Hallo,

Some first comments/ideas on my own post:

1) I have of course been thinking of the BeoSound 5 "encore" (that was announced a very long time ago) but honestly I do not really see the point... although I do not know the price yet, in the end it would offer control of the audio from one single fixed location (e.g. "lounge").  But what is really needed is control through a similar interface throughout the house... In addition, although it looks "slick", I found the ease-of-use (with the wheels and buttons) really not very good.

2) I have also been looking at the Beo6 remote.  But looking at that, I keep thinking: is there not a good app on an iPod Touch? An iPod Touch costs under 300€, has good battery life and works really well.  Why not buy a couple of those as remotes?

Greetings,

--Stefaan.#

ssonck:

I have also been looking at the Beo6 remote.  But looking at that, I keep thinking: is there not a good app on an iPod Touch? An iPod Touch costs under 300€, has good battery life and works really well.  Why not buy a couple of those as remotes?

There's an app for that! The BeoLink App made by B&O. It operates an ML system via MasterLink Gateway.

welcome :)

ssonck:

pair of BeoLab 6000, pair of BeoLab Penta (Mk1), BeoLab LCS9000/3500 (both MCL and ML inputs)

it seems you have a reasonable investment in speakers that would be worth preserving

ssonck:

several Beolink 1000

even the BeoLink 1000 remote has some life expectency

ssonck:

Room 3 "office": Access through iMac

I infer that your folks use iTunes

ssonck:

Slimdevices Squeezebox (connected to the BC9500)

it sounds like that is an analogue (AUX-IN, whatever) interface

it seems you don't have a BeoPort

 

 

I think you real challenge at this juncture in B&O and Apple's evolutions is whether to stick with analogue wired distribution or to seriously think about digital wireless distribution

I persevered with my B&O wireless and got it working in the end ... so it can work and have reasonable quality

 

 

I am trying to decide whether to take my home down the route of digital distribution via airplay ... but not all the dominoes have fallen into place ... so I keep waiting ... and waiting ... but have high hopes that the appearance of LION, IOS5, and some new hardware in the Apple range will clarify the path to take

Hi Evan,

Thanks for the info.

A first decision I would need to take is whether ML is the right way to go here.

Can you tell me where I could find more info on this "ML Gateway". It has been mentioned several times in posts in the forum but I could not find a technical description on what it is and what it does.

Thanks!

Stefaan.

Hi Elephant,

Thanks for your input!

My parents currently do not use iTunes but the Squeezebox Server that distributes music to the squeezeboxes. That is actually a powerful and open solution. Unfortunately it is not so easy to use as iTunes.

In my own home I have a complete Apple solution, consisting of a Mac Mini, 2 ATVs and a few airport expresses. Mobile iPhones integrate nicely. For high quality listening, I hooked up a good DAC to active speakers (non B&O). It actually does almost all I need, except maybe for future 5.1. Control is from iPhones, the mini, or from our laptops.

Back to B&O: I would prefer digital sound distribution between the rooms. But apart from some "rumors" I am still waiting to understand what "beonet" will exactly be and how it will work. B&O is very slow here. I hope they will not drop the ball.

One solution for my parents is a full-apple approach (similar to mine) but with the B&O active speakers. I am not sure how to integrate them though.

Stefaan.

ssonck:

One solution for my parents is a full-apple approach (similar to mine) but with the B&O active speakers. I am not sure how to integrate them though.

Hi Stefaan,

I agree the BeoNet is frustratingly slow in being revealed.

So I am inclined towards the solution you have yourself.

I have the advantage that ATV2 connects to a BeoVision, and therefore to two BeoLab 3s.

At one time I did have an airport express connected to an AUX-IN and another time it was driving some BeoLab 6000s directly.

Only the BeoLab 5s have built-in DACs, so I think you would need to provide DACs or use the DAC built into the Airports, but most of the people on the forum feel that the Airport DAC is inferior and even there recommend an external DAC between the Airport and the BeoLabs.

 

Ed.