matteventu
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Lost cause.
Even more recent products such as M5, Essence MK2, and Beosound 1/2 1st Gen no longer support new Chromecast firmware versions, which makes them incompatible with many Chromecast-enabled apps.
Some apps still work though. What app are you trying to use and with which devices?
I’d say don’t purchase a Beosound Stage now.
The hardware platform it’s based on has very old and weak CPU.
IMHO it’s worth waiting for a Stage 2nd Gen, although this may take even 2-3 years to come out… In the meantime, I’d buy something else a bit cheaper that you can in the future sell to replace it with the new Stage once it comes out.
Edit: actually, if you’re only interested in the soundbar itself, then even a current-gen Stage will do. If – however – you’re counting on being able to add rear surround speakers in the future – then definitely wait for the Gen2.
The website today says, “Beosound A9: Don’t mess with the classics. Unless it’s to bring them bang up to date. Beosound A9 is now available with stereo pairing, smoother in-app setup, and improved Wi-Fi performance. ” But it lists the same Wi-Fi specs as before (2.4/5GHz, ac support). Does anybody know what is improved? Was the old SoC/antenna combo sub-par? One other thing I noticed about the Gen.5 is that the USB C Aux Input is apparently only analog? Whereas Gen.4 spec lists a 3.5mm jack that was “combi”, i.e. supported optical too? I don’t have one to test… does anybody know if that was true?
Wi-Fi specs are the same but the underlying hardware platform (RAM, streaming module) is newer. CPU goes from a dual-core Cortex A7 (ASE latest gen) to a quad-core Cortex A53 (Mozart).
I’m curious too as to why they decided to ditch optical/digital input (mini-TOSlink) in recent Mozart products (or any other digital input method for that matter, i.e. they could have used USB-C digital audio, that they’ve been using for years with their Bluetooth headphones and speakers).
Also big news: finally they’ve introduced support to Tidal Connect! At least on these new BSA9v5 and BS2v3.
I actually was about to write an email to B&O pointing out how useless it was of them to gift customers 3 months of Tidal with a purchase of one of their Connected Speakers products, as they didn’t even support Tidal Connect (so a trial of Spotify or Deezer would have been more appropriate, given the support for Spotify Connect and the native integration with Deezer in the B&O app).
Good thing now Tidal Connect is supported on the new products!
I guess they’ll also update older Mozart products to support it (not sure about latest gen ASE products like Stage, Edge, BS1/2 2nd Gen, A9 4th Gen, etc).
Edit: is anyone also able to confirm whether these are still built at the ex-B&O now Tymphany factory in Czech Republic?
“The BS2 Mozart can be seen on the website – like the A9 (5), there is no GVA option anymore…” Oh, not good for me. I control my Balance, Level and two BS2s (the third is non-GVA and, if I’m honest, rarely use it for that reason…) solely using my voice! I might sell the Infantry Green non-GVA BS2…
Unfortunately with the re-launch of the Beosound Emerge they made it quite clear that they were no longer interested in having Google Voice Assistant 🙁
Such a silly choice!
No, it’s two separate things.
About stereo pairing: they’re both ASE, but different generations. A bit like the new Beosound A9 and Beosound 2 3rd Gen are small upgrades over the older Mozart platform.
The ASE platform on which M5 and Beosound 1/2 1st Gen are based, doesn’t support stereo pairing in any way.
For what concerns multiroom and groups via Google Home, that’s indeed related to the older Chromecast firmware version (v1.29) for which Google has removed the ability to play in groups (v1.52 is the minimum required firmware now for using a Chromecast built-in speaker in groups).
While Beoplay M3 supports stereo pairing in Google Home, Beoplay M5 is based on an older platform and does not support such feature (nor any Google Home multiroom features / speaker groups any longer).
M3 allows stereo pairing in the Google Home app and that will only work strictly within the Google Home/Chromecast multiroom system.
That means that the stereo pair is “”virtual”” and only available if you Chromecast to it via a Chromecast -enabled app. If you use any other way (Beolink, 3.5mm input, AirPlay, etc) it won’t work as a stereo pair
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I realized another issue, which may or may not be related. When trying to open streaming apps, it asks me to log on to the “B&O Smart TV server”. It times out saying “Conncting to B&O Smart TV Server”.
Is there anything “internet connected” that works on the TV?
Does any streaming app work?
Have you tried to temporarily disable 2FA and then login on the BV? Does that work or *give a different error*?
None of the devices on ASE2 support native stereo pairing, so I doubt they could do that with minimal investment unfortunately.
In addition to what Steve had said, I’d add that B&O has proven willing to support old products in the app and in newer versions of the app.
When they deprecated the old Beoplay app, they migrated all of the products over to the new Bang & Olufsen app, and products that are now almost 10 years old are still supported by the app.
I would say it’s safe to assume that, should they release a new app or should a new platform get to in the market (let’s imagine that Android and iOS no longer exist in 10 years), B&O will follow up with a new app that still supports all of the B&O portfolio of products.
Mine (my A9 MK2) updated itself on August 18th – to 2.1.50399 Havent played with it yet to see differences in integration with it, ut will report back if anything odd. The beta version of the app is asking me to “update to new interface” and lists my A9, I guess as the eligible product for interacting with in the new way. My BS2 has gone for repair, but I imagine exactly the same for it, when it comes back from repair.
Thank you! What about the Beoplay M5 though?
I absolutely hate that they’ve removed the volume slider from the main product pages. Now you need to open the “multiroo player” to control the volume via the app, which doesn’t make sense for BT products, and that is anyway inconvenient for Wi-Fi speakers/multiroom products if you’re just using them individually.
My firmware (updated Aug 2): M3: 2.1.50404 M5: 2.1.50400 BS1 GVA: 2.1.50406
Sorry, can you please confirm the firmware version of your Beoplay M5?
Mine is v1.27.47107 and the app tells me it’s the latest.
Do you actually have 2.1.xxxxx ?
Thank you!
I’m starting to hate their approach to headphones…
This seems to be yet another headphones based on the Portal reference design (just like the Cisco B&O 980 headset).
What I’m struggling to understand here, is what’s the niche these aim to. If they’re intended for music, then:
1- Why are they needed, as they surely can’t be considered a successor to HX nor an upgrade of the Portal themselves. A variant of the Portal but aimed at music (no gaming)? Just why. Isn’t that the purpose of the HX?
2- If they’re for music, then those double-tap and triple-tap commands for track control totally SUCK. With the HX already they screwed up the touchpads (which worked flawlessly on H9 3rd Gen, and that they’ve ruined with HX) and ANC (again, better on H9 3rd Gen). Will these at least support the microphone when connected via USB-C (H9/H95/HX don’t – Portals do) ?
Very curious about discovering more details for this product, but for now I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed.
@Emilos88: I’m not sure about that, as B&O recently announced that the HX are getting the Zoom/Teams certification (which at practical level won’t change absolutely anything, it’s probably just going to be a marketing gimmick. -
