SO
sorenfelden
Bronze
127 posts
Posted January 17, 2025 at 11:31 GMT
#689694
With B&O having discontinued its stereo systems, the Beoconnect Core stands as the sole dedicated sound source in their lineup. Given this, you'd think B&O would design the Core to be a versatile product that satisfies customer needs and promotes cross-selling of their speakers and remotes. Unfortunately, it has several major shortcomings:
  • No wireless speaker support: The Core only allows cabled connections to speakers, leaving out WISA wireless compatibility.
  • Limited to 2.0 audio: It only supports two speakers, with no surround sound option.
  • No non-B&O TV control: The Core doesn’t allow you to control a connected non-B&O TV with a B&O remote, even though adding CEC control (already in Beosound Core) would have made this possible.
For these reasons, I’ve decided not to purchase the Beoconnect Core (although I would have loved to). Instead, I'm exploring other solutions within the B&O ecosystem and found two interesting Danish alternatives: 1. NEO TV by NEO Mesteren NEO TV is a compact box designed to connect Beolab speakers with non-B&O TVs, enabling full control via a B&O remote. Key points: Pros:
  • Use B&O remotes to fully control non-B&O TVs.
  • Very affordable at just GBP 231.
  • Potentially a good supplement for those who insist on remote control functionality with their setup.
Cons:
  • No music streaming capability like the Beoconnect Core.
  • Requires a wired connection to speakers (no wireless).
  • Limited to a 2.0 setup, like the Core.
The company mentions a new model under development, so it might be worth keeping an eye on for future improvements. More details here: https://shop.neomesteren.dk/en/products/neo-tv-r3?_pos=2&_fid=b6d08672b&_ss=c 2. LBS-B-O Solutions LBS-B-O offers a range of boxes that allow you to:
  • Use B&O remotes to fully control non-B&O TVs.
  • Connect Beolab speakers via wired or wireless options, including surround sound setups.
Their product lineup is flexible, catering to various needs at different price points: Additionally, they create beautiful TV stands, including a unique table stand for the Beosound Stage, which B&O doesn’t currently offer. I haven’t had a chance to try these solutions yet, so I’d love to hear from anyone with experience or perspectives. Are there other alternatives you’ve found that better integrate the B&O ecosystem with modern needs?