WholeHomeAudio
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Qsonix Remote Pro for iPad app brings easier touch control to its music servers
It's been a while since we checked in with Qsonix, but the company has kept right on with its high end music management systems, unveiling the Q205 and Q10 whole home audio servers last year. Of course, if you're spending north of $6k on a whole home audio solution, fixed touch control screens are nice but the new iPad remote app is more likely to provide the wow factor customers expect. Sure you could just control the music from a computer or iPhone, but in this market a marriage of the company's touch interface with the iPad's larger form factor is much more ideal. It'll find any Qsonix systems on the home network going back to the Q100 models (provided they're running version 3.4 of the firmware or higher.) Check the press release after the break or just snag the Qsonix Remote Pro from iTunes at the link. It's courteously available at the low price of "free," but we're betting that if you've got the iPad and the scratch for one of these, you could get up to some serious AirPlay synced shenanigans for even less.
Sonos nabs streaming support for XM Radio, Lithium listeners start a minor mosh pit
Look, we get it. You sunk $87,342.12 into a Sonos whole-home streaming solution, and your buds won't stop pestering you about its inability to stream XM Radio. Thankfully, the stars have aligned just in time for your impending Super Bowl bash, and it's just about time for you to start fantasizing about what their faces will look like when they're ushered into your adobe by Heart-Shaped Box. Thanks to the eagle-eyed Dave Zatz, it looks as if some sort of final blending has gone down between Sirius and XM, with a merging of accounts (presumably) making it possible for Sonos to now stream XM Radio; if you'll recall, the system has had the ability to stream dedicated Sirius channels for a good while now, but particular XM stations have been left out of the mix prior to this weekend. Hit the source link to find out what password changes are needed to get things in sync, and be sure to try it all out before bragging to said buds -- wouldn't want to eat crow after taking all of that flack, now would you?
Denon RCD-N7 loves a wireless party, AirPlay too after $49 update
Denon's got the Apple AirPlay bug and bad. The company was showing off several AirPlay compatible 2010 receivers (models ending with "11") at the CEDIA show last week including this new RCD-N7 CD jobbie. The $599 unit coupled with a pair of $199 SC-N7 speakers features an iPhone dock (or USB jack) for local music sourcing. Otherwise, it'll stream audio from the likes of Rhapsody, Napster, Pandora and Last.fm. Better yet, the receiver also features a Party Mode Plus setting for a five-system multi-zone setup scattered throughout the home, all managed by Denon's new iPod / iPhone / iPad Remote App. Look for it to hit shelves in October along side Denon's $49 AirPlay update. That's right, it's no freebie -- an unfortunate precedent for anyone hoping to update their existing audio gear. Update: Denon let us know that the AirPlay update will be free to new and existing owners from October 15th to November 7th.
Olive and Thiel team up for a high end, high priced audio server
Call us crazy, but we think this is an idea that just might work. Olive, known for high-end music servers, and Thiel, who we've seen in this space purveying high-end speakers and IP-based audio solutions, have joined forces to rock your condo, trendy loft space, or dentist's office. Built around the Olive 4HD (with its 2TB storage, 24-bit / 192kHz sound, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n WiFi, and an iPhone / iPod touch remote control app), the Olive+Thiel can rock up to four pairs of Thiel's SCS4D IP-based self-powered speakers with 6.5 Inch Coaxial/Coincident driver and 200W Class D Power Amp. In addition to the server functionality, this bad boy can rock you out via its analog and USB digital audio inputs -- trust us, Butterfly by Crazy Town has never sounded this sweet! (OK, maybe its never sounded that sweet to begin with.) Available this month for $7,900. PR after the break.
Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio system unveiled
We knew that Cisco would be invading the home audio space in '09, but we didn't know it'd be so quickly (and under the Linksys name). Here at CES, the outfit has unveiled the admittedly complex Wireless Home Audio system, which utilizes Ethernet / 802.11n / DLNA in order to stream audio over multiple zones throughout the home. The kit is actually comprised of some very specific components, so let's not waste any time, eh? There's the Conductor DMC350 Wireless-N Digital Music Center, Director DMC250 Wireless-N Music Player with Integrated Amplifier, Player DMP100 Wireless-N Music Extender, Stereo Speaker Kit DSPK50, DMWR1000 Wireless-N Touchscreen Remote, iPod docking station and the DMRIR500 IR Remote. For details on the specific kits, which should go on sale this quarter for $300 and way up, give the read link a peek.
