Masterlink and Network Link - some help needed

CharlieWednesday

Gold

670 posts

Posted December 12, 2024 at 12:07 GMT

All of my B&O equipment is Masterlink era or earlier, but since the Hall Audio ML Streamer's Kickstarter was unsuccessful (I'm hoping they will still find a way to sell it though), I want to find another solution for playing digital music on my setup, and being able to control it with my B&O remote. I use Spotify a lot so the solution has to include Spotify. So, I'm back to thinking I needed either a Beosound Essence Mk2, a Beosound Core, or a Beosound Moment. I'm hoping to stick to a budget of £500 max. The above three devices all use the newer Network Link as far as I understand. Would I need an NL/ML Converter to integrate it into my B&O system, or can they be connected, and controlled, without that? I don't know anything much about how NL works I'm afraid. I would likely connect it with my Beosound 4 and Beovision 7, but may also choose to connect it to my Beocenter 8500 instead (and yes, I have a 1611 converter for that).

Location: Liverpool

My B&O Icons:

Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...

Millemis

Bronze

1330 posts

Posted December 12, 2024 at 16:53 GMT ? Edited December 12, 2024 at 16:55 GMT

#712728

You do not need to know anything about NetworkLink to do that..… ……unless you want a full integration (using the NL/ML Converter). You can use the Essence Mk2 or the Core (skip the Moment!) as a source connected directly to the Audio Master using a PL/RJ45 to Din-5 pin/Aux adapter (ask Steve/SoundsHeavenly for that). If you mainly want to use Spotify (Connect) just play to it from your mobile device. If you want to use the B&O Netradio as well, you will have to do that via the Bang & Olufsen app. You can also use the WIFI Streamer from Hall Audio! (Order the version with the rigt cable). In that case there is a small remote with access to netradio stations. There are also other small dongle solutions with Spotify Connect support! It all comes down to your needs respectively how deep you’d want to integrate e.g. a Beosound Core with the rest of you system. MM

Location: Flensborg————Danmark

Guy

GoldModerator

4508 posts

Posted December 12, 2024 at 17:43 GMT

#712731

If you want Beo4 control of (for example) B&O Netradio from linkrooms (i.e selecting radio presets) then you could add the NL/ML converter, but perhaps get the Essence Mk2 first and then experiment with how you make use of it - see if you are happy to control primarily with a smartphone and the B&O app. Both Essence Mk2 and NL/ML Converter can be found relatively cheap on UK eBay. I paid £129 for my Essence and £102 for the converter.

Location: Warwickshire, UK

My B&O Icons:

CharlieWednesday

Gold

670 posts

Posted December 12, 2024 at 18:52 GMT

#712733

You may have been lucky to get an Essence Mk2 for £129 - I've had my eye out for one for a while now and they go for twice that at least. I'll keep looking though. I have seen NL/ML converters often go for about £100 though, so I guess I might as well look at getting both. I do have two link room speakers so that would be useful to have it 'properly' connected. said, I take it the BS Moment is not recommended! I have heard some stories of 'dead tablet' on those. It's such as shame Spotify won't work on a BS5 - such an attractive piece of kit, and having a dedicated touchscreen would be so useful, but the lack of Spotify is a deal breaker for me.

Location: Liverpool

My B&O Icons:

Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...

Guy

GoldModerator

4508 posts

Posted December 13, 2024 at 11:23 GMT

#712739

I can't comment on the BS Moment - never used one.
Location: Warwickshire, UK
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CharlieWednesday

Gold

670 posts

Posted December 13, 2024 at 12:09 GMT

#712740

I might be asking too much to control the Essence with my B&O remote. I just don't like to have to find my phone, unlock it, and fiddle about with it to do simple things on Spotify. Also, I have my speakers connected to my BV7 so I can get surround sound. Therefore the BV7 is in Opt2 and the BS4 is in Opt0. I'm not sure what (if any) option on the BS Essence would work with that setup. If I see an Essence Mk2 at a good price on eBay I'll buy it, but otherwise I'll keep hoping that Hall Audio still find a way of selling that ML Streamer - that thing is exactly what I need! I've also been on the lookout of a Beo5 remote (not a single one available on eBay in the UK right now), and I know that while they are difficult to program they can control third party equipment, so that might be another option - get a non-B&O streamer which can be controlled with IR, and program the Beo5 to control it. That doesn't sound easy, but it does sound possible!

Location: Liverpool

My B&O Icons:

Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...

MA

Madskp

Gold

1759 posts

Posted December 13, 2024 at 16:14 GMT

#712751

Location: Denmark

CharlieWednesday

Gold

670 posts

Posted December 14, 2024 at 19:07 GMT

#712770

An Essence Ms2 just came up on eBay for £129 including delivery, so I snapped it up. I'll get an RJ45 to RCA cable to connect it to the Aux In of my Beosound 4, and see how I feel about controlling it on my phone with the app, but I think I will also get an NL/ML converter when I see one at a good price. There's a few on eBay now for £250+, but I know I'll be able to get one for £100, if I'm patient. I see that the Essence has RCA input too, so that'll be handy for my Beogram 9500 (connected via a phono stage). Ultimately, when we have had the work finished in the house in January and I have more space, I intend to go back to using my Beocenter 8500/Beogram 8500 as my main system. I am hoping that using both a 1611 converter and also an NL/ML converter in sequence will work okay, but if anyone has any experience of that setup, I'd be glad of any tips.

Location: Liverpool

My B&O Icons:

Old enough to have gazed at classic B&O HiFi in Plumbs shop windows in the 80s...

carolpa

Bronze

2504 posts

Posted December 15, 2024 at 12:23 GMT

#712783

MA

Madskp

Gold

1759 posts

Posted December 15, 2024 at 15:30 GMT

#712788

Location: Denmark

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