Russound Readies Multi-Room Digital Streamer

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 1/27/2011

Newmarket, N.H. - Russound will integrate new-media sources with more traditional multi-room-audio systems with the May shipment of the DMS-3.1 digital media streamer.

 The device, which integrates with the company's C-series multi-room audio systems, incorporates a traditional AM/FM RDS tuner but connects to a home network to stream Internet radio programming and stream music from a DLNA-certified networked PC or network-attached storage (NAS) drive. In addition, the Streamer features three USB ports to distribute digital audio files from connected storage devices. The device supports playback of MP3, WAV, OGG Vorbis, FLAC, AAC and AAC+ files.

 The DMS-3.1 distributes up to three separate audio streams simultaneously from the digital new-media sources while also simultaneously streaming content from the embedded analog AM/FM tuner. The one-rack-size 17-inch by 8.5-inch by 1.7-inch device features rear-panel stereo audio output jacks for each of the three digital sources as well as another pair for the AM/FM tuner.

Pricing hasn't been determined.

The Streamer isn't the first product developed by Russound to leverage new-media sources for use in a custom-installed multi-room-audio system. The company's Collage system, which uses powerline technology to distribute audio over a home's electrical wiring, features amplified in-wall keypads with integrated Internet radio tuner, integrated AM/FM tuner, and ability to stream music from a networked PC or NAS device. The company has had plans to integrate an iPod dock into the system as another music source.