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Russound Collage: Music, Intercom, Surveillance & Control over Powerlines
At CEDIA Expo 2008, the company will demonstrate (behind closed doors) the new Collage system, which offers whole-house music, video surveillance, and intercom functionality for retrofit applications – no new wires required (unless you count a few short runs of speaker cable).
Russound is using HomePlug 1.0 to deliver the audio and video streams, as well as the control signals from the touchpad to the sources.
Russound is the second company in a week to announce a multiroom audio system based on HomePlug. Rival NuVo Technologies is launching Renovia, a whole-house music system that taps into the Romex (electrical) wiring prevalant in every home.
Except for the fact that both Russound and NuVo are using HomePlug, the two solutions are substantially different.
Furthermore, this Russound powerline system is completely different from the other powerline system (Avenue) that Russound introduced last year. (We compare Collage vs. Avenue here.)
Russound Collage
Unlike NuVo, Russound created a whole new keypad and multiroom architecture for its Collage powerline system.
All of the "smarts" in the system are contained in a new in-wall controller that includes both the interface and the processors.
On the front: a capacitive touchpad, click wheel and quarter VGA display; behind that: a 30-watt amp, power supply, HomePlug technology and a CPU.
It's not just a fancy touchpad. Behind the interface lies an amplifier, HomePlug powerline technology, FM tuner, and the processing power to operate the whole-house audio, intercom and surveillance system.Russound has created a new communications protocol called Gridcast that is built into every product in the Collage ecosystem, including the keypads and the powerline plug-in modules. There's a Gridcast iPod docking station, and Gridcast bridges for connecting (and controlling) analog audio sources and surveillance cameras.
Finally, the Gridcast-enabled Media Manager gateway delivers IP-based content from media servers and DLNA-compliant devices, as well as Web-based music from sources such as Rhapsody, Shoutcast and Internet radio stations (no PC required).
"All products are self-discovering," says Walt Zerbe, product manager, emerging technologies. "They find each other when they plug in. There's very little programming."
Radical for Russound
Collage is a radical new system for Russound, which worked with legendary designer and Meridian co-founder Allen Boothroyd to develop the product.
The controllers are the same width as a two-gang box and about one-third taller. A slight standoff from the wall provides ventilation and makes the keypad look like it's floating. "It has a very slimming look on the wall," Zerbe says.
He adds that the QVGA display "has the same type of resolution and look as an iPhone or Touch."
But that's not all. Collage also serves as an intercom system, with all of the high-end features (room-to-room, all page, listen-in, handsfree, etc.) of traditional intercoms.
And it's a very capable alarm clock with a sleep timer and snooze button.
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Article Topics
News · Product News · Intercom · Wireless A/V · Security · CEDIA · Multiroom Audio · Exclusive · Wireless Av · Intercom ·About the Author
30 Comments
Really cool idea.
Somewhat off topic, am I the only one tired of Ipod docks?
Southwick, I agree. This is one of the most innovative solutions to come around in a long time, and the timing couldn’t be better. My only question is .... how big is that touchpad?
Just how innovative is it? It’s only a idea that is over thirty years old!
In 1974, the Pico engineers jointly developed a record changer that would select tracks on a regular vinyl LP with BSR, which at the time was the world’s biggest manufacturer of record changers. The Accutrac could be operated by remote control based on a device Pico developed using ultrasonic signals. This led directly to the idea of remotely controlling lights and appliances. In 1975, the X10 project was conceived. (It was simply the tenth project that Pico had worked on. There were 8 different calculator IC projects and the Accutrac was project X-9) The concept of using existing AC wiring to transmit signals to control lights and appliances was born.
Thanks for the History lesson. Though I’m sure the “idea” of not having to get up to turn off the lights or change a song is more than 34 years old.
Any way, I sure hope this works a whole lot better than X-10!
Dave Rye, is that you?
Hi Julie,
The keypad is the same width as a standard double gang plate and about a third higher.
Walt…...
Hey jbrown,
There is no comparison between the robustness of HomePlug versus X-10(25 year old technology). HomePlug is quite reliable.
Walt..
Walt, relax. Jbrown was being sarcastic!
Thanks Julie, I was being sarcastic about the X-10 comment. But as for A-Bus ... I really do think that is a bunch of garbage that should only be used for intercoms and elevators.
OK,
I just had a few cups of coffee and am relaxed now. 
Sorry jbrown, lots of late nights.
Walt….
Walt,
Those late nights and cups of coffee enabled you and the Collage team to bring this amazing product to market!
Well done!
I’d like to add my 2c on the topic of homeplug reliability.
After exploring the options for no new wires retrofit options it became obvious that the power line was the best option since in all instances both data and power must be delivered to the end point devices. Wireless proved too unreliable. MOCA and homePNA were too limited by where the existing wires were run.
While nothing beats a dedicated wire, Homeplug is the next best thing.
While sarcasm was behind the earlier X10 discussion it is not the first time I’ve heard that argument. Obviously a lot has changed in the nearly 30 years since X10 was designed.
I expect this product will be a huge hit in Europe for Russound.
is it for sale yet?
No. They say Q209 but that probably translates to Q3 or Q4
We will ship by end of Q2 at the latest. We’re putting significant effort into bringing a quality product to market quickly.
Ditto what Michael said.
OK, Walt and Michael .... you’re on!
Get a major overhaul on your website for this product if you are actually going to ship it by Q2. CEpro has better interface and tech data. A second published brochure is needed with a larger or actual
sized color photo of the wall control and the
system layout.
Is this for distributors or direct dealers only?
This is actually a neat idea. Should make for almost brainless retrofits. Hopefully it sounds better than that A-Bus garbage!