Colorado's vNet color touchscreen, IP-based music server

While the myriad of choices you have when scouting out an in-home streaming music solution is quite robust, Colorado is aiming to provide a new twist on a device that has become relatively stagnant in the innovation department. The company's vNet lineup includes Vibe media servers, encoders, tuners, and docks, but the focal point here is the 7-inch color touchscreen that controls all the action. The LCD, aside from displaying album art, metadata, and libraries from every connected audio source, houses a 70 watt Class D amplifier to act as a self-contained receiver, should you choose to use it. This "IP-based audio streaming solution" allows you to connect PCs, CD players, DAPs, satellite radio receivers, and essentially anything with an audio output to your home network through Ethernet, while the LCD receiver of sorts locates and manages connected devices. Since it's highly doubtful your special edition iPod or circa 1985 cassette deck has a LAN port, Colorado offers encoder units that accept just about any form of analog / digital audio inputs, and converts the tunes to PCM streams that get piped to your speaker system via the Vibe display. We don't have any clues on pricing or availability, as it seems Colorado is mostly interested in dealers at this point, but we can't wait to give this thing a go with our vintage 8-track player once it drops.

[Via CEPro]

[adambomb @ Aug 22nd 2006 4:21PM]

it'll be 10K or more for 4 zones once it gets to the homeowner. ouch.
they were a day late and 5K too much last round, but lets hope this product does better...

[Nick Johnson @ Aug 22nd 2006 4:22PM]

This is cool. I want it. :D

[c-section @ Aug 22nd 2006 6:46PM]

Nice to see the custom installars getting some attention.

Vibe will be first on my list of things to check out at Cedia.

[Darren Johnson @ Aug 23rd 2006 1:04AM]

Dont' waste your time - check out www.control4.com instead.

[jirah home entertainment @ Dec 5th 2008 5:44PM]

This is a nice piece, the built in amp is a quality touch that emilates the need for "home run" audio cables. The system also allows you to view security cameras, control ligthing, and control thermostats via the same touchpad. They offer a wireless system for retro jobs. There are scripts to allow control of the system via RTI universal remotes, as well as URC. As an installer/dealer of both Control 4 and Colorado VNet, I see the advantages that VNet has over the Control 4 system is there is no need to centrally locate all the source equip., the touchscreens pass IR codes, and Control 4 can only see jpeg camera images at this point. The Colorado VNet system is geared more for installer while the Control 4 is geared more to consumers (some of its line is available in Best Buy). Most importantly, you can email me at http://[e-mail] (http://WWW.JIRAHHOME.COM) if you want either system installed:-)