NuVo Readies Wireless Multiroom Audio System, Android Controller

Not one mention of Sonos in this whole article.  That’s some pretty shotty reporting.  I can imagine Nuvo does not want to be compared to Sonos, but as an objective journalist one can’t ignore the 800 pound gorilla in the room.

1. This system is subpar to Sonos.  Offering only 20 watts per channel while Sonos is delivering 55 watts.

2.  It costs significantly more than Sonos and is not as sexy.

3. This system has less offering with respect to Internet streaming services.  Today it’s all about the connected services so true audio lovers will want Spotify and Rdio.

4. The Nuvo dedicated controller at $399 is a joke.  Not only does the product look crappy, but a customer can buy an iTouch for less or even some entry level Android device for $99.  To say, “It’s Android under the hood…but you can’t play Angry Birds on it” is a major gaffe.  YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY ANGRY BIRDS ON IT.  Seems Nuvo doesn’t get it.

5. The one thing Nuvo could have done with their Sonos-like system was include an in-wall option.  Morons for thinking to R&D their own handheld device… they should have thought of an in-wall device.

While I truly wish I could support this system as a custom AV dealer, I can’t.  The dealer cost will likely end up to be the retail cost of a superior Sonos system.  This product simply can’t compete in technology, design, and price.

A good effort by Nuvo, but 3 years too late.

I’m sure Nuvo would be delighted to be compared to Sonos (who wouldn’t)? The key difference is that Nuvo is building a complete integration-friendly ecosystem around this platform (e.g., the P3100), and I’m sure they’ll come out with keypads as well.

(and I made a typo. The P200 is 2x60, not 2x20)

Thanks for the press release.

OhMyGod do you realize that one company’s watts may be completely different than another manufacturers? Those power numbers are just about irrelevant (especially when you are talking about digital amplification).

Also, why would NuVo want someone loading any app other than its programs onto a device it’s designed to control its proprietary components.

As for the in-wall controller option, doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose of retrofit electronics?

There are a lot of reasons why NuVo introduced this product. I would recommend you speak to your NuVo representative before dismissing the product.

@Ohmygod. Man did somebody pi@@ in your Cheerios. You can’t win Julie.   So true Rob that the specifications on wattage are so ambiguous. I’ve heard amps rated on paper with 40 WPC that kick the day lights out of 100 WPC. No article is designed to inform a dealer about all the product details but a surface overview. Robert nailed it you can’t dismiss something before speaking to your rep to fully understand any new product. But hey Julie it’s all your fault.

Ha ha, our most frequent commenters are the ones that that like to bash, but you wouldn’t know anything about that. We’ll take them all!

In fact, Rick Kukulies made a huge point to me during ISE that these are “real” wattage numbers and overly conservative.

@Ohmygod

The biggest difference between this and Sonos?  INTEGRATION!  You get ZERO support trying to integrate Sonos with anything else.  It may work today, but it’s only a firmware update away from breaking compatibility with whatever control system you are using. 

And $399 is a competitive price point for a 4.3” TOUCHSCREEN CONTROLLER.  Forget that it’s Android based.  It is a proprietary control system designed to do one thing, and do it well.  If you don’t like it, buy whatever Android device you want and load the app, but dont whine when you have to make a service call to fix the customer’s tablet when they load some random app that causes everything to go haywire!

In short, you need to figure out whether you are a custom installer, providing CUSTOM solutions for your clients, with 100% reliability, or whether you are selling retail products and just calling yourself “custom”!

Thanks for the insight OMG. I wonder what LOL thinks about this? As a happy Nuvo dealer I’m thrilled to have a wireless option from a company who’s well known for providing quality sound. This product received a great response at the CE Pro 100 Summit this year. Not to mention being able to sell a product that can’t be bought at Target or any other big box store. TTYL!

I see the reinforcements arrived.

Bob -  “one company’s wattage is different than anothers”.  Is that what you tell a potential client as well?  Your an audiophile so to you it matters, but to 99.9% of the world it doesn’t.  Also, the bit about them not wanting “why would NuVo want someone loading any app other than its programs onto a device it’s designed to control its proprietary components” is a dying philosophy.  What, my iPhone or Android device can’t control Nuvo’s system well enough while still let me play a game or control my Lutron lighting?  If it can’t, then Nuvo’s system is poorly designed.  A dedicated controller was worthless 3 years ago.  To release one at the end of this year is plain stupid.

Julie - how are they “real” wattage numbers and then also said to be conservative?  Kinda contradictory, no?  Again, how do you explain that to a consumer anyway?  Old way of thinking.

