Hands On: Installing Russound Streamer with 3x AirPlay

Russound has been making whole-house audio equipment for many years. Over the past several years, they have been producing equipment in their “C” series, offering well made, reasonably priced equipment with lots of features. They recently introduced their DMS3.1, also known as the Streamer, to complement their systems.

The Streamer is a rack-mountable (1U) device with four separate outputs on it. One of the outputs is a traditional AM/FM tuner that supports RDS (Radio Data Service) metadata. The remaining three outputs are for cloud-based sources, including SiriusXM and other Internet radio services, as well as connected devices using Apple’s AirPlay system.

Setting up the system can be easy … or difficult. It depends on the firmware version of your C Series device.

Updating C Series Firmware

Since the Streamer connects to the Internet for metadata and content streaming, you may need to update your C system firmware for the task. It’s simple to check your firmware version: Go to the keypad, access settings, installation, diagnostics, and check to see if you have version 04.01.01.

Firmware updating will take about an hour to accomplish, as you will also update each of the keypads on the system. Firmware updates and instructions are readily available on Russound’s Web site. Personally, I struggled with getting my USB-to-serial adapter to connect, which was ultimately resolved by using a different PC to complete the task. Clearly, that’s a problem that is not unique to the components on hand.

Once firmware updates are completed, you’ll need to set source IDs on the Streamer to correspond with inputs on your C Series device. That’s accomplished with a small screwdriver, with each output having its own address. You’ll set that once and never touch it again. Make the audio connections to the corresponding ports using RCA cables and you are now ready to program the music sources.

SiriusXM will output from any of the networked streams, but it’s important to note that you have to have a subscription, and if you wish to have multiple channels playing, you will need multiple seats on your subscription.

Using the Streamer with C Series

Setting the Internet tuner is done with a PC on the network, via http://russound.vtuner.com. There you’ll register the system, using an access code found on a setup menu on a keypad. With that information in place, you then literally have the world at your fingertips. You can store favorite stations in memory, as well as Podcasts.

Using the AirPlay linkage allows users to access other AirPlay enabled devices on the network to receive additional music sources, including popular Web-based services like Pandora, as well as iTunes archives.

RELATED: Russound DMS3.1 is First Player with Multiple AirPlay Streams

Applications for customers include following their favorite sports team, or musical genre, or keeping up with local news. Listening to Podcasts can now be done easily throughout the house, instead of being chained to headphones or a PC.

Users can deploy the Streamer without a Russound C Series component using Apple’s AirPlay wireless distribution protocol. Simply select the source from your iOS device to stream iTunes-based throughout any audio system on the market.

With a $10 downloadable application, a user can control their entire system using an iPad. The application allows the user to find the Russound system, select the zone or zones desired, select the source, and receive metadata on that source where available from anywhere within LAN range. That gives you access to up to 48 zones of audio, with up to eight sources, all with control. That’s a powerful product package.

One issue with the Streamer is the appreciably higher output level compared to other sources. Since the programming software for the system allows users to adjust levels for each source independently, it’s an easy problem to fix.

All in all, this is an impressive addition to the Russound C Series of products. It offers a huge range of programming choices for the end user with metadata. Clearly, as clients migrate from personal collections to cloud based sources, this type of device and feature set will add tremendous value to their systems.

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Visit Russound at EHX 2012, March 15-17, Orlando, Fla.

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Russound Digital Media Streamer DMS-3.1

Features and specs provided by Russound

Russound's DMS-3.1 Digital Media Streamer provides network-based digital music to your multiroom system. As an Apple Certified AirPlay accessory, audio content can be sent to the DMS-3.1 from computers using iTunes, iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

Catch the weather on your local AM/FM radio station, listen to a live talk show on SiriusXM Internet Radio, play music stored on your network drive, stream an online music service provider or tap into a portable USB drive. Separate source connections mean three streams plus AM/FM are always available to listeners in a multiroom audio setting.

The DMS-3.1 has an Ethernet connection for network access and playback of digital audio files on LAN-connected DLNA devices. When connected to the internet through the home's network, the DMS-3.1 can stream content from online radio stations and music service providers.

A built-in AM/FM tuner with RDS feedback adds local radio as a listening choice, and multiple USB ports accept connections for playing content from USB storage devices.

The DMS-3.1 is designed to work seamlessly with the C-Series Controllers, using its preconfigured source names and settings. It supports intelligent user interfaces with media menus and metadata displayed on system keypads and touchscreens.


Russound DMS3.1 Streamer (click to enlarge)

Standard Features

• Listen to streaming music, internet radio, and stored music files
• 4 Source chassis provides three independent streams plus AM/FM radio
• Preconfigured for seamless integration with C-Series controllers
• Apple Certified AirPlay Accessory

Specs

• Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20KHz
• Audio Source Outputs: (4) Stereo RCA jacks
• Line Audio Output: 2 Vrms
• Digital Audio Inputs: (3) USB 2.0/1.1 ports
• Communication ports: 1 Ethernet RJ45, 10/100 BaseT
• Music File Formats: MP3 (CBR, VBR), WAV (8, 16-bit), OGG Vorbis, FLAC (8, 16-bit). AAC, AAC+
• Tuner Frequency Range: AM 530 - 1710 kHz; FM 87.7 - 107.9 MHz
• Antenna Impedance AM: 300 Ohm balanced
• Impedance FM: 75 Ohm unbalanced
• Sensitivity: AM: @20 dB S/N 55 dB; FM: @30 dB S/N 6 dB max 12 dB
• Image Rejection: AM: 33dB FM: 80dB
• S/N ratio: AM: 45dB FM: 60dB
• Input Trigger: 12VDC (required)
• Output Trigger: 12VDC 100 mA
• Power Requirements: 100-240VAC 50/60Hz 11W; (Autoswitching Power Supply); IEC 320 type connector/3 terminal; detachable power cord
• Standby Power: < 1.0 W
• Dimensions: 17” W x 8.5”D x 1.7”H (43 x 21.7 x 4.3cm)
• Weight: 9.0 lbs. (4 kg)