BeoSound 5 Forum

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

Stan — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:11:08 GMT

jk1002:
What concerns me is that they need a solid base to shift from CD driven music systems.

This is the other point that is depressing me (this talk giving up on it being the main). I knew what it was when I bought it so I'm not disappointed nor depressed about its current performance. The fact that it seems to have dropped from their priorities is troubling. Then again, we are still in the midst of a world-wide economic downturn so maybe this is just about survival at this point (which is also depressing)... I guess I'll go dial up some Neil Young on my BS5 (music to be depressed by )

Stan

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

jk1002 — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:04:46 GMT

What concerns me is that they need a solid base to shift from CD driven music systems. I can see that they only look at BS5 sales and maybe that is why they can not justify further improvements. But that what they have should be perfected and taken as a base for future developments. Similar as they have taken BS3 and put that into the BV7 as a base. As is it is too clunky. Before I buy another music product from them, I will test the heck out of it at the dealer that is for sure.

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

Harry2008 — Sun, 16 May 2010 10:54:06 GMT

elephant:

But I am arguing against myself I think ... and at thr risk of depressing Stan even further I have to say the BM5/BS5 is a beautiful point solution - but its point is too fine/narrow ... it is very much a one trick show pony

Funny, I did the same as I was actually thinking the BS5/BM5 was way to expensive versus the functionality offered. In the end my wife stated do you love the design/quality/look&feel? Yes? Buy it and stop twinkering about it

So I am still happy with the product, however the "the point to fine/narrow" is a good description. With a little more effort on the software level and may be some small additions on hardware, this could be solved quite easily.... wil probably not happen

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

elephant — Sat, 15 May 2010 19:48:01 GMT

Harry2008:
very expensive system compared to all other solutions available, including a € 300 Apple TV at that time.

I agree it was/is expensive

I was going to say it can not be compared to an ATV because one has to factor in a PC ... but then you need a PC to initiate the BM5 :(

And the ATV needs the internet and an iTunes PC to run Genius ... where as the BM5/BS5 does run MOTS by itself :)

Perhaps one way to try and justify the BM5 and BS5 price is to look at the two units and compare like for like ... the ATV has no interface of its own, it needs a TV and an apple remote

But I am arguing against myself I think ... and at thr risk of depressing Stan even further I have to say the BM5/BS5 is a beautiful point solution - but its point is too fine/narrow ... it is very much a one trick show pony

Harry2008:
I would love to have a thin cd-loader build into the BS5

and that's what I wish the ATV had !

(maybe ATV Flash and an external drive ?)

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

Harry2008 — Sat, 15 May 2010 18:10:40 GMT

PhilLondon:

Apple Lossless is not an open standard... Apple is not licensing it, so stop moaning at B&O.

May be you are right, I could not find any documentation on the net that fast. Although there is opensource code available enabling playing Apple Lossless (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Lossless). Probably we should send a mail to Steve to hear the story On the other hand, why could B&O not just make a statement on codex support and eventuall issues like Linn has done?

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

Harry2008 — Sat, 15 May 2010 17:42:09 GMT

Stan:

You guys are depressing me...

Stan

Stan I believe you should say B&O is depressing people by simply not delivering on created expectations. I know from the start that it was an very expensive system compared to all other solutions available, including a € 300 Apple TV at that time. But it was expected that much more would coming, including software updates, multi-room usage, etc. No hardware extension to support multiple rooms but, even more important, no software updates at all and no reliable statements from B&O where they are planning to go to.

If you look in the other thread at this forum, listing product wishes for the BS5/BM5, you could hardly saying people wants to have extremely complicated things. All they are asking for is solving a number of short commings and offer a decent integration with Apple systems. the least they can do is inform their dealers properly.

The hardware limitations are I think known, understood and accepted by the majority of people. Of course, you can always ask for more, I would love to have a thin cd-loader build into the BS5, would make live much easier, but hey, I know upfront it is not there

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

Stan — Sat, 15 May 2010 16:47:32 GMT

You guys are depressing me...

Stan

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

Beogen — Sat, 15 May 2010 07:34:58 GMT

I used to own a beomedia and waited a long time for an update that was promissed to the customer. I sold it and bougth a BM5/BS5 because the dealer told me the updates will come in this version. Last week I asked my dealer to take it back because I'm not pleased at all with the specifications after 1 year of 'software improvement'. I'm very glad I've got rid of this overpriced good looking mp3 player. Gapless playback is too important for me so I'll step into a ATV or Mac Mini / Ipad configuration.

No more B&O digital media for me!

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

elephant — Fri, 14 May 2010 22:26:27 GMT

jk1002:
I think what happens is that they don't sell enough to justify the cost of updates

What surprises me is that when it was launched B&O were surprised by the sales success they were having ... what happened ?

(Perhaps Trip can answer ?)

Was there an initial stampede and then no more sales ?

That would be a great pity !

I wonder what it would take to re-invigorate the BS/BM5 sales . . . . . . perhaps the very enhancements people keep mentioning ?

Catch-22

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

linder — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:43:50 GMT

jk1002:
Jup, and I don't want to move on. I am waiting for them to give me a modern music system. If they can't get the BS5 right, does it mean they go back to CDs? Or does it mean they become a video only company? I wish we could get the product manager here for a Q&A to give him a proper beating :)

I meant that I was moving on. I actually bought a Beosound 5 on day 1 and am very disappointed. I understand your desire for a modern music system. It may happen.

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

jk1002 — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:33:28 GMT

Jup, and I don't want to move on. I am waiting for them to give me a modern music system. If they can't get the BS5 right, does it mean they go back to CDs? Or does it mean they become a video only company? I wish we could get the product manager here for a Q&A to give him a proper beating :)

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

DoubleU — Fri, 14 May 2010 13:39:48 GMT

linder:

Sonos is the only company that I can think of that has a license for Apple Lossless. Sonos can probably do the license because of the scale of their business.

Take also a look at the specs for Linn, Naim, Logitech, Sooloos.

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

linder — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:20:14 GMT

jk1002:
Very weak argument. Sonos has Apple lossless. I would live with a lossy format but want to have gapless playing without converting my mac environment to windows. The way the product looks at this point, it was clearly not well thought out. Not considering holiday music for mots, not considering multiple disks cd sets and not considering gapless life recordings and lastly not considering that the majority of b&o customers use Apple computers ........

Sonos is the only company that I can think of that has a license for Apple Lossless. Sonos can probably do the license because of the scale of their business.

JK, You have been right about this all along. However its time to move on. Beosound 5 is exactly as it is described in the brochures. B&O did say it would be updated periodically and that has happened. I had hoped for more. Fortunately for me I have a complete Beomaster 7000 system in storage that I can use to replace my Beosound 5. I will connect the AUX port to an Apple airport and I will have Apple lossless on a B&O system controlled by an iPod touch or a new iPad. My only problem is finding the box with the Beolink 7000 in it!

I look forward to new B&O products but I will not jump as quickly as I did for the Beosound 5. Someone else will have to be the early adopter.

Bill

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

jk1002 — Fri, 14 May 2010 11:33:46 GMT

Very weak argument. Sonos has Apple lossless. I would live with a lossy format but want to have gapless playing without converting my mac environment to windows. The way the product looks at this point, it was clearly not well thought out. Not considering holiday music for mots, not considering multiple disks cd sets and not considering gapless life recordings and lastly not considering that the majority of b&o customers use Apple computers ........

Re: Any news on Apple Lossless support?

DoubleU — Fri, 14 May 2010 01:37:29 GMT

Weak argument! Any other brand will play this format.