N.Music and N.Radio. I was able to set N.Radio to link to ‘B&O Radio’ on the Essence, and that works – I can select that with my Beo4, and use the number keys to choose favourite stations.
I cannot however select Spotify, as it isn’t available – when it gives me Essence sources available to use, Spotify is not listed (but Deezer is):
It’s a shame, as the setup manual for the BL Converter shows that Spotify is available as a source, but in the example given that is when using a Beoplay V1 rather than an Essence. Seems odd that it’s not available on the Essence Mk2, given that it does have Spotify connect?
I did find a way around it, kind of. Instead of using Spotify Connect to play music to my Essence, I can just connect via Bluetooth instead, having set the N.Radio source to ‘Bluetooth’ in the BL Converter. Once connected, if I play Spotify on the connected device, I can use my Beo4 to pause, play, skip tracks.
So, I might decide to cancel my Spotify subscription and sign up to Deezer instead!
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Don’t worry it wasn’t obvious (I’m not familiar with media sharing in Windows), but yes I had found that, and I had added my Music folder to the library.
I have other devices on the network which can see the music on that PC (it’s shown on other devices as a ‘Media Device’). It’s only the B&O app that can’t see the content on it, so far.
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Yes I did see that, it is definitely added and the HomeMedia server shows as added in the app, I just can’t get it to show any of the music that’s stored on it – yet!
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Thanks for all of the experimentation, it’s really helpful. I have renamed my media library (removing an apostrophe and a space), removed it in the app, and tried to re-add it. I’m still not getting anything, but at least I know it worked for you after some trial and error, so I’m sure I’ll get there in the end!
All of my digital music is ripped from my CDs anyway, but I think it would be handy to be able to access the digital music from a media server for link rooms – I intend to set up 2 link rooms with Beolab 2000 or 3500 (1 in bathroom, 1 in garage-used-as-gym), and it would be nice to have a full digital music library available in both.
My Beolink NL/ML converter arrives tomorrow, so I want to solve this before I have to move on to solving that!
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I’ve had another look this morning and maybe it needed some time – the app now shows that PC as s source in the Music section (if you scroll down past the crappy Deezer content I never use), but it doesn’t show any albums/tracks.
I know that PC is working okay as a streaming device as I can see the device (and its content) on other devices, just not on the B&O app.
Screenshot:
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Steve/Sounds Heavenly are closed until 6th January anyway so I won’t be able to perform the test until they open again and send the cable.
One other question while I am on though – I have a Windows 11 PC which I have set up to be discoverable as a media server, and I have a lot of digital music on it. When I go to the Music options in the B&O app, and select the HomeMedia option, it discovers that PC and it is added the app as a media server. Despite this, it doesn’t seem to have made any difference – I assumed this would mean that I would be able to browse music stored on that PC/media server directly in the B&O app and initiate playback from there, but I can’t – the only way I have found to play music from that PC to the Essence is via Bluetooth.
The user guide for the Essence is quite vague, but it does seem to indicate that once a media server is successfully added (albeit in the old Beomusic app), you could select music from that source directly in the app. Should this also be possible in the newer B&O app?
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Yes, I read the full product description on Steve’s site and it does say they are fully wired Mk2 cables, so I’ve ordered one, as it’s bound to come in useful.
When it arrives, I’ll try this experiment.
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I’ve realised I have the Essence Mk2, a BL Passive, an MCL2A and an MCL2AV (both with MCL cables) – the only thing I’m missing for this test is a RJ45-to-DIN powerlink cable. I might as well buy one as I’m sure it’ll come in useful at some point – is there anything I need to know before buying one? Are there different types?
I also have a BL3500 Mk1 which has the DIN MCL input, but I don’t have the right cable for that.
On another note, with reference to this:
I did have a frighteningly loud moment when I forgot to untick the Essence’s Line-Out selection box where it states: ‘Use Power Link socket for connection to an audio system instead’. Result was a very high line-level audio output straight into the Passive and hence to my speakers.