Eos Wireless' Converge system streams audio all over your home
Considering that Eos Wireless is introducing its Converge wireless audio system at Macworld, it follows logic that the press release is geared towards Apple kit. So yeah, there's no question this stuff will stream jams from your iPod, iPhone, Apple TV or Mac to any room in the house, but you should also know that the system plays nice with the anti-Apple (but pro-USB / auxiliary port) crowd as well. It promises a wireless range of 150 feet, and it seems to be available in a variety of "Groups" depending on how complex or simplistic your home setup is. Look for the components to ship in March for as low as $89.95 per piece.
Russound licenses iPort technology, aims to bring iPods into whole home systems
As if the iPod wasn't ubiquitous enough, Russound has just licensed Dana Innovations' patented iPort concept and integrating technologies in an attempt to tie in Apple's darling with whole home AV systems. Apparently the company views said PMP as a "music server rather than a simple portable player," and now that the agreement is in place, we should see a slew of new kit designed with tight iPod integration in mind. Unfortunately, details beyond that are scant, but Charlie Porritt, Russound's vice president of sales, did note that the forthcoming products would be aimed at consumers "who treat their iPods as a primary source of entertainment in the home."
NuVo Technologies takes NV-M3 music server to 500GB
Not content with just 160GB in the NV-M3 music server? Never fear, as NuVo Technologies has a capacious new version that packs a full half-terabyte of space and an even more astounding price tag. The June-bound NV-M3-500 handles WAV, WMA and those ghastly compressed MP3 files, and its ability to sync to a home computer means that it won't take issue with playing back DRM-laden tracks, either. On the unit itself, you'll find a polycarbonate, capacitive touch front panel interface with an OLED display and a smattering of ports 'round back, but we still can't understand how NuVo landed on $2,999 as a suitable price for this thing. Nevertheless, the full release is posted after the jump for those interested.
Qsonix delivers 17-inch TS17 touchscreen for Q110 music management system
For those spending upwards of $6,000 on a sophisticated Q110 music management system, having an expansive 17-inch touch panel to control things is a practical necessity. The new TS17 controller can be wall-mounted or used on a tabletop in order to delve deep within your music library and come as close as you'll ever be to being a conductor. Additionally, Qsonix is introducing the v2.42 software, which enables users to burn CDs while playing back and adds client support for DirectWay and satellite-based internet service providers, the ability to import music from external USB drives and Ready-to-Play CD conversion service. No word on a price for the TS17, but current Q110 owners can snatch the update gratis right now.[Via Electronic House]
Olive intros MELODY No2, OPUS No4 home audio solutions
Being that music lovers everywhere are scrambling to find bona fide replacements to their suddenly antiquated compact disc players, it follows logic for Olive Media to give us one more option besides the OPUS Nº5. The OPUS Nº4 is a high-end digital music server which features between 320GB and 1TB of internal storage space, an integrated CD burner, 4.3-inch 480 x 272 touchscreen, gigabit Ethernet / 802.11g WiFi, a USB 2.0 port, a slew of audio outputs and native support for WAV, FLAC and MP3 files. As for the iPod-friendly MELODY Nº2 companion, it enables various rooms of the home to access tunes stored on the OPUS Nº4 as well as songs on any networked Mac, PC or NAS drive. If you couldn't guess, both units are aimed squarely at the affluent sect, which probably explains the $1,499 to $1,799 (OPUS Nº4) / $599 (MELODY Nº2) price tags. Check the gallery on Engadget HD.[Via Macworld]
THIEL showing off IP-based, high-end multiroom audio
High end speaker manufacturer THIEL is showing off THIELnet, their new IP-based audio distribution system developed in conjunction with BICOM. It's a system, indeed, with multiple parts to mix and match: the distribution processor (dB1), speakers (SCS4D) and subwoofer (SS1D) are all IP-addressable; there's a IP adapter (dS1) for bringing third-party speakers to the, um party; and PC-based software (Streamer) to tie into your library. Maximum capacity for the system is eight zones, each with eight speakers, and synchronization is done between zones to get rid of nasty echo effects. If this all sounds complex, don't worry -- the system is designed for quick setup even by novices. Better still, THIEL has kept everything digital right up to the speaker cones -- each speaker has its own digital crossovers and 250-Watt amplifier. Put it all together and you get great sound for everybody. THIEL expects to be spreading the IP/crossover/amplifier module across its lineup, but is starting off with the SCS4D. Pricing is still unannounced, but expect a high end style ticket befitting the THIEL sound quality and name.
