multi-room
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Sony's HomeShare multi-room entertainment solution spreads HD over CAT5e
While most of Sony's offerings thus far at CEDIA have catered to the general electronics consumer, this one is pointed directly at the custom install market. The new HomeShare HD multi-room entertainment solution delivers up to 16 zones of entertainment (four zones of HD video) to any room in the house via standard CAT5e wiring. The neatly packaged, um, package includes the HS-KP1 keypad (4.3-inch screen to display the XMB-based UI; pictured), the HS-MB1 distribution panel, HS-WV1 audio / video wallport, HS-AC1 power supply, HS-WA1 local audio wallport and the HS-WD1 digital media wallport for connecting an iPod (or similar). The kit will be available early next year through Sony's network of installation dealers, and pricing is expected to be between $1,000 and $2,000 per room. The whole release is after the jump.
ADA reveals eight-zone Suite 8200 receiver
Got a whole lot of rooms? Does each one need its fill of audio? If so, you should give Audio Design Associates Suite 8200 multi-room receiver a gander. Upping the ante on its own Suite 8100, this device is an 8-source, 8-zone (16-channel) single chassis pre-amp / amplifier that utilizes a class A/B amp outputting some 25-watts per channel. Additionally, you can get it customized with two tuners of your choice, including XM, Sirius or HD Radio. The 2U design should make those with racks quite happy, and you'll also find line-level audio outputs for each zone alongside line-level subwoofer outs for zones 1 and 2. Sure, the Suite 8200 will run you a cool $4,999, but if you're really looking to pipe music to eight separate zones, coming up with five large shouldn't be a problem.[Via Widescreen Review]
Sirius teams up with Sonos for wireless multi-room audio
Satellite radio provider Sirius really is busy today, announcing a bunch of products, and also a collaboration with Sonos to deliver wireless multi-room streaming Sirius content via broadband. By updating to version 2.3 software, the Sonos hardware can directly connect to Sirius Internet Radio and stream throughout any of the 32 supported zones. Current Sonos owners can also get a 30-day trial to Sirius to try out the system, and decide whether compressed audio sounds better in the bathroom than it does from their computer speakers.
Sony constructs two sets of whole-house HD video distribution products
If you're inclined to go big and multi-room with audio and video, Sony has unveiled some distribution products for you at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference, with two sets of high-definition video distribution products -- one for new construction, and one using existing Cat5 cabling. The NHS-3040 rack system is for new homes, and combines various Sony products for a whole-house distribution network: a home theater, XM Radio tuner, Blu-ray player, 400-disc DVD changer, and 80GB music storage and management server, along with support for 13 different audio/video zones. The NHS-2040 model drops you down to six zones, while the NHS-1040 removes the changer as well. For existing wiring, Sony offers up the CAV-CVS12ES HD switching system, which uses a single Cat5e per zone to route your video into up to 12 zones, and supports eight 1080p-capable component inputs. The system supports IR and RS-232 control, and pairs up with Sony's CAV-M1000 line of audio distro systems. As long as you're wiring up your house anyway, why not throw in Sony's WS-ADP4 doorbell intercom adapter with electronic door release, so you don't have to bother the butler to open the door for you while you're both in the third-floor bedroom watching Desperate Housewives in HD.Read - Sony NHS series distro systemRead - Sony CAV-CVS12ES Cat5e systemRead - WS-ADP4 doorbell intercom
EOS' Wireless iPod Speaker System does multi-room audio for less
Multi-room audio systems tend to come with big price tags, so EOS Wireless is definitely onto something by pricing its Wireless iPod Speaker System -- which includes a base station, a remote control, and one set of wireless speakers -- at $299, with additional speaker sets being a reasonable $129. You better be alright with getting up from your seat every now and again to change songs, though, because that budget price means you won't get a remote out of the deal. Still, the supposedly "WiFi-friendly" speakers can be placed up to 150 feet away from the base station, and you can look forward to CD-quality sound as well. Up to four speakers can be used at one time, although sadly each speaker will only play one song: probably due in no small part to its relatively low price, this is a multiple room, but not multiple audio stream solution. Expect to see the system launch in March 2007, and if you're interested, keep your eye out for EOS's homepage relaunch on January 6 of next year.
NaimNet brings multi-room audio to the audiophiles
If you're not completely up on Naim Audio's full product line, we can hardly blame you. After all, it's hard to be a frequent shopper of a company that sells a $23,000 pre-amp. But if you've got to have the bestest of the best, with a little UK flavor, exorbitant pricing, and now multi-room capabilities, Naim has a solution. Their new NaimNet product line, powered by StreamNet tech, uses IP networking tech for a scalable multi-room CD-quality audio network, and is based on plain-old CAT5E wired networking. They don't call their system "plug and play," Sonos sure seems to have them beat for ease-of-use, but at these prices you'll probably be opting for the custom installation anyways. NaimNet can be operated via PDAs, PCs and a stand alone control interface. Their first NaimNet products will be a four-output DAB/FM tuner, a multi-room pre-amp, and power amps for rooms, including concealed versions. Naim plans on having both top-end and "low cost" AV systems available for their system, and will support interoperability with home automations and other AV setups. NaimNet is scalable up to 1.8 million rooms, and will probably cost that many dollars by the time you get your house outfitted with the tech.[Thanks, Tom]
