multiroom audio
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Sonos Arc review: An upgrade worth the wait
Sonos has finally given us an upgrade to the Playbar, and it’s impressive. The Arc has an improved design, modern features and stellar sound. Plus, Arc automatically adjusts if you choose to expand your system.
CasaTunes Air bridges traditional whole-home audio with AirPlay
So you've made it big time, you've got it all. The car, the toys and a big house with a whole-home audio system. The thing is, as great as your CasaTunes Music Server is with its in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, the ability to integrate with the latest and greatest AirPlay devices is still missing. Well it was anyways, as the new CasaTunes Air you can stream any content from your CasaTunes Music Server to all your speakers, AirPlay or any other. Even better, the music can be on your iOS device or stored on your server -- but you can still control the whole thing from your phone or tablet. CasaTunes Air is a feature of the new CasaTunes version 4, which we can only assume is a free upgrades for existing CasaTunes Music Servers.
Raumfeld's 2Raumfeld multiroom audio system reviewed, deemed sweet but no Sonos
Despite the bevy of multimedia streamers beating down your door, there are still few options available for high-end multiroom audio, and until recently the ones you'd likely consider would go by the name of Sonos. Judging by a recent UK review, that hasn't entirely changed, but a two-speaker WiFi-based setup by Germany's Raumfeld reportedly offers a reasonable challenge to the Sonos hegemony. PC Pro said the 2Raumfeld package "knocks the equivalent Sonos 250 into a cocked hat" when it came to quality sound thanks to a pair of Adam Audio-designed speakers, and praised the minimalist design and ease of setup even as minor annoyances (like the pairs of 'wireless' speakers that have to be strung together) popped up. It seems the only real flies in the ointment are the limited media browsing options available -- that sexy silver knob and touchscreen aren't enough -- and the fact that you can roll your own Sonos mesh network for less than Raumfeld's €1,225 (about $1,575) asking price, which kind of defeats the point. Read the full review at our source link.
Russound intros RF / IR-capable RFR-E5 remote
Last we heard from Russound, it was teaming up with Lifeware to create the Viiv-compliant Media Console, but this CES, it's doing it up solo and introducing a svelte new remote. Beyond the slender design, high-resolution display and the mid-mounted clickwheel, the RFR-E5 manages to stand out even further by including support for both IR and RF. The two-way design enables it to act as a "true multiroom remote control," and it can also rely on IP / Zigbee RF to communicate with an ACA-E5 Multizone Controller. Furthermore, you'll find a rechargeable battery, white LED backlighting and a cradle complete with an Ethernet port for connecting to the firm's aforementioned ACA-E5. Sadly, Russound has yet to mention how costly this one will be, but it should be available through certified integrators in Q2.
