10.15.2008 — Russound stole the show at CEDIA 2008 with its powerline-enabled Collage multiroom audio system.

Sadly, few CEDIA-goers actually got to see the marvel, which was shown to select guests behind closed doors.

Russound will present its first public demonstration of Collage at the Electronic House Expo Fall, Nov. 5-7 in Long Beach, Calif.

I raved about Collage even before I saw the demo at CEDIA, lauding the product for its sleek design, impressive features and, most importantly, its huge potential for the retrofit market.

Russound is using HomePlug technology (provided by Arkados) to deliver audio, intercom and surveillance video throughout the house.

The electrician simply taps into the powerline to connect a module that bridges the high-voltage Romex to the low-voltage Collage system. Integrators connect the Collage touchpad with the pigtails left by the electrician, and the system is nearly complete.

The only "real" wiring that has to be done is to run speaker wires from the touchpad to the speakers.

The touchpad – including a click wheel and quarter VGA display – includes a 30-watt amp, FM tuner and a CPU that runs the system. No central hub is required.
Sources including iPods, analog music devices, Web/network-based servers, and CCTV cameras join the network via Collage modules that can plug into any AC outlet in the home.

The architecture is genius, but I had to try it for myself to make a proper assessment.

The verdict: the interface is as beautiful as promised, and intuitive to boot. From the pictures, it looked like the touchpad might be too bulky, but it is in fact petite and barely protrudes from the wall. Still, the display is ample for interacting with the system and viewing surveillance cameras.

It would be worth the trip to EHX just to see this gem.

Enjoy a preview via the Collage slideshow from CEDIA.

For a complete run-down of the product, revisit our feature story, "Russound Collage: Music, Intercom, Surveillance & Control over Powerlines."