Acoustic Research Infinite Radio now on sale for $129.99
By Darren Murph 
posted Mar 28th 2009 12:02PM
posted Mar 28th 2009 12:02PM
Acoustic Research Internet Radio Now Available at Retail and Online
Major Content Partners, Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity, Simple Set-up
No Subscription Fees and Personalization Differentiate the New Line
Hauppauge, NY – March 27, 2009 - Audiovox Corporation (NASDAQ: VOXX) today announced that the first Acoustic Research branded Infinite Radio™, model ARIR200, is now available at regional chain stores and nationally online. The ARIR200 features virtually unlimited content options that set it apart from the competition in this new and exciting category. It offers built-in wireless connectivity and is simple to use – just customize listening preferences on the multilingual Personal Portal, listen to Slacker™ Personal Radio, receive on demand weather forecasts from WeatherBug® and stream personal music collection from a MP3tunes music locker. The Slacker, WeatherBug and MP3 tunes subscriptions are content partnerships included free with the product.
The ARIR200 also features AM/FM radio, USB and Ethernet connections and internal memory for up to 10 hours of recording off the Internet as well as the AM/FM bands. The ARIR200 was previewed at the 2009 International CES Show and is the first of two AR branded Internet radios expected to launch this year.
"In keeping with the AR commitment to quality and technology, we wanted to cut the tether to the PC and bring the vast Internet radio listening experience into other rooms of the home in a way unmatched by any other competitive product," said Tom Malone, president, Audiovox Electronics Corporation. "We added customization and content partners that will bring consumers an enhanced level of enjoyment available exclusively in the AR Infinite Radios."
Taking Internet Radio to a New Level
presonalportallogosSlacker Logo from websiteThe AR Infinite Radio™ experience starts with the online Personal Portal, which allows consumers to quickly select from more than 12,000 global music and talk stations, store their favorite genres and add custom stations, including any compatible podcast
The Acoustic Research Slacker partnership allows a direct connection to Slacker's Personal Radio Music Service, which delivers millions of tracks, 100 genre stations and more than 10,000 artist stations, all in CD quality sound. Users can also create their own music stations using Slacker content. The ARIR200 lets users listen to and rate songs and stations using the dedicated Heart, Ban and Tag buttons.
Weather information is one of the most frequently searched items on the Internet, making the WeatherBug partnership extremely valuable to consumers. Each AR Infinite Radio™ comes with a pre-paid subscription to WeatherBug's service, which includes one and three-day forecasts, continuous emergency weather alerts for the life of the product and instant text-to-speech conversion from six synthesized voices.
All Acoustic Research Infinite Radio™ owners will automatically receive a free Enhanced MP3tunes Music Locker with each purchase. This enhanced locker will provide Internet Radio users with 50% more storage space than users who create a non-premium account directly via the MP3tunes Web site, as well as unlimited streaming access to the music stored in the locker directly from the Internet Radio for the life of the product – with no additional fees.
Acoustic Research ARIR200
The ARIR200 Infinite Radio does double-duty as a high-performing Internet Radio and a full featured clock radio with automatic internet time sync. Alarm options ranging from Internet to terrestrial content and includes snooze and sleep options. Its stylish design looks as good on a desk as it does in a living room or on a bedroom nightstand. The ARIR200 lets users listen to and rate songs using the Heart, Ban and Tag options. It also has an AM/FM tuner with six preset buttons per source. MSRP: $129.99.
"At Acoustic Research, we were determined to give our customers an Internet radio experience that would include multiple content options, coupled with intuitive navigation, without sacrificing the consumer expectation for AR for quality products and state of the art features and design. The AR Infinite Radio™ line combines the most basic elements like traditional clock radio features to the most sophisticated like USB/Ethernet/Wi-Fi connections for live streaming and automatic firmware updates. The ARIR200 is easy to install and activate. For our retail partners we have provided an easy to use gateway into Internet radio that will open new sales and profit opportunities," Malone concluded.
Keep on the lookout for the ARIR600i Infinite Radio™, which is another high-performing Internet radio with a remote and an iPod® dock, which will hit the market later this year. MSRP $199.99.
Throw in HD Radio and I'll buy it.
Sorry but there's no such thing. I take it you like corporate buzzterms though, so how about they throw in an Ultra-CRT television or perhaps a Deluxe VCR?
Konshuss:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_Radio
"HD Radio technology is a system used by AM and FM radio stations to digitally transmit audio and data in conjunction with their analog signals. This system enables AM and FM radio stations to simulcast both digital and analog audio within the same channel (a hybridized digital-analog signal) as well as add new FM channels and text information."
My thoughts exactly. This have everything *but* the kitchen sink. Throw in HD radio and I'm sold.
The question is: How is the sound quality when compared to the Logitech Boom?
Looks like a RCA unit....
Because it is. Sleight of hand marketing.
So, is it on sale, or being offered FOR sale?
So, did you, read the article?
Yep.
For me, on sale means it's being offered at a lower price than normal.
"The device is available now at regional chain stores and nationally online for $129.99"
or you could just listen to music on your PC
If these new devices, radios, receivers, tuners, auto radios do not have the new HD Radio, then they are not even considered. Every city has the new HD radio stations of most if not all of the current stations being broadcast.
The manufacturers are being paid off by XM etc to put in their tuners. But they will soon be a dead spot on the dial as they are about to go bankrupt. They need to upgrade to the new all digital HD tuners.
You can get all of the HD Radio streams over wi-fi/internet stations - check out Radiotime.com. I don't think you need an AM/FM/or HD Radio tuner - just adds more cost and you can't get HD Radio reception outside a feww mile from the station, why bother.
I just bought an internet radio player a few weeks ago. I got a Logitech Squeezebox Boom and it's amazing.
I bought one of these a few weeks ago from Amazon for $104ish. Yes, it is the same as the RCA. No, it doesn't have HD radio and you can't access music stored on your PC. The firmware is a work in progress but at least there is an effort by the company to do some development work. WiFi can be iffy depending on your router. Sound quality is mediocre but fine for a bedside radio. A lot depends on the quality of the music stream from the provider. I bought it due to the price and feel it is a decent value when it works. I would hope the other units that cost twice as much have better sound quality.
Does it stream audio from urls not affiliated with Slacker?
Nobody is mentioning that it looks straight off Dr. Who?
i'd like a hdradio
Cool. Was looking for something like this for my mom's birthday. She wants something for the kitchen with a tiny footprint that can play MP3's and has a FM radio. Too bad it doesn't have a CD player; it'd be perfect then.
That is something i would and may buy .
I would love it if this could access my Sirius/XM radio account over Wifi.
I'm going to wait to see if they can make it any uglier, and then I may buy it!
I have a pair of AR's wireless headphones. They are schweeeeet! Very good quality in every category.