Russound music (media) server.

[Paulie-W]

Anyone had any experience with one of these? It was reccomended to my nephew, and their onsite demo`s look rather impressive but i hadn`t heard of them before.

[lazymatt]

Yep - I was most unimpressed.

Overpriced and outdated IMHO. Awful GUI as well. I'm pretty clued up and PC literate, and I just found it a mess to use and awfully frustrating. In fact, the one I was working on had to have a (no doubt very expensive) custom GUI written for it to make it usable.

Very fussy about what media it would play too.

If you're looking for music, get a Sonos. If it is media distribution you need, a large NAS with media PC's would work better.

I'm sure there's some here who like it, but I think there's much better (and ultimately cheaper) ways of getting media distribution.

[Paulie-W]

Thanks Matt, i`ll let him know.

I guess it will be 95% music, but will need at least three seperate zones.

[lazymatt]

In that case definately Sonos....it'll work in up to 32 zones simultaneously. (I'm listening to mine as I type!)

If he just needs video in one room, just get a media extender or HTPC. The reason I suggest an HTPC is they're coming in relatively cheap these days, and it's always easy to update the CODEC's to keep it up to date, where as with other systems you're tied to what firmware updates are issued, or trying to hack it like a lot of people have done with the Apple TV.

[Paulie-W]

Thanks again Matt.

[hornydragon]

Originally Posted by Paulie-W

Thanks Matt, i`ll let him know.

I guess it will be 95% music, but will need at least three seperate zones.

Thats no big deal........ What source is his music? CD? downloaded MP3? playing into what? £500 Hifi? £2k HifI? PC speakers?

[Paulie-W]

Originally Posted by hornydragon

Thats no big deal........ What source is his music? CD? downloaded MP3? playing into what? £500 Hifi? £2k HifI? PC speakers?

Source is over 1000 cd`s at the moment. He has some on his mac, but liked my digi fi/hush server when he was over last, and the ease of its use.

I`m not too sure on his main kit (being a yank) is, but he`s not short of a few bob, so i doubt it will be naff. His main zones will be lounge, garden & garage.

I`ll ask him what his kit is.

[lazymatt]

Originally Posted by Paulie-W

Source is over 1000 cd`s at the moment. He has some on his mac, but liked my digi fi/hush server when he was over last, and the ease of its use.

I`m not too sure on his main kit (being a yank) is, but he`s not short of a few bob, so i doubt it will be naff. His main zones will be lounge, garden & garage.

I`ll ask him what his kit is.

Well, if you've got the Digi-Fi/Hush server; this is much easier to use than the Russound. I've been really impressed with what I've seen of them. I would suggest he stick with that.

If he's really flush, the Kaleidoscope stuff is very nice. Or Olive as an alternative to the Russound.

[Paulie-W]

Originally Posted by hornydragon

Thats no big deal........ What source is his music? CD? downloaded MP3? playing into what? £500 Hifi? £2k HifI? PC speakers?

Just got this from him...

I have an Onkyo TX-SR602 receiver, with a CD/DVD player component and an XM radio submitter connected.
I have 4 Infinity speakers inside (surround sound) and two Polk exterior speakers in my backyard
(separate zone).

[Paulie-W]

Originally Posted by lazymatt

Well, if you've got the Digi-Fi/Hush server; this is much easier to use than the Russound. I've been really impressed with what I've seen of them. I would suggest he stick with that.

If he's really flush, the Kaleidoscope stuff is very nice. Or Olive as an alternative to the Russound.

That`s true. But my problem with digi fi, is that i`ve been beta testing it from concept. So my box is a bit of a mish mash of updates etc. They have new server software, a new desktop version too, but the pda stuff will be in a couple of months due to the work with Naim at the moment.

[hornydragon]

Just got this from him...


Quote:
I have an Onkyo TX-SR602 receiver, with a CD/DVD player component and an XM radio submitter connected.
I have 4 Infinity speakers inside (surround sound) and two Polk exterior speakers in my backyard
(separate zone).

Ah if he is in the states and has that sort of kit then there are loads of options i like the ReQuest servers very good easy to use also has the option of loads others

[Paulie-W]

Thanks Horny
I`ll pass on the info

[lazymatt]

Or Escient.