Rumor: Is SpeakerCraft using NetStreams for Nirv?

Julie,

I find this rumor to be very farfetched (thus it’s being just a rumor).  The two technologies are completely different.

While StreamNet uses the IP stack up at the “IP levels,” Nirv ONLY works down at the MAC layer and does not incorporate any of the upper layers of the IP stack at all.  That is one reason Nirv requires a completely separate parallel network while StreamNet can run in conjunction with an IP-based network.  Nirv currently does not work with or talk to any “stand alone at the speaker” Class D IP amplifiers like the NetStreams solution uses.  Additionally, Nirv does support surround sound distribution to their amplifiers while StreamNet currently still only delivers two channels.  For SpeakerCraft to be using StreamNet, they would have had to have licensed it and support its “IP level” implementation for compatibility purposes.

I feel comfortable saying that they definitely are not the same technology and that this only is a rumor (obviously started by someone who has not investigated the implementation very well <g>).

Regards,

  =D-

Derek R. Flickinger
Interactive Homes, Inc.

It really doesnt matter after this press release.

All Nortek companies will change REAL soon. <bankrupcy>

http://nortek-inc.com/news218.html

Nirv is based on a solution originally designed in Australia and the Australian maker has been shopping for someone to bring it to the masses.

That being said, just because a Display says 1080P as the input resolution doesn’t mean that the source is producing it, any scaler can do that.

There is no way to stream 1080P over ethernet at this time unless you compress, once you compress it is no longer true 1080P

Standard Data Rates for 1080i is over 2 gbps, 1080p is over 4 gbps, and 1080p Deep Color is over 6 gbps.

They are copmpressing signals there is no way around a single CAT5/6 solution over Ethernet but to compress signals to gain 1080p resolutions

Nirv and Netstreams are making “receiver boxes” that will produce 1080p based on the internal scaler but they aren’t maintaining 1080p throughout the process, probablly going to H.264 or maybe a proprietary equivalent

Was Speakercraft taking a direct hit on George Feldstein with the old frazzaled guy in their demo talking about the need for expensive programming??

Could be LiquidHD technology.

http://www.liquidhd.com/

Once again, LiquidHD uses IP and extends directly to other “more generic” devices using the IP layers of the stack and not a gateway box like Nirv does.  It also comes from Silicon Image and not Australia as mentioned in an earlier post.  It incorporates discovery as a key element whereas Nirv relies on manual configurations rather than having any kind of upper layer discover processes.

It also is important to note that, at least in a distributed audio world, audio has some constraints that make discovery a questionable technology to use.  It is good for finding new devices, but it does not work as well when creating listening zones and scenes.  If devices are dynamic and rely on discovery, they really need to be cached somewhere so that, if they come and go on the network, they still are available as part of a “mapped audio scene” without having to be reconfigured each time they rejoin the network.  The same holds true for video, but it can be a little more dynamic since the menuing systems have a video-based user interface for selections.  The LiquidHD documents do not refer to any such mapping and caching services.

  =D-

Looked like a flux capacitor based system with an telenotik accelerator to induce EMI on a broadband network to me.  I’m waiting to see the U238 ES Modulator be introduced.

Touché Steve!

Well, first off, none of our technology outside of the GUI engine (not graphics, just the method to display over video) is from Australia… you guys have got some fact-finding wires mixed up. The entire transport technology is grown right here in the good ol’ USA by us and our stateside partners.

Secondly, NO… we are definitely not using NetStreams technology. Last I checked, there isn’t anyone else using ONE cable to handle 100% of the system load. This is ours and ours alone right now!

Last, but not least… it’s rumors like this that just confuse everyone and muddy the real exciting stuff. Sounds to me like someone should have come to the presentation… or listened during the press conference… just sayin.

@Craze,

Thanks for the input.  As always, any links to some more technical implementation information always are appreciated.

  =D-

Interesting thread, and I can also clearly state for the record that NetStreams is not the technology provider for the SpeakerCraft system.  And check this out, we have been selling a system that handles 100% of everything that you need for all your HD Audio and Video and control needs over a single Internet Protocol connection.  This connection could be a single wire such as Cat5e/6 or fiber, or could be a single wireless link or even just powerline or in some cases a combination of all the above.  NetStreams solution is not limited to the physical Ethernet layers, and can be streamed through routers, and even tunneled via WAN connections.

We also have several OEM and licensed partner company’s who sell systems today and a few new partners who are in development to release new IP based systems in the CEDIA and Commercial channels.  These other companies use our technology to deliver everything you need over a single cable including all Audio and Video streaming, as well as auto GUI generation, sychronazation, all control needs including Infrared, serial, GPIO, Dolby and DTS multi channel sound, Intercom, paging, and monitoring, and full HDCP intelligence and compliance.

On the commercial side of custom AV, the exact same equipment and systems that integrators use to install our systems into a six zone home system is also what our commercial integrators install into Professional League Stadiums, Casinos and other large scale AV projects that range in the hundreds of AV zones all over the existing data infrastructure.

I do hope this helps some of the confusion.

-Michael Braithwaite
NetStreams

Hi Michael, good to hear from you.  We are interested in the “Dolby and DTS Multi-channel sound” aspects of NetStreams you mention.  Is that something new for the DigiLinX product line?  We were under the impression it still is two channel and have not seen that capability yet.  Thanks.

  =D-

Hi Derek,

Thanks, well as you may know all of our Encoder and Decoder nodes support have always supported the transport of the S/PDIF signals for use with Multichannel decoders, as well as on the HDMI connections on our ViewLinX and MediaLinX Micro products also support Dolby and DTS multi channel formats.

We also have a couple other products that we have shown and launched at the CEDIA expo 2007 called CinemaLinX, and TheaterLinX.  These products are designed for Home Theater applications.  What we do with the Multi-channel stream is create multiple multicast streams that can then be used by any of the IP Speakers.  This allows multiple configurations such as a multi-purpose room that has a flat panel monitor on one wall, and a drop down projection screen on the other side.  The same IP speaker that was the LCR, can now be the rear channels and rear center all at a single button press on a remote.

That same button press can close contact closures that every one of our decoder nodes have on them that will bring the screen down, and adjust the blinds on the windows, change the lighting and start up the movie.

We have always been packeted and routed Multi-channel audio, but until 2007 we did not offer our own decoding for multi-channel playback.  With the advancements in the IP Speakers DSP capabilities for performing all the filter arrangements and real time room correction why would you not want to do the Multi-channel on the network.

Give me a call or email and I will be more than happy to go through more of our system.

-Michael Braithwaite
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
512-977-9393 ext# 103

Thanks.  I guess we had not worked much with those sources (being more PC and Windows Media Center-centric), so we were not up on how those products drove the infrastructure.  Your spec and implementation sheets really do not make those configurations very clear.  That is great.

I will get a hold of you OOB again.

  =D-

Hi Michael,
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend CEDIA this year, so I wasnt able to see any of your new products.  I just checked the website, and there are no press releases or other info on the new ViewLinx, MediaLinx, or CinemaLinx products online.  Can you point us to a link where we could find out more information please?  Thanks!