[HAWK]

UPDATE: bought a used GCC Audio and connected it to the Essence mk2 line-in (using a standard 3.5mm to RCA/cinch/tulp cable, the shorter the better!), and it works like a charm.

The GCC Audio updated itself from 1.24.xxxxx to 1.56.xxxx automatically, so also my Beolabs now work perfect again in Google Home Speaker Groups!

Don’t forget to do 2 things:

• set the GCC Audio to HDR (via Google Home settings, this gives much wider bandwidth and therefore much better sound!)
• disable the line-in speaker delay in the Essence mk2 via the web configuration page (otherwise you have an irritating delay between other GC speakers in the same group)

[HAWK]

Good news is that my HK Citation speakers just got an update to Google Cast 1.56, and now they are working like a charm again with Google Home, including speaker groups, etc.

Pity the Essence MK2 will probably not get it.

So now considering either buying a Chromecast Audio or using my existing Chromecast via a “switch” to convert HDMI to audio (3.5mm / tulp) so I can keep using my existing Essence MK2. See here some background how this should work (with all devices that have no HDMI in but only aux/audio in): https://allaboutchromecast.com/how-to-use-chromecast-to-stream-music-to-dumb-speakers-as-chromecast-audio-does/

Alternative is to replace the Essence MK2 with a Core mk2. What will it add, except a newer/working Googlecast version?

I see the Core still has GC 1.52.xxxxx, so nobody knows if they will continu upgrading this, and if not, it is rather expensive upgrade for only limited amount of time: https://support.bang-olufsen.com/hc/en-us/articles/4419765148689-Software-release-notes

[HAWK]

ebnrob wrote:

HAWK wrote:

but apparantly not (yet) for the Essence MKII

B&O have told me they can’t update Chromecast in the M5 and Essence Mk2. This is what they said to me: “Our technical department would like to inform you that the hardware of Beoplay M5 does not support the requirements from Google and this is not a Bang & Olufsen’s decision, but part of new requirements from Google.” Their suggestion was to buy a Chromecast audio dongle and connect it to line in. I’ve just bought a Wiim Pro streamer which has a built in Alexa receiver as well as chromecast which I’ve connected to my M5’s line-in. Works well.

Thx for the heads up. You mention the M5 AND the Essence MK2, so also the Essence Mk2 does not support the requirements from Google?

Let’s see if I can connect a Chromecast to the line-in of the Essence Mk2 then (no idea if this is even possible).

[HAWK]

Rolf2 wrote:

@HAWK

I am not using chromecast, though it shows as „enabled“. My sw version is 1.28.102057, so, far behind what seems to be the latest version. I cannot help here, sorry.

Kind regards,

Rolf

Thx, my mistake: my HK speaker had cast version 1.44.xxxx, the Beosound Essence MKII has cast version 1.28.102057 for me too. There is an B&O update to 1.52.xxx apparantly (e.g. for the Core), but apparantly not (yet) for the Essence MKII…..

[HAWK]

PS1: don’t know if this is the right thread, but I was following this thread very actively on the “old” forum (under the same username) and can not find any continuation for this): https://archivedforum2.beoworld.co.uk/forums/p/45567/338558.aspx#338558

PS2: why a new forum with 2 archives and different credentials, etc? Ok, that question is certainly in the wrong thread here ?

[HAWK]

Rolf2 wrote:

For my Essence MK II an update was in the app this evening and it is now on 2.1.50867. I do not know what the update has changed. Although I have the „automatic update“ function enabled, I had to trigger it manually. I will keep an eye on it. Beosound 2 updated as described in previous post to 2.1.50871. Emerge is still on 1.8.10017.

 

My Essence MKII also upgraded to 2.1.50867, so good news.
What puzzles me, however, is that the Google Cast firmware still is on 1.44.xxx. And the problem is that the Essence in this way can NOT be used as part of a Google Home Speaker group.

For this to work, at least Google Cast 1.52.xxx is needed, did found this out because my Harman Kardon speakers had the same problem, but after upgrading the Google cast version, not anymore, see https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Group-speakers-casting-not-working-with-Harman-Kardon-Citation-One/m-p/227131#M42984 .

The strange thing is that for the Beosound Core, this Google cast update to 1.52.xxx was already done early 2022, together with fw 2.0.4793 (see https://support.bang-olufsen.com/hc/en-us/articles/4419765148689-Software-release-notes)., but for the Essence MKII, this 2.0.4793 with the right 1.52.xxx Google cast version, was never released (see https://support.bang-olufsen.com/hc/en-us/articles/4419756669585 , btw: Oct 2021 seems wrong, must be Oct 2022?).

Let’s hope the Google Cast update for our Essence MKII will follow soon too!

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