VTech plunges into home audio market with IS9181 WiFi radio
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 6th 2009 9:00AM
posted Jan 6th 2009 9:00AM
VTECH® ENTERS HOME AUDIO MARKET WITH FEATURE-RICH WI-FI MUSIC STREAMING DEVICE TO BE SHOWCASED AT 2009 CES
Total Music Hub for the Home Offers Dynamic Sound Quality, Ability to Stream Music from 11,000 Internet Radio Stations, Computers and Digital Audio Players
LAS VEGAS, January 6, 2009 – VTech® Communications, Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of VTech Holdings Ltd. HKSE: 303; ADR: VTKHY), today extended its wireless expertise into the home audio market with the introduction of a feature-rich music streaming device designed as a complete music hub for the home.
VTech's new IS9181 is the first Internet radio receiver to offer a rich range of features and superior sound quality for under $200. The competitively priced music hub delivers higher sound quality than other similarly priced music devices and enables consumers to play Internet radio selections, stream music libraries stored on their computers (PC/Mac-compatible) and connect any digital audio player using the line-in cord provided.
Once users connect the IS9181 to their home wireless network (802.11 b & g), they can enjoy the variety of music offerings from more than 11,000 free Internet radio stations worldwide, as well as audio files (MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, Real) stored on a Wi-Fi-enabled PC, Mac or laptop. The IS9181 also includes an auxiliary audio cable to play files from MP3 or CD players or any other device with a 3.5mm headset jack.
The IS9181 un-tethers music lovers from their computers to enjoy digital music in the living room, bedroom or anywhere in the home, and takes Internet radio to a new level beyond the PC listening experience. With dynamic, room-filling sound quality superior to laptops or other currently-available devices of its kind, the IS9181 offers built-in 3W front facing tuned stereo speakers, as well as a 10W subwoofer with class D amplifiers for powerful bass response. Other streaming devices include only either one or two front-facing speakers.
"This new music hub provides the ultimate freedom and flexibility for consumers to enjoy a quality music listening experience with a rich variety of content options – all at an affordable price," said Matt Ramage, senior vice president of product management, VTech Communications, Inc. "We have applied our long history of innovation in developing feature-rich wireless products for the home phone market to delivering a Wi-Fi music streaming device that is a level above what's currently on the market today."
Global Music Exploration at Your Fingertips
With access to music from every corner of the globe, IS9181 listeners can easily switch from New York-based dance station ElectricFM, to St. Petersburg, Russia-based oldies station Channel Melodia and more. The IS9181 offers music enthusiasts access to thousands of Internet radio stations and the ability to search for music by country, state and genre.
Simplifying audio exploration even further, a comprehensive guide to all available stations will be available at www.vtechphones.com. Once a desired station is located using the guide, users can push their favorite stations directly to the IS9181 for one-touch access.
Stations can be preset for easy recall, and the remote control ensures convenient management across the room. With optional battery power operation (requires six AA batteries, not included), users can even take the IS9181 out of their home or office to the patio or backyard, as long as the Wi-Fi signal is in range for streaming.
Even More Features Packed in the IS9181
In addition to music options, the IS9181 also offers localized weather (based on zip code) and personalized horoscope content, as well as a full color LCD for easy viewing.
Key features of the IS9181 include:
• Best-in-class 802.11 Digital Wi-Fi technology, providing superior range and streaming rates
• Internet radio streaming from 11,000 stations or ability to search for any stations that stream online
• Internet radio stations search from VTech's site or on the device itself
• Preset favorites online
• PC or Mac-stored MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, Real music file playing
• Connect a MP3 player or any audio device directly to the radio using the provided cord.
• Connect the IS9181 via RCA connections to other audio systems for streaming access.
• Internal 2.1 speakers
• Weather and horoscope text updates based on zip code
• Convenient remote – browse, select and control music from across the room
• Large full-color display
• AC Power Adapter
• Battery-operated option (requires six AA batteries, not included)
• MSRP: $199.95
• Available in Spring 2009 at www.vtechphones.com
VTech's entire 2009 product line will be on display at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 8-11, at the Palms Casino Resort. The new VTech DECT lineup, including the IS9181 Wi-Fi Internet Radio, can be purchased at major retail outlets and online at www.vtechphones.com in Spring 2009.
vtech just kicked in yo
3 watt speakers? 10 Watt subwoofer?
Sure, that's ok if you wanna be my ALARM CLOCK.
I was going to write that.
The pricing doesn't even make it tempting, with how cheap you can get into a Squeezebox these days.
What are you talking about?
$275 is fairly expensive for a WiFi radio nowadays. I am surprised Logitech is selling its radio for so much money.
Besides, it's not like the VTech will REALLY sell for $199.
First, you can get into a squeezebox for less than that.
Second, if you're willing to pay for a box to get internet radio, you may as well get a good one from an established player.