John - INTEGRATION.  More integrated than Sonos?  Are you serious?  Obviously our definition of integrated is different.  Today, I look at integrated as something that is cross-platform and integrated with internet based services.  Nuvo will sell you another 1u rack mount piece of hardware to make all that integration happen and it’s still only a fraction of what Sonos can do with just one piece of hardware… their Play:3 or Play:5.  Also, the custom installer bit is a bit silly.  I’m a custom installer because of the service I provide.  I’m not locked into “custom” vs. “retail” products.  To limit yourself to only “custom” product goes against the very definition of being “custom”.  Sonos, Apple and Google will do away with the need for “custom” which for many years meant exclusive and thus ridiculously expensive.  I sell my expertise first and foremost.  Doesn’t make what I do any less “custom” than what you do.

Cliff - LOL agrees with me.  I’m happy Nuvo finally is finally making this happen too… but I’m not sugar coating this announcement.  It’s still 3 years too late to the game and behind in technology.  I wish I could go back to Nuvo.  Moreover, I never did understand why selling a product that is available at Best Buy or Target is a bad thing.  Are you selling a brand or what you can do for the consumer?  Does being available at Target mean it’s cheap?  What does it mean?  Less profit for you?  What?  Whatever you think it means, you’re wrong for thinking it.

Google was late to the party with Android, too.

@OhMyGod

Sonos “integrates” with Sonos, PERIOD.  If you want to control Sonos with a 3rd party controller, such as Crestron, or RTI, you are forced to use a hack.  There is no official support for 3rd party control with Sonos.

If you are using Nuvo, on the other hand, they publish their control protocols so you CAN integrate, with 100% reliability, their products with whatever system you or your client needs for their home.

While you can make a profitable business selling plug and play equipment that is available at retail, you also have to offer a competitive price!  If you want to base your business model around retail products, fine, but dont whine when you suddenly find yourself competing with internet pricing or promotional specials that cut into your profits!

Aside from issues related to margin and marketing, you should look at exactly what functionality Sonos is offering, and what quality they provide versus other solutions that are available to the customer.  While everyone gets really excited about wireless products, the sound quality of the vast majority of these systems (Sonos included!) is far inferior to what you get with a wired system.

But, this is only my opinion.  I dont really care to waste much more time on this conversation, as you have apparently already made up your mind about such things.  All I can say is…good luck!

Julie - Google bought Android which has been around for several years.  But in order for Google to catch up and even surpass Apple, they created a wide open system.  Not another closed system.  Big difference.

John - Crestron and RTI will likely be the last dinosaurs when the dust settles on the so called “custom” industry.  Are either able to produce an as easy to use ecosystem as Apple can?  No, and they’ve been at it for decades!  Apple’s been at it for less than 5 years and has made something so easy, literally anyone can understand it and almost everyone can afford it.  As a Sonos dealer, I get a 30% discount just like I had with Nuvo.  Sonos being available at major retailers means it’s more accessible to the world.  In the end, I still get paid to run wire, install high-end speakers, and configure the system.  My jobs are just more customer-centric and cost effective than ones that rely on Crestron or RTI.

BTW, I come from the IT world so that may explain my perspective a bit.

@OhMyGod

Really?  I’m sorry, I try to be polite, but you have obviously been drinking some bad Kool-aid.  Good luck selling “off the shelf” integration.  Hope you survive!

John - to survive one has to adapt.

@OhMyGod you claim android is better because it is wide open compared to ios, much like nuvo would be more open than sonos.

Sonos had limited partner until not long ago. Nuvo will get there.

The nuvo dedicated controller is just like sonos dedicated controller which cant play angry birds. I do believe they will have apps for android and ios as well just like sonos. I like to try to include one on every sonos system I do. advantages are when their phone locks up or app is having issues you can always pick up the sonos controller and show them that the system itself is fine. and if you are having a gathering do you really want to pass your phone around with all your private info on it so people can play DJ

I have sonos in my home and love it. I personally use MOG which the nuvo doesn’t have YET. But I have been waiting for this product eagerly just to have a more exclusive solution that they cant buy at Target and for the integration plusses.

I am not talking about crestron and RTI I am talking about lets say a line level sonos that runs to the family room receiver as an input, pressing “listen to sonos” on the remote will get them connected correctly but then they must put down the remote and use phone etc to select music. even though say a powered sonos for the patio can be operated by just the phone. now you could install another pair of speakers in the family room just for the sonos (or use auto switches) but I personally like to hear the 5.1 in my music

I have installed many of these systems and when I tell them they need the remote AND their itouch They think of it just like multiple remotes

And the biggest benefit (Im hoping) will be margin