I’ve noticed that with that box ticked, the output level is too high, and anything played on the Essence is a bit too loud when connected to my BS4 – noticeably louder than when playing a CD for example. I tried turning Line-Out level off and matching the volume level manually, but each time it goes into standby, when I use it again it has defaulted back to a level that is too low. No perfect solution, then.
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RJ45 to RCA cable arrived so I have connected the Essence to the Aux input of my BS4. It’s all working fine – I also have connected my BG9500 (via a phono stage) into the Aux input of the Essence, and the ‘auto-sense’ appears to be working just fine.
I’ve also set the Essence at the default music speaker for my Google Home display, which means I can use voice control to play anything on Spotify – nice!
I also saw an NL/ML converter come up today at a good price on eBay so I bought it. When that arrives, I’ll try to connect it to my ML network via that, and see how I get on with being able to control the Essence with my Beo4. I’ll update this post with the results.
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Sorry, I posted without having read your more recent post. So, no proper Spotify control with my Beo4 eh? Shame that, but not the end of the world. I’ll still get an NL/ML converter if I see one for a good price as it will prove useful if only for connecting stuff together from different generations (along with the 1611 converter I already have too).
And, if I can connect my new Essence via an NL/ML converter, it will free up the Aux In input on my BS4.
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Ah yes, found it, thanks. B&O Radio was enabled so I disabled it, then reenabled it, and now it’s working thanks. I’ve also found how you can manually select Line In as the source on the app, so that might be useful too, in case the Auto Sense doesn’t work (although I think it should work).
I hadn’t thought of accessing it via my browser using the IP address, so I’ve just done that. It’d be nice if you could actually control if from a browser rather than just change and view settings, but that’s still very bloody useful, so thanks for the tip.
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Thanks – I intend to connect mine to my Beosound 4 (one the cable arrives) which only has one Aux input, so I would need to use the Aux input of the Essence for my turntable. I hope it will auto-sense (much like my old WIIM Pro did).
As for radio, I don’t see any ‘Your Content’ section in the app; perhaps I’m missing something or perhaps it’s because I’m using Android and you’re using iPhone?
I’m pretty much decided now anyway that I will get an NL/ML Converter, so hopefully that will allow me to control my Essence without the need for an IR Eye anyway, once it’s connected into my ML Network (which has a Beosound 4, Beovision 7, Beolab 3500 and Beolab 2000 in the network right now).
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I connected it now after testing for pins 1, 4 and 7 with a multimeter (you were right, the colours were no help!) but I don’t seem to be getting anything from it. If I use N.Music or N.Radio on my Beo4 nothing happens, when looking at the app.
@Guy, when you connected yours to your Beolink Converter, did either of the 2 LEDs on your IR Eye light up, so you knew at least that it was getting power?
Not the end of the world, but it would be nice to get it working.
Also, the Essence has RCA IN plugs but I can see no details in the manual or in the app on how to switch that as a source – does anyone know?
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It doesn’t help that I’m colourblind! Yes I did just cut a network cable in half but I’ll try what you suggest with a multimeter and see what’s what.
The Essence has arrived now and I have managed to get it connected and software updated. It appears to be working but of course I can’t hear anything yet as the PL to RCA cable I also ordered hasn’t arrive yet. The app shows that it is playing however, when I start playing Spotify (which will be my primary use for the Essence). I didn’t have any luck playing radio from the B&O app, but that doesn’t really matter as I only ever really listen to BBC radio. I’ll just cast that from the BBC Sounds app.
I’ll let you know how I get on with the IR eye.
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I’ve had a look at the wiring diagram for connecting a network cable to the IR eye, in place of its existing DIN cable. I know nothing of how these are usually wired, but when I’ve cut a network cable in half and taken a look inside, the colours are correct for the first diagram in the attachment from you @Guy, but each of the coloured wires (green, blue, brown, yellow) is in a twisted pair with a white wire, so there are a total of 4 white wires! Do I connect all 4!?
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Thanks @Guy – I might as well give that a try once it turns up then, as I currently don’t have any other use for that IR eye (and yes, it is the older version with the Timer button).
Like most people I have more than enough network cables in the cupboard so I can easily butcher one!
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