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Yamaha MusicCAST Wireless PCM/MP3 Server

Posted by michael on from the generous-santa dept.

HawKe7 writes "Wireless MP3 in your home? You betcha! Audioholics recently reviewed Yamaha's new MusicCAST Digital Music Server. The MusicCAST can store your entire CD collection in PCM/MP3 formats and stream it wirelessly to clients stationed throughout your home (track, genre and artist info are provided automatically via on-board Gracenote CDDB). Use your imagination... wireless audio throughout the home from a centralized server, digital PCM storage of your entire CD collection, creation of customized playlist CDs with the included CD-R drive... lots of valid uses for this type of tech. The unit is apparently a solid performer (not to mention a FAST CD ripper - just under 5 minutes), with excellent MP3 and PCM audio playback and compatibility with existing 802.11b networks. Though the unit is priced out of reach for some with an MSRP of $2800, it is an impressive system for those who want the latest and the best."

5 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. More fun for half the price... by KFury · · Score: 5, Informative

    An iBook can do all that for half the price (including the airport card and HD upgrade to 80gigs).

    It's less than a fifth the size, and comes with its own VGA so you can use the TV as the display.

    Of course, you can also use it for other stuff, but heck, if you want to do other stuff, buy a second one.

    --

    Kevin Fox
  2. Competition by poptones · · Score: 4, Interesting
    If there is ANY market for this type of thing, unemployed geeks across the nation need to head down to the local hifi hut and make their presence known. For $2800 I would come to someone's home, setup a mini PC that could do all of this (more efficiently, too, using shns or apes), and even throw in an extra mini system for the bedroom.

    $2800 is a LOT of money for something so limited in functionality. And Yamaha can't compete with 1:1 personalized service. $1000 for hardware and $1500 profit on an afternoon of work seems like a decent business opportunity to me.

  3. Yep by RightInTheNeck · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm going to wait till one of my friends get one of these things, then I'm going to build some type of deal that lets me break into the freq with a Mr. Microphone and sit outside his house around 3am.

    "Brian this is GOD. Quit playing with yourself"

    Brian : "It is GOD!"

  4. Or... by vjmurphy · · Score: 4, Informative

    Buy a couple of SliMP3s and a couple of Linksys Ethernet Bridges, and avoid lost time spent reburning your CD collection. Oh, and save $2400 bucks.

    --
    Vincent J. Murphy
    Spandex Justice
  5. Prismiq by dpoolman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Check out Prismiq. Supports audio and video (lots of formats - yes divx). Its also extremely hackable, based on Linux - lots of support from the developers on how to hack it, including publishing the communication protocol between the server software and the hardware device.