The Squeezebox is an excellent piece of equipment, sold at a reasonable price.
Dude, first Google Shopping disagrees with you. Where do you find it for less? I defy you to find it for close to $200.
Second, Logitech is NOT an established player. This is their very first stand-alone Internet Radio. They are total newcomers to this market.
I'm not slamming the Squeezebox Boom at all. It looks quite good, but facts are facts:
Logitech is not an established player in this area, and their unit is relatively expensive.
If we were talking mice or keyboards, I'd agree with you. Not standalone WiFi Radios!
David. You're clueless.
The Squeezebox has been around since 2003, and the company the created it (Slim Devices) hasn't always been owned by Logitech. The Boom is not the first Squeezebox. It's just the first one to have the boombox form factor.
I never said you could get a Squeezebox for 200 dollars. I said you can get one cheaper than you've suggested. I understand you will pay more for it.
Nice, but for that amount of money I prefer the Squeezebox Boom :P
Can anyone tell me if there are any wifi devices that can stream pandore or last.fm? Also, can this thing stream audio from my media server, say, from TVersity?
Thanks for the help in advance.
Yes there is a WiFi device that can stream Pandora and stream audio from TVersity. (don't know about last.fm) It's from a little company named Sony and it is called the PlayStation 3. (usually abbreviated to just PS3) It will set you back ~$400 though.
Squeezebox.
Yup, for $300 you can get the Squeezebox Boom which has a 30W of bi-amped tweeter/woofer speakers in it. No little alarm clock speakers there. Streams a whole bunch of online services like last.fm, slacker, pandora, rhapsody.
All Reciva-based WiFi Radios can stream Pandora now.
Regarding the Logitech Squeezebox Boom, don't you all be acting like it was the first. There are dozens of similar devices out there. I have two at home, and neither is the Squeezebox Boom. Logitech is very late to the party, in fact!
However, having said that, if Logitech's offerings had been available when I was in the market, I'd have probably seriously considered it.
I have a Reciva-based AE WiFi radio and a vTuner-based Freecom MusicPal. Both are pretty great, and sound is more than adequate for my needs (bedroom and bathroom).
As far as the VTech offering. Welcome to the party. The more the merrier. It's about time WiFi radios got better representation in the North American market. I think that the Squeezbox Boom is the first one you could even buy at Best Buy. I've had mine radios for YEARS already!
Calm down David. No one is saying it was the first. It's just an excellent option.
It's especially funny that you're jumping on people for suggesting the SqueezeBox as a good option, when this moron's telling people to buy a PS3 for internet radio.
The earlier mentioned Squeezeboxes can..
When did engadget start including full press releases in their posts? Don't know why but I'm not a fan...
I guess it's easier than actually coming up with new prose.
It does look like this is happening because of CES, and the fact that the info is actually from press releases (Not online yet)... I guess this is forgivable. Given the high profile of Engadget, this web page, itself will probably get many more hits than any press release on the manufacturer's web site.
This looks as if it will be very competitive. WiFi is really neat and beats subscription radio hands down as long as your are in a WiFi area (like your house!) The price and specs are in line with radios currently available from Samsung, Grace, C.C. Crane, Roku, etc.
If you have a contest for a freebie, sign me up! As a veteran shortwave listener and former publisher of the World Radio TV Handbook, I am excited to see the range of equipment expanding.
and Sangean, and Tangent, and ASUS, and REVO...
100% agree. This market is so under-served by these amazing radios. Who wouldn't want one??? I can't imagine! I find that few people even know about them, because the big retailers refused to stock them all these years, until now with the advent of the Logitech model.
Squeezebox Boom much better.
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I got a Squeezebox Boom at Xmas, and I am very disappointed. No native RealPlayer support, which rules out the 2 two most relevant Broadcasters for me - RTÉ and BBC.
Makes it more annoying now that V-TECH of all people bothered to support it. And they have a much better display / interface too.
There are a lot of competing servers for these internet radios. Reciva-based ones I think do support native RealPlayer format. My AE radio gets all the BBC content and has a "RealPlayer" logo.
My Freecom Musicpal does not, but it gets more Shoutcast stations, and others, I believe.
I think that although there are differences, none "suck", per se. There's just so much content out there, and mostly, the content overlaps.
The BBC issue is a rare exception, but I suspect that BBC will eventually duplicate its streams into multiple formats, so then it will be a non-issue as to which flavor of internet radio you have.
@David,
You think so? I suspect BBC (& RTÉ) will hold out, they both had multiple formats before and have dropped them. They have some of their World Services in more accessible formats too, which indicates some kind of strategy.
VTech busted head first into the home audio market with the introduction of a feature-rich music streaming device designed as a complete music hub for the home. The device also serves as a music hub and enables consumers to play Internet radio selections, stream music libraries stored on their computers (PC/Mac-compatible) and connect any digital audio player using the line-in cord provided.