In a briefing to trade press media today, Russound revealed that its product introductions for CEDIA in Dallas will be three new additions to its expandable XStream wireless audio solutions and the new A250 and A2100 rack-mountable amplifiers, all engineered specifically for custom professionals and their clients.
The new streaming models, all of which are part of Russound’s XStream series, are the XSource Streaming Audio Player and the XZone4 Four-Stream, Four-Zone Audio System. Both XSource and XZone4 will ship in December. Prices will be determined in time for CEDIA.
The XSource Streaming Audio Player is a multi-use streaming media source with a small form factor for easy integration with external amplifiers or whole-house receivers. It features native support for high resolution audio, and the same complement of sources available in all or Russound’s XStream series of products (AirPlay, Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn).
XSource can be integrated with Russound MCA-Series and C-Series controllers, or can operate as a stand-alone streaming source that can be used with any amplifier or multiroom audio system. It offers both analog and digital outputs as well as built-in Ethernet connectivity.
Designed for both residential and commercial applications, the XZone4 Four-Stream, Four-Zone Audio System offers Russound installers a single-box package that is meant to be easy to install via simple browser-based configuration on a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
Reverse angle of the XSource
Engineered for integration and scalability, the XZone4 is a 1U rack-mountable components offering four independent audio streams that support up to four rooms of audio in a home or business and can easily scale up to 16 total audio zones by linking up one or more of the other XStream series products, according to the company.
Like all components in the XStream series, the XSource and XZone work with the MyRussound App for iOS/Android phones and tablets, and the XTS touchscreen interface. This allows for control of up to 16 stereo audio zones in a single installation using any combination of XStream series audio products.
Also similar to other advanced Russound products, these two new SKUs are included in the Russound Certified Installer (RCI) Program. These “RCI Required” items are intended to drastically reduce unauthorized online sales of the company’s products while ensuring that consumers receive the benefits of working with certified installation professionals. To date, nearly 4,000 Russound installers are taking part in the program.
Russound’s new A250 and A2100 rack-mountable amplifiers, both of which will be on display at CEDIA, are intended to be “distributed audio building blocks,” according to the company. They will ship in December 2015 with retail prices to be determined.
Both units feature buffered loop output to enable using multiple amplifiers in one installation, in addition to audio and voltage trigger sensing to enable seamless activation when needed. The 4 ohm stable design allows up to two pairs of 8 ohm speakers may be utilized.
The A250 and A2100 are fanless, allowing the amplifiers to be used in rooms or cabinets where fan-driven units would cause unacceptable noise levels. A switching internal power supply enables a single amplifier design to be sold anywhere in the world with only a change in the IEC-compatible power cord. Both units ship with detachable rack ears.
The 50-watts per channel A250 and the 100-watts per channel A2100 both feature gold-plated RCA analog audio inputs and outputs (standard red and white), with audio signal sensing. Power status is indicated by a bi-color LED. The clean front-panel has only the power button, with trim pots, Signal Mode Slide Switch and Bridge Mode Slide Switch on the back-panel.
In addition to its product introductions at CEDIA, Russound will also offer two product-training classes on Thursday, October 15, in Dallas